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The Whole of My World
An unputdownable novel for anyone who’s ever loved or lost, drawn a line between then and now, or kept a secret that wouldn’t stay hidden . . . 'Today I am free. No guilt for who’s missing, what’s been left behind. My face aches from smiling in the wind and my voice rasps from all the screaming, and I know that it’s been forever since I’ve felt so completely alive.' Desperate to escape her grieving father and harbouring her own terrible secret, Shelley disappears into the intoxicating world of AFL. Joining a motley crew of footy tragics – and, best of all, making friends with one of the star players – Shelley finds somewhere to belong. Finally she’s winning. So why don’t her friends get it? Josh, who she’s known all her life, but who she can barely look at anymore because of the memories of that fateful day. Tara, whose cold silences Shelley can’t understand. Everyone thinks there’s something more going on between Shelley and Mick. But there isn’t – is there? When the whole of your world is football, sometimes life gets lost between goals.
293 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2013
8 people are currently reading
926 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Hayes
48 books69 followersNicole Hayes is a writer, writing teacher and public speaker based in Melbourne. Her novels include The Whole of My World, longlisted for the 2014 Gold Inky Award and shortlisted for 2014 YABBAs and One True Thing, a CBCA Notable book for 2016 and the winner of the 2015 Children’s Peace Literature Award, and shortlisted for the WA Premier's Literary Award for Young Adult fiction. She co-edited an anthology of footy stories with Alicia Sometimes, From the Outer: Footy like you’ve never heard it (2016), and together they've a new book for girls about the AFL Women's competition, A Footy Girl's Guide to the Stars of 2017. She is a Stella Prize Schools Program Ambassador, and one-sixth of the first all-women AFL podcast, The Outer Sanctum.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
September 29, 2013
I was first drawn to THE WHOLE OF MY WORLD because of the cover. Its beautiful simplicity. The colours in the title, the exhilarated girl and that gorgeous tagline, “This is what it feels like to start again”. I bought it as soon as it launched. Then I found out it was about football.
I don’t hate football. Indifferent or disinterested may be better words to describe how I feel about the sport. I know it - grew up in a large family full of football crazies, split between Collingwood and Essendon. I inherited Essendon. Nevertheless, I never caught the fever, never felt the magic. Also, I’m one of the people who have been turned off the sport because of alleged and reported bad behaviour of players.
So this book, dubbed “The football book”, sat in my kindle until Grand Final Day. That morning I read an article written by the author on mamamia.com. It was to encourage women to get into the spirit of the day and watch the game. It didn’t make me want to watch the game, but it made we want to read her book. Immediately. So, as the first ball of the game bounced, I began reading. The first thing I realised was, the book is not about football. As the title and cover promises, it is about so much more. It’s a story that delves deeply into a character’s soul. She carries you on her journey, so close to her heart you feel her every emotion. It is so cleverly done, so beautifully written, I couldn’t stop reading. It reminded me why interests or hobbies such as football, or anything someone feels passionately about, are so important. Having a passion gives someone something to grip hold of, something to dream of, to live for. It can be an escape when life is difficult. I refuse to write spoiling reviews so I will stop there.
But, if you have reservations about this book like I did, because you aren’t into football, put them aside and dive in. Reading THE WHOLE OF MY WORLD is an entertaining, uplifting and enriching experience. I loved every minute of it.
I don’t hate football. Indifferent or disinterested may be better words to describe how I feel about the sport. I know it - grew up in a large family full of football crazies, split between Collingwood and Essendon. I inherited Essendon. Nevertheless, I never caught the fever, never felt the magic. Also, I’m one of the people who have been turned off the sport because of alleged and reported bad behaviour of players.
So this book, dubbed “The football book”, sat in my kindle until Grand Final Day. That morning I read an article written by the author on mamamia.com. It was to encourage women to get into the spirit of the day and watch the game. It didn’t make me want to watch the game, but it made we want to read her book. Immediately. So, as the first ball of the game bounced, I began reading. The first thing I realised was, the book is not about football. As the title and cover promises, it is about so much more. It’s a story that delves deeply into a character’s soul. She carries you on her journey, so close to her heart you feel her every emotion. It is so cleverly done, so beautifully written, I couldn’t stop reading. It reminded me why interests or hobbies such as football, or anything someone feels passionately about, are so important. Having a passion gives someone something to grip hold of, something to dream of, to live for. It can be an escape when life is difficult. I refuse to write spoiling reviews so I will stop there.
But, if you have reservations about this book like I did, because you aren’t into football, put them aside and dive in. Reading THE WHOLE OF MY WORLD is an entertaining, uplifting and enriching experience. I loved every minute of it.
July 5, 2013
I loved this book. The fact that AFL is a major character in the book really helped. The fact that I read it around the 1 year anniversary of losing my Dad in a car accident really helped too. It was a case of the right book at the right time for me.
Shelley and her Dad are living the lives of ghosts following the death of her mother and brother in a car accident two years ago. Still caught in their grief, they are in limbo - feeling guilty if they are happy about anything. Josh, Shelley's childhood friend and her brother's best mate, is always in the background offering support to Shelley which makes her uncomfortable, but she can't pinpoint why and neither can we - yet.
Shelley starts at a local Catholic school on a scholarship halfway through Year 10 and hopes it is a new beginning, a chance to "draw a line between one day and the next". There she meets Tara, a football tragic like herself, and Shelley is drawn into the world of the fanatic supporters who attend training, and everything else they can wangle their way into. Mick (Eddie) the new recruit from WA befriends Shelley and she is thrilled. Slowly Shelley's life feels like it is taking a turn for the better. However, as the football soaked part of her life takes off, Shelley finds her family, and her new friend Tara, don't understand it. Tara withrdraws from her, her father bans her from going to training and Josh can't understand why Shelley is happy to go to the Glenthorn games, but not his own Raiders games (where she and her brother also played).
This is a gentle book, which encourages you to stick with Shelley, even though she sometimes is VERY naive and more than a bit frustrating. I will not post spoilers, but there are revelations in the last third of the book that helped to make sense of it all and I was very satisfied with the ending - feeling quite happy and uplifted. Definitely recommended for anyone over the age of 12.
Shelley and her Dad are living the lives of ghosts following the death of her mother and brother in a car accident two years ago. Still caught in their grief, they are in limbo - feeling guilty if they are happy about anything. Josh, Shelley's childhood friend and her brother's best mate, is always in the background offering support to Shelley which makes her uncomfortable, but she can't pinpoint why and neither can we - yet.
Shelley starts at a local Catholic school on a scholarship halfway through Year 10 and hopes it is a new beginning, a chance to "draw a line between one day and the next". There she meets Tara, a football tragic like herself, and Shelley is drawn into the world of the fanatic supporters who attend training, and everything else they can wangle their way into. Mick (Eddie) the new recruit from WA befriends Shelley and she is thrilled. Slowly Shelley's life feels like it is taking a turn for the better. However, as the football soaked part of her life takes off, Shelley finds her family, and her new friend Tara, don't understand it. Tara withrdraws from her, her father bans her from going to training and Josh can't understand why Shelley is happy to go to the Glenthorn games, but not his own Raiders games (where she and her brother also played).
This is a gentle book, which encourages you to stick with Shelley, even though she sometimes is VERY naive and more than a bit frustrating. I will not post spoilers, but there are revelations in the last third of the book that helped to make sense of it all and I was very satisfied with the ending - feeling quite happy and uplifted. Definitely recommended for anyone over the age of 12.
April 5, 2017
I have a few issues with this book. Will go into more detail when it's not 1am. All the footy references were amazing though.
November 7, 2022
dude i didnt actually finish reading this book its so bad please dont do this to urself. Im too many chapters in and nothing interesting is happening so i lied about my progress just so i could say i finished it and move onto a different book.
June 4, 2013
See my full review here: http://booksaremyfavouriteandbest.wor...
It’s interesting that I had two books at the top of my reading stack about women and footy. One was Anna Krein’s Night Games and the other, The Whole of My World by Nicole Hayes. I picked up Hayes first, partly because I committed to reading some of the ARCs that I had been kindly given access to but also because I suspected the Krein would be confronting reading (and I wasn’t in the mood for that at the time).
It’s worth noting that although this book is aimed at the young-adult market, the issues that it covers are anything but light. Instead, expect characters dealing with grief; the difficulties of finding your place in a group (regardless of age); the lure of celebrity fame; and that tightrope between being a kid and an adult.
The Whole of My World is the story of Shelley, a teenage girl obsessed with Australian Rules football. Despite being robbed of the opportunity to play, Shelley lives and breathes footy, analysing every part of Glenthorn’s game, watching the replay with her dad, clipping newspaper articles about Glenthorn and going along to local games to watch her childhood friend, Josh, play.
At the beginning of the book, Shelley is starting at a new school, St. Mary’s Catholic Ladies College. It’s a ‘fresh start’ – from what, you don’t know. As the story unfolds, Shelley’s ‘secret’ is revealed along with her developing friendship with Tara, another ‘footy tragic’. A handful of sub-plots play out – her changing relationship with Josh, the nature of her friendship with one of Glenthorn’s star players and the importance of ‘finding your tribe’ for teenagers. The way that these sub-plots and themes are gently handled is the strength of this book and for young adult readers, there’s a lot of thought-provoking stuff that will stick with them long after they’ve finished reading.
Perhaps it’s because Night Games is jostling alongside this book on the ‘New Releases’ shelf at the bookshop, that I found Hayes’s exploration of the relationship between a young girl and a league football player the most interesting element of the story. You would have had to have been living under a rock in Melbourne over the past few years to have missed this very issue in the media and Hayes perfectly captures both the innocence and the intent of the characters, leaving the reader feeling very uneasy indeed as to what will happen.
I only had one quibble with The Whole of My World. It may be the footy-loving Melburnian in me, but I do wonder why Hayes decided to go with fictional place names and football teams rather than the real deal. It was made all the more perplexing when, in the acknowledgements, she mentions her love for the Hawks and remembers fondly hanging around Glenferrie Oval in her youth. I can only assume that because of some of the plot lines, she didn’t want to associate anything fictional with a club but Hayes clearly knows her footy and I would have loved some detail that gave me a better sense of place and time.
3.5 /5 This book is the perfect springboard for so many discussions about issues that are real and current for teenagers.
I received my copy of The Whole of My World from the publisher, Random House Australia via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
It’s interesting that I had two books at the top of my reading stack about women and footy. One was Anna Krein’s Night Games and the other, The Whole of My World by Nicole Hayes. I picked up Hayes first, partly because I committed to reading some of the ARCs that I had been kindly given access to but also because I suspected the Krein would be confronting reading (and I wasn’t in the mood for that at the time).
It’s worth noting that although this book is aimed at the young-adult market, the issues that it covers are anything but light. Instead, expect characters dealing with grief; the difficulties of finding your place in a group (regardless of age); the lure of celebrity fame; and that tightrope between being a kid and an adult.
The Whole of My World is the story of Shelley, a teenage girl obsessed with Australian Rules football. Despite being robbed of the opportunity to play, Shelley lives and breathes footy, analysing every part of Glenthorn’s game, watching the replay with her dad, clipping newspaper articles about Glenthorn and going along to local games to watch her childhood friend, Josh, play.
At the beginning of the book, Shelley is starting at a new school, St. Mary’s Catholic Ladies College. It’s a ‘fresh start’ – from what, you don’t know. As the story unfolds, Shelley’s ‘secret’ is revealed along with her developing friendship with Tara, another ‘footy tragic’. A handful of sub-plots play out – her changing relationship with Josh, the nature of her friendship with one of Glenthorn’s star players and the importance of ‘finding your tribe’ for teenagers. The way that these sub-plots and themes are gently handled is the strength of this book and for young adult readers, there’s a lot of thought-provoking stuff that will stick with them long after they’ve finished reading.
Perhaps it’s because Night Games is jostling alongside this book on the ‘New Releases’ shelf at the bookshop, that I found Hayes’s exploration of the relationship between a young girl and a league football player the most interesting element of the story. You would have had to have been living under a rock in Melbourne over the past few years to have missed this very issue in the media and Hayes perfectly captures both the innocence and the intent of the characters, leaving the reader feeling very uneasy indeed as to what will happen.
I only had one quibble with The Whole of My World. It may be the footy-loving Melburnian in me, but I do wonder why Hayes decided to go with fictional place names and football teams rather than the real deal. It was made all the more perplexing when, in the acknowledgements, she mentions her love for the Hawks and remembers fondly hanging around Glenferrie Oval in her youth. I can only assume that because of some of the plot lines, she didn’t want to associate anything fictional with a club but Hayes clearly knows her footy and I would have loved some detail that gave me a better sense of place and time.
3.5 /5 This book is the perfect springboard for so many discussions about issues that are real and current for teenagers.
I received my copy of The Whole of My World from the publisher, Random House Australia via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
January 23, 2017
I loved this book for so many reasons. Here are a few of them:
- The characters: real, raw and believable in their courage and their mistakes.
- The writing: Nicole Hayes has a lovely style that's easy and natural and brimming with heartbreaking insight.
- The timeliness (well, of me reading it anyway): The story of a footy-mad, footy-playing girl who can't keep playing because she's a girl. How perfect that the AFL Women's League is about to kick off, and girls like Shelley now have a sporting career path - albeit a long way behind the men’s comp, but we have to start somewhere.
- Unflinching honesty: Shelley is obsessed with football in a way that leads her into some poor decision-making and Mick makes the kind of mistake that is confronting and uncomfortably believable. It's this honesty - the light and dark of what it means to love a football club and it's players, even when it doesn't always love you back - that underpins From The Outer: Footy Like You've Never Heard it, that excellent collection of personal stories from football fans whose voices are rarely heard (edited by Nicole Hayes and Alicia Sometimes, who both also contribute stories).
- The insight into being a footy fan in Melbourne in the 80s: I grew up in regional South Australia, footy-mad, but far removed from live matches and training sessions and all the craziness that goes with following AFL in Melbourne.
If you’re an AFL fan, you’ll love this book. If you’re a fan of wonderfully written Australian young adult fiction, you’ll love this book. It's funny, devastating and ultimately uplifting.
Highly recommended.
- The characters: real, raw and believable in their courage and their mistakes.
- The writing: Nicole Hayes has a lovely style that's easy and natural and brimming with heartbreaking insight.
- The timeliness (well, of me reading it anyway): The story of a footy-mad, footy-playing girl who can't keep playing because she's a girl. How perfect that the AFL Women's League is about to kick off, and girls like Shelley now have a sporting career path - albeit a long way behind the men’s comp, but we have to start somewhere.
- Unflinching honesty: Shelley is obsessed with football in a way that leads her into some poor decision-making and Mick makes the kind of mistake that is confronting and uncomfortably believable. It's this honesty - the light and dark of what it means to love a football club and it's players, even when it doesn't always love you back - that underpins From The Outer: Footy Like You've Never Heard it, that excellent collection of personal stories from football fans whose voices are rarely heard (edited by Nicole Hayes and Alicia Sometimes, who both also contribute stories).
- The insight into being a footy fan in Melbourne in the 80s: I grew up in regional South Australia, footy-mad, but far removed from live matches and training sessions and all the craziness that goes with following AFL in Melbourne.
If you’re an AFL fan, you’ll love this book. If you’re a fan of wonderfully written Australian young adult fiction, you’ll love this book. It's funny, devastating and ultimately uplifting.
Highly recommended.
November 7, 2014
I loved the cover, I will say that. But it just wasn't believable, for me. Maybe, as well, I'm not mad about AFL and stats and so was put off by a lot of the technical talk, as well as at least 70% of the book being directly involved with footy. As a backdrop, I would've enjoyed it, but it just became a bit much. I also didn't feel like the relationship between Shelley and Mick was believable at all - I would've liked slightly more build up, and maybe some more insight into the thought process of Shelley. They were 'friends' very suddenly, before they had actually interacted more than a couple of times.
But the biggest thing I didn't like was what seemed to me a bit of slut-shaming. Girls who were implied to have slept with the players copped judgement from Shelley and her group, without much thought to the boys. Particularly when
But the biggest thing I didn't like was what seemed to me a bit of slut-shaming. Girls who were implied to have slept with the players copped judgement from Shelley and her group, without much thought to the boys. Particularly when
October 22, 2014
I loved 'The Whole of My World.'
On the face of it the books explores traditional themes of growing up, relationships and loss but is unique in that the focus is on Aussie Rules football and the fanatical fans who follow the game. I loved how Shelley (the main character) is a normal teenager (whatever that is) in that she is insecure, has problems at school but also that she is physically strong from playing the game and athletics. She is the equal of the boys in this respect.
The book also 'dares' to go into the territory of her falling for one of the players and how this is inappropriate and yet we understand why and are not too condemnatory of him either....perhaps we even feel a little sorry for the guy?
And then there is the incident that has defined Shelley and her father's relationship...
I particularly identified with the irrationality of being a sports fan...how it's so important despite its lack of importance. Shelley's friend, Tara and her beautifully irrational superstitions are a highlight of the book.
Great book for teenagers and adults.
On the face of it the books explores traditional themes of growing up, relationships and loss but is unique in that the focus is on Aussie Rules football and the fanatical fans who follow the game. I loved how Shelley (the main character) is a normal teenager (whatever that is) in that she is insecure, has problems at school but also that she is physically strong from playing the game and athletics. She is the equal of the boys in this respect.
The book also 'dares' to go into the territory of her falling for one of the players and how this is inappropriate and yet we understand why and are not too condemnatory of him either....perhaps we even feel a little sorry for the guy?
And then there is the incident that has defined Shelley and her father's relationship...
I particularly identified with the irrationality of being a sports fan...how it's so important despite its lack of importance. Shelley's friend, Tara and her beautifully irrational superstitions are a highlight of the book.
Great book for teenagers and adults.
September 19, 2015
For a moment, this book was a 4.5, but thinking about it, no. Definitely a five star novel. I absolutely adored every part of it. The footy, Melbourne, the music references, the god-awful thought of mullets and those super tight footy shorts in the 80s. This book was an absolute delight -- but also totally and completely heartbreaking. One of the most tangible expressions of grief and loss I think I've ever read. Shelley was beautifully complex, which I expect from a great-written protagonist, but the supporting characters all were, too! No one was there merely to fill in the background. Every character had glimpses of their own depth and their own struggles.
I loved loved loved this book with my whole heart. Going out now to buy a new Sherrin.
I loved loved loved this book with my whole heart. Going out now to buy a new Sherrin.
July 26, 2016
I really did not like this book. Normally i don't find football interesting but it wasn't even about that. The whole book was just wasn't my type of book i think. The main character(Shelly) was always crying, or fighting back tears, or lying, or stuck in an awkward situation, and i felt like the characters were so undeveloped, like they had no life in them.
There was practically no plot, and for half the book Shelly does basically the same thing everyday. Things happen, but they don't make an impact. I had to force myself to continue reading it. To me, it was like the book started off low, drama escalated a little, things happened, and the ending felt abrupt, and too happy for a book that had such a miserable atmosphere carried throughout it. Like all the characters suddenly accept the trauma of their past and moved on, in like a chapter...
It just wasn't my type of book is all, i suppose. I hope others who read it get more out of the story than I did.
There was practically no plot, and for half the book Shelly does basically the same thing everyday. Things happen, but they don't make an impact. I had to force myself to continue reading it. To me, it was like the book started off low, drama escalated a little, things happened, and the ending felt abrupt, and too happy for a book that had such a miserable atmosphere carried throughout it. Like all the characters suddenly accept the trauma of their past and moved on, in like a chapter...
It just wasn't my type of book is all, i suppose. I hope others who read it get more out of the story than I did.
June 2, 2013
Hayes' debut novel reads like a perfect kick from the 50 metre line straight through the centre of the goal posts. In the Whole of my World Hayes has encapsulated the rollercoaster ride of adolescent relationships, grief, joy, loss and what it takes to be a football fan.
The whole of Shelley's world is footy, Aussie rules that is. Her team, the Glenthorn Football Club has signed a new star player and Shelley needs to believe in him while her personal world is in crisis.
At home she needs to escape her grieving dad; in the new school she hopes to be able to start afresh; with her glorious team she wants to win the flag. but this years season proves to be altogether different. Shelley is forced to discover a whole new level of everything and how to move on.
A gripping Young Adult novel with a distinctly Melbourne flavour, this is a must read.
June 5, 2013
I finished this last night and I can not stop thinking about it. I grew up in a family obsessed with AFL. I have seven brothers and each one plays/played footy, some at the state/reserve level, and this book just brought home so many memories! It deals with some sensitive issues extremely well, and I loved the main character, who was not at all angsty even though she was trying to cope with grief and the usual dramas that come with being a teenager. I think it’s an extremely important book for young Australians to read, especially as it sheds light on the footy culture: the good aspects as well as the bad.
October 31, 2017
So fantastic to see girls represented in sport - especially one traditionally seen as a boy's sport.
May 5, 2018
I picked up this book because of the nice cover and because I haven’t read Aussie young adult lit in a while and I was looking forward to a simple but solid read. Unfortunately, despite the short length of the book, this was a real struggle to get through. To put it lightly, Nicole Hayes’ The Whole of My World was a mess.
I have so many issues with this book that I’m not even sure where to start. For simplicity and completeness, this time I’ve decided to divide my thoughts into the good, the bad and the ugly. As usual, my commentary focuses deeply on storytelling, characterization and overall themes, so spoilers ahead.
The Good
The character Tara and her relationship with Shelley. Honestly, there’s not much good in this novel, but the character Tara and the tense friendship displayed between her and Shelley is probably one of them. Tara is fascinating, because she doesn’t just play the cardboard nice mob character that befriends the new girl at school. Instead, the relationship between Tara and Shelley is fought for by both parties, there is a particularly obvious struggle in Shelley’s efforts to earn Tara’s respect and maintain her unspoken boundaries, simply because Shelley cannot afford to lose Tara and Tara never shows affection openly. It is really refreshing to see an author address the unspoken tensions in navigating new and uneasy relationships, and Shelley’s constant uncertainty regarding her friendship with Tara is relatable. Tara herself is an interesting character and probably the best one in the book because she is so active, volatile, defensive but secretly vulnerable. Tara remains unsolved by the end of the book, and her family situation seems like a lazy “explanation” for her attitude. Honestly, I feel like there were so many more things to unfold about Tara and her behaviour throughout various situations in the story, and I would’ve liked to see more of it. It was a long effortful grind for Shelley to earn Tara’s trust, and the progression of their relationship inches along at a snail’s pace, but I found this refreshing and interesting to watch. It is a shame that this was not the main focus of the book, because I really wanted to see this relationship grow to the point that they might reach a true level of comfort with each other.
Portrayal of Shelley’s anxiety. There were some aspects of Shelley’s shyness and anxious behaviour at the beginning of the book that I think were written quite well. In particular, her fear of being seen by other groups of students when taking the train home and how she goes to the effort of hiding in the milk bar till the coast is clear for her to be alone. I welcomed these descriptions of her fearful actions and overthinking as a good insight into Shelley’s psyche and character. However, apart from these snippets at the front end of the book, Shelley’s character overall was problematic.
The Bad
Shelley, the main character and narrator of the book is unconvincing, inconsistent and hard to understand. She is first portrayed as shy and quite anxious, which was well enough, but later on she speaks and acts so unpredictably that the reader is never able to grasp who she is supposed to be. I simply do not understand what she is like, what her personality should be, and why I should sympathize for her.
The footy aspect of this story is hard to ignore as it is based around Shelley’s love for AFL that becomes the path towards healing her grief (apparently). However, while AFL to Shelley is something miraculous, something that makes her heart soar and bonds her together with her family and other fans, this is not conveyed to the reader. Even as someone with no interest in footy, I believe that literature should be able to tell the story it wants about the topics that it wants, so I was open towards seeing what Hayes wanted to say. The blurb brags about Shelley disappearing into the intoxicating world of Aussie Rules football, so by all means, I was ready to explore it with her. I expected to learn more about the culture, understand the appeal of the barracking for your team and how AFL could affect someone’s life in such great magnitude. But instead, Hayes’s portrayal of footy club culture does not invite the reader in or introduce them to the amazing world it apparently is; it simply isolates and alienates them. The liberal use of lingo, the conjecture on stats and tactics, all of this only speaks to the knowledgeable and comes off as slightly elitist. This is especially disappointing to me because as someone who read and loved the Specky Magee books, I know it is possible to write AFL in an engaging and welcoming way that actually brings the love of the game through and connects with less-informed readers. Unfortunately, The Whole of My World did not do that.
The character of Josh was another miss for me. His entire personality and character is based entirely on his generic role in the obvious childhood friend turns love interest trope. He is so bland and generic in this role- family friend, does “boyish” sporty activities with Shelley, clearly concerned about her, recently went through puberty and is suddenly more attractive etc. There is nothing new or unique about him as a character and he adds little to an already bland story.
Mick Edwards is the pivotal character of the story, but at the end of the day I don’t understand his purpose at all. Hayes is liberal with descriptions dedicated to Mick Edwards, as his actions and words are everything to Shelley who first idolizes him before becoming infatuated with him. Hayes attempts to paint him as a sympathetic character, through depicting scenes of his apparent loneliness and noticeable shifts in his expressions and behaviours. Hayes does well in painting Mick Edwards as quite a grey character, with a mix of good and bad traits, but it’s never made clear how exactly the reader should see him. As such, I spent most of the book feeling wary and generally indifferent about him, which caused my reaction to the climax (him losing the match, committing physical and sexual assault) lacking. What was his point? Should we see him as a painful lesson for Shelley’s coming of age, as a warning against idolizing celebrities, as commentary on grown men preying on children, emotional and alcohol-fuelled or otherwise? If we were supposed to look through Shelley’s eyes, it would’ve been better to ramp up the rose-coloured glasses for much of the book, to paint him in Shelley’s eyes as generally flawless, caring, attractive, vulnerable but endearing; so that the climax would’ve been more effective and shocking in his downfall and change of heart. It is necessary that the audience be as invested as Shelley was for her later heartbreak and shock to have any effect. However, because I was unsympathetic to Shelley’s point of view and indifferent about Mick, I watched the climax unfold with little more than mild confusion and a slightly raised eyebrow.
The Ugly
The “twist”. The revelation that Shelley had a twin brother was the most clumsily handled twist I’ve ever seen. Firstly, there was absolutely no foreshadowing in the book beforehand. Twists only work when things in the beginning actually signpost to the later reveal. Twists are executed well when you can recall clues and elements in the beginning of the story that are explained by the crucial reveal. This did not happen in The Whole of My World, and there was such a large disconnect that it simply seemed haphazardly tossed in as an afterthought.
It is strangely revealed earlier in the book at the end of a chapter, told in short sharp sentences to make it sound dramatic and profound. And then it is dropped and forgotten? And then the story meanders on randomly until it is brought up again at the climax.
Secondly, there was no satisfying reasoning or explanation given for this reveal. Newsflash, you can’t pull a “twist” and expect us to care when you haven’t given us anything to care about. There is little to no explanation of this twist, there is no background to Shelley’s grief, there is no plausible reason why she decided it was okay for her to mention her mum’s death but not her twin’s. Who the hell is Angus? Why is it such a big deal? Why are we supposed to care? That incident before her mother and brother’s death that supposedly scarred Shelley so much is dealt with so lightly, it is vaguely mentioned by Shelley and only verbally referred to few times. Hayes does not even try to offer a flashback scene or a replay of the incident, instead we are tossed a hasty lump paragraph explanation. Therefore we know nothing about Angus, we don’t understand why Shelley hated being a twin so much or what the catalyst for her argument with Angus was, we don’t see what their relationship was like at all. We never see her previous four member family dynamic, we don’t know what she’s lost and we can’t sympathise with Shelley’s guilt or grief.
The big confrontation. Supposedly, the biggest conflict in the story is Shelley and her dad’s fractured relationship as the result of their shared grief. Related to the twist, Shelley pins the blame on her father, telling him: “You made them disappear.” Shelley says that her father forced them to rewrite their lives, to erase Angus and her mum from the household and their history but this is all what Shelly SAYS, it has NEVER BEEN SHOWN in the story itself. Hayes tries to pull a heist as if they had been living a fake life which had been carefully curated to hide the deaths of their missing family members, but this “fake life” has never been shown to the reader. We don’t know what this new fake life is supposed to look like (due to the fact that most of the book is set at the footy club, we never see Shelley’s home life anyway). If the big twist is supposed to reveal it’s all fake and forced upon her by her father then it means nothing to the audience because we don’t know any better (once again, as previously mentioned, no foreshadowing and no clues). Essentially it all seems to boil down to their previous family photos having been taken down and hid in a tin, and in the end this is resolved by Shelley’s dad putting them back up again??
The content of the confrontation is also lacking. Shelley and her father have a shallow conversation that doesn’t really address much or reveal anything. It’s devastating because Hayes misses this last chance to develop the background of the reveal, to convince the readers of this family’s grief and brokenness, and to convince the audience to believe their story.
In the end, perhaps the biggest failing in The Whole of My World is its failing to address its main conflict. The grief and pain that Shelley and her father apparently struggle with, the reason for Shelley’s new life, school, escape into the football club and Mick Edwards and the ensuing events is dealt with in such an messy and unsatisfying way. The clumsy reveal, the missing foreshadowing and clues, the lack of backstory or flashback and the shallow confrontation scene. I’m left asking what is the main point of this story? What is Hayes trying to say? If the main conflict is in a broken family’s flawed grieving process juxtaposed against aspects of a football match, compared in terms of winning and losing, and served with a painful coming-of-age lesson in romance, then what happened? Why is it so sloppy? Why can’t I close this book and know with no uncertain terms what Hayes’ actual point was?
In conclusion, The Whole of My World seems to be an attempt to address various themes of familial grief and guilt through one girl’s journey into footy club culture, but these themes were treated quite hastily, resulting in a very messy and clumsy story. Basically, it was a bland and unimpressive book, and I probably should have just admired the cover and then left it on the library shelf.
I have so many issues with this book that I’m not even sure where to start. For simplicity and completeness, this time I’ve decided to divide my thoughts into the good, the bad and the ugly. As usual, my commentary focuses deeply on storytelling, characterization and overall themes, so spoilers ahead.
The Good
The character Tara and her relationship with Shelley. Honestly, there’s not much good in this novel, but the character Tara and the tense friendship displayed between her and Shelley is probably one of them. Tara is fascinating, because she doesn’t just play the cardboard nice mob character that befriends the new girl at school. Instead, the relationship between Tara and Shelley is fought for by both parties, there is a particularly obvious struggle in Shelley’s efforts to earn Tara’s respect and maintain her unspoken boundaries, simply because Shelley cannot afford to lose Tara and Tara never shows affection openly. It is really refreshing to see an author address the unspoken tensions in navigating new and uneasy relationships, and Shelley’s constant uncertainty regarding her friendship with Tara is relatable. Tara herself is an interesting character and probably the best one in the book because she is so active, volatile, defensive but secretly vulnerable. Tara remains unsolved by the end of the book, and her family situation seems like a lazy “explanation” for her attitude. Honestly, I feel like there were so many more things to unfold about Tara and her behaviour throughout various situations in the story, and I would’ve liked to see more of it. It was a long effortful grind for Shelley to earn Tara’s trust, and the progression of their relationship inches along at a snail’s pace, but I found this refreshing and interesting to watch. It is a shame that this was not the main focus of the book, because I really wanted to see this relationship grow to the point that they might reach a true level of comfort with each other.
Portrayal of Shelley’s anxiety. There were some aspects of Shelley’s shyness and anxious behaviour at the beginning of the book that I think were written quite well. In particular, her fear of being seen by other groups of students when taking the train home and how she goes to the effort of hiding in the milk bar till the coast is clear for her to be alone. I welcomed these descriptions of her fearful actions and overthinking as a good insight into Shelley’s psyche and character. However, apart from these snippets at the front end of the book, Shelley’s character overall was problematic.
The Bad
Shelley, the main character and narrator of the book is unconvincing, inconsistent and hard to understand. She is first portrayed as shy and quite anxious, which was well enough, but later on she speaks and acts so unpredictably that the reader is never able to grasp who she is supposed to be. I simply do not understand what she is like, what her personality should be, and why I should sympathize for her.
The footy aspect of this story is hard to ignore as it is based around Shelley’s love for AFL that becomes the path towards healing her grief (apparently). However, while AFL to Shelley is something miraculous, something that makes her heart soar and bonds her together with her family and other fans, this is not conveyed to the reader. Even as someone with no interest in footy, I believe that literature should be able to tell the story it wants about the topics that it wants, so I was open towards seeing what Hayes wanted to say. The blurb brags about Shelley disappearing into the intoxicating world of Aussie Rules football, so by all means, I was ready to explore it with her. I expected to learn more about the culture, understand the appeal of the barracking for your team and how AFL could affect someone’s life in such great magnitude. But instead, Hayes’s portrayal of footy club culture does not invite the reader in or introduce them to the amazing world it apparently is; it simply isolates and alienates them. The liberal use of lingo, the conjecture on stats and tactics, all of this only speaks to the knowledgeable and comes off as slightly elitist. This is especially disappointing to me because as someone who read and loved the Specky Magee books, I know it is possible to write AFL in an engaging and welcoming way that actually brings the love of the game through and connects with less-informed readers. Unfortunately, The Whole of My World did not do that.
The character of Josh was another miss for me. His entire personality and character is based entirely on his generic role in the obvious childhood friend turns love interest trope. He is so bland and generic in this role- family friend, does “boyish” sporty activities with Shelley, clearly concerned about her, recently went through puberty and is suddenly more attractive etc. There is nothing new or unique about him as a character and he adds little to an already bland story.
Mick Edwards is the pivotal character of the story, but at the end of the day I don’t understand his purpose at all. Hayes is liberal with descriptions dedicated to Mick Edwards, as his actions and words are everything to Shelley who first idolizes him before becoming infatuated with him. Hayes attempts to paint him as a sympathetic character, through depicting scenes of his apparent loneliness and noticeable shifts in his expressions and behaviours. Hayes does well in painting Mick Edwards as quite a grey character, with a mix of good and bad traits, but it’s never made clear how exactly the reader should see him. As such, I spent most of the book feeling wary and generally indifferent about him, which caused my reaction to the climax (him losing the match, committing physical and sexual assault) lacking. What was his point? Should we see him as a painful lesson for Shelley’s coming of age, as a warning against idolizing celebrities, as commentary on grown men preying on children, emotional and alcohol-fuelled or otherwise? If we were supposed to look through Shelley’s eyes, it would’ve been better to ramp up the rose-coloured glasses for much of the book, to paint him in Shelley’s eyes as generally flawless, caring, attractive, vulnerable but endearing; so that the climax would’ve been more effective and shocking in his downfall and change of heart. It is necessary that the audience be as invested as Shelley was for her later heartbreak and shock to have any effect. However, because I was unsympathetic to Shelley’s point of view and indifferent about Mick, I watched the climax unfold with little more than mild confusion and a slightly raised eyebrow.
The Ugly
The “twist”. The revelation that Shelley had a twin brother was the most clumsily handled twist I’ve ever seen. Firstly, there was absolutely no foreshadowing in the book beforehand. Twists only work when things in the beginning actually signpost to the later reveal. Twists are executed well when you can recall clues and elements in the beginning of the story that are explained by the crucial reveal. This did not happen in The Whole of My World, and there was such a large disconnect that it simply seemed haphazardly tossed in as an afterthought.
It is strangely revealed earlier in the book at the end of a chapter, told in short sharp sentences to make it sound dramatic and profound. And then it is dropped and forgotten? And then the story meanders on randomly until it is brought up again at the climax.
Secondly, there was no satisfying reasoning or explanation given for this reveal. Newsflash, you can’t pull a “twist” and expect us to care when you haven’t given us anything to care about. There is little to no explanation of this twist, there is no background to Shelley’s grief, there is no plausible reason why she decided it was okay for her to mention her mum’s death but not her twin’s. Who the hell is Angus? Why is it such a big deal? Why are we supposed to care? That incident before her mother and brother’s death that supposedly scarred Shelley so much is dealt with so lightly, it is vaguely mentioned by Shelley and only verbally referred to few times. Hayes does not even try to offer a flashback scene or a replay of the incident, instead we are tossed a hasty lump paragraph explanation. Therefore we know nothing about Angus, we don’t understand why Shelley hated being a twin so much or what the catalyst for her argument with Angus was, we don’t see what their relationship was like at all. We never see her previous four member family dynamic, we don’t know what she’s lost and we can’t sympathise with Shelley’s guilt or grief.
The big confrontation. Supposedly, the biggest conflict in the story is Shelley and her dad’s fractured relationship as the result of their shared grief. Related to the twist, Shelley pins the blame on her father, telling him: “You made them disappear.” Shelley says that her father forced them to rewrite their lives, to erase Angus and her mum from the household and their history but this is all what Shelly SAYS, it has NEVER BEEN SHOWN in the story itself. Hayes tries to pull a heist as if they had been living a fake life which had been carefully curated to hide the deaths of their missing family members, but this “fake life” has never been shown to the reader. We don’t know what this new fake life is supposed to look like (due to the fact that most of the book is set at the footy club, we never see Shelley’s home life anyway). If the big twist is supposed to reveal it’s all fake and forced upon her by her father then it means nothing to the audience because we don’t know any better (once again, as previously mentioned, no foreshadowing and no clues). Essentially it all seems to boil down to their previous family photos having been taken down and hid in a tin, and in the end this is resolved by Shelley’s dad putting them back up again??
The content of the confrontation is also lacking. Shelley and her father have a shallow conversation that doesn’t really address much or reveal anything. It’s devastating because Hayes misses this last chance to develop the background of the reveal, to convince the readers of this family’s grief and brokenness, and to convince the audience to believe their story.
In the end, perhaps the biggest failing in The Whole of My World is its failing to address its main conflict. The grief and pain that Shelley and her father apparently struggle with, the reason for Shelley’s new life, school, escape into the football club and Mick Edwards and the ensuing events is dealt with in such an messy and unsatisfying way. The clumsy reveal, the missing foreshadowing and clues, the lack of backstory or flashback and the shallow confrontation scene. I’m left asking what is the main point of this story? What is Hayes trying to say? If the main conflict is in a broken family’s flawed grieving process juxtaposed against aspects of a football match, compared in terms of winning and losing, and served with a painful coming-of-age lesson in romance, then what happened? Why is it so sloppy? Why can’t I close this book and know with no uncertain terms what Hayes’ actual point was?
In conclusion, The Whole of My World seems to be an attempt to address various themes of familial grief and guilt through one girl’s journey into footy club culture, but these themes were treated quite hastily, resulting in a very messy and clumsy story. Basically, it was a bland and unimpressive book, and I probably should have just admired the cover and then left it on the library shelf.
June 11, 2013
Fifteen year old Shelley uses her love for AFL as an escape from the everyday. Two years ago her family suffered a tragedy and now it’s just her and her father. He’s so utterly engrossed in his grief and Shelley in hers and her guilt that the two of them can’t seem to connect. Shelley is also starting a new school and she has nothing in common with most of the other students there. There’s only Tara, who follows the same team as Shelley and she introduces Shelley to their world.
Soon Shelley is down at the training grounds every week, watching the team go through their training and waiting for the team announcements. She has a soft spot for sandgroper import Mick “Eddie” Edwards, a big full forward with a recurring knee injury. To Shelley’s surprise Mick talks to her like he sees her, like she matters when she shyly approaches him for an autograph. To Mick, he and Shelley are both newcomers and it’s the first steps toward a tentative friendship.
Week after week Shelley treks to the games and the training. She spends most of her time with Tara, whose often random silences confuse her but she doesn’t want to lose her friend, especially one who likes footy as well. She is integrated into the eclectic cheer squad and game after game she tracks Mick’s progress, marking down his stats in her notebook and praying his knee holds out. Her once best friend Josh doesn’t understand – he’s trying to maintain their friendship but Shelley finds it hard to be around him sometimes now after the accident. And then there’s the fact that he’s suddenly not just Josh anymore and she doesn’t know what to do about that. And then there’s Mick – everyone seems suspicious that there’s something going on despite the obvious age difference and the fact that Mick is married. But they’re just friends…. right?
My introduction to AFL (Australian Rules Football) came late. I grew up in NSW where another type of football ruled and never even saw a game of AFL until 2006. My then flatmate was a Geelong supporter but I decided if I was going to get into this, I had to do it right. I was from NSW, I was born in Sydney, so I chose the Sydney Swans to be my team – and I threw myself into it. It was both a good time (they were the reigning premiers) and a bad time (I had missed them winning a Grand Final in 2005). I watched all the matches I could, I learned the players, I spent time attempting to learn the rules too. This is almost impossible, as they bring in new ones and discard others every year but I mastered the basics which helped when I moved to Victoria, the home of the sport in July of that year. 2006 ended in heartbreak when we lost the Grand Final by a single, solitary point. The years of 2007-11 didn’t bring much but last year, I got to see what every fan longs to – the Swans won the Grand Final, 10 point victors over Hawthorn, who just happen to be one of my very favourite teams to beat (after Geelong and Collingwood). This year I am taking my 4yo son to his first AFL game – he swings between the Swans and the Bombers (his father’s team) but he is slowly becoming quite knowledgeable. He recognises some players and understands the scoring. Next year he’ll play Auskick, the junior competition for young kids. AFL isn’t just a sport in Victoria, it’s a way of life for a lot of people. I was curious to read a book that focused on it so decided to give this one a go.
The Whole Of My World is set in the mid-1980′s so things were a little different back then. Training and the players were more accessible as teams focused around smaller, local grounds. Shelley is able to meet the players of her team, interact with them and get their autographs quite easily and she immediately forms a friendship with their new recruit Mick, who they brought over from WA. Much like Shelley, Mick is new and probably unsure of his position in the pecking order of the team. Shelley is uttery innocent about the possible ramifications of so obvious a friendship and she doesn’t understand at all why Tara is negative about the attention Mick pays her, nor does she understand her friend Josh’s skepticism about it either. Mick is older, he’s a big name, he’s married and even if that didn’t bother him, he could most likely have his pick of older, more glamorous women. It’s hard to say exactly what he connects with in Shelley other than they are both a little bit lost and perhaps Mick, unsure of himself in this new team, needs Shelley’s adoration and admiration to boost his confidence.
Shelley and her father are so well drawn in this novel. Their pain is displayed quite differently but it’s so real and it was heartbreaking to watch them both, Shelley in particular, feeling so awkward, so abandoned by her father and his lack of being able to communicate to her what she needed to desperately hear. She made a silly mistake, something that happens everyday but unconnected to this there was an accident and now she lives with what happened. Her team connects her to her mother, who followed the same team, as did her own father, Shelley’s grandfather. Also connecting her to her mother is literature – she has books her mother gave her, classics, with inscriptions in them. Shelley is at such an awkward time in her life and she desperately needs some support – you can see where she might have been able to get it, had she been able to face the person who desperately wanted to give it to her. Even Josh tries, the boy she’s been friends with for her whole life but she’s struggling with how she feels about him too. On one hand, he reminds her of everything she can’t deal with right now and on the other, he makes her feel things that she’s not used to.
This is a brilliantly written book, creating a sympathetic and likable character in Shelley – I just wanted to adopt her and give her a few pieces of advice! She matures a lot throughout the course of this book and towards the end she takes matters in her own hands and she finally manages to demand what she needs but there are some stages where she is utterly lost. Her father is too and I think it’s hard to show a grown man’s grief but this book does it so well. I think that it’s a bit of a shame that some readers might not pick this up if they don’t like or aren’t familiar with AFL because it’s go so much feeling and emotion written into it and Shelley is so easy to connect with. Everyone has been through a stage where they’ve been the newbie or felt like the odd one out. Despite her grief, despite her guilt, she retains her passion and her drive to be involved in something meaningful and I enjoyed how going to games and training helped Shelley socialise and interact with others. I think it helped give her the confidence she needed later on in the book as well, when she sees that sometimes things don’t go to plan and you pick yourself up and try again. You draw a line between last week and the next.
Soon Shelley is down at the training grounds every week, watching the team go through their training and waiting for the team announcements. She has a soft spot for sandgroper import Mick “Eddie” Edwards, a big full forward with a recurring knee injury. To Shelley’s surprise Mick talks to her like he sees her, like she matters when she shyly approaches him for an autograph. To Mick, he and Shelley are both newcomers and it’s the first steps toward a tentative friendship.
Week after week Shelley treks to the games and the training. She spends most of her time with Tara, whose often random silences confuse her but she doesn’t want to lose her friend, especially one who likes footy as well. She is integrated into the eclectic cheer squad and game after game she tracks Mick’s progress, marking down his stats in her notebook and praying his knee holds out. Her once best friend Josh doesn’t understand – he’s trying to maintain their friendship but Shelley finds it hard to be around him sometimes now after the accident. And then there’s the fact that he’s suddenly not just Josh anymore and she doesn’t know what to do about that. And then there’s Mick – everyone seems suspicious that there’s something going on despite the obvious age difference and the fact that Mick is married. But they’re just friends…. right?
My introduction to AFL (Australian Rules Football) came late. I grew up in NSW where another type of football ruled and never even saw a game of AFL until 2006. My then flatmate was a Geelong supporter but I decided if I was going to get into this, I had to do it right. I was from NSW, I was born in Sydney, so I chose the Sydney Swans to be my team – and I threw myself into it. It was both a good time (they were the reigning premiers) and a bad time (I had missed them winning a Grand Final in 2005). I watched all the matches I could, I learned the players, I spent time attempting to learn the rules too. This is almost impossible, as they bring in new ones and discard others every year but I mastered the basics which helped when I moved to Victoria, the home of the sport in July of that year. 2006 ended in heartbreak when we lost the Grand Final by a single, solitary point. The years of 2007-11 didn’t bring much but last year, I got to see what every fan longs to – the Swans won the Grand Final, 10 point victors over Hawthorn, who just happen to be one of my very favourite teams to beat (after Geelong and Collingwood). This year I am taking my 4yo son to his first AFL game – he swings between the Swans and the Bombers (his father’s team) but he is slowly becoming quite knowledgeable. He recognises some players and understands the scoring. Next year he’ll play Auskick, the junior competition for young kids. AFL isn’t just a sport in Victoria, it’s a way of life for a lot of people. I was curious to read a book that focused on it so decided to give this one a go.
The Whole Of My World is set in the mid-1980′s so things were a little different back then. Training and the players were more accessible as teams focused around smaller, local grounds. Shelley is able to meet the players of her team, interact with them and get their autographs quite easily and she immediately forms a friendship with their new recruit Mick, who they brought over from WA. Much like Shelley, Mick is new and probably unsure of his position in the pecking order of the team. Shelley is uttery innocent about the possible ramifications of so obvious a friendship and she doesn’t understand at all why Tara is negative about the attention Mick pays her, nor does she understand her friend Josh’s skepticism about it either. Mick is older, he’s a big name, he’s married and even if that didn’t bother him, he could most likely have his pick of older, more glamorous women. It’s hard to say exactly what he connects with in Shelley other than they are both a little bit lost and perhaps Mick, unsure of himself in this new team, needs Shelley’s adoration and admiration to boost his confidence.
Shelley and her father are so well drawn in this novel. Their pain is displayed quite differently but it’s so real and it was heartbreaking to watch them both, Shelley in particular, feeling so awkward, so abandoned by her father and his lack of being able to communicate to her what she needed to desperately hear. She made a silly mistake, something that happens everyday but unconnected to this there was an accident and now she lives with what happened. Her team connects her to her mother, who followed the same team, as did her own father, Shelley’s grandfather. Also connecting her to her mother is literature – she has books her mother gave her, classics, with inscriptions in them. Shelley is at such an awkward time in her life and she desperately needs some support – you can see where she might have been able to get it, had she been able to face the person who desperately wanted to give it to her. Even Josh tries, the boy she’s been friends with for her whole life but she’s struggling with how she feels about him too. On one hand, he reminds her of everything she can’t deal with right now and on the other, he makes her feel things that she’s not used to.
This is a brilliantly written book, creating a sympathetic and likable character in Shelley – I just wanted to adopt her and give her a few pieces of advice! She matures a lot throughout the course of this book and towards the end she takes matters in her own hands and she finally manages to demand what she needs but there are some stages where she is utterly lost. Her father is too and I think it’s hard to show a grown man’s grief but this book does it so well. I think that it’s a bit of a shame that some readers might not pick this up if they don’t like or aren’t familiar with AFL because it’s go so much feeling and emotion written into it and Shelley is so easy to connect with. Everyone has been through a stage where they’ve been the newbie or felt like the odd one out. Despite her grief, despite her guilt, she retains her passion and her drive to be involved in something meaningful and I enjoyed how going to games and training helped Shelley socialise and interact with others. I think it helped give her the confidence she needed later on in the book as well, when she sees that sometimes things don’t go to plan and you pick yourself up and try again. You draw a line between last week and the next.
April 9, 2021
Trigger warnings: death of a parent (in the past), cheating, alcohol abuse,
This book was SLOW for me. I think part of the problem is that it's set in Melbourne in the 1980s, but it's really only the lack of technology and the songs mentioned that indicate that it's the 1980s. There's one mention once of the protagonist having been born in the late 1960s, but it's about two thirds of the way through the book. So in the early stages especially, it was Melbourne but also NOT??
This is also a book that's very centred around AFL. But Hayes has changed the names of all the teams. Which, look. I get it. You don't want people comparing the footballers in the book to actual footballers. But it honestly took me a while to work out that Shelley was talking about AFL teams and not VFL teams. But once I joined the dots, it was quite fun to try and work out which team was which. The names of major streets and suburbs are also frequently changed, and I'm honestly not quite sure why.
Anyway. I liked the way this dealt with grief and new schools and complex friendships. But the cover really doesn't fit with the book and I struggled with just how CONSTANT the football stuff was. It sometimes felt like the plot was "will this team win the premiership?" rather than "teenage girl struggles with grief", and I honestly just did not caaaaaaaaare.
That being said, the way it depicted the interactions between football players and teenage girls was horrifyingly accurate to what certain sections of my high school class were doing and Y.I.K.E.S.
So yeah. I liked Shelley as a character. I liked her story. I just didn't care about the football side of things. Like, at all.
This book was SLOW for me. I think part of the problem is that it's set in Melbourne in the 1980s, but it's really only the lack of technology and the songs mentioned that indicate that it's the 1980s. There's one mention once of the protagonist having been born in the late 1960s, but it's about two thirds of the way through the book. So in the early stages especially, it was Melbourne but also NOT??
This is also a book that's very centred around AFL. But Hayes has changed the names of all the teams. Which, look. I get it. You don't want people comparing the footballers in the book to actual footballers. But it honestly took me a while to work out that Shelley was talking about AFL teams and not VFL teams. But once I joined the dots, it was quite fun to try and work out which team was which. The names of major streets and suburbs are also frequently changed, and I'm honestly not quite sure why.
Anyway. I liked the way this dealt with grief and new schools and complex friendships. But the cover really doesn't fit with the book and I struggled with just how CONSTANT the football stuff was. It sometimes felt like the plot was "will this team win the premiership?" rather than "teenage girl struggles with grief", and I honestly just did not caaaaaaaaare.
That being said, the way it depicted the interactions between football players and teenage girls was horrifyingly accurate to what certain sections of my high school class were doing and Y.I.K.E.S.
So yeah. I liked Shelley as a character. I liked her story. I just didn't care about the football side of things. Like, at all.
June 20, 2013
Wavering between 3 and 4 stars. Review to come!
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The Whole of My World stands out as a somewhat different take on the theme of young adults dealing with loss and grief. Likewise, the main character, Shelley, is both recognisable as a certain kind of YA heroine - confused, withdrawn, wary of who she can trust - while managing to seem unique in her own way and retaining a strong presence in the book. Dealing with a new school, the loss of old friends, and both her own grief and that of her father, Shelley finds solace in her love of AFL and her local team.
Setting the novel against a backdrop of (Aussie rules) football was different, and I thought it worked really well. Shelley is passionate about her team, the Falcons, and as a fellow (English) football fan - and one who was similarly obsessed as a teenager - I could relate to her enthusiasm, the way a win or a loss could affect her whole mood and outlook, and the energy and emotion she channels into it. For Shelley, football is a kind of refuge.
And it's not difficult to blame her. Shelley and her dad are living in a strange, dull world after a family tragedy, and the two of them barely communicate. In fact, communication is particularly hard to come by in this book. Enveloped in grief, Shelley not only keeps her dad at arm's length, but everyone else, too: her best friend Josh, her old classmates, the people at her new school, even Tara, her new friend and footy ally. Tara is also struggling with her own problems (largely hidden from Shelley, so the reader is also clueless for quite a lot of the book), and is equally allergic to meaningful conversation. While she and Shelley appear to need each other, their relationship is quite hard to fathom at times - a lot of monosyllables and meaningful looks that the other one is left to interpret. The lack of communication was quite frustrating as a reader, but at the same time it did fit the situation, and it was easy to sense a kind of helplessness on Shelley's part, as she struggled to make sense of everything around her.
In the middle of all this, Shelley befriends the Falcons' new player, Mick Edwards. She sees a kind of kindred spirit in him, as a fellow newbie (Shelley has a new school, and is also new to the world of the training ground), and the two forge a friendship that was, again, difficult to fathom at times. Again, this seemed intentional. Everyone around them is convinced there's something going on, and Shelley is quite naive about the whole thing, whilst remaining protective of the friendship they have developed. The lines seemed blurry at times, and I did feel for Shelley as she tried to figure out what exactly (if anything) she was doing wrong.
There were a couple of bits that fell a bit flat for me, not least the token pretty mean girls at school, and the repeated use of "slut" as a insult against these girls, and the girls at the football club who are, it is implied, having sex with the married players. (That the married players weren't castigated at all was revealing, however, about the dodgy gender dynamics at play that these girls were dealing with.) At one point, Shelley seems surprised that one of the "lovely ladies" (her and Tara's name for the football fangirls, who go for the players rather than the play) is actually kind of nice and smart. Overall, though, I enjoyed The Whole of My World - the football background was obviously done with enthusiasm on the author's part, and these bits really came alive on the page, and as a teenage girl dealing with grief and guilt and a feeling of not knowing where she belongs, Shelley was an engaging protagonist - just a girl trying to find her feet.
Overall rating: 6.5/10
Originally posted here: http://bibliotekit.blogspot.co.uk/201...
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The Whole of My World stands out as a somewhat different take on the theme of young adults dealing with loss and grief. Likewise, the main character, Shelley, is both recognisable as a certain kind of YA heroine - confused, withdrawn, wary of who she can trust - while managing to seem unique in her own way and retaining a strong presence in the book. Dealing with a new school, the loss of old friends, and both her own grief and that of her father, Shelley finds solace in her love of AFL and her local team.
Setting the novel against a backdrop of (Aussie rules) football was different, and I thought it worked really well. Shelley is passionate about her team, the Falcons, and as a fellow (English) football fan - and one who was similarly obsessed as a teenager - I could relate to her enthusiasm, the way a win or a loss could affect her whole mood and outlook, and the energy and emotion she channels into it. For Shelley, football is a kind of refuge.
And it's not difficult to blame her. Shelley and her dad are living in a strange, dull world after a family tragedy, and the two of them barely communicate. In fact, communication is particularly hard to come by in this book. Enveloped in grief, Shelley not only keeps her dad at arm's length, but everyone else, too: her best friend Josh, her old classmates, the people at her new school, even Tara, her new friend and footy ally. Tara is also struggling with her own problems (largely hidden from Shelley, so the reader is also clueless for quite a lot of the book), and is equally allergic to meaningful conversation. While she and Shelley appear to need each other, their relationship is quite hard to fathom at times - a lot of monosyllables and meaningful looks that the other one is left to interpret. The lack of communication was quite frustrating as a reader, but at the same time it did fit the situation, and it was easy to sense a kind of helplessness on Shelley's part, as she struggled to make sense of everything around her.
In the middle of all this, Shelley befriends the Falcons' new player, Mick Edwards. She sees a kind of kindred spirit in him, as a fellow newbie (Shelley has a new school, and is also new to the world of the training ground), and the two forge a friendship that was, again, difficult to fathom at times. Again, this seemed intentional. Everyone around them is convinced there's something going on, and Shelley is quite naive about the whole thing, whilst remaining protective of the friendship they have developed. The lines seemed blurry at times, and I did feel for Shelley as she tried to figure out what exactly (if anything) she was doing wrong.
There were a couple of bits that fell a bit flat for me, not least the token pretty mean girls at school, and the repeated use of "slut" as a insult against these girls, and the girls at the football club who are, it is implied, having sex with the married players. (That the married players weren't castigated at all was revealing, however, about the dodgy gender dynamics at play that these girls were dealing with.) At one point, Shelley seems surprised that one of the "lovely ladies" (her and Tara's name for the football fangirls, who go for the players rather than the play) is actually kind of nice and smart. Overall, though, I enjoyed The Whole of My World - the football background was obviously done with enthusiasm on the author's part, and these bits really came alive on the page, and as a teenage girl dealing with grief and guilt and a feeling of not knowing where she belongs, Shelley was an engaging protagonist - just a girl trying to find her feet.
Overall rating: 6.5/10
Originally posted here: http://bibliotekit.blogspot.co.uk/201...
March 21, 2017
I loved this book as I knew I would. It resonated so deeply with me, to the point where it aches how much I wish it was around 15-20 years ago when I was a younger reader. I would have gobbled this thing up and sworn by it as my gospel. Nicole Hayes is a rare vintage and writes so beautifully and expressively about something which has been such a great passion in my life as well as the shared experience of so many others. Beautiful book.
October 31, 2014
Tackling grief head-on is always a hard task, but to capture it through the eyes of a teenager is even more challenging. However, Hayes does not shy away from such subject matter and has managed to produce a profoundly moving piece of work.
Set in Melbourne in the 1980’s, this book follows Shelley, a 15 year old girl, on her journey through adolescence after a heart- wrenching loss. Shelley clings to her near fanatic obsession with the Glenthorn Football Club, when everything else in her life seems to be failing. We experience Shelley’s progress as she experiences a new school, a new best friend, and a kindred spirit in the form of an AFL player named Mick.
Accurate and poignant, it is easy to feel a strong empathy with Shelley. While the main storyline pulls us through the long-term aftermath of tragedy, there is more to this novel than just a sad story. It is about beginning again and renewing, while still trying to be able to connect to the past. The book also delves into other important teenage issues including drinking, crushes gone wrong and bullying.
This is one of those stories that will stay with you, long after you have shut the cover. Both teenagers and adults will be able to identify with the themes. Those adults with teenage kids should definitely consider reading the book alongside their offspring. In fact, it is almost seems to be made with these collaborative reads in mind: it has enough football in it to keep teenage boys enthralled, and enough 80’s references (including Jason Donovan) spattered throughout to keep parents amused. This is novel that tells its tale without being overly boxed in by gender stereotypes or the need for ultra-modern surrounds.
This is Hayes first novel and has already been short listed for the Young Australian Book Awards. It is easy to see why, with elements that seem to combine touches from Australia YA classics such as “Looking for Alibrandi” (Marchetta) and “So Much to tell You” (Marsden). This book is sure to be a classroom hit.
Reviewed for Creative Kids Tales by Allie Mokany
Set in Melbourne in the 1980’s, this book follows Shelley, a 15 year old girl, on her journey through adolescence after a heart- wrenching loss. Shelley clings to her near fanatic obsession with the Glenthorn Football Club, when everything else in her life seems to be failing. We experience Shelley’s progress as she experiences a new school, a new best friend, and a kindred spirit in the form of an AFL player named Mick.
Accurate and poignant, it is easy to feel a strong empathy with Shelley. While the main storyline pulls us through the long-term aftermath of tragedy, there is more to this novel than just a sad story. It is about beginning again and renewing, while still trying to be able to connect to the past. The book also delves into other important teenage issues including drinking, crushes gone wrong and bullying.
This is one of those stories that will stay with you, long after you have shut the cover. Both teenagers and adults will be able to identify with the themes. Those adults with teenage kids should definitely consider reading the book alongside their offspring. In fact, it is almost seems to be made with these collaborative reads in mind: it has enough football in it to keep teenage boys enthralled, and enough 80’s references (including Jason Donovan) spattered throughout to keep parents amused. This is novel that tells its tale without being overly boxed in by gender stereotypes or the need for ultra-modern surrounds.
This is Hayes first novel and has already been short listed for the Young Australian Book Awards. It is easy to see why, with elements that seem to combine touches from Australia YA classics such as “Looking for Alibrandi” (Marchetta) and “So Much to tell You” (Marsden). This book is sure to be a classroom hit.
Reviewed for Creative Kids Tales by Allie Mokany
May 3, 2016
I'm unlikely to say anything coherent as I am full of snot and Codral and Nurofen on account of the dreaded lurgy but: I LOVED THIS BOOK. I know approximately nothing about 'the sportsball'. Go 'the team'! Do the thing! With the ball! Winning is good! And whatnot! My ignorance mattered not one jot while reading (Nic, what the hell is a flogger?) about a girl whose passion for 'the sportsball' is a lifeline through her journey of grief. Now don't let your eyes glaze over when I mention grief. This is not a sad-fest. However, I did cry multiple times throughout because it's a narrative full of heart and I couldn't put it down.
My favourite things:
Nicole Hayes writes innocence with such subtlety and Shelley's voice is beautifully nuanced so that the unsaid is even more powerful on the page than what is spoken. Every gesture and pause is palpable and weighted with meaning. The characterisation is richly 3 dimensional, the relationships and motivations (again) so subtly explored. I believed every action, every word. I was so IN this story.
My injustice-meter was doing overtime in this story. The idea of a girl being stopped from playing 'the sportsball' on account of having lady parts turns me into a hissing-demon-hydra of fury. I cannot stand that Nicole Hayes and so many young aussie sports women experienced this. It makes me want to build a time machine and set fire to things.
I want to say so many other things like how much I loved Nicole Hayes treatment of Shelley's relationship with 'Mick' an older man, a hero, a 'grown-up'. I loved the relationship with the dad. I loved the tension inside Shelley between her shyness and her courage. UGH! SO MANY THINGS. But the snot is winning so I'm going to stop now because I think I may have brained my damage.
My favourite things:
Nicole Hayes writes innocence with such subtlety and Shelley's voice is beautifully nuanced so that the unsaid is even more powerful on the page than what is spoken. Every gesture and pause is palpable and weighted with meaning. The characterisation is richly 3 dimensional, the relationships and motivations (again) so subtly explored. I believed every action, every word. I was so IN this story.
My injustice-meter was doing overtime in this story. The idea of a girl being stopped from playing 'the sportsball' on account of having lady parts turns me into a hissing-demon-hydra of fury. I cannot stand that Nicole Hayes and so many young aussie sports women experienced this. It makes me want to build a time machine and set fire to things.
I want to say so many other things like how much I loved Nicole Hayes treatment of Shelley's relationship with 'Mick' an older man, a hero, a 'grown-up'. I loved the relationship with the dad. I loved the tension inside Shelley between her shyness and her courage. UGH! SO MANY THINGS. But the snot is winning so I'm going to stop now because I think I may have brained my damage.
September 29, 2013
Waaaaaa! I've finished it. Want more!
Ok. So that is the sort of review that you write at 1.30am. This is the review you write the next day.
The Whole of My World revolves around three things: football - Australian Rules; family; and Shelley.
Shelley Brown is starting at a new school. Shelley Brown has a secret that she doesn't want anyone else to know. And Shelley Brown is footy mad - in particular, she is mad for the Glenthorn Footy Club.
Part of the appeal of this novel is not knowing what it is that has made Shelley leave her old school; what has happened to make her and her Dad so distant and afraid of their feelings, afraid of even speaking. Sometimes, it's the stuff that we hide from other people, the stuff that makes us feel vulnerable, that reveals what we really are. Sometimes that stuff is so scary that it's really hard to own it - and even more scary when you are young, and feeling alone.
Nicole Hayes captures that scary, vulnerable feeling, of being young and not entirely in control of your life. That feeling of being impregnable, unstoppable, on top of the world, and so right that everyone else is wrong. And yet knowing that there's nothing at all in your life that is under control, and deny that knowledge.
A wonderful part of the story, for me, captured how I felt about football as girl. Committed, passionate and obsessive about the players, the stats, the games, and the aftermath.
The Whole of My World is the sort of story that you want to keep reading so that you can see how the main character's life has changed and succeeded. Because that's all that you are hoping for.
Ok. So that is the sort of review that you write at 1.30am. This is the review you write the next day.
The Whole of My World revolves around three things: football - Australian Rules; family; and Shelley.
Shelley Brown is starting at a new school. Shelley Brown has a secret that she doesn't want anyone else to know. And Shelley Brown is footy mad - in particular, she is mad for the Glenthorn Footy Club.
Part of the appeal of this novel is not knowing what it is that has made Shelley leave her old school; what has happened to make her and her Dad so distant and afraid of their feelings, afraid of even speaking. Sometimes, it's the stuff that we hide from other people, the stuff that makes us feel vulnerable, that reveals what we really are. Sometimes that stuff is so scary that it's really hard to own it - and even more scary when you are young, and feeling alone.
Nicole Hayes captures that scary, vulnerable feeling, of being young and not entirely in control of your life. That feeling of being impregnable, unstoppable, on top of the world, and so right that everyone else is wrong. And yet knowing that there's nothing at all in your life that is under control, and deny that knowledge.
A wonderful part of the story, for me, captured how I felt about football as girl. Committed, passionate and obsessive about the players, the stats, the games, and the aftermath.
The Whole of My World is the sort of story that you want to keep reading so that you can see how the main character's life has changed and succeeded. Because that's all that you are hoping for.
April 16, 2014
Shelley is making a new start, away from her old life where everyone knew the terrible thing that happened to her family. New school, new friends; she's drawing a line between then and now.
But life doesn't work like that. Nobody - not her old friends or her new ones - seems happy about her developing friendship with one of the local footy stars. Between hormones and memories, she can barely look at her best friend Josh any more, and anyway, he seems more interested in Shelley's new worst enemy. Her new friend Tara is an enigma to say the least, and her father...well, they can't speak for the elephant in the room.
Told in a beautiful, elegiac voice that reminded me of both Kirsty Eagar's Raw Blue and Pip Harry's I'll Tell You Mine, The Whole of My World gradually strips off the layers surrounding Shelley's secret until she realises she can't hide any more. She has to face the past in order to move on.
This is a moving coming-of-age novel, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Nicole Hayes comes up with next.
But life doesn't work like that. Nobody - not her old friends or her new ones - seems happy about her developing friendship with one of the local footy stars. Between hormones and memories, she can barely look at her best friend Josh any more, and anyway, he seems more interested in Shelley's new worst enemy. Her new friend Tara is an enigma to say the least, and her father...well, they can't speak for the elephant in the room.
Told in a beautiful, elegiac voice that reminded me of both Kirsty Eagar's Raw Blue and Pip Harry's I'll Tell You Mine, The Whole of My World gradually strips off the layers surrounding Shelley's secret until she realises she can't hide any more. She has to face the past in order to move on.
This is a moving coming-of-age novel, and I'm looking forward to seeing what Nicole Hayes comes up with next.
November 8, 2015
The magic for me of "The Whole of my World" was how intensely it brought back memories of going for the Hawks and of being fifteen: the insane highs and lows of crushes, disappointments, friendships going south or sideways. It's a very real book - set in the 1980s, it's a raw and moving exploration of loss and of trying to find your way when everything about your life and your sense of self has changed. The two-way predatory relationship between sports fans and their gods was particularly well-drawn: when adoration and elite sport are thrown into the mix, things will get out of hand and people will get hurt. There's such a great sense of hope by the end of the novel. Very much looking forward to Hayes' next work.
February 5, 2017
This was a fantastic read - perfect for the younger end of a YA audience (probably from 13 or 14 yrs). I enjoyed the whole thing, but by the end it was just so breathtaking and heartbreaking - I held my breath for the last third of the book!
It is a story about what can happen when girls are held back from pursuing their dreams, or doing things they are passionate about from just because of gender. Perfect read for this weekend, with the debut of women's football at the AFL level.
It is a story about what can happen when girls are held back from pursuing their dreams, or doing things they are passionate about from just because of gender. Perfect read for this weekend, with the debut of women's football at the AFL level.
October 28, 2024
Wonderful. Nicole's insight into the realm of young adults is unsurpassed. She displays a fearless understanding of the human spirit and isn't afraid to explore the inner turmoil of lives, young and old. Never condescending, her writing is accessible and beautifully sculptured.
April 10, 2022
A book about a love of all things AFL footy, completely absorbed in the game week to week, to getting as close and involved as one can as a fan, really touches on a big part of my world as a teen and young adult. Can't believe I haven't read this till now!
I loved the weave of footy terminology throughout, as chapter and part markers, but also the use of footy analogies as mottos for life and getting through tough times.
The representation of the discrimination for girl's and women's participation in footy after 13 years of age, is explored and shared. Whilst not a player myself, I imagine this would have felt so true for so many girls. And now, incredibly and through the advocacy work of so many, no longer the case with AFLW paving the way for women's and girl's inclusion.
I also loved the references and the change of names to represent clubs and places within this Melbourne and AFL world - also being a fan of the brown-and-gold team in the competition. The places were real to me, because I have been to many. The footy talk was engrossing for me, having not seen such chat in fiction before. The personal around the club and fan experience was very real, having known and recognised the Red and Lovely Ladies of my time.
This YA read also explores the loneliness and complex emotions of late teens, and the search for belonging. Some big issues explored, including the vulnerability of young women with the male sports club environment. I wonder how my young, footy-mad self would have felt about this.
A perfect read on the weekend where the AFLW grand final meets the regular AFLM season. Go footy!
I loved the weave of footy terminology throughout, as chapter and part markers, but also the use of footy analogies as mottos for life and getting through tough times.
The representation of the discrimination for girl's and women's participation in footy after 13 years of age, is explored and shared. Whilst not a player myself, I imagine this would have felt so true for so many girls. And now, incredibly and through the advocacy work of so many, no longer the case with AFLW paving the way for women's and girl's inclusion.
I also loved the references and the change of names to represent clubs and places within this Melbourne and AFL world - also being a fan of the brown-and-gold team in the competition. The places were real to me, because I have been to many. The footy talk was engrossing for me, having not seen such chat in fiction before. The personal around the club and fan experience was very real, having known and recognised the Red and Lovely Ladies of my time.
This YA read also explores the loneliness and complex emotions of late teens, and the search for belonging. Some big issues explored, including the vulnerability of young women with the male sports club environment. I wonder how my young, footy-mad self would have felt about this.
A perfect read on the weekend where the AFLW grand final meets the regular AFLM season. Go footy!
April 7, 2019
To be honest when I started reading through this book I realised a big part of her life was football and this sport is not something I enjoy to watch or read. So at the start I thought this book was a bad choice but decided anything could happen...
This book turned out to be amazing, but it wasn't necessarily a happy book and there weren't many heart warming moments but something about this book made me want to know more about her life and how it turned out.
Even though I couldn't relate to her in many ways, such as her love for football, starting a new school or even her own tragic secret I still had a ton of sympathy for her and respect for the things she overcomes.
This book was sad, weird, slightly confusing but overall I understood that none of that matters when you read the end of the incredible novel.
This book turned out to be amazing, but it wasn't necessarily a happy book and there weren't many heart warming moments but something about this book made me want to know more about her life and how it turned out.
Even though I couldn't relate to her in many ways, such as her love for football, starting a new school or even her own tragic secret I still had a ton of sympathy for her and respect for the things she overcomes.
This book was sad, weird, slightly confusing but overall I understood that none of that matters when you read the end of the incredible novel.
November 13, 2018
Loved this beautifully written, emotionally gripping YA novel. The vivid depiction of school life, and footy clubs, in Melbourne in 1984 resonated strongly for me and I found myself caring deeply about the lives of the characters. The final quarter of this book was particularly riveting! Perfect for all readers, but particularly for those aged between 12 and 15 years.
May 7, 2017
SUCH A GOOD BOOK!
I can totally relate with the football stuff omg bless. but i wish faz would give me lifts home from training and hug me once in awhile, sigh. mick edwards sounds like the BEST. until the end, of course.
I can totally relate with the football stuff omg bless. but i wish faz would give me lifts home from training and hug me once in awhile, sigh. mick edwards sounds like the BEST. until the end, of course.
June 13, 2017
Such beautiful writing. I was so very IN this story, completely hooked. I'm not even a sports fan, but I found the whole football world fascinating because it was the world Shelley was using to deal with her pain and loss.
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