Friday, August 28, 2015

The Cephalopod Coffeehouse August Book Review---Among Others by Jo Walton

My favorite read for the month of August was Among Others by Jo Walton.

15 year old Morwenna is a Welsh teenager in the 1970's struggling to deal with the loss of her twin sister. Her mother, who dabbles in magic, is mentally ill, and Morwenna believes her to be evil and the cause of her sister's death. She has been sent to live at a boarding school by her father (a man she barely knows) after her mother is deemed unfit to care for her. Morwenna believes in magic, and she sees spirits and fairies and all kinds of otherworldly creatures. Those magical entities, and her love of books, are her only sources of solace in a world filled with grief and loneliness. Has she inherited her mother's madness, or does she really see these "others"? It's up to the reader to decide.

I identified with this young girl's longing to find her place in the world, and the way books and reading help her escape the painful parts of her reality. It's a bittersweet coming of age story, and it's beautifully written. This was my favorite book for the month of August.
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11 comments:

  1. Denise Covey August 28, 2015 at 11:59 PM

    Hey Jennifer! You're capturing beautiful moments here with your book review. Thanks for the head's up on Among Others.

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    1. JenniferAugust 29, 2015 at 9:13 AM

      Jo Walton may become a new favorite of mine.... I'm planning to read Tooth and Claw next.

      Thanks for stopping by my blog!

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  2. Rachel PhillipsAugust 29, 2015 at 4:47 AM

    Succinct little book review there Jennifer. The book doesn't sound like anything I would normally read but I will pick up a copy from the library and give it a go Thank you.

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    1. JenniferAugust 29, 2015 at 9:10 AM

      Rachel, it doesn't sound like something I would normally read, either. But it's really good. The review was short and sweet because I was typing it out on my phone, in bed, right before midnight. I wanted to get my August review in on time!

      Delete
  3. Janie JunebugAugust 29, 2015 at 5:27 AM

    Your review is excellent. My daughter might like this book.

    Love,
    Janie

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    1. JenniferAugust 29, 2015 at 9:15 AM

      Thanks! How old is your daughter? My review made it sound like a "teen" book, but it's really not.

      Delete
  4. Musings of a Creative WriterAugust 29, 2015 at 5:38 PM

    I will have to read this... probably after a few "happy" books. Apparently the books I've been reading have been "depressing," but they make me think.

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  5. angryparsnipAugust 29, 2015 at 10:14 PM

    Terrific review, Will have to put this on my list.
    Sounds really interesting.

    cheers, parsnip

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  6. UnknownAugust 30, 2015 at 10:29 AM

    Wow! This one sounds good. Have you read Bridge to Terebithia? Is it similar?
    Thanks for sharing!
    Veronica

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    1. JenniferAugust 30, 2015 at 10:55 AM

      I read Bridge to Terebithia as a schoolgirl many years ago. I would say that no, they are not much alike. Morwenna is a teenager, and her sister has already died when the book opens, and there is a strong element of magical realism in this book....in BtT the kids are clearly just pretending but Morwenna is actually dabbling in magic ( or else she's mentally ill).

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  7. The Armchair SquidAugust 30, 2015 at 10:11 PM

    Sounds like fun. Glad you could join us again this month!

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