Posted by bj neary on February 15, 2010 at 12:26pm
Cold Skin is a novel in verse that takes place after World War II in a mining town in Barruga, Australia. The story is told from many different characters' points of view who are listed at the beginning of the novel and their name is repeated when they tell their side of the story. Most of the men in Barruga have come back from the war, Albert Holden drove a truck but did not fight during the war. Mayor Paley never went to war and Jack O'Connor saw too much fighting. Albert's sons, Eddie and Larry, couldn't be more different. Eddie is ridiculed by his teacher in school and wants to work in the mines. His father refused to go back down in the mines (won't entertain Eddie working in the mines) and now does manual labor on someone else's farm. Larry Holden loves learning, and sees it as a way out of town. Both Father and son, Larry, enjoy drinking too much, as do many of the other men in town on Friday evenings after a tough week. It is on one of these Friday nights, that a young sixteen-year-old girl is missing and later found dead. Every man in Barruga is suspect and the spare verse by Herrick, paints a picture of revenge, cowardice, and twisted justice while also probing the friendship of Eddie and Sallie as it slowly becomes love.Read more…
Posted by bj neary on November 15, 2009 at 12:48pm
I just love novels in verse and Ava has just lost her boyfriend, Jackson in a freak accident. She feels responsible and is now "feeling" he is still with her. The spare words are perfect in describing Ava's profound love for Jackson. She has a strong support system with family and friends but wants to just "sleep" or stay close to home to be with him. I ached for her desolation, loved her friends for supporting her and rooted for her to find happiness and peace without Jackson.
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Posted by bj neary on November 15, 2009 at 12:48pm
I just love novels in verse and Ava has just lost her boyfriend, Jackson in a freak accident. She feels responsible and is now "feeling" he is still with her. The spare words are perfect in describing Ava's profound love for Jackson. She has a strong support system with family and friends but wants to just "sleep" or stay close to home to be with him. I ached for her desolation, loved her friends for supporting her and rooted for her to find happiness and peace without Jackson.
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Posted by bj neary on November 15, 2009 at 12:46pm
Alice lost her mom to cancer many years ago, dad remarries and Alice feels he doesn't spend enough time with her and now she has a half sister, Ivy. Spending time with her boyfriend, Blaze, going to church with her best friend and playing her guitar, Alice is doing her best to live life and remember her mom's awesomeness. A Thanksgiving trip to visit relatives changes abruptly as a snowstorm strands Alice, her stepmother and baby, Ivy. I loved Alice's pluck and determination, her teen moodiness and drama, and her reawakened sense that change is good and she wants to share herself with this new family. I loved this novel in verse and highly recommend it.
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