OMG, I have to discuss this one book, which left me staring at the final page for probably forever, just sitting there, blinking like a moron. I was like, DANG.
And how often does a book make you do that?
So. Yeah. THE MARBURY LENS…hurry up and read it so we can talk about it.
THE MARBURY LENS by Andrew Smith
Goodreads description: Sixteen-year-old Jack gets drunk and is in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is kidnapped. He escapes, narrowly. The only person he tells is his best friend, Conner. When they arrive in London as planned for summer break, a stranger hands Jack a pair of glasses. Through the lenses, he sees another world called Marbury.
There is war in Marbury. It is a desolate and murderous place where Jack is responsible for the survival of two younger boys. Conner is there, too. But he’s trying to kill them.
Meanwhile, Jack is falling in love with an English girl, and afraid he’s losing his mind.
Conner tells Jack it’s going to be okay.
But it’s not.
Andrew Smith has written his most beautiful and personal novel yet, as he explores the nightmarish outer limits of what trauma can do to our bodies and our minds.
My Review
Seriously? THE MARBURY LENS is a MAJOR mind trip from the beginning to the final word. I wasn’t sure if I was in a fantasy world or inside the mind of a crazy person. But that’s what makes this book so freakishly cool. I flew through this, thinking: OMG OMG OMG OMG….
And you know what makes this possible? Brilliant writing. You see, Jack is an unreliable narrator, and what he’s experiencing isn’t exactly normal. And unlike typical works of urban fantasy or magical realism, you can’t assume that the fantasy element actually exists. Jack’s kidnapping not only impacts Jack and the course of the whole story (as Jack discovers and navigates the hidden world of Marbury), but also colors the way that the reader views the story as it unfolds. We can’t be certain that the kidnapping hasn’t caused Jack to snap OR if the kidnapping wasn’t connected to later events in another way. We just don’t know. What makes it even harder to figure out is that the events that occur in Marbury seem to have an impact on Jack in the real world. I’d love to see how a filmmaker interprets THE MARBURY LENS. It felt like every scene could be taken two different ways. Every time Jack asks, Is this real? I found myself thinking, “OMG, I don’t know!” It’s just so trippy.
THE MARBURY LENS is a work of delicious literary genius. The concept alone will have your head spinning—a story within a story within a story, all of them interconnected. The characters are so real, so genuine. I felt so connected to Jack and Conner and Nickie. The prose was dynamic and rich. The dialogue was pure gold. Smith captured the voices of real teens as if he’d merely flipped on a tape recorder and transcribed—never once did his creations break character. And the imagery—stunningly vivid and original. And yeah, gruesome at times. The realistic settings are sharp and well-defined (Smith did an amazing job capturing the essence of England), while Marbury is just…I don’t know, this unbelievable, horrible place where the evils of its world are not hidden like they can be in ours; they are exposed in all their gruesome terror for all to see. THE MARBURY LENS is dark and gritty, a no holds barred sort of book that doesn’t pussyfoot around, making something major into less—it doesn’t, for example, make a kidnapping of a child or murder seem any less horrifying than it is. It pushes the boundaries of YA—sort of paralleling the way older teens will push the boundaries of adolescence.
But, while THE MARBURY LENS is blunt and intense, and yes, dark, it’s not overly graphic—but more importantly, it’s quite profound. Jack’s story is more than just a venture into another world. It’s a journey of friendship and love, hope and healing.
But is Jack’s story(ies) real? I’m not telling. You’ll just have to read and find out.
THE MARBURY LENS is available for preorder and will be released November 9, 2010.
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Be sure to stop by and check out what books some of the other Bookanistas are celebrating today!
Elana Johnson Tells Us About TORMENT
Lisa and Laura Roecker Cover THE CONFESSIONS OF THE SULLIVAN SISTERS
Christine Fonseca Moons Over MATCHED
Shannon Messenger Fangirls THE FAMILIARS
Shelli Johannes-Wells Marvels over Middle Grade
Kirsten Hubbard Woos Us with WITHER
Myra McEntire Beholds the British Special Edition of the TWILIGHT SAGA
Beth Revis Adores ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS
Megan Miranda Swoons Over STOLEN
ooo sounds like my kinda book
ReplyDeleteIt sounds amazing. So creative. The opposite of putting on rose-colored glasses.
ReplyDeleteHi!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful blog! Love the pictures! The book review was great...I'll have to buy it so we can talk about it. You've got me wondering about that opening! LOL I've never had a book do that to me before! So, this I gotta see! ;-)
Thank for visiting me blog! I hope we can become regulars at each others place!
Hawk
Really? A YA novel review actually piques my interest? Nicely done, Carol! (Um...as usual, I guess. Not that your other reviews aren't nicely done as well. Just that this book sounds kinda cool and stuff. Aaannd now I'm just rambling....)
ReplyDeleteWow fantastic review. Love how passionate you described the books effect on you as a reader. I am definitely getting this one soon.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds really cool. :)
ReplyDeleteI want!! I want this!! I really do!! Is this on Amazon? I'll go check! Thanks for the intro and review!!!!
ReplyDeleteTake care
x
Wow, you sound so excited about this book that I am going to definitely get this one now! When someone's this excited about a new book, I've got to get my hands on it. Thanks, Carol!
ReplyDeleteMarissa
I've seen this book all over the place and was on the fence, but you have me convinced. Thanks for the great review it sounds fantastic!
ReplyDeleteYou did an excellent job explaining the book and whetting appetites. Nice job, C.
ReplyDeleteAnd I agree, Andrew is on the list of authors I emulate, along with John Green, Lois Lowry, and James Dashner.
Ooohhhh.....I HAVE to read this now! My list is getting longer and longer
ReplyDeleteWow. Hard to decide if the way the story sounds or the cover is cooler ... okay story I guess, but that cover is damn cool.
ReplyDeleteThe cover alone is a total mind screw. I love it! I'm adding this to my list too. Great review also Cee. You have got a ridiculous talent for giving us an insight into a particular book and painting a picture for us. Huzzah!!
ReplyDeleteI have this one sitting on my table! I guess I know what I'm reading next! Great review!
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a book that would be totally up my alley. Thanks for the review and the high suggestions. I want to pre-order now!
ReplyDeleteHi Hon!
ReplyDeleteI've become a follower and if you don't mind I'm adding you to my blog list so others can find you and this wonderful blog!
hugs
Hawk
Dang. I need to keep my must-get list updated. This is the second time I've seen this book mentioned and craved it. Thanks for a great review.
ReplyDeleteI'm telling you, you do the best book reviews. You can pick out all the themes and details, without really giving anything away.
ReplyDeleteThis one is right up my alley.
Also, not surprising you got a lot of male comments on this one...which is great. I hope this book get more boys reading.
Love,
me
That does sound like a suspenseful, intriguing book with a great unique plot!!
ReplyDeleteI am DYING to read this one. Though he's my agent mate, so I fear that it will result in my feeling completely inadequate and afraid to ever send Laura pages again. But yeah...I'm too curious to let that keep me from reading. :)
ReplyDeleteI've been hearing good things about this book - can't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteWow, sounds awesome! I can't wait to pick it up.
ReplyDeleteUmm, I want this book. I totally want this book.
ReplyDeleteDude, I devoured this book. It had a bigger impact on me than any other YA book I've read, including any of the HG trilogy. I thought about it for weeks after reading!
ReplyDeleteThis novel sounds awesome. I just added it to my wish list because of you.
ReplyDeleteI have been dying to read this forever. I'm pretty addicted to his blog, and this book sounds amazing.
ReplyDeleteI don't read many reviews that make me think I need to immediately buy a book, but yours did. This book sounds so original.
ReplyDeleteThe Marbury Lens sounds pretty freakin' awesome! I'm checking it out. Nice review.
ReplyDeleteJust dropping back in to see when your next post is coming up!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Hawk
OH, I NEED to read this!
ReplyDeleteIt is so unfair that there are only 24 hours in a day, and that we have to spend 6-8 of them sleeping. Can I get a rule-change here? Please? Anybody?
This book sounds amazing! Thanks for the review!! Have a great weekend!!
ReplyDeleteI love books that have a need to be figured out and this sounds like a perfect fit. From your review alone I can picture it being a great movie!
ReplyDeleteOMG I NEED THIS BOOK NOW :( !!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou just made me too excited for my own good.
I am definitely going to be getting this book - it sounds so good! Thanks for the awesome review!
ReplyDeleteSo intriguing! I put the book on my wishlist a while ago because someone was giving it away as an ARC (maybe you?) and I liked how it sounded. Now I have a review to go with it. Yay!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness, what a review. Sounds like a must read--and a little bit like one of those books that's going to leave me with my head in my hands afterwards, wondering how I'm supposed to live up to it!
ReplyDeleteThe Marbury Lens sounds like a fabulous book... one definitely worth buying!
ReplyDeleteI'm really enjoying your blog, by the way. So much so that I've given it a 'blog award'. Perhaps if you have a minute, you could pop over to my blog to check it out!
best wishes
Suzy
Wow! Superb review! "The Marbury Lens" sounds unmissable!
ReplyDeleteIt does sound intriguing and I love books that keep me guessing and thinking. Thanks for the tip!
ReplyDelete