The Book

by Jessica Bell

This book is not The Book. The Book is in this book. And The Book in this book is both the goodie and the baddie.

Bonnie is five. She wants to bury The Book because it is a demon that should go to hell. Penny, Bonnie’s mother, does bury The Book, but every day she digs it up and writes in it. John, Bonnie’s father, doesn’t live with them anymore. But he still likes to write in it from time to time. Ted, Bonnie’s stepfather, would like to write in The Book, but Penny won’t allow it.

To Bonnie, The Book is sadness.
To Penny, The Book is liberation.
To John, The Book is forgiveness.
To Ted, The Book is envy.
But The Book in this book isn’t what it seems at all.

If there was one thing in this world you wished you could hold in your hand, what would it be? The world bets it would be The Book.

Genres: Contemporary, Roman, Adult, Paranormal

154 pages, Paperback

First published January 18, 2013

About the author

Jessica Bell is a multi-award-winning author/poet and singer-songwriter who was born in Melbourne, Australia.

In addition to having published a memoir, five novels, three poetry collections, and her bestselling Writing in a Nutshell series, she has been featured in a variety of publications and radio shows such as Writer’s Digest, Publisher’s Weekly, The Guardian, Life Matters, and Poetica.

She is also the Publisher of Vine Leaves Press, and a highly sought-after book cover designer. She currently resides in Athens, Greece, with her partner and son, and a pile of dishes that still don’t know how to wash themselves despite her consistently teaching by example.

For more information visit: iamjessicabell.com

Reviews

[Annalisa Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had no idea what to expect from this book, but from the very first sentence it hooked me and drew me into Bonnie's world. The author's simple prose perfectly nailed the thoughts and feelings of a young child and the way she perceives the world around her. I wasn't prepared for the ending, though - so it hit me with the full force of emotion. Wonderfully written, and definitely a novella to reread.

[Kyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

When a book has such an interesting synopsis that I can't stop thinking about it - I have to read it.

I read The Book in a couple of hours last night, barely noticing the time slipping by. The story is told through snippets written in the book by Penny and John, but mostly through the eyes of their five year old daughter, Bonnie.

What really fascinated me was just how perfect the perspective of Bonnie was. There is a belief among adults that young children just don't understand what is happening in the world around them, but Bonnie showed that they do. Even when she couldn't fully grasp what it all meant, she was aware of of tension, and the basic difference between right and wrong.

I finished the story with shivers running up and down spine - it was THAT good. I know I will read this over and over, and still enjoy it every single time.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first time I read the synopsis, I was hooked.
It captured my imagination and I kept on wondering about the story.

This contemporary novella is unusual, refreshing, gripping... a raw personal tale.
It is multi-layered, the kind of story that allows for lots of reflective moments.

The story is told from the POV of a precocious 5 year old child who is trying to make sense of adult relationships, and she sees The Book as the object which causes all the problems in her life.

Most of the story is written in diary-styled prose. There is also internal dialogue as well as taped sessions between Bonnie and her therapist, Dr. Wright.
And I didn't see the ending coming. It just crept up on me----- wham!
All in all, it's a wonderful story.

[Leigh Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVE this story!
I love journal-style stories, because they're like mysteries, and this one does not disappoint!

John starts The Book as a way to share his feelings on being a new father with his daughter Bonnie.
I love John's voice, but then after two entries, it's gone!

Penny, the mother takes over, and we start to understand what happened, what's happening, and why. But it's clear we're not getting the whole story.

Bonnie eventually joins the entries, and it just gets even better...

The Book is gorgeous, heartbreaking, and fascinating.

HIGHLY recommend!

[Tom O’Connell · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The Book’, by Jessica Bell, gets the honour of being the first book I’ve read by an indie author. And a good first impression it has made; if this is the sort of quality work the independents are putting out then I look forward to reading more.

‘The Book’ is a raw, personal tale about a new family: Penny, John and their premature-born daughter, Bonnie. It is comprised mostly of diary entries, though there are also recorded interviews and a few first-person sections told from five-year-old Bonnie’s perspective.
The titular book is a sort of growth journal, or a book of memories. Both John and Penny write in it with the intentions of giving it to Bonnie when she’s older.
Early on in the story, however, the family falls apart, and the book’s primary function shifts, becoming instead a sort of window into each parent’s psyche.

For the most part, the different perspectives work really well. We are shown each parent’s insecurities, biases and greater personalities through the language they employ and the way in which they construct their entries. Because of this, ‘The Book’ is like an intimate character study, which I welcomed; this sort of thing is right up my alley.

There were some instances, however, where the limitations of the journal device were exposed. On occasion, I felt that the format was a little too restrictive for the narrative.
For example, I found some of the entries – Penny’s, in particular – so raw and personal that they bordered on inappropriate. Given that this book was intended to be a log of Bonnie’s development, I was surprised at just how many sordid adult confessions slipped through.
I actually think these entries (Penny’s) would’ve sat a little better with me if they were induced by, say, too much red wine, or if they came a little more sporadically (i.e. sandwiched between more happy recounts of Bonnie’s developments). As it is, halfway into ‘The Book’ the journal seems to become almost entirely about the turbulent relationship between John and Penny.

Another minor limitation of the device is in the way some of the entries are presented. Again, considering that the book is to be read by an adult Bonnie, a lot of the entries seemed to start quite abruptly, with little in the way of orientation. What I mean is that Penny seemed to start most of her recounts in the very midst of the action, instead of first introducing what the family had done, or what the specific entry would be about. I found this a little strange; surely she’d be more considerate of the journal’s future reader?
(For fear I haven’t made myself clear enough, here is a fictitious example to illustrate. We might have an entry that begins: ‘You had so much fun today. You wouldn’t eat all your chips, but you loved making that snowman. I think we will come back again next year so you can learn how to snowboard.’ Whereas, in this example, I think the more appropriate way to begin would be, say: ‘Hi, Bonnie. Today we took you on your very first ski holiday. It’s early days, but I think it’s safe to say you’ve developed a taste for skiing!’)

But enough of all that because there are many positive things that the epistolary format allows for. For one thing, it grants a level of intimacy that is just not possible with a more detached, traditional style of storytelling. Ignoring the fact that it’s supposed to be for Bonnie, people are never more honest than when they’re baring their souls in a diary.
I feel like by writing in this manner Jessica really got to know her characters inside out (particularly Penny, whom, after Bonnie, we spend the most time with). Penny’s love for her daughter was beautifully rendered; so much so that, at times, I felt like a creepy voyeur reading the transcribed thoughts of a real person. The same goes for her frustrations and heartaches; these were all qualities of a fully realised character.

Obviously, though, the real star of the show is little Bonnie, and here Jessica wonderfully inhabits the mind of her five year old narrator. Like most children, Bonnie frequently misunderstands the habits and dialogues of the adults around her, and this endears us to her. There’s really nothing like the unadorned viewpoint of a child for highlighting some of the hypocrisies of adults.

Bonnie’s parents separate early on in the story, but they struggle a bit to move into the next phase of their lives. Penny gets with Ted, the fruit shop owner, while John finds a place with … well, let’s just say a younger woman (I actually really liked that the identity of this character – and in fact, the real reason why John and Penny broke up – was teasingly withheld for much of the story. Without spoiling anything, it was a very clever development). But still, with Bonnie binding them together, John and Penny are still very much a part of each other’s lives.
What transpires is a messy tangle of feelings and egos. The story is sometimes uncomfortable, but always compelling.
At its core, what ‘The Book’ is really about is love – the spectrum of it, the good and the bad. As I read, I shared some of the book’s developments with my partner. We ended up having these spirited discussions about certain characters’ actions. I loved the way this book brought us together and facilitated such discussion.
A key theme in the novel is that love is sometimes selfish; it is not always morally withstanding. I feel like the fact that my partner and I had such a spirited debate about this means that ‘The Book’ has depth and substance. I don’t think I’d have been able to devote my time and energy discussing it had I felt ambivalent about it. The fact of the matter is that I cared about these characters; I felt alongside them when they ached or triumphed.

Having said that, there’s still one major grievance I’ve yet to air. But it’s a subjective one, one largely to do my personal reading tastes; it’s possible others may find this a non-issue, or a mere matter of suspending disbelief.
Okay. So, while I consider myself an open-minded reader, I’m typically suspicious of child narrators. I find that to hinge a narrative on them, they have to be very precocious, and sometimes this can come across as insincere.
I felt that ‘The Book’s child narrator, as with those in ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ and ‘Room’, was selectively intelligent depending on the specific needs of the narrative. This is kind of the catch twenty-two with books like this: unless the child is observant and questioning, we lose interest with them, but those qualities (being observant and overly curious) aren’t all that true of children Bonnie’s age. At least not to this degree; not the ones I’ve been around.

To an extent, I feel like Bonnie is of a certain archetype (and this is no fault of Jessica’s writing; it’s more a necessity of child narrators – hence why I’m not that keen on them): she’s sweet, probing and determined to simplify the world so that she can fix everyone.
Again, in my experience, a lot of stuff goes right over children’s heads. Or, otherwise, parents will make a conscious effort to shield them from certain truths. Bonnie, however, seems to pick up subtext eerily well, and she’ll hold it up to the reader as though to say, ‘Look! This is the theme of the story!’ or ‘This is how I want you to feel!’.
This is one of my peeves about child narrators: they will blatantly misread an adult situation, and the I Know Better reader is left to fill in the gaps. I suppose I don’t mind this in moderation, but if the main character is going to be a child then it’s a given that this sort of thing will reoccur a lot. To me, it's a little contrived if the only way a narrative can move forward is by exploiting the innocence (ignorance?) we come to associate with children.

In the specific case of ‘The Book’, Bonnie knows, for example, how to write an articulate answer to a therapist’s question – with perfect spelling, mind – but she does not seem able to discern when an adult has said something that is obviously not meant to be taken literally. Maybe I just hate children or something, but I found it grating, not cute, when Bonnie confused herself by taking everything the adults say literally. Though social customs aren’t ingrained in us from birth, I still believe children are more perceptive than that, and that they deserve a little more credit if we’re to depict them in fiction.
Having said all that, though, I’m positive that others – particularly, for example, readers who have children themselves – will find Bonnie’s voice endearing, so please take my comments with a grain of salt. It’s also worth mentioning that the freaking Man Booker-nominated ‘Room’ was a far worse offender of all this.

Geez, I’m out of steam now.

To summarise, Jessica Bell’s ‘The Book’ is a short, engaging read, and I think it would appeal most to fans of either child narrators or epistolary novels. The writing is clear, concise and accessible, and the multiple styles and perspectives worked a treat. Though I am probably not the book’s intended audience, I still found a great deal of enjoyment in it.

I sincerely look forward to reading more of Jessica’s work.

[Shannon Winward · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew nothing at all about The Book going in – hadn’t even read the synopsis. So imagine my eyebrows arching when I opened it to find it begins with the syrupy –sweet, tired awe of new parents writing to their infant daughter in a diary. “It is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me—to see you being born…” the father rhapsodizes in the first entry. Later, Mummy confides, “Being your mother is the most rewarding occupation. When I feel those tears coming on, I just look at your face, and it helps me keep them hidden until I go to bed at night…”

I remember those feelings. I remember wanting to chronicle every little spectacular and mundane detail of my child’s existence – and my utter failure to keep up once the reality of parenting kicked in. I smiled at the time gaps between the entries, how Bonnie leaps from newborn to her first Christmas to toddlerhood in just a few pages. We have the best of intentions when we start out as parents, don’t we?

So I could relate, but I was skeptical about what I was reading, and why. Epistolary fiction – a story in letters – is a challenge. A little risky, not easy to do well. Where was the author going with this? More importantly, would it work?

I’m happy to say that, yes, The Book worked for me. I found the structure interesting: I like how we gain insight into the characters through a variety of narrative techniques and points-of-view. Bonnie’s parents use The Book – a shared diary – not just as a record of Bonnie’s early life, but as a means to communicate with their future daughter (and, sometimes, with each other). Later, five-year-old Bonnie speaks for herself in first-person narrative, with a strong, precocious voice. Aware of The Book but not its purpose, Bonnie wonders why it seems to make her mother cry or her stepfather angry, and develops some surprising ideas – a neat twist. And through transcripts of Bonnie’s taped sessions with a therapist, we see her from an outside, more clinical perspective. The Book is complex, intelligently crafted and, so far as I know, quite unique.

Because it is heavy on narration and dialog, the actual story within The Book isn’t made explicit. We aren’t given a blow by blow of how Bonnie’s parent’s marriage dissolves, for example, or the circumstances and relationships that arise between the characters afterwards, since the characters are writing to each other or narrating to themselves. They have little need to spell things out in exposition. Thus the story sneaks up on you bit by bit; as often you figure out what’s happened through what isn’t said, or what’s between the lines.

I like that. I’m a fan of subtle. I’m a fan of stories that get under your skin without you realizing it until you’re hooked. I read The Book in bits in pieces, usually over coffee while my son was eating breakfast. I remember one scene in particular took me by surprise, and I had to keep reading in that peeking-through-your-fingers kind of way to find out what would happen. We ended up late to school that day. I guess that’s when I figured out for sure that, yup, The Book is good.

There were a couple of things that I didn’t love. Bonnie’s mother was weak in character in a way that chafed my feminine sensibilities. I kept wanting her to get a backbone and stop being so dependent on men. It is what it is and didn’t hurt the story, per se, but I don’t know how central it was either. I would have liked to have at least seen her weakness rooted in something, explained or justified, resolved and maybe overcome in the end. I’m not sure that it was.

And though I admire the way the character of Bonnie just explodes off the page (somewhere I saw the author mention it was more like channeling than writing, and that definitely shows), there were times that I couldn’t quite get comfortable with Bonnie. She is uncannily precocious for her age (it is eventually stated that she’s something of a prodigy). Yet, at the same time, her narrative is riddled with a typical five-year-old’s corrupted spelling/pronunciation and contextual misunderstanding, to the point of redundancy. Plus Bonnie is also an Australian five-year-old, and I’m NOT, so I think some things were lost in translation. (What, exactly, is “making doll’s eyes”? An unblinking stare? Batting your lashes??” I googled it, but I still can’t tell.)

As a result, Bonnie’s narrative often called attention to itself, which kept me from being as immersed in the story as I might have been. But I can’t deny that Bonnie is a stand-out character. I loved her forthrightness, her insights. I loved her questions about human nature, and I was moved by her father’s attempts to answer them at the end of the book. This is definitely a kid who sticks with you even after The Book is done.

I’m not going to go into too much more detail, because I think a little bit of mystery makes this an enjoyable read. I’ll just say, overall, I was pleasantly surprised, and look forward to more from Jessica Bell in the future.

I would definitely recommend The Book to anyone who relishes smart and innovative literary fiction.

[Margo Dill · Rating 5 out of 5]

When the chance came to review another of Jessica Bell's books, I jumped at it. I loved her writing exercise and instruction book: Show & Tell in a Nutshell! This novella, The Book, caught my attention immediately--mostly because of the different formats--journal entries, doctor/patient transcripts, and narrative in a child's voice.

It doesn’t take a tome of 500 pages to tell a powerful, gripping and captivating story. Jessica has managed to do this in less than 150 pages in The Book. Jessica, also an author of poetry and nonfiction, takes on a unique voice for one of the narrators of her book—a five-year-old child, Bonnie; she truly captivates this voice, taking the reader through the story of the girl’s estranged parents and herself trying to figure out her young and confusing life full of adults always acting strangely.

The title comes from a book, which most would call a journal or diary, that Bonnie’s parents started writing in before she was even born. John, her father, has the idea to write special messages to his daughter and to give “The Book” to her when she is older. Penny, her mother, is the one who actually writes in it more, and eventually it becomes a diary for her mother, more than a message for the daughter.

The Book is divided into three parts: “Love is the Beginning,” “Love is a Weapon,” and “Love is Tangible.” In each part, Penny or John tell their side of the story and their feelings through their writings in “The Book”; Bonnie adds to the story through her narration for the reader; and transcripts of Bonnie speaking to a psychiatrist, Dr. Wright, are also included. All of these parts and various techniques work together to complete the story of Bonnie and her parents.

The reader learns that John and Penny don’t stay together after Bonnie’s born, and Penny starts a new relationship with Ted—who has a temper with a violent side. Bonnie explains to the reader what she sees going on in the lives of the adults around her, from her dad’s new family to her mom’s emotional side to “my Ted’s” outbursts.

Bonnie sees the biggest problem as “The Book.” She thinks it is what causes the difficulties in her life and the lives of her loved ones. She wants to destroy it and is just waiting for the chance to get it away from her mother and make everything better for everyone.


What Jessica does so well in this short novel is take on the different voices of the characters—readers will be able to hear the child trying to figure out her world in Bonnie’s narrative, while sympathizing with John and Penny who aren’t sure if they made the right choice to split apart. When Jessica writes as John in “The Book,” he has a distinct way of writing, which is different than Penny—this distinction and technique with voice are the marks of a talented writer.

The ending is shocking and can be somewhat disturbing, but it’s realistic, heartfelt, and certainly satisfying after spending several hours getting to know the characters in The Book.

The Book is a fast read, but one that you will want to read again. The characters are complex, which makes the story memorable, and a great one to discuss in a book club.

[Fahima M (Hitch Theory) · Rating 4 out of 5]

For more book reviews, check out I Read, Ergo I Write

The Book is written in three parts - Love is The Beginning, Love is A Weapon, & Love is Tangible, and from three points of view - John's, Penny's, Bonnie's and there are also transcripts of Bonnie's sessions with her doctor. With so many points of view, we get a well rounded picture of the story. My favourites were Bonnie's voice, and the transcripts of her sessions with Dr. Wright.

Bonnie is a premature child, and as a consequence, is a slow learner, and can get highly emotional sometimes. Bonnie sees the world in an unusual manner, way beyond her years, I think. Some of her observations are so insightful that you are stunned at them coming from a child so young. It reminded me of something I saw Ian Somerhalder saying at a recent con in Russia. He said that there are things that children see, that we as adults are incapable of seeing, because we have a much narrower view of the world than they do. And that is so true in Bonnie's case. It actually surprised me that she was considered a slow learner, not least because she always thinks if something 'makes logic' before she does it. As a psychology student, Bonnie's narration and the transcripts were almost an educational experience for me.

Penny and John enter their respective thoughts in the book, and at times, it has nothing to do with Bonnie, but with their feelings for each other and their regrets, which if you ask me, I dont think is very appropriate to give your child. Not that it was explicit or anything, but because I dont think any child is going to understand why her parent would take erroneous decisions and no excuses are going to suffice.

I loved The Book as a book, and as a story. But I dont know if the idea of a Book like The Book is a good idea.

Did you get what I said? I can be confusing sometimes :)

Bottomline: A uniquely written and delivered book that makes you question a lot of things that you accepted as the norm. For a novella, this Book packs quite a punch!

For more book reviews, check out I Read, Ergo I Write

[Maija · Rating 4 out of 5]

Source: I received a copy on read-to-review basis.


The Book is the book. It's a touching, heartwarming and truthful story about a little girl and her family, about love and how Bonnie sees the people around her.

The Book is an actual diary that Bonnie's parents started writing in when she was in Peggie's tummy. But in this book there's also Bonnie's point of view and her conversations with Dr. Wright.

I have never read a book from a kid's POV before and I must admit it's an interesting experience. Not only was it innocent and touching, it was also kind of funny. There were situations when Bonnie said things like the ice cream should be called i-quiet or she thought innocent is in-a-cent and was linked to money. Those are simple things to us, the so-called grown ups, but to a child's perception it`s different as she's still learning.

That's what I enjoyed the most about this book. It's written in such an adorable and poignant manner that it got me engrossed and held my attention through out. The voice of Bonnie's POV was so innocent and honest I truly believed I was reading what an actual child could say and do. And her mother's own love story written in The Book was brought out excellently.

Spoiler: I knew how this book will end, I just had the feeling it`s not going to have happy ending. I`m not sure what gave it away- maybe the cover and the shortness of this book, or just an instinct.


I don't want to relate the whole book because it would be a risk of telling too much as short as it is. But trust me, if you read this book, it might (or will) leave a big impact on you (especially if you're a parent yourself).

This book is unique and something I will never forget, and when I have a child of my own I'm sure I will remember this story. I`d recommend this book to everyone who`s ever been in love, lost a sibling or just for someone who wants a great rea

[Natalee Grimaldi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, stunning, bewildering, extraordinary, impressive, wonderful, marvelous, spectacular, wondrous, staggering, startling, breathtaking, striking, miraculous, astounding, stupefying, stupendous!!!!!!!!!!!!!

How many more words do I have to say to get you to read this book?? Because I can come up with more, trust me.

WOW!! Just wow. I think I need a moment……………………………………….ok, I’m good!

Oh, wait I forgot another word: CAPTIVATING! If we’re ever going to be awarding someone for literary genius, hands down-feet up I’d nominate Jessica Bell. Wowzer, that chick can write. In just over 100 pages(Kindle), she tells us a story about a little girl trying to understand what love is. It’s written in diary-style entries from Bonnie’s mom and dad, transcriptions from Bonnie’s therapy sessions, and first-person POV of Bonnie as a 5-year-old girl. All of these make up The Book. It holds the reasons why Bonnie’s family has come undone.

The most impressive part of those different POVs is Bonnie’s. It’s written in 5-year-old speak; spelled the way a little kid hears it. Don’t worry it’s not hard to understand. And there’s actually a point to that, it helps back up the way Bonnie’s brain works and what “makes logic” to her. The writing incorporates all that is Bonnie- smart, intuitive, clever, scared, funny. Full of life.

She is the BEST character I have EVER read about!!And I read a whole lot.

This is not a romance novel in the sense where boy meets girl and they live happily ever after. No. This is the bittersweet romance of a disconnected family trying to piece their love back together.

Please, please read this book! I’m practically begging here. And mothers( and fathers) have a box of tissues handy because you’ll need it.

[S.A. Larsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bell takes the reader on a journey of parenting, marriage, and childhood that warms the heart and tantalizes the mind with brilliance!

When I first began to read I had no idea what to expect. I'd read the blurb, like most of you do before you begin a book, so I knew the basics. But I couldn't figure out how Bell was going to present and move the story forward.

Structure is how she did it. The delivery was superb, and I don't say that lightly. There are so many positives to say about this story. The length was perfect for a short, quick read. Don't think because I mention it was a short, quick read that it didn't pack a punch; it did. Bell's journey from mother to father to the child, Bonnie, stayed with me days after I finished reading. I just couldn't stop thinking about that small family, the miscommunications they had, the choice that came from those, and then the ultimate ending - which I obviously won't share with you here.

The writing is wonderful with a real feel from both mother and father. And then when five-year-old Bonnie begins to speak through her own journal entries, the voice takes on even a more authentic truth. There were moments, especially towards the second half of the story, where I caught myself choking up or even shedding a tear. Or two. Or three. This book is definitely worth the read.

I would recommend it to any mother, father, parent or guardian, and anyone who has ever been a child. I also think it would be a good read for older teens as well.

[Stephanie Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

'The Book' is a contemporary adult novella that tells the story of Bonnie, a girl born prematurely in the late 1970s. The book alternates between journal entries addressed to Bonnie from her mom and dad and to pieces of the story told from Bonnie's point of view as a young child. There are also some doctor sessions between Bonnie and Dr. Wright thrown in. The story tells the tale of a book created while Penny, Bonnie's mother, is still pregnant. Bonnie's parents write her letters in the journal, which they plan on giving her when she's older. Once Bonnie grows to about four years old, we begin to read about events as Bonnie sees them. The reader gets to learn about Bonnie's life - her thoughts, feelings, things she doesn't understand, and the state of her family. It's a really interesting way to tell a story and I like the alternating points of view as well as the journal entries. It allows the reader to connect with different characters throughout the story instead of just one. There are some heavy topics talked about in the book, especially those of family, love, betrayal, hope, and grief. There's a huge twist at the end that I hated, but I can see how it would make sense in the scheme of things. This is a novella, so it's not very long - but the amount of emotion and detail that the author put into it is just as effective as a full length novel. Definitely recommended for fans of contemporary adult literature.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

There’s not much of a story to The Book. This is not a criticism, merely an observation. The focus of the book is Bonnie’s trying to understand adult relationships, specifically those between her mother (Penny), her father (John) who has moved out to care for his teenage daughter (Mary) following his ex-girlfriend’s breakdown and Penny’s new husband whom Bonnie refers to as “my Ted”. The only other significant adult in Bonnie’s life is Dr Wright, her psychotherapist. My only real gripe with the book is the voice of Bonnie who’s five and few authors manage to get a kid that age spot on. Bell does a decent enough job.

That aside this is an excellent book and well worth a read. Judging by the other reviews I’ve read I’m not the only one to think so either; my wife certainly enjoyed it. Also, if you do decide to go with the paperback rather than the ebook, can I just say that this is a lovely book? It feels nice in the hand, the paper’s good quality and—and the older I get the more this is an issue—the font is a decent size a well-spaced. As more and more people are being swayed towards ebooks—not that that’s a bad thing by any means—if you are going to bring out a paperback, you really want it to tick all the boxes and this does.

You can read my full review on my blog here.

[Mommasaysread · Rating 3 out of 5]

By Momma on June 15, 2013
Tweet
Pin It
The-Book

I can honestly say that I have never read a book like The Book. The approach was fresh and very risky. I think you have to be something of a risk taker to write from the point of view of missives to one another as well as the point of view of Bonnie, a 5 year old girl.

The story is touching and humbling in many ways. Having been through a divorce with children myself there were certainly some things that hit very close to home. As a parent you try to shield your children from the pain and horror that divorce can be, but The Book reminds us that no one is safe in these situations. Bell did a wonderful job guiding you through the steps of joy, apprehension and utter sadness from becoming a new parent to becoming a divorced parent.

One thing I had a lot of trouble with was the child’s vernacular that Bonnie spoke in. I have five children and remember them all speaking more clearly than Bonnie, which made the read sometimes cumbersome.

Overall I enjoyed the read, The Book was a bit of an emotional roller coaster. Bell has a wonderful way of bringing characters to life in what I would call an avant-gaurd novella.
What does Momma Think?

Momma gives The Book by Jessica Bell 3 cookies!

[Amie McCracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book by Jessica Bell is an account of life through the eyes of a diary. A little girl is born and her parents decide to share their thoughts in a journal. As she ages, the reader sees how the parents grow apart and then the reader hears the girl’s voice. The reader experiences through the child’s voice, and it is very authentic.

Oh my goodness. You should feel the chills creeping down my back. That book, wow. Such distinct and lovable voices. The mother is definitely a mother but is somewhat self-absorbed and stuck in a rut. I loved the mother even in all her flawed glory. The father chimes in only once in a while and he has such a strong but pompous voice. And I love Bonnie, the little girl. She was so honest and cute. Her knowledge and wisdom are a bit astounding.

Jessica really managed to show everything even though it was being told. I was held captive the entire time. By entire time I mean that I read the novella in just a few hours because I couldn’t stop. Seriously, goose bumps all up and down my arms. This is very stunning work yet again from Jessica. Go get this one, right now.

[Rebooookah · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The book has demons and has to go to the devil.”

Bonnie is determined to bury the book. Penny ensures her young daughter that it’s a token of love and affection and that one day she will understand. However, Bonnie is convinced it does nothing but inflict pain on the people she loves. She wonders how grownups can be so stupid and not see what she sees. Then again, she know she’s just a child and does not understand most things about life. Grownups “smile when they’re sad and they cry when they’re happy. It’s silly.”

The road to Hell is paved with the best of intentions. A book that was created out of love develops into a representation of agony. Her parents write in it. Bonnie tells you how it interferes with her everyday life.

Jessica Bell has poetically scripted a love story so genuine and so pure, it could only be told in the innocent perspective of a five-year-old girl. She elegantly builds up an anticipating climax so horrific and yet, so authentic, it’ll captivate you. I guarantee after reading THE BOOK, the story will linger in your mind long after you've finished.

[Chris Flemish · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jessica Bell loves the written word and it is obvious when you read her work.
In her latest novella she plays with words and fonts in a way I haven't seen to often.
This novella takes you inside the world of Bonnie. A cute little girl who is faced with the harsh reality of her parents divorce. It is an emotional roller coaster as Bonnie moves between her Mom, Dad and boyfriend.

Jessica's creative mind paints a story of confusion, love and grief. A poet at heart she weaves this story together with an end you don't expect.

I read all sorts of books as I believe it makes you a better writer. This novella is not a natural choice for me but knowing the craftsmanship of Bell I knew it would be a good and interesting read.

The Book is well written and easy to read. If you like the kind of stories that make you feel emotions...
Well, hold your tissue box close.

Enjoy.

[S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5
Relying on the acknowledgements, I would say this book has something of autobiographic, if only in its essence. Therefore, it probably has an immense meaning for the author and her family.
This is a really easy read. You’ll find yourself wanting to turn one more page, again and again, until you reach the end of the book. However, the story itself is very meaningful and invokes a lot of emotion.
Don’t expect a great work of literature. Expect a good moment of reading and you’ll definitely empathize with the characters.
I only wish the book was longer, and that the characters delved into their feelings to a deeper extent.
Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the book, and I hope that I’ll have the opportunity to read other works from Jessica Bell in the future.

Note: I received this book through GoodReads First Reads.

[Libby Broadbent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awwwww! I dont often get teary eyed when I read, being a hard and jaded old nut. But little Bonnie got to me. This wonderful novella follows a series of diary entries from various members of a typical dysfunctional family, the most unique being five year old Bonnie. This author has captured the voice and perception of a very young child which leaves the reader wanting more. It reminds me of "The Room", and "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time", where the young character is precocious in a manner that goes beyond mere childlike exuberance. I loved this book.

[Laura Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Book is a compilation of journal entries, therapy sessions, and the POV of a young child. It's gripping, strikingly emotional, brutally honest, and breathtakingly genuine. I read it in one sitting and am still thinking about it. Its multilayered construction begs for multiple readings, pondering, and mulling over.

I've only ever read a handful of books like that. Well done, Jessica! I look forward to reading more of your work.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great short story by Bell. 'The Book' is created by John and Penny who are Bonnie's parents. The novel takes the form of diary entries in the book along with Bonnie's thoughts and excerpts from discussions with a doctor. I didn't see the ending coming. Absolutely worth reading.

[Frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very quick and easy read. Interesting way of writing thru different characters. Very quick ending though. All in all a good read for the afternoon.

[Justyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Book is a book created by Penny and John, Bonnie's parents, who want to capture Bonnie's early years, so their daughter can read it in the future. As an epistolary novella, most sections are journal entries (started by John, then Penny writes most of it), Bonnie's POV (as a 5 year old with child sentence structure and vocab), and transcripts from Bonnie's therapy sessions with Dr. Wright. It makes for a quick, but poignant read exploring the complex relationships between Bonnie's family. Bonnie's perspective (I wasn't super bothered by the kid talk, as someone who doesn't like kids) where she's trying to make sense of her blended family and the nature of love is both annoying as a child, but also revealing of how adulthood and ways we communicate can be absurd or downright stupid. That said, from Bonnie the reader gets a glimpse of love, hurt, and secrets through the lens of an innocent child. For such a short piece (though one critique is I wish there was a few more journal entries between Bonnie's birth to age 5, it felt like an abrupt leap), it covers a lot of emotional depth. And the ending has a twist that's devastating. But the final words by John really sum up what The Book was trying to convey about adulthood, relationships, and love. Overall, this is a great piece by Jessica Bell!

[T.E. Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Just wow! This is fast-paced, powerful story that grabs you at the first page and carries you to the very last page. Half pages of a journal (The Book) written by Bonnie's mother and father, and half Bonnie's own story in her own words it leads you through her conception, birth, and life. It is also interspliced with transcriptions from her meetings with her psychiatrist

We never discover exactly what Bonnie's condition is, but I suspect that she has Aspergers or otherwise on the autism spectrum. She is ferociously intelligent and quick-witted but absolutely literal.

Jessica Bell's writing is similarly, and absolutely, honest. It is reminiscent of Mark Haddon at his very best as she draws the nature and behavour of a cast of disfunctional but all too real and believable characters. Just make sure you're sitting down for the ending when it hits you.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A couple decide to start a book to note down the special moments of their new daughter's life. Bonnie was born prematurely and this chronicles the issues she deals with. In so many ways I understand exactly how Bonnie feels, why don't people say what they mean?
Full of feelings from both parents' and Bonnie's point of view, and the end is heartbreaking.

[Aurumora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ich finde die Geschichte beunruhigend. Aus einer schönen Idee geboren, ein Buch für sein Kind zu schreiben, wird dann doch die schwierige Abwärstspirale Leben.
Außerdem erinnert es mich an unsere eigene Situation und beunruhigend Weise. Ziemlich beunruhigend.

PS: Mochte die unterschiedlichen Kapitel in den unterschiedlichen Schreib und Grafikarten von unterschiedlichen Chrakteren.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

(This review can be found on my blog The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl towards the end of December).


The Book by Jessica Bell is a book that I've been wanting to read for awhile. The synopsis really intrigued me. I was thrilled when I won a copy of The Book. Luckily, this book didn't disappoint.

Bonnie is a 5 year old girl. While her mother Penny is pregnant with Bonnie, John, Bonnie's dad, starts a journal (referred to as the book) where he writes his thoughts and wishes for Bonnie. However, Penny is the one who starts writing in it more than John. However, things don't go as planned. When John and Penny split up, the book becomes Penny's release for her feelings. Bonnie notices that her mom always cries when writing in the book, so she thinks the book is what is causing Penny's sadness. Bonnie sees her mom and her mom's boyfriend, Ted, fighting over the book, so Bonnie just wants to get rid of the book. Little do all the adults know how their actions will affect Bonnie.

I love the title! It's super mysterious but such a fitting tile. I think Ms. Bell did a fantastic job at picking this title.

I'm also a fan of the cover. I like the shadow of the child, which I believe to be Bonnie, with words written over it. I also like the pink (my favorite color) and the font.

Jessica Bell does a fantastic job with the world building. I felt like she creates the world of a 5 year old almost perfectly. I did find it strange that Bonnie's parents refer to themselves by their first name instead of mom and dad when writing things to Bonnie, but that's just me.

The pacing starts off a little slow, but before I realized it, it had really grabbed me and pulled me into the story. After that, the pace never slows down nor does it speed up where I didn't know what was going on.

The plot was very original which made for a refreshing read. It was interesting to read everyone's thoughts through journal entries (Penny and John) and through Bonnie's point of view. I also would've never predicted the ending of The Book!

The characters were all well written and rounded. I felt for Penny when she was torn between two men and doing what was best for Bonnie. I felt for John who wanted to be there for his daughter yet his hands were tied. I felt for Ted who was oblivious to what was going on around him through no fault of his own. I mostly felt for Bonnie who, due to her age, didn't know why everyone was acting the way they were over this book. Bell captures the emotion of each character perfectly!

Bell writes like a 5 year old would think when it came time for Bonnie's point of view. I found this annoying sometimes, but I understand why it needed to be done. It needed to be done to really capture the essence of Bonnie. There were times when I felt that Bonnie was acting or thinking like that of an older child, but this could've just been a personal thing as all children develop at different levels. Other then that, I found the dialogue to be very interesting. It also flows very smoothly and never feels rushed.

Overall, The Book is a fantastic and emotional read. It has an original plot line with memorable characters and fantastic dialogue.

I'd recommend this book to those aged 18+ who are after a read with an original story with a lesson to be learned.

I'd give The Book by Jessica Bell a 4.5 out of 5.

[Pepca · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent take on a child's POV and children noticing and knowing much more than adults think they can. I didn't expect it to end the way it did and I was rather shocked (and devastated). Still, The Book was a fascinating, even if short, story.

[Magdalena]

Bonnie is a precocious five year old that we come to know through a variety of lenses. The first is in the pages of a journal that her parents start to keep for her while she is still in the womb. Bonnie’s mother and father write in separate passages of sad, confused and always loving explanations of their lives, actions, and feelings, designed to be a gift for Bonnie when she’s old enough to understand. There are also a series of taped interviews of Bonnie talking to her psychiatrist Dr Wright. It isn’t made clear why 5 year old Bonnie has been sent to a psychiatrist, and it isn’t mentioned in the journal entries, but perhaps it may have something to do with Bonnie’s excitability – a character trait that becomes more of an issue as the book progresses. The final narration is from Bonnie herself. Written in Bonnie’s own youthful voice and from Bonnie’s perspective, these passages are structurally standard and easy to follow, but use distinctive spellings and childlike syntax to create a voice that is compelling and unique:

”I don’t know why he bovvers to smile when the smile is really invisible sad words. Now Mary looks at me too and does doll’s eyes again. That makes my Mr Stomach feel like there are fuzzy clouds in it. I don’t think it was a nice thing to do to me. Sometimes I think grownups are stupid just pretending to be smart. (57)”

The Book reads very quickly. This is not just because it’s only 154 pages of reasonably spaced text, but also because Bonnie’s voice drives the story along as we try to understand, from her perspective, the multiple relationships that surround her and the way in which her parents’ choices impact on her. In many ways, though the journal is designed to be a gift for Bonnie, it becomes a curse, filled with secrets that cause considerable pain to those people whose lives move around it. Bonnie’s voice is certainly the main focus of The Book but there is also Bonnie’s mother Penny, her stepfather Ted, her father John, and her step-sister Mary, as well as Dr. Wright, all of whom develop distinctive sounds and narrations. We learn about each of them primarily through Bonnie’s eyes, but Ted and Mary have dialogue, and Penny and John have their journal entries. The montage of these characters and the way in which they pivot around Bonnie and the journal are all handled delicately, and with the kind of tight mastery that one has come to expect of Jessica Bell.

The Book raises as many questions as it answers, hinting at a series of stories that are only lightly touched on, and leaves the reader both shocked, moved, wanting more, and satiated. It can be read in a single afternoon, as we not only begin to understand what the journal means to Bonnie as she begins to blame it for the disintegration of her families, but to begin to get the sense that Bonnie is both prescient and right in her assessment that grown-ups can be stupid. Bonnie’s logic makes more sense than the ‘invisible’ twisted communication of her parents. That The Book can bring us back to ourselves and hold up an uncomfortable mirror on adulthood is part of its charm.

[Laurel Garver]

The description, while intriguing, had me a little hesitant to dig in, because I thought this story would be very, very dark. I was pleasantly surprised from the first page by how intensely John and Penny express their love and hopes for their daughter in journal entries, meant to become a gift to Bonnie in the future. I connected with that immediately.

Bonnie's voice was a delight of child malapropisms and keen, un-jaded insights. Her perceptions and misperceptions of the relationship issues among the key actors in her world was breathtaking.

The final layer of transcripts from Bonnie's therapy sessions added another level of intrigue, since it introduces an outside perspective on this family situation.

I found it a fun puzzle to work with the varied threads of voice and unreliable narration to sort out what was "really happening" as the story progressed. Clearly a big theme of THE BOOK is the idea that no one truly has the whole story. We withhold our deepest feelings and truths from one another in ways that unintentionally injure. The experiments in form undergirded that idea powerfully.

Bell proves that literary fiction can have deep heart and experiment without becoming esoteric.