Ben Posted February 20, 2009 Author Share Posted February 20, 2009 Started this not too long ago. Synopsis from the back. They're gone now, and I'm alone at last. I have the whole night ahead of me, and I won't waste a single moment of it... I want tonight to be long, as long as my life... As young Thomas Peaceful looks back over his childhood from the battlefields of the First World War, his memories are full of family life deep in the countryside. But the clock is ticking, and every moment Tommo spends remembering how things used to be, means another moment closer to something which will change his life for ever. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 20, 2009 Author Share Posted February 20, 2009 (edited) Synopsis from the back of the book. Callum is a nought - a second-class citizen in a world run by the ruling Crosses.. Sephy is a Cross, daughter of one of the most powerful men in the country.. In their world noughts and Crosses simply don't mix. And as hostility turns to violence, can Callum and Sephy possibly find a way to be together? They are determined to try.. And then the bomb explodes.. *** My thoughts. After hearing a lot of good things about this book, including a few good recommendations from people on this forum, I decided this would be my next read. Noughts and Crosses is the first in a trilogy followed by Knife Edge and finally Checkmate. Malorie Blackman has had an unaccountable amount of acclaim for this book and its the winner of the Children's Book Award. *** Although the book does contain a warning that it is not suitable for younger readers, it is also generally categorized under 'teen reading.' I wouldn't recommend the book for children of roughly under eight or nine, depending on the maturity of the child, as it does have things of an explicit nature written down, including a pretty heavy love scene around half way through the book. *** This book focuses on two different groups of people, that make up society. The noughts are white people, and they are considered inferior; they have the manual labour, mindless, unskilled jobs and are generally of a lower class. Crosses are black people, and they hold the power, they are in government, they are the rich people and have only the best jobs. There is a divide between the two, the Crosses are not openly hateful towards the noughts, but you can tell the hatred is there. The noughts put up with their lot, but there is an underlying hatred which will end in tears. *** The story revolves around two main characters; Sephy, who is a Cross, and Callum, who is a nought. They have been friends all their lives, since Callum's mum worked as a house-keeper for Sephy's mum. They gradually become closer, and fall in love, as Callum gets accepted into Stephy's school (An all Cross school). They break all kinds of social boundaries possible. Crosses and noughts do not mix, and are certainly not friends or lovers. As the story unfolds, they are driven apart by societies prejudices. Callum joins a military terrorist group after a family tragedy, and swears revenge. His brother, Jude, is also a part of this group called the Liberation Militia who plot and scheme in an attempt to bring the Crosses to their downfall. As things take a devastating turn, the two young lovers will meet again but in very different circumstances, circumstances that will decide with whom Callum's loyalties truly are. *** The two main characters in this book are amazingly written and very real. The story is told in first person, however with a difference. You get a section from Sephy's point of view, then a section from Callum's point of view and so on. This sounds like it might be confusing, but each section is clearly labelled, and it is a very effective way of storytelling. *** A book full of polictical, racial and moral issues, Malorie Blackman has provided the perfect balance of the topics covered. A book that had me glued to the pages until I'd finished, it really does make you look at society with a different perspective. 9/10. Edited February 20, 2009 by Ben Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookBee8 Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 Great review! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 20, 2009 Author Share Posted February 20, 2009 Thank you, I can understand why you like it so much now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 Finished Private Peaceful - Michael Morpurgo. Review coming soon. (Might have to be tomorrow got a busy day ahead.) Going on a long 1 and a 1/2 hour/2 hours car journey at about 2pm. Got a few choices about what book to read, help me decide guys. - Stephen King. - Cell. Stephen King. - Blaze. Dean Koontz. - The Taking. Dean Koontz. - Life Expectancy. Robert Lundlum. - The Hades Factor. Richard Montanari. - The Skin Gods. Minette Walters. - Acid Row. Daniel Easterman. - Midnight Comes At Noon. Gregg Hurwitz. - I See You. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kell Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Ooh, The Skin Gods is supposed to be very good. The only one I've read of those thoughis The Taking, which wasn;t one of my favoruite Koontz novels, although I did enjoy it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollaig Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Ahm. Lol. I've never read the Stephen King ones, nor the Dean Koontz as I don't like him, and I've never even heard of any of the others, so I don't think I can help much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 Oh and The Host - Stephenie Meyer. Thanks Kell. I've heard the Skin Gods is supposed to be good as well, but I am swaying a bit to reading some Stephen King. Aha, Roxi, it's ok. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lucybird Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Can't help I'm afraid, haven't read any of them. Maybe you should do an ip-dip. I heard The Host is better than the Twilight books, maybe you should try that one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 Can't help I'm afraid, haven't read any of them. Maybe you should do an ip-dip Lol that's an idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nici Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 How about Cell? Iv'e never read it but would be interested to hear your thoughts! You can't beat a bit of Stephen King. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 Ah well I'm off. A bit earlier than expected, thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rawr Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I would pick 'Cell' by Stephen King. I read it not too long ago, it's very easy to get into i found, i couldn't put it down during the fast-paced parts. It's quite similar in content to The Stand. Thought it was pretty good at building suspense too. Typical King in other words Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bemii Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 I haven;t read the Stephen Kings (yet!) but I would say try those or The Host. Partly because it's the only one on your list that I have read, and partly because I thought it was brilliant! I thought it was much better than Twilight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 I haven;t read the Stephen Kings (yet!) but I would say try those or The Host. Partly because it's the only one on your list that I have read, and partly because I thought it was brilliant! I thought it was much better than Twilight. I would pick 'Cell' by Stephen King. I read it not too long ago, it's very easy to get into i found, i couldn't put it down during the fast-paced parts. It's quite similar in content to The Stand. Thought it was pretty good at building suspense too. Typical King in other words I'm back, disorganised parents means I'm not going till 2:45pm. Thank you for your comments people, Cell (Stephen King) it is. I'll start it when I'm in the car. Thanks again for everyone's help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanC_84 Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Glad to see you enjoyed Noughts and Crosses. I doubt anyone could actually dislike the book though. I am almost halfway through the third book of the series, Checkmate. Really enjoying it so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heather Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 Synopsis from back. Callum is a nought - a second-class citizen in a world run by the ruling Crosses.. Sephy is a Cross, daughter of one of the most powerful men in the country.. In their world noughts and Crosses simply don't mix. And as hostility turns to violence, can Callum and Sephy possibly find a way to be together? They are determined to try.. And then the bomb explodes..... This book sounds interesting I think I will look out for this book Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanC_84 Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 This book sounds interesting I think I will look out for this book Enough good things cannot be said about this book. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 I loved it, as you can see from my review. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Library Nook Posted February 21, 2009 Share Posted February 21, 2009 So that's Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 21, 2009 Author Share Posted February 21, 2009 Lmao. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookBee8 Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Glad to see you enjoyed Noughts and Crosses. I doubt anyone could actually dislike the book though.I am almost halfway through the third book of the series, Checkmate. Really enjoying it so far. Enough good things cannot be said about this book. People are going to start thinking that we're working together to promote this book. We're not, honest!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 23, 2009 Author Share Posted February 23, 2009 Sure your not. MICHELLE quick, we've got two advertisers for the book that have sneaked in unawares. I joke! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BookBee8 Posted February 24, 2009 Share Posted February 24, 2009 I honestly wouldn't blame anyone if they suspected that! We do go on about it enough *Shuts up* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben Posted February 25, 2009 Author Share Posted February 25, 2009 Not making much head-way with Cell by Stephen King. I'm going to try have a reading day when I get home tomorrow. Although I aren't home till' later (after school thing). I'm enjoying Cell so far though! Has anyone else read it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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