Comments on things mean a lot: River Boy by Tim Bowler

yeah, let's do that!:)

2009-11-02T09:35:02.102Z

yeah, let's do that!:)

Zibilee, thank you so much! I love yours too, you ...

2009-11-02T00:22:49.138Z

Zibilee, thank you so much! I love yours too, you know!

Valentina, there'd be no time limit, and so no possibility of failing :P If you wanted to co-host with me that would be awesome, actually!

I thought of starting a Carnegie reading project a...

2009-10-30T23:11:52.803Z

I thought of starting a Carnegie reading project a long time ago, but seeing how bad I am at keeping up with all the other projects, I didn't follow through. But if you start one, I will join!( and then fail miserably...)

Your reviews are always wonderfully written and al...

2009-10-27T21:58:23.786Z

Your reviews are always wonderfully written and always explain so fully why a book was so moving for you. I really admire that. I think this looks like a really heartfelt read and like something that would probably inspire a good cry in me. Glad you enjoyed it so much!

Jenny: It IS sad :( And in that case, I'd wait a w...

2009-10-27T20:47:42.735Z

Jenny: It IS sad :( And in that case, I'd wait a while, yes. I'm sorry for your loss :(

Jill: Thank you for the recommendations! I definitely do wish there were more of them.

Priscilla: Yeah, I wanted it to be a more relax, informal reading project rather than a challenge exactly so that there would be no pressure. I'm not doing well with my challenges this year either :\

Violet: I shouldn't be able to get it moving until next year anyway. You know, I thought I'd have trouble finding the books too, but BookMooch has been my friend!

Debi: Maurice is the most awesome of them all, of course :D But I've enjoyed all the ones I've read so far. I remember when Rich's dad passed away, and how sad Annie was :( *hugs*

GMR: It does make sense! And that's exactly the feeling the book gave me. It's sad, but also full of life, full of acceptance.

Hazra: I'm doing a Pulitzer and Printz project in addition to this one, but then again, I'm insane :P

Vasilly: Oooh, thank you for reminding me that I want to read that!

Aarti: lol!! Hey, nothing wrong with spaghetti-os ;) The Carnegie is sort of the UK equivalent of the Newbery - except not QUITE, because both children's and YA books have won.

Kelly, you definitely do need to read more Discworld!

She: You would be right :P

Kathi, I'm glad to hear it, as it is a good book :P

Sharry: Exactly! I really wish I'd had the chance to know mine better :( Especially my grandmothers...one passed away before I was born, the other when I was only 4.

Belle: I'm glad to hear you like the idea!

Stephanie, you make me blush!

Marie, it is! And thank you.

Melody: There don't seem to be that many of them. But I'm always happy when I find one :)

Alice, I hope you enjoy it!

Verity: Many thanks for the recommendation! I'll add it to my wishlist.

Bart, Starseeker is definitely on the list!

Jenclair: It's so lovely and bittersweet. I think you'd enjoy it.

Gavin: I'm glad to hear it! Hopefully I'll get my act together and actually start working on it soon :P

Trisha: I'd love to hear about them if you remember any later on!

Joanna, I promise it'd be VERY relaxed!

Sounds interesting. You know, I've said this a mil...

2009-10-27T10:49:39.386Z

Sounds interesting. You know, I've said this a million times before but I'm always amazed at how many of the books you review I've never even heard of! I'd be interested in your project, as long as it's relaxed! ;-)

I spent the first twelve years of my life in a hou...

2009-10-23T15:50:08.045+01:00

I spent the first twelve years of my life in a house with my grandparents and my mother, and it was wonderful. And yet, I can not think of any grandparent books off the top of my head. Hmmm, you'd think this would be something I noticed.

Nymeth - A wonderful review, as always. I especia...

2009-10-23T14:54:01.124+01:00

Nymeth - A wonderful review, as always. I especially like your focus Bowler's tone. I've never read any of his books but and adding him to my TBR list.

I am definitely interested in the Carnegie Medal project if you and Susan are organizing it.

Thanks for this recommendation. I like the sound ...

2009-10-23T13:28:23.661+01:00

Thanks for this recommendation. I like the sound of River Boy.

Bowler's become one of my favourite authors this l...

2009-10-23T12:35:02.371+01:00

Bowler's become one of my favourite authors this last year or so, but I'm guessing you realised that!

You're right, there is a similarity with Almond's writing and you're right I think it's very much to do with the tone they use.

Glad you liked this one, you should try Starseaker next.

A REALLY good book on grandmothers is the latest M...

2009-10-23T10:07:47.522+01:00

A REALLY good book on grandmothers is the latest Margaret Forster which is coming out next year, called Isa and May. I've just read a proof copy and hugely recommend it.

Another book on relationship that appeals to me. T...

2009-10-23T05:06:51.762+01:00

Another book on relationship that appeals to me. Thanks for this great review, Ana. I am keeping this on the wish list as well. :D

I don't think I've came across many books that fea...

2009-10-23T01:51:50.112+01:00

I don't think I've came across many books that feature on grandparent relationships, so thanks for introducing this book to me, Nymeth! This sounds like a powerful read to me!

sounds like a wonderful, sad, moving book. thanks ...

2009-10-23T00:47:26.595+01:00

sounds like a wonderful, sad, moving book. thanks for the great review :-)

What a beautiful review! I really admire your writ...

2009-10-23T00:41:18.125+01:00

What a beautiful review! I really admire your writing.

This sounds like such a beautiful read. I've alway...

2009-10-22T23:04:59.624+01:00

This sounds like such a beautiful read. I've always liked novels that have that subdued hint of magic. Reading through the Carnegie winners sounds like a great idea!

I've always yearned for a grandpa-grandma connecti...

2009-10-22T21:31:58.257+01:00

I've always yearned for a grandpa-grandma connection. My grandparents have also passed away, and I never really got the chance to know them. Grandparents are so awesome! The elderly have so many stories and experiences to tell you, I could listen for hours...

--Sharry

As usual, your review has made me want to read the...

2009-10-22T20:23:40.919+01:00

As usual, your review has made me want to read the book.

This seems really nice. I would hazard a guess tha...

2009-10-22T19:22:49.605+01:00

This seems really nice. I would hazard a guess that there is a great amount of room for crying in it as well. ;p

I really like the cover to this book, but not sure...

2009-10-22T18:15:10.831+01:00

I really like the cover to this book, but not sure if it is something I would have to read...

Your guest post on Aarti's blog was great! Reminds me I need to read more Discworld so I can get to the point where Granny becomes a main character instead of just a background one. :)

This sounds like a really moving book. But really...

2009-10-22T18:07:36.532+01:00

This sounds like a really moving book. But really, you could review Spaghetti-os and do it so eloquently that they'd seem like high cuisine ;-)

I am not sure about the Carnegie challenge, mostly because I don't know what the Carnegie award is or how many books have earned it! I'll look into it and get back to you :-)

And thank you for all the nice things you say about me at the end of your post. I'm blushing! And yes, the post is up, to boost the fan base of Granny Weatherwax.

River Boy sounds like a great book.Try The Evoluti...

2009-10-22T17:15:07.426+01:00

River Boy sounds like a great book.Try The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly. It's a granddaughter/grandfather story that is just so well-written. Kelly is one of my favorite authors now.

I'll love to join you in your project.

Oh, I wish I could join you in your unofficial Car...

2009-10-22T16:30:50.568+01:00

Oh, I wish I could join you in your unofficial Carnegie challenge, but I'm knee-deep in my Booker efforts. I like the sound of The River Boy, though. Children's relationships with their grandparents is not a subject dealt with in too many books.

Sounds sad but in a good way (if that makes any se...

2009-10-22T16:01:20.317+01:00

Sounds sad but in a good way (if that makes any sense). I too never got to know my grandparents...they had all passed away before I was born. From what I've learned about them, they were rather interesting to say the least.

Oh, I'm definitely in! So many Carnegie winners I'...

2009-10-22T15:49:03.768+01:00

Oh, I'm definitely in! So many Carnegie winners I've been wanting to read, and yet have only ever actually read one. How pathetic is that?!! (Of course, the one I did read was sooooo awesome--Maurice.)

I had such extremely different relationships with my grandparents...my maternal grandparents were two of the most wonderful people in this whole entire world and my paternal grandmother--well, I've told you a bit about her before. :( But you know that description you gave of Jess and her grandpa brought me right to tears, because it reminded me so much of Annie and Rich's dad. He was a wonderful man, but he was definitely reserved, not tending toward the showing of affection or really even opening up all that much. And while he definitely loved all his grandchildren, Annie was the one who stole his heart. Those two were wonderful to watch...they just related on this whole different level with each other than they did with anyone else. Anyway, that relationship alone leaves me aching to read this book. Thanks for another beautiful, beautiful review, Ana!