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Pureheart
Gal and Deirdre have forgotten something. something really, really important.
When her grandmother dies, Deirdre is left alone in a crumbling block of flats. Looking out the window one misty night, she sees a boy who seems familiar. Together, he and Deirde must discover the secret of the old building, before it collapses and the secret is lost forever . . .
When her grandmother dies, Deirdre is left alone in a crumbling block of flats. Looking out the window one misty night, she sees a boy who seems familiar. Together, he and Deirde must discover the secret of the old building, before it collapses and the secret is lost forever . . .
189 pages, Paperback
First published July 24, 2013
1 person is currently reading
110 people want to read
About the author
Cassandra Golds
7 books70 followersCassandra Golds was born in Sydney, Australia and grew up reading Hans Christian Andersen, C.S. Lewis and Nicholas Stuart Gray over and over again — and writing her own stories as soon as she could hold a pen. Her first book, Michael and the Secret War, was accepted for publication when she was nineteen years old and she is proud to have been “discovered” by the incomparable Jennifer Rowe (also known as Emily Rodda) who was her very first editor and mentor. In collaboration with the artist Stephen Axelsen, she went on to write a string of flamboyantly themed graphic novels, all of which have been published as monthly serials in the venerable New South Wales School Magazine in Australia.
She wrote Clair-de-Lune after coming upon the fascinating fact that many people have difficulty in saying their own name without 'pulling back' their voice. The Museum of Mary Child, her latest novel, was inspired by a nightmare.
“I dreamed a whole chapter of that book,” she says. “It’s the one where Heloise first sees inside the Museum. But the rest of it I made up while I was awake!”
Cassandra writes in a room with buttercup yellow walls and a poster-sized map of Narnia hanging on the wall above her desk. She has had this map since she was ten years old. Her favourite book is Down in the Cellar by Nicholas Stuart Gray and if a genii gave her three wishes she would use one of them to bring it back into print for the readers of today. If she wasn’t a writer, she would like to be an actor — but only if she could be in a production of Hair or Godspell.
You can friend her on Facebook (where she has started a Nicholas Stuart Gray Appreciation Society), or follow her on Twitter.
She wrote Clair-de-Lune after coming upon the fascinating fact that many people have difficulty in saying their own name without 'pulling back' their voice. The Museum of Mary Child, her latest novel, was inspired by a nightmare.
“I dreamed a whole chapter of that book,” she says. “It’s the one where Heloise first sees inside the Museum. But the rest of it I made up while I was awake!”
Cassandra writes in a room with buttercup yellow walls and a poster-sized map of Narnia hanging on the wall above her desk. She has had this map since she was ten years old. Her favourite book is Down in the Cellar by Nicholas Stuart Gray and if a genii gave her three wishes she would use one of them to bring it back into print for the readers of today. If she wasn’t a writer, she would like to be an actor — but only if she could be in a production of Hair or Godspell.
You can friend her on Facebook (where she has started a Nicholas Stuart Gray Appreciation Society), or follow her on Twitter.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 2, 2013
Cassandra Golds is one of the most extraordinary writers in the world. Her work is very hard to define, because there is no-one else writing quite like she does. Her books are beautiful, haunting, strange, and heart-rending. They are old-fashioned in the very best sense of the word, in that they seem both timeless and out-of-time. They are fables, or fairy tales, filled with truth and wisdom and a perilous kind of beauty. They remind me of writers I adored as a child – George Macdonald Fraser, Nicholas Stuart Gray, Elizabeth Goudge, or Eleanor Farjeon at her most serious and poetic.
I have read and loved all of Cassandra’s work but Pureheart took my breath away. Literally. It was like being punched in the solar plexus. I could not breathe for the lead weight of emotion on my heart. I haven’t read a book that packs such an emotional wallop since Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls. This is a story about a bullied and emotionally abused child and those scenes are almost unbearable to read. It is much more than that, however.
Pureheart is the darkest of all fairy tales, it is the oldest of all quest tales, it is an eerie and enchanting story about the power of love and forgiveness. It is, quite simply, extraordinary.
I have read and loved all of Cassandra’s work but Pureheart took my breath away. Literally. It was like being punched in the solar plexus. I could not breathe for the lead weight of emotion on my heart. I haven’t read a book that packs such an emotional wallop since Patrick Ness’s A Monster Calls. This is a story about a bullied and emotionally abused child and those scenes are almost unbearable to read. It is much more than that, however.
Pureheart is the darkest of all fairy tales, it is the oldest of all quest tales, it is an eerie and enchanting story about the power of love and forgiveness. It is, quite simply, extraordinary.
July 25, 2013
This tale is not meant to be simply read, it must be unraveled. It is a journey through time, a medieval legend steeped in dark magic, a Brothers Grimm fairytale, a Gothic horror, a love story terrifying and elating at the same time. Superbly crafted, a richly layered and visual exploration of the mind, of grief, and of love and forgiveness, the determination of evil and the devotion of true love. An eerie, heartbreaking and enchanting fairytale.
Full review at http://crickhollowbooks.com.au/blog/2...
Full review at http://crickhollowbooks.com.au/blog/2...
June 18, 2017
This book was a bit of an unexpected treasure. It had been languishing on my TBR since 2013, with me having added it not long after joining Goodreads. I wasn't expecting a great deal from the book, as I'd fallen into my old trap of judging the book by it's cover.
But between the covers is an absorbing tale, timeless in setting. I'm not sure if you would call this a fable, a modern fairy tale, or something else altogether but it has a hazy surreal quality.
I'm left with a sense that there is more to be found in the book. Despite its seeming simplicity, there are layers of complexity to the book I'd like to explore again. Like the house in the book, the novel is labyrinthine in its exploration of time, and the effects of the past on the present.
A gently written book, that explores heavier themes and concepts. Well worth a look.
But between the covers is an absorbing tale, timeless in setting. I'm not sure if you would call this a fable, a modern fairy tale, or something else altogether but it has a hazy surreal quality.
I'm left with a sense that there is more to be found in the book. Despite its seeming simplicity, there are layers of complexity to the book I'd like to explore again. Like the house in the book, the novel is labyrinthine in its exploration of time, and the effects of the past on the present.
A gently written book, that explores heavier themes and concepts. Well worth a look.
August 16, 2013
Lovely lovely lovely. There is something very magical indeed about Cassandra Golds' work. I'll be reviewing this one in full for Viewpoint.
April 5, 2014
Lyn is a judge for the Aurealis Awards. Any reviews and ratings expressed by Lyn do not reflect the opinion of the Aurealis Awards Panel or Committee.
I shall be rating this work once the Awards are announced.
I shall be rating this work once the Awards are announced.
October 9, 2013
A fairy tale, yet a dark, gothic fairytale. If you like this type of story, you will love this very well written and intricately woven novel...
September 27, 2019
This book is one of the worst books I've ever read.
The writing:
It's ridiculously melodramatic, the amount of times the author writes "it was the most shocking thing he had ever seen" or "she had never felt more sad". How sad do you have to be that every new sad thing that happens you have never felt sadder? How shocked do you have to be that someone gives you a slightly odd look that it gives you shivers down your spine? What the fuck kind of looks are these characters giving each other that it makes them feel so many emotions. And why is this relevant. There are SO MANY cliches. So many. From chilled to the bone to heart wrenching sadness, so many phrases are unimaginative and proves that Gold is a terrible writer. In this book at least. She over explains everything, particularly things that aren't relevant in the slightest. There is a FULL PAGE that explains objects in a room. One slab of text. I skipped over so much text because I did not care about any of that bullshit.
The characters:
I hated all of the characters. Bullshit bullshit characters who are so melodramatic and selfish. The main character Dierdre is a privileged white girl who was born to love this guy. She loves this guy so much it's all she can think about. Wow two dimensional sexist writing. She hates herself so much and she's so ~different~ ooooo how unique. The other two characters are her grandmother Mrs Dark and the guy Galahad. The guy that she's in love with and who loves her. They make out multiple times in the book and confess their love for each many many times it was awful. Oh, one more thing, Galahad and Dierdre are cousins. What the fuck? Kind of writing? And it was pushed off as normal? What the actual fuck? So Dierdre was born to fall in love with her cousin, then die because she loves him so much. That's it. That's the whole story.
The plot:
The plot sucked on SO many levels. Basically, privileged white girl hates her manipulative grandmother, falls in love with her cousins and dies because she loves him so much. Nothing else happens. Literally nothing. It's boring and annoying and the characters have absolutely no depth. No ability to think rationally. I hated it so fucking much oh my god. How do people like this book.
Don't read this book. Don't ever bother reading the first page. Don't pick it up. It doesn't deserve your time.
The writing:
It's ridiculously melodramatic, the amount of times the author writes "it was the most shocking thing he had ever seen" or "she had never felt more sad". How sad do you have to be that every new sad thing that happens you have never felt sadder? How shocked do you have to be that someone gives you a slightly odd look that it gives you shivers down your spine? What the fuck kind of looks are these characters giving each other that it makes them feel so many emotions. And why is this relevant. There are SO MANY cliches. So many. From chilled to the bone to heart wrenching sadness, so many phrases are unimaginative and proves that Gold is a terrible writer. In this book at least. She over explains everything, particularly things that aren't relevant in the slightest. There is a FULL PAGE that explains objects in a room. One slab of text. I skipped over so much text because I did not care about any of that bullshit.
The characters:
I hated all of the characters. Bullshit bullshit characters who are so melodramatic and selfish. The main character Dierdre is a privileged white girl who was born to love this guy. She loves this guy so much it's all she can think about. Wow two dimensional sexist writing. She hates herself so much and she's so ~different~ ooooo how unique. The other two characters are her grandmother Mrs Dark and the guy Galahad. The guy that she's in love with and who loves her. They make out multiple times in the book and confess their love for each many many times it was awful. Oh, one more thing, Galahad and Dierdre are cousins. What the fuck? Kind of writing? And it was pushed off as normal? What the actual fuck? So Dierdre was born to fall in love with her cousin, then die because she loves him so much. That's it. That's the whole story.
The plot:
The plot sucked on SO many levels. Basically, privileged white girl hates her manipulative grandmother, falls in love with her cousins and dies because she loves him so much. Nothing else happens. Literally nothing. It's boring and annoying and the characters have absolutely no depth. No ability to think rationally. I hated it so fucking much oh my god. How do people like this book.
Don't read this book. Don't ever bother reading the first page. Don't pick it up. It doesn't deserve your time.
September 8, 2022
i really wanted to like this book but i didnt really connect with any of the characters and their dialogue was really weird. my two stars is for the allusions and references to various works of literature and mythologies like deirdre of the sorrows and the holy grail. i thought that stuff was pretty cool and how pureheart was actually a retelling of it. also i did like how it left me thinking of how flawed parental figures are which i really appreciate.
June 30, 2019
Could not get through a chapter.
July 27, 2019
Found it hard to get into this book as Cassandra Golds other books were highly readable and captivating. It was a bit disjointed and effort full.
May 31, 2021
this book was ok as I did not really understand.
June 9, 2014
It's kind of like reading concrete poetry. It was really beautiful in parts, and bone-tinglingly creepy in others, and uplifting in others.
The premise is a girl and a boy must explore the decaying building where she lives as well as the past, led by the ghost of her dead grandmother.
It might not sound like much but the metaphors and beautiful description makes up for that. It's a modern fairy story. I found Deirdre a bit hard to understand - I understand she's basically been abused and she is ghost-like but at the same time she doesn't seem to have a personality at all... Gal, however, was almost crush-worthy - but maybe that's because I just imagined Gil Blythe the entire time.
Cue a Gilbert Blythe gif:
Anyway, a lovely book but I'm sure I'll have forgotten everything within a week. Oh dear.
((Also, holy mother of cheese, I didn't see the grandmother on the front cover until one time I was in public when suddenly I saw her creepy little eyes staring at me and I nearly had a heart attack. IN PUBLIC.))
*gif not mine*
The premise is a girl and a boy must explore the decaying building where she lives as well as the past, led by the ghost of her dead grandmother.
It might not sound like much but the metaphors and beautiful description makes up for that. It's a modern fairy story. I found Deirdre a bit hard to understand - I understand she's basically been abused and she is ghost-like but at the same time she doesn't seem to have a personality at all... Gal, however, was almost crush-worthy - but maybe that's because I just imagined Gil Blythe the entire time.
Cue a Gilbert Blythe gif:
Anyway, a lovely book but I'm sure I'll have forgotten everything within a week. Oh dear.
((Also, holy mother of cheese, I didn't see the grandmother on the front cover until one time I was in public when suddenly I saw her creepy little eyes staring at me and I nearly had a heart attack. IN PUBLIC.))
*gif not mine*
October 14, 2013
I'm still not quite sure what I thought about this book. It's the kind of novel you need to take time to think about before you decide how it made you feel.
At this early stage, all I can say is that there were parts I liked, parts I didn't like, part I found downright confusing, and other parts that I loved. The only this I can with any certainty is that this is a book you have to read to understand anything about it!
At this early stage, all I can say is that there were parts I liked, parts I didn't like, part I found downright confusing, and other parts that I loved. The only this I can with any certainty is that this is a book you have to read to understand anything about it!
January 4, 2014
This was The Museum of Mary Child all over again. A horror story masquerading as a fairy tale (that can work, but here it doesn't.) Very dark; child abuse, emotional manipulation etc. Only worth reading if you liked Mary Child more than I did.
I'm hoping Ms. Golds' next book is more like The Three Loves of Persimmon, which I adored.
I'm hoping Ms. Golds' next book is more like The Three Loves of Persimmon, which I adored.
January 20, 2014
Classic Cassandra Golds style - beautifully written as usual
Strong suspense/mystery in this one – story unravels v slowly
Similar to Museum of Mary Childs
Teacher note: Found ending very dark/tragic (without Cassandra Golds’ usual spark of hope). Deirdre was a ghost & was long dead – consider when suggesting to student
Teacher note: Sex scene – brief, unlikely to be noticed
Strong suspense/mystery in this one – story unravels v slowly
Similar to Museum of Mary Childs
Teacher note: Found ending very dark/tragic (without Cassandra Golds’ usual spark of hope). Deirdre was a ghost & was long dead – consider when suggesting to student
Teacher note: Sex scene – brief, unlikely to be noticed
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2013
Quite extraordinary. A haunting and beautiful exploration of the power of love.
October 29, 2013
I have to think about this some more. Review later. It's good, but too 'big' to think about properly now.
June 16, 2014
Exquisite. Elegaic. Devastating.
February 10, 2015
I know I've only given this three stars because I think this novel went over my head a bit, but I'm still willing to punch anyone who gives cassandra scathing reviews :)
September 14, 2013
A beautiful gothic fairytale.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews