checkers65477: (Books Cats Sweet)
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I haven't written a book post in ages, but Chime by Franny Billingsley is so good that it deserves one.  Here is the review from Booklist:

*Starred Review* Since her stepmother's recent death, 17-year-old Briony Larkin knows that if she can keep two secrets--that she is a witch and that she is responsible for the accident that left Rose, her identical twin, mentally compromised--and remember to hate herself always, no other harm will befall her family in their Swampsea parsonage at the beginning of the twentieth century. The arrival of Mr. Clayborne, a city engineer, and his university-dropout son, Eldric, makes Briony's task difficult. Clayborne's plan to drain the swamp has made the Old Ones unhappy, particularly the Boggy Mun, who has plagued the village's children with swamp cough in retaliation. When Rose's lingering illness turns into a cough, Briony knows that she must do whatever it takes, even revealing her secrets, to save her sister. While thwarting the advances of an arsenic-addicted suitor, Briony must also deny her feelings for Eldric, even as he helps her solve the puzzle that has become her life. Exploring the powers of guilt and redemption, Billingsley (The Folk Keeper, 1999) has crafted a dark, chilling yet stunning world. Briony's many mysteries and occasional sardonic wit make her a force to be reckoned with. Exquisite to the final word. Grades 8-12. --Angela Leeper

Such lovely writing!  So much humor. 

" 'Us mixes wine an' bread, Mister Eldric, an' puts it round by the door an' by the windows so them Old Ones doesn't come creeping in.'
...Wine and bread.  This has always seemed rather ghoulish to me, as though one were smearing the threshold with Puree of Christ."

" 'I'm awfully tired,' I said.  'Can you be quick about it?'  Poor Cecil, consumed by a grande passion, only to be told to compress his love manifesto into a haiku.' "

"My mask was one great rumple.  It would need hours of smoothing."

Gosh.  Nice.

Creepy, suspenseful, satisfying, clever, complex.  I loved it.

Date: 2011-06-05 02:23 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] willow-41z.livejournal.com
... puree of Christ?

I feel like I just snorted all my brains out my nose laughing. And now I feel like a bad Lutheran. O_O

Date: 2011-06-06 01:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] checkers65477.livejournal.com
Ha, I had the same reaction. Sort of like when Dane Cook talks about crouton O'Christ, Christ Chex, Jes-its. So funny but so so bad. Anyway, Chime started out creepy and then after awhile I became very at home in the creepy, dangerous setting.

Date: 2011-06-05 03:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] tiegirl.livejournal.com
I have The Folk Keeper on hold at the library, then I will read Chime. So far, no one who has read it has given it a bad review, at least that I've seen. :)

Date: 2011-06-06 01:17 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] checkers65477.livejournal.com
I wasn't so crazy about The Folk Keeper, but this author is truly wonderful. Hope you like them

Date: 2011-06-09 11:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] peggy-2.livejournal.com
I was reading that Chime is not a contender for the Newbery because of age level, but should be high on the Printz list. If so it will set a strong precedent for Megan's next book.

After reading Chime I had to go and find her other books. I liked both Well Wished and Folk Keeper but unfortunately had seen spoilers for Folk Keeper in all the Chime hype which lessened the impact.

Much like other rich and unusual delights I think they are best if spaced out, rather than gobbled up one-two-three.

Date: 2011-06-10 01:10 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] checkers65477.livejournal.com
The whole time I was reading it, I was wondering what ages it was best for. I'm going to order some copies for the library, but it's probably for 7th/8th grade and up, don't you think? I can't see it being seriously considered for the Newbery. We'll see about the Printz. I think it's ideal, but so many times the Print committee members choose only books that are realistic fiction and extremely edgy. Not too many "Airborn"s are chosen. And that's too bad.

You had said you liked Rose's character, and I figured she must be the main character. :) Not so. I loved that Rose was, in the end, just as she always was. That there was no tremendous change in her character. Such great characters.

Date: 2011-06-10 02:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] peggy-2.livejournal.com
You had said you liked Rose's character

Well, what I said was that I loved her voice. Long after finishing the book it is her dialogue and pattern of speech that keeps playing through my head : )

but now that you mention it I love her constancy as well. Steadfast and true, to herself and others.


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