Thanks for sorting the ratings out Ciao!! God I need to get a life I was so happy to see them back!!...
Thanks for sorting the ratings out Ciao!! God I need to get a life I was so happy to see them back!! Thank you everyone who reads my work, I try and return them. Hope your all well and happy Chris x
Member since:14.06.2003
Reviews:144
Members who trust:249
Background
I'm sure most people have heard of this author Ian Rankin through the Rebus books and television series. This was however my first experience of his work.
About the Author
Ian Rankin was born in Fife, Scotland in 1960. He is the UK's Number 1 selling crime author. So far he has written 27 novels, of which his most successful have been the Rebus books. His first novel was indeed 'The Flood', which originally was planned for Radio 4's Short story section but was considered too long so Rankin converted it into a novel instead.
He has received many awards for his work including an OBE in 2002 for his services to literature.
The Storyline of the book
The book is set in a small Scottish town called Carsden. Whose traditional industry of coal mining was closing down due to it being uneconomic to mine there any longer. This left the people in the town both unemployed and bitter.
It is written in three parts: 1963-1969 The Falling Time, 1985 Sandy and 1985 The Flood.
It centres around two characters the first is Mary Miller. Who due to an incident when she was only 10 years old this left her permanently with silver/white hair. And due to unfortunate chain of events she was cast by the town as a witch and an outcast. The second is her son Sandy who she had before her 16th Birthday and out of wedlock. This was something very much frowned upon in 1969 by the town's people.
The book focuses on their lives in 1985 when Sandy was approaching his 16th Birthday and his mother is trying to find happiness of her own with a new man in her life.
Sandy has just sat his exams and is pondering his future. In a world with blurred boundaries between good and evil. He faces trying to escape from the past and emotional complexities of finding his feet in society. Sandy meets and falls in love with a mysterious gypsy girl called Rian who is living in a ruined Mansion. He is desperate to save from her elder brother Robbie and Aunt, who have according to Rian plans to exploit her. But who does he believe?
It is a tail of growing up and making choices.
My opinion of the book
For a first novel this was extremely well written. Rankin's lead characters were all excellent. They were so well described and their actions were in keeping with their characters. I felt they were believable and I could relate to them through his style of writing.
I found the book easy to read and a fascinating read too. It took me just two days to read, as I was bewitched by the interesting storyline and what would become of its key players, as I had no idea where the writer would be taking us next.
Rankin's aim was not to create a crime novel I believe more a book containing secrets, ingrained prejudices and revelations. Dealing with not only the excitement of growing up but also the pitfalls and worries associated with it too.
I also like the way he runs a theme of superstition and myth throughout the book.
I particularly liked the introduction at the beginning of the book. Advising the reader how the book came about and all the problems he experienced trying to find a publisher to take it on.
The only criticism from me was the book needed for my money an epilogue. As the ending of the book is both excellent and fast moving, I would like to have known what if anything changed in the town and what happened to the main characters in the story.
Conclusion
I thought it was a well written and interesting book. I enjoyed it and would recommend it as such. I think also for fans of Rebus it might be interesting for them to read this and see how Rankin's mind worked towards his famous creation.
Having read this book I am keen to try another from this author.
This book is available on Amazon at £3.99 Published by Orion.
It has 251 pages
CPTDANIELS Jan 2008
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Good review - Rankin's not bad, I might even read it now.
RICHADA 28.01.2008 18:27
Even if your fine reviewwere not enough to interest me in this book, the beautiful picture on the cover would probably do the trick......there he goes again judging a book by the cover! Richard.
Jan 22nd, 2008
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