Click: One Novel Ten Authors

[snugglekitty]

This is a young adult book in ten chapters. It blurs the line between "novel" and "short story collection." I enjoyed most of the pieces. The authors are: David Almond, Eoin Colfer, Roddy Doyle, Deborah Ellis, Nick Hornby, Margo Lanagan, Gregory Maguire, Ruth Ozeki, Linda Sue Park, and Tim Wynne-Jones. (If anyone knows for sure if he's related to Diana, would you let me know? So far the Internets haven't figured it out for me.) Two children have lost their grandfather, and the rest of the book explores his life as a photojournalist and the lives that they choose in the future. Most chapters are written from different perspectives - only one perspective, that of Maggie, returns.



"My legs went weak beneath me, and I tumbled to the floor, and the whole world went watery and dark, and wild watery voices sang in my brain and called me to them. I came out of it to find Mum weeping over me, and shaking me, and screaming my name like I had drifted a million miles away, and the teacher yelling for help into the phone."
'It's all right,' I whispered sweetly to her. 'It was lovely, Mum.'
And it was. And I wanted to happen it again. And soon it did. And did again." p24



My favorite chapters were Annie, Lev, and Min. My least favorite were the last two - it doesn't work as well as sci fi, in my opinion. In general, the book hangs together pretty well. The various segments are all well-written - the prose is surprisingly good - and the links between the stories are deftly done. An enjoyable light read with a conscience - proceeds benefit Amnesty International. Parts of it may be too intense for younger children, unless they've been through a lot already. Four stars.

Comments

[omnia-mutantur.livejournal.com]

I really disliked the last chapter, and felt it was a horrible note to leave on, like when the very last bite of a dessert is a bad-tasting walnut or something.

[icecreamempress.livejournal.com]

They are not related.

Tim's last name is "Wynne-Jones"; Diana's last name is Jones, and her middle name is Wynne.

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the clarification! That makes lots of sense.

[rabbitorf.livejournal.com]

Do you know if there is a name for this sort of book? I've read at least one before where different chapters are written by different authors and thought it was a neat idea, but didn't realize it had been done with other books. Sounds like a great bunch of authors, can't wait to find this one. Thanks for the review!