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Infinite Sky #1
Wen liebst du, wenn ich tot bin?
Seit die Mutter die Familie verlassen hat, ist das Leben der Geschwister Sam und Iris aus den Fugen. Vater Tommo versinkt in Sprachlosigkeit, Sam in Drogenmissbrauch und Gewalt. Iris muss mit alldem allein fertigwerden - bis sie Patrick trifft. Doch die zarte Liebe der beiden wird von Tommo und Sam nicht geduldet - und so kommt es schließlich zu einem Kampf, der tödlich endet.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 14, 2013
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6886 people want to read
About the author
C.J. Flood
4 books147 followersHi, I'm Chelsey. I grew up in Derby, and now live in Bristol. I like fire and the sea and trees.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 281 reviews
March 20, 2013
"And all the time the same question flails around my head, like a hawkmoth round a light-bulb: Is it possible to keep loving somebody when they kill someone you love?”
C.J. Flood’s debut, Infinite Sky, is a novel that is at once both understated and emotionally devastating; a story that unfolds gradually with a quietness that belies the impending tragedy.
The prologue hangs like a shadow over the following pages of the novel. It is made clear from the start that this is a story marked by death, but by withholding the identity of the character to die, Flood maintains a sense of compelling disquiet. We know grief awaits us, yet we don’t know for whom, or why. It’s an approach that works for this book, allowing the plot to progress at an unhurried pace without sacrificing any of the tension required to keep the story engaging.
This is a coming-of-age story, but Flood’s approach to Iris’ development is refreshingly frank and unsentimental. At thirteen, Iris is attempting to adjust to a life in which her mother has left the family, her father is drinking and distant, and her brother Sam is becoming increasingly altered and withdrawn. Flood is subtle in her depiction of each character’s response to their changed circumstances: she shows it in the neglect of their home, in Sam’s muted anger, in Iris’ habit of wearing of her Mother’s abandoned clothes.
In addition, and partly in response to her mother’s departure, Iris is feeling increasingly alienated from her friend, Matty. Bristling under the well-intentioned, if heavy-handed, pity of Matty and her mother, Iris becomes more aware of the nuances of their friendship, the shifting dynamic between them. Though secondary to the central plot, Flood also writes these elements of the story with insight and skill.
It’s against this backdrop of emotional upheaval that a family of Irish Travellers set up camp on the Dancy’s land, and Iris finds an unexpected friend in fourteen-year-old Trick. After some initial wary observation, Iris and Trick’s interactions develop from tentative sympathy to something deeper: a closeness that’s both friendship and first love intertwined. Yet Flood never allows this relationship to become overly romanticised or unrealistic, nor does she trivialise it. With an excellent grasp of her characters’ experiences and ages, Flood writes their bond with restraint, allowing Iris’ self-consciousness and Trick’s cognizance of local prejudice to shade their growing closeness.
Flood’s handling of the issue of discrimination and racism is particularly adroit, conveying the complexities of the conflict honestly, and without judgement. Her depiction of the local attitudes towards Travellers is unflinchingly candid; she doesn’t shy away from the slurs and assumptions that accompany the arrival of Trick and his family, nor does she paint an idealised picture of them. Rather, Flood presents the various sides of the issue with impartiality, striving instead to accurately present a situation where the many shades of grey prevent black and white judgement, or definitive allocation of blame.
When the various conflicts – both internal and external – reach the inevitable climax, Flood has created a situation that is intensely distressing. But there are no easy villains here. Each of the characters shares some culpability in the outcome, yet this isn’t a story that is trying to moralise to readers. Rather there is something heartbreaking about the very believability of this story, that these kind of actions and attitudes are both realistic and common.
Yet it’s Iris’ opening question in the prologue that lingers, and I appreciated Flood’s choice to tackle the complexities of grief and guilt when the situation is far from clear-cut. The novel asks us to consider difficult questions - and while it doesn’t necessarily provide the answers - its strength lies in acknowledging that these questions exist. That in life, and love, and death, sometimes there are no easy answers.
C.J. Flood’s debut, Infinite Sky, is a novel that is at once both understated and emotionally devastating; a story that unfolds gradually with a quietness that belies the impending tragedy.
The prologue hangs like a shadow over the following pages of the novel. It is made clear from the start that this is a story marked by death, but by withholding the identity of the character to die, Flood maintains a sense of compelling disquiet. We know grief awaits us, yet we don’t know for whom, or why. It’s an approach that works for this book, allowing the plot to progress at an unhurried pace without sacrificing any of the tension required to keep the story engaging.
This is a coming-of-age story, but Flood’s approach to Iris’ development is refreshingly frank and unsentimental. At thirteen, Iris is attempting to adjust to a life in which her mother has left the family, her father is drinking and distant, and her brother Sam is becoming increasingly altered and withdrawn. Flood is subtle in her depiction of each character’s response to their changed circumstances: she shows it in the neglect of their home, in Sam’s muted anger, in Iris’ habit of wearing of her Mother’s abandoned clothes.
In addition, and partly in response to her mother’s departure, Iris is feeling increasingly alienated from her friend, Matty. Bristling under the well-intentioned, if heavy-handed, pity of Matty and her mother, Iris becomes more aware of the nuances of their friendship, the shifting dynamic between them. Though secondary to the central plot, Flood also writes these elements of the story with insight and skill.
It’s against this backdrop of emotional upheaval that a family of Irish Travellers set up camp on the Dancy’s land, and Iris finds an unexpected friend in fourteen-year-old Trick. After some initial wary observation, Iris and Trick’s interactions develop from tentative sympathy to something deeper: a closeness that’s both friendship and first love intertwined. Yet Flood never allows this relationship to become overly romanticised or unrealistic, nor does she trivialise it. With an excellent grasp of her characters’ experiences and ages, Flood writes their bond with restraint, allowing Iris’ self-consciousness and Trick’s cognizance of local prejudice to shade their growing closeness.
Flood’s handling of the issue of discrimination and racism is particularly adroit, conveying the complexities of the conflict honestly, and without judgement. Her depiction of the local attitudes towards Travellers is unflinchingly candid; she doesn’t shy away from the slurs and assumptions that accompany the arrival of Trick and his family, nor does she paint an idealised picture of them. Rather, Flood presents the various sides of the issue with impartiality, striving instead to accurately present a situation where the many shades of grey prevent black and white judgement, or definitive allocation of blame.
When the various conflicts – both internal and external – reach the inevitable climax, Flood has created a situation that is intensely distressing. But there are no easy villains here. Each of the characters shares some culpability in the outcome, yet this isn’t a story that is trying to moralise to readers. Rather there is something heartbreaking about the very believability of this story, that these kind of actions and attitudes are both realistic and common.
Yet it’s Iris’ opening question in the prologue that lingers, and I appreciated Flood’s choice to tackle the complexities of grief and guilt when the situation is far from clear-cut. The novel asks us to consider difficult questions - and while it doesn’t necessarily provide the answers - its strength lies in acknowledging that these questions exist. That in life, and love, and death, sometimes there are no easy answers.
March 30, 2013
I'm still crying. This despite knowing early on that something sad was going to happen (the very first chapter prepares us for it, but not really.. not at all!) Reading this one and feeling all the things that it has me feeling, has me wanting to reevaluate what type of book gets a four or five star rating from me nowadays, because honestly, if it's about the emotion, Infinite Skies deserves all my 4-5 star emotion based ratings ( and then some, because I'm still crying here)
I am certain that anyone who's got awesome siblings will feel lots over this over this... for most of the last chapters, the tears were flowing fast and free (and still are, as I type these words.)
Because the characters in this one! I'm Heartsick over Iris and Sam and then Trick. And yes, their parents as well:
Iris is young and open and sweet. Sam is young and angry, siblings the two of them, lost on why their family is the way it is. And I was angry on their behalf, at both their parents: one who's there (but not really) and another who's taken the more honest way and chucked it. And yet... the honesty with which they're all portrayed, that's what engaged my head at first. How the mother's had her fill and up and gone; how the father's left behind and is clueless about what's to be done; and how brother and sister continue to do what they're doing when the both of them are so obviously lost (gahh... heart sick all over again!)
But then there were moments too that eased things up, of the glimpses of brother and sister, both mindful of what the other (they're both experiencing) and of them both remembering some shared thing in the past. It's those things, that added touch of sweetness.. but it's also those that make the outcome of this all the more emotional for me.
Then there were those other sort of sweet moments, of a girl finding others beyond family; of a boy so different from what's familiar to her. How the two of them manage to build up a friendship that's begun out of curiosity then made into something sweet and.. yeah, sweet... and how this sweet tentative new thing is seen by those that matter to her so that when finally both parts of her story meet, there I was still wanting some other outcome to come out of it.
(Goodness... the last three chapters of a book had me crying nonstop..)
(... and I still haven't stopped! It's like CJ Flood's turned on the tap to my tear ducts..!)
4/5
January 24, 2016
Infinite Sky by C.J Flood is a 4/5 star for me.
I picked this book out just based on the synopsis that some betrayal was about to take place. I wanted to indulge myself in a bittersweet novel and this definitely filled that pothole for me.
The story starts out slow with background information being delivered. This included the location of the protagonist, her surroundings, her family members and also the gypsy boy. This was crucial in the development of the story. And to top that, a map of Iris's town was beautifully illustrated. I love it when there's a map in the book!
I enjoyed reading the dysfunction of Iris's family and the love that was brewing between Iris and Trick. How modern day love was prohibited in the farm where her Dad was old school and had morals on love. Her Dad basically disapproved her love for the Gypsy boy mainly due to the fact that the Gypsies were in their line of land. Her Dad hated that and there were conflicts rising from that. The point where things got out of hand was when there was a break-in in her Dad's shed. That was when her Dad went full mental and wanted the eviction of the Gypsies.
Obviously Iris hated that. Iris had also other issues which included her Mom having left their family, her brother who went out and basically did stupid teenage stuff and her broken friendship with Matty. With so much pressure, I wonder how Iris managed to remain good-spirited. I would have honestly lost it.
The climax of the book was the lost of her loved one. Who's that loved one? GO AND READ THE BOOK AND YOU'LL KNOW. I found the whole funeral process extremely moving. I'm a sucker for speeches that have that sentimental touch to it.
I'd definitely read more from this author. Her writing style is relatively clear and has resemblances to how screenplay writing would be. I enjoyed this book and I am hoping for a second part to this book as the book still has room for development.
I picked this book out just based on the synopsis that some betrayal was about to take place. I wanted to indulge myself in a bittersweet novel and this definitely filled that pothole for me.
The story starts out slow with background information being delivered. This included the location of the protagonist, her surroundings, her family members and also the gypsy boy. This was crucial in the development of the story. And to top that, a map of Iris's town was beautifully illustrated. I love it when there's a map in the book!
I enjoyed reading the dysfunction of Iris's family and the love that was brewing between Iris and Trick. How modern day love was prohibited in the farm where her Dad was old school and had morals on love. Her Dad basically disapproved her love for the Gypsy boy mainly due to the fact that the Gypsies were in their line of land. Her Dad hated that and there were conflicts rising from that. The point where things got out of hand was when there was a break-in in her Dad's shed. That was when her Dad went full mental and wanted the eviction of the Gypsies.
Obviously Iris hated that. Iris had also other issues which included her Mom having left their family, her brother who went out and basically did stupid teenage stuff and her broken friendship with Matty. With so much pressure, I wonder how Iris managed to remain good-spirited. I would have honestly lost it.
The climax of the book was the lost of her loved one. Who's that loved one? GO AND READ THE BOOK AND YOU'LL KNOW. I found the whole funeral process extremely moving. I'm a sucker for speeches that have that sentimental touch to it.
I'd definitely read more from this author. Her writing style is relatively clear and has resemblances to how screenplay writing would be. I enjoyed this book and I am hoping for a second part to this book as the book still has room for development.
June 28, 2013
I was really excited for this book. LIKE YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE. I was nearly hyperventilating when I entered the bookstore, and I was near tears, and I all could whisper was, "Praise Jesus, Lord, You are so good," over and over again.
And you know, the synopsis seemed appealing to me, and the cover was nice too, so I thought, why not, right? There aren't many bookstores where I live, and it's a blessing just to stand in a large one outside the country.
Infinite Sky is about Iris Dancy, whose mother upped and left, promising that she would "be back", and whose father is 'left trying to hold it together', and her brother Sam completely changed and is now a rebellious teenager who tries to pick a fight with everyone to prove he's tough. (Stupid, if you ask me.) A group of gypsies camp out in their garden, and basically, everyone hates gypsies, and their Dad gets really mad and unreasonable. So of course, a friendship and a budding romance blossoms between Iris and the lad, Patrick (commonly called 'Trick').
Alright. I was deceived by the synopsis and the prologue and the beautiful, beautiful cover. I mean, it's beautiful, really, so that's why I picked it up in the first place. But what I thought would be a tear-jerking book about friendship and family and loyalty and love, turned out to make me ask when I turned the last page, "What's the point of this whole book again?"
It honestly felt to me like the author just threw some characters together, tried to make some big conflict, threw in a potential boyfriend for Iris, and tried to turn her against herself by making Trick kill her brother. That was all it felt like to me. There were a few one-liners that I liked, but other than that, blagh.
I also disliked Iris. A lot. She is such a flat character! She doesn't give reasons for her actions, and you don't really get to sympathize with her, or get to know how she really thinks or feels. She's also so weak. Why write a story when you're not going to develop the character as you go along? I think the only change in her was that she was able to turn Trick in, which I thought was ridiculous, too. It was an act of self-defense, and yet...
I do not like any characters in this book. They could've been developed much, much better, and given an interesting backstory. Sam annoyed me a lot. How was I supposed to cry at his death and feel sorry for him when I didn't care about him at all?! The author gave me absolutely no reason to care for him! To me, it just seemed like he was a stuck up brat that reacted badly to his Mum's departure, and then picked a fight with someone just because he could, only to end up dead. I say that it serves him right. Also, the only personality traits and backstory we get about him is that he likes to draw, and is very good at it, he has brown curls, and he and his Mum are alike. So tell me, how am I supposed to care for such a lifeless character such as him? I don't.
Her Dad also annoyed me, because he was always cursing and blaming things on the kids in a way that wasn't realistic. Again, lack of details. I think Trick and Nan were going somewhere, but the author just cut them off abruptly, and I was surprised, because I was actually looking forward to the deeper relationships between Trick and Nan and Iris. I wanted to see how they interacted.
This story really could've been better. The author has potential, but, well.
And you know, the synopsis seemed appealing to me, and the cover was nice too, so I thought, why not, right? There aren't many bookstores where I live, and it's a blessing just to stand in a large one outside the country.
Infinite Sky is about Iris Dancy, whose mother upped and left, promising that she would "be back", and whose father is 'left trying to hold it together', and her brother Sam completely changed and is now a rebellious teenager who tries to pick a fight with everyone to prove he's tough. (Stupid, if you ask me.) A group of gypsies camp out in their garden, and basically, everyone hates gypsies, and their Dad gets really mad and unreasonable. So of course, a friendship and a budding romance blossoms between Iris and the lad, Patrick (commonly called 'Trick').
Alright. I was deceived by the synopsis and the prologue and the beautiful, beautiful cover. I mean, it's beautiful, really, so that's why I picked it up in the first place. But what I thought would be a tear-jerking book about friendship and family and loyalty and love, turned out to make me ask when I turned the last page, "What's the point of this whole book again?"
It honestly felt to me like the author just threw some characters together, tried to make some big conflict, threw in a potential boyfriend for Iris, and tried to turn her against herself by making Trick kill her brother. That was all it felt like to me. There were a few one-liners that I liked, but other than that, blagh.
I also disliked Iris. A lot. She is such a flat character! She doesn't give reasons for her actions, and you don't really get to sympathize with her, or get to know how she really thinks or feels. She's also so weak. Why write a story when you're not going to develop the character as you go along? I think the only change in her was that she was able to turn Trick in, which I thought was ridiculous, too. It was an act of self-defense, and yet...
I do not like any characters in this book. They could've been developed much, much better, and given an interesting backstory. Sam annoyed me a lot. How was I supposed to cry at his death and feel sorry for him when I didn't care about him at all?! The author gave me absolutely no reason to care for him! To me, it just seemed like he was a stuck up brat that reacted badly to his Mum's departure, and then picked a fight with someone just because he could, only to end up dead. I say that it serves him right. Also, the only personality traits and backstory we get about him is that he likes to draw, and is very good at it, he has brown curls, and he and his Mum are alike. So tell me, how am I supposed to care for such a lifeless character such as him? I don't.
Her Dad also annoyed me, because he was always cursing and blaming things on the kids in a way that wasn't realistic. Again, lack of details. I think Trick and Nan were going somewhere, but the author just cut them off abruptly, and I was surprised, because I was actually looking forward to the deeper relationships between Trick and Nan and Iris. I wanted to see how they interacted.
This story really could've been better. The author has potential, but, well.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2013
This excellent book comes under the category of 'young adult' but don't let that put you off. It's a great story and I shed a little tear at the end. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.....
October 3, 2016
Muiiito perto das 4 estrelas. Acho que o que me fez gostar menos foi o facto de ter demorado muitoo tempo a lê-lo, mas estas últimas páginas deram cabo de mim. Tive de parar várias vezes para ver se não me esvaí-a em lágrimas. Tive muito perto de deitar umas quantas. Chocked on feelings deve ser a expressão que mais define. Dos melhores YA's que tenho lido ultimamente.
May 21, 2013
4.5 stars
Ever since her mum left Iris's family has been falling apart, her dad has been drinking too much and her brother Sam has become angry and withdrawn. Iris is only 13 years old but she is the one who is trying to hold them together, she does her best to take care of the house and cook for them all but it isn't easy and she's left feeling sad and alone. The day a family of travellers move onto their land changes everything, her father and Sam are both angry and want the travellers gone but Iris can't help but be curious about them. As she secretly gets to know Trick she realises that her family's prejudices against him aren't true and they form a close friendship that helps them both through some difficult times. As tensions increase between the two families Iris and Trick are caught in the middle but when tragedy strikes who will be the last one standing?
Infinite Sky is the kind of book that doesn't come along very often, one of those stories that touches your heart and will make you shed a few tears but that will also make you smile along the way. It's very clear from the prologue that something terrible has happened, Iris is at the funeral of someone she is close to but you are given no indication of who it is that died. The story then begins several months earlier and you spend the summer watching Iris blossom from a child into a young adult as she falls in love for the first time. At the back of your mind you always know that something bad is coming but that sense of foreboding doesn't make the journey any less enjoyable, in fact I think it is what makes this quite such an addictive read.
I don't want to go into much more detail about the story because I think it is a book that needs to be savoured and is best read with as little knowledge as possible. I'd rather talk about how much I loved the characters, Iris is a young girl that I think most people can relate to. She is going through a difficult time at home and is at that age when you start to question the things you are told and stop believing everything just because a parent tells you it's true. She is learning some hard truths about family and friendship and her experiences help shape her into the woman she is going to become. Iris is constantly being told that the travellers are bad news but she wants to make up her own mind about them by getting to know them. She is smart enough to realise that no family is perfect and that we should react to people based on the way they treat us not because of someone else's prejudice.
I didn't feel we get to know Trick as well as we know Iris, probably because the story is told from her point of view, but we know enough about him to hurt on his behalf when he is bullied and picked on by local teens. The events that unfold towards the end are heartbreaking and I think it was made even worse by the fact that that people who are most to blame are the ones who walk away from the incident unaffected. Infinite Sky is a book that will make you think, it touches on difficult themes but does so in a sensitive manner. The writing is beautiful for it's simplicity and it's hard to believe that this is C.J. Flood's debut novel, I know I'll automatically be reading anything she writes in the future. If you haven't already fallen in love with Infinite Sky then I urge you to pick up a copy as soon as possible, the setting makes it a perfect book for reading on a lazy summer afternoon and I'm sure you won't regret giving it a chance.
Ever since her mum left Iris's family has been falling apart, her dad has been drinking too much and her brother Sam has become angry and withdrawn. Iris is only 13 years old but she is the one who is trying to hold them together, she does her best to take care of the house and cook for them all but it isn't easy and she's left feeling sad and alone. The day a family of travellers move onto their land changes everything, her father and Sam are both angry and want the travellers gone but Iris can't help but be curious about them. As she secretly gets to know Trick she realises that her family's prejudices against him aren't true and they form a close friendship that helps them both through some difficult times. As tensions increase between the two families Iris and Trick are caught in the middle but when tragedy strikes who will be the last one standing?
Infinite Sky is the kind of book that doesn't come along very often, one of those stories that touches your heart and will make you shed a few tears but that will also make you smile along the way. It's very clear from the prologue that something terrible has happened, Iris is at the funeral of someone she is close to but you are given no indication of who it is that died. The story then begins several months earlier and you spend the summer watching Iris blossom from a child into a young adult as she falls in love for the first time. At the back of your mind you always know that something bad is coming but that sense of foreboding doesn't make the journey any less enjoyable, in fact I think it is what makes this quite such an addictive read.
I don't want to go into much more detail about the story because I think it is a book that needs to be savoured and is best read with as little knowledge as possible. I'd rather talk about how much I loved the characters, Iris is a young girl that I think most people can relate to. She is going through a difficult time at home and is at that age when you start to question the things you are told and stop believing everything just because a parent tells you it's true. She is learning some hard truths about family and friendship and her experiences help shape her into the woman she is going to become. Iris is constantly being told that the travellers are bad news but she wants to make up her own mind about them by getting to know them. She is smart enough to realise that no family is perfect and that we should react to people based on the way they treat us not because of someone else's prejudice.
I didn't feel we get to know Trick as well as we know Iris, probably because the story is told from her point of view, but we know enough about him to hurt on his behalf when he is bullied and picked on by local teens. The events that unfold towards the end are heartbreaking and I think it was made even worse by the fact that that people who are most to blame are the ones who walk away from the incident unaffected. Infinite Sky is a book that will make you think, it touches on difficult themes but does so in a sensitive manner. The writing is beautiful for it's simplicity and it's hard to believe that this is C.J. Flood's debut novel, I know I'll automatically be reading anything she writes in the future. If you haven't already fallen in love with Infinite Sky then I urge you to pick up a copy as soon as possible, the setting makes it a perfect book for reading on a lazy summer afternoon and I'm sure you won't regret giving it a chance.
March 23, 2013
I loved this book. As a Brit expat, its Englishness gave me a sweet longing for those slow, lazy summers that Flood describes so well here. But don’t be fooled by sunny fields and cornfield hideouts: they’re woven through with the very gritty stuff of abandonment and loss, judgment and prejudice, in a compelling and heartfelt story told through the understanding eyes of its main character, Iris.
Left by their mum, Iris and Sam face summer with their dad, who's busy drowning his sorrows. Sam, particularly close to his mother, is devastated by her departure, his rage brewing and building as time passes. Iris, meanwhile, finds solace in the wonderful Trick, whose traveller family’s presence in the Dancy’s paddock is the catalyst and fulcrum of the book’s action. The conflicts and personal dilemmas that arise for her are beautifully handled throughout by the author.
The choice of names for Iris and her leading lad are another thing I loved. Iris, the gentle eye through which this tough story is seen; Trick, the boy whose heart we’re never quite sure of, but who is one of my favorite characters ever. And Fiasco, for the dog? All great.
I have one reservation, to do with Sam. The story starts with him already angry, and all we see is him being...well, not the nicest guy. Not that I’d fault Flood’s depiction of him as such; her tone with the current situation (as with everything else) is perfect. It’s just that since I didn’t witness what a stand-up bro he’d been before the story began, I couldn’t quite identify with her abiding love for him. Loyalty, yes. He is, after all, her brother.
But that is more than made up for by Flood's very fine writing, and the fact that Iris's story has curled up in a corner of my heart where it feels like it's going to stay for a long, long time. Hence my 5-star rating.
Left by their mum, Iris and Sam face summer with their dad, who's busy drowning his sorrows. Sam, particularly close to his mother, is devastated by her departure, his rage brewing and building as time passes. Iris, meanwhile, finds solace in the wonderful Trick, whose traveller family’s presence in the Dancy’s paddock is the catalyst and fulcrum of the book’s action. The conflicts and personal dilemmas that arise for her are beautifully handled throughout by the author.
The choice of names for Iris and her leading lad are another thing I loved. Iris, the gentle eye through which this tough story is seen; Trick, the boy whose heart we’re never quite sure of, but who is one of my favorite characters ever. And Fiasco, for the dog? All great.
I have one reservation, to do with Sam. The story starts with him already angry, and all we see is him being...well, not the nicest guy. Not that I’d fault Flood’s depiction of him as such; her tone with the current situation (as with everything else) is perfect. It’s just that since I didn’t witness what a stand-up bro he’d been before the story began, I couldn’t quite identify with her abiding love for him. Loyalty, yes. He is, after all, her brother.
But that is more than made up for by Flood's very fine writing, and the fact that Iris's story has curled up in a corner of my heart where it feels like it's going to stay for a long, long time. Hence my 5-star rating.
January 2, 2019
A hard one for me to rate as although the writing is beautiful and certainly evokes a time and place, you could feel those corn fields, I am not the target audience and it probably would have had more impact if I was 14. However it is well written and I have rated it so.
July 8, 2013
Infinite Sky is a beautifully written story of first love and loss. It’s a bittersweet read which squeezes the heart and fills you with a longing for something that’s just out of reach.
From the very first page, the most striking thing about this book is the quality of the writing. It has a beautiful simple sound to it. It reads as if the author considered every beat, every single word, every simile. It doesn’t come across as flowery language or particularly poetic. It’s more an earthy, honesty in the words and the main character’s viewpoint that spoke to me.
This is the story of Iris. She’s desperate for school to be finished and the summer to begin. She wants to escape her self-centred, shallow friend Matty. She wants peace and I got the sense that she wanted to let nature wash over and embrace her. Things haven’t been great in their rural home since her mum left. Her older brother Sam’s been acting out of character – getting into trouble at school, avoiding his best mate. And dad is drinking more and more.
As the summer arrives so do a group of Irish travellers who set up home in one of the family’s paddocks. Iris’s dad is furious – he spouts prejudicial comments about them being scroungers, a scourge on society etc and warns Iris to stay away from them. But as Iris watches out the window at the family living a completely different way of life she becomes more and more curious about the boy who disappears off into the wilderness.
Iris and Trick connect because they listen to each other. They ignore the prejudice that their parents would have them believe and instead discover their own truth about friendship, honesty and love. But of course, they’re blossoming relationship cannot stay secret and soon the conflict between their families turns to tragedy. So it’s also a story about forgiveness.
Infinite Sky is a book that you can lose yourself in. It’s poignant, moving and has a life all of its own. Highly recommended.
From the very first page, the most striking thing about this book is the quality of the writing. It has a beautiful simple sound to it. It reads as if the author considered every beat, every single word, every simile. It doesn’t come across as flowery language or particularly poetic. It’s more an earthy, honesty in the words and the main character’s viewpoint that spoke to me.
This is the story of Iris. She’s desperate for school to be finished and the summer to begin. She wants to escape her self-centred, shallow friend Matty. She wants peace and I got the sense that she wanted to let nature wash over and embrace her. Things haven’t been great in their rural home since her mum left. Her older brother Sam’s been acting out of character – getting into trouble at school, avoiding his best mate. And dad is drinking more and more.
As the summer arrives so do a group of Irish travellers who set up home in one of the family’s paddocks. Iris’s dad is furious – he spouts prejudicial comments about them being scroungers, a scourge on society etc and warns Iris to stay away from them. But as Iris watches out the window at the family living a completely different way of life she becomes more and more curious about the boy who disappears off into the wilderness.
Iris and Trick connect because they listen to each other. They ignore the prejudice that their parents would have them believe and instead discover their own truth about friendship, honesty and love. But of course, they’re blossoming relationship cannot stay secret and soon the conflict between their families turns to tragedy. So it’s also a story about forgiveness.
Infinite Sky is a book that you can lose yourself in. It’s poignant, moving and has a life all of its own. Highly recommended.
August 11, 2013
You can read more of my reviews at Queen of Contemporary
In this deep and heartfelt novel, Flood appeals to the readers emotions and sends them on a whirlwind journey of discovery.
When a family of travellers move into the paddock behind Iris Dancy’s farmhouse, she is immediately transfixed. Who are these people, and why does her dad hate them so much?
This book deals with tough subjects such as prejudice and discrimination and I think those subjects were dealt with in a very good manner. The hostility that was aimed towards the characters was disgusting, but very well written.
It’s very hard to read this book and not get hit by a wave of emotions. Iris, our main character, is very mature and has to deal with a lot of hard issues in this book. She was a likeable character and I really did want to read more about her.
I was expecting that there would be a heavy romance in this book but there actually wasn’t. I thought this would be something that I would hate because I love romantic novels but, instead, it was full of these incredibly sweet moments and I don’t think you could say that this is a romance novel.
This was actually a good thing because it meant that the reader was able to focus on the bigger points in the novel, which there were plenty of.
Trick was a very interesting character. I felt like we got to know him, only for him to do something which would change my opinion of him. I don’t mean that in a bad way because I liked him throughout but his character was constantly developing, which was a nice thing to see.
I read this book within a day and couldn’t put it down. It was an emotional and thrilling read and I’m looking forward to seeing more from this debut author in the future.
In this deep and heartfelt novel, Flood appeals to the readers emotions and sends them on a whirlwind journey of discovery.
When a family of travellers move into the paddock behind Iris Dancy’s farmhouse, she is immediately transfixed. Who are these people, and why does her dad hate them so much?
This book deals with tough subjects such as prejudice and discrimination and I think those subjects were dealt with in a very good manner. The hostility that was aimed towards the characters was disgusting, but very well written.
It’s very hard to read this book and not get hit by a wave of emotions. Iris, our main character, is very mature and has to deal with a lot of hard issues in this book. She was a likeable character and I really did want to read more about her.
I was expecting that there would be a heavy romance in this book but there actually wasn’t. I thought this would be something that I would hate because I love romantic novels but, instead, it was full of these incredibly sweet moments and I don’t think you could say that this is a romance novel.
This was actually a good thing because it meant that the reader was able to focus on the bigger points in the novel, which there were plenty of.
Trick was a very interesting character. I felt like we got to know him, only for him to do something which would change my opinion of him. I don’t mean that in a bad way because I liked him throughout but his character was constantly developing, which was a nice thing to see.
I read this book within a day and couldn’t put it down. It was an emotional and thrilling read and I’m looking forward to seeing more from this debut author in the future.
July 4, 2016
My detachment with this book is so high that even the later parts should be deftly sad and moving, I wasn't moved and felt sad. At all. I don't exactly know why but I just can't connect with Iris (the mc) and the other characters involved in this story.
Infinite Sky is not a bad book. It's not even boring, too, but when I'm not emotionally invested with the characters and even with the story, it tends to topple on the boring direction even it wasn't.
Infinite Sky is a family story. Iris is trying to live her normal life after her mother left them and their family starts falling apart. Then, throw gypsies into the scene and a friendship has been formed between Iris and Trick (the gypsy). And add to that, the things Sam do (Iris' brother) that is either for himself and for his friends.
As a fan of realistic-fiction books, I was disappointed that it didn't deliver. That story is actually good and worth reading but it turned out to be confusing and dull as I read. The writing is okay and not at the same time. It didn't bring out the best of the characters and it lacked of the gripping factor to sustain my interest.
To sum it up, I will appreciate Infinite Sky more, if not, for the lack of emotion and the flatness of the characters.
Infinite Sky is not a bad book. It's not even boring, too, but when I'm not emotionally invested with the characters and even with the story, it tends to topple on the boring direction even it wasn't.
Infinite Sky is a family story. Iris is trying to live her normal life after her mother left them and their family starts falling apart. Then, throw gypsies into the scene and a friendship has been formed between Iris and Trick (the gypsy). And add to that, the things Sam do (Iris' brother) that is either for himself and for his friends.
As a fan of realistic-fiction books, I was disappointed that it didn't deliver. That story is actually good and worth reading but it turned out to be confusing and dull as I read. The writing is okay and not at the same time. It didn't bring out the best of the characters and it lacked of the gripping factor to sustain my interest.
To sum it up, I will appreciate Infinite Sky more, if not, for the lack of emotion and the flatness of the characters.
Read
September 19, 2023This book broke my heart when I was twelve.
December 11, 2012
(This review can also be found on my blog (The (Mis)Adventures of a Twenty-Something Year Old Girl).
When I first heard of Infinite Sky by C.J. Flood, I knew it was a book that I was going to have to read as soon as possible. Firstly, because I have a thing for Irish travellers. I find them fascinating. Secondly, it sounded like a really good read. I must say that I fell in love with this story.
Infinite Sky is a coming of age story told by thirteen year old Iris. Iris' mother has left her, her brother, and her dad behind so she can go to traveling. Iris' brother, Sam, takes this extremely hard and starts to become a moody, violent person. To top it off, travellers, or gypsies as Iris's dad and brother call them, have moved into their field. Sam and Iris' dad are enraged about this, but Iris in intrigued especially when she catches a glimpse of fourteen year old Trick. Day by day, Trick and Iris spend time together and just talking about life. Irish begins to fall in love with Trick. However, Sam and Iris' dad aren't going to make it easy for the two love birds to spend time together. Due to prejudices, someone close to Iris ends up dead.
I love the title of this book. Infinite Sky sounds so innocent and makes me think of a world of possibilities. For a middle grade/young adult book, I don't think the title could've been any better.
I do like the cover of Infinite Sky. It has a sort of classic look about it. It looks like it'd be a happy book, but after reading the synopsis, we know it's not all full of sunshine and rainbows, or in this case, cornfields and birds. I really do hope the author sticks to this cover as I think adding or taking anything away from it would ruin it.
The world building/setting of Infinite Sky was done very well. The story mostly takes place in a cornfield and around it. C.J. Flood makes the world of Infinite Sky come alive with her writing. I was able to clearly picture every bit of the story in my mind quite easily.
Pacing wise, the story starts out just a bit slow but quickly, the pacing picks up, and the story is very easy to follow. It's not too fast and not too slow, but stays at a steady pace throughout. Sometimes I did feel as if the chapters ended rather abruptly though.
The dialogue/wording in this story is beautiful. C.J. Flood has a fine gift when it comes to her writing. I was really happy that Irish spoke like a thirteen year old girl as well as the other characters speaking like their age instead of sounding older. I loved how the dialogue between Trick and Iris didn't come across as being forced. It sounded just like two young teens having a conversation.
The characters felt very real to me. Iris speaks and acts like a thirteen year old girl. She has a somewhat innocent quality about her that is quite subtle in the book but still apparent. Trick is more street-wise and cares a lot about Iris. Sam is a chav (someone who dresses a certain way and is usually just a menace to society), but there is back story about why he became one that is quite heart wrenching.
The ending of the story is quite an emotional one, and C.J. Flood does a fantastic job in her writing to pull at the reader's heart strings. I felt like crying after reading how Iris is feeling.
Over all, Infinite Sky is a sweet coming of age story that is beautifully written and tugs at your heartstrings. This is one of those books that is destined and should be a classic.
I'd recommend this book to everyone aged 12+ as it's a really little gem of a book.
Infinite Sky by C.J. Flood gets a 4.5 out of 5 from me.
When I first heard of Infinite Sky by C.J. Flood, I knew it was a book that I was going to have to read as soon as possible. Firstly, because I have a thing for Irish travellers. I find them fascinating. Secondly, it sounded like a really good read. I must say that I fell in love with this story.
Infinite Sky is a coming of age story told by thirteen year old Iris. Iris' mother has left her, her brother, and her dad behind so she can go to traveling. Iris' brother, Sam, takes this extremely hard and starts to become a moody, violent person. To top it off, travellers, or gypsies as Iris's dad and brother call them, have moved into their field. Sam and Iris' dad are enraged about this, but Iris in intrigued especially when she catches a glimpse of fourteen year old Trick. Day by day, Trick and Iris spend time together and just talking about life. Irish begins to fall in love with Trick. However, Sam and Iris' dad aren't going to make it easy for the two love birds to spend time together. Due to prejudices, someone close to Iris ends up dead.
I love the title of this book. Infinite Sky sounds so innocent and makes me think of a world of possibilities. For a middle grade/young adult book, I don't think the title could've been any better.
I do like the cover of Infinite Sky. It has a sort of classic look about it. It looks like it'd be a happy book, but after reading the synopsis, we know it's not all full of sunshine and rainbows, or in this case, cornfields and birds. I really do hope the author sticks to this cover as I think adding or taking anything away from it would ruin it.
The world building/setting of Infinite Sky was done very well. The story mostly takes place in a cornfield and around it. C.J. Flood makes the world of Infinite Sky come alive with her writing. I was able to clearly picture every bit of the story in my mind quite easily.
Pacing wise, the story starts out just a bit slow but quickly, the pacing picks up, and the story is very easy to follow. It's not too fast and not too slow, but stays at a steady pace throughout. Sometimes I did feel as if the chapters ended rather abruptly though.
The dialogue/wording in this story is beautiful. C.J. Flood has a fine gift when it comes to her writing. I was really happy that Irish spoke like a thirteen year old girl as well as the other characters speaking like their age instead of sounding older. I loved how the dialogue between Trick and Iris didn't come across as being forced. It sounded just like two young teens having a conversation.
The characters felt very real to me. Iris speaks and acts like a thirteen year old girl. She has a somewhat innocent quality about her that is quite subtle in the book but still apparent. Trick is more street-wise and cares a lot about Iris. Sam is a chav (someone who dresses a certain way and is usually just a menace to society), but there is back story about why he became one that is quite heart wrenching.
The ending of the story is quite an emotional one, and C.J. Flood does a fantastic job in her writing to pull at the reader's heart strings. I felt like crying after reading how Iris is feeling.
Over all, Infinite Sky is a sweet coming of age story that is beautifully written and tugs at your heartstrings. This is one of those books that is destined and should be a classic.
I'd recommend this book to everyone aged 12+ as it's a really little gem of a book.
Infinite Sky by C.J. Flood gets a 4.5 out of 5 from me.
May 6, 2014
Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
4.5 stars
I received an advanced readers copy of this book from Atheneum Books for Young Readers via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I am writing this review minutes after putting the book down and I will warn you that my eyes are puffy and my emotions are raw. This book did not just give me that awful lump in my throat but tears that ran down my cheeks.
It is evident from the prologue that something terrible happens and the very last sentence of the prologue had me preparing for a doozy of a story.
"Is it possible to keep loving somebody when they kill someone you love?"
Iris is a thirteen year old girl who is dealing with a mother that left, a father that drinks too much and an older brother who has lost his way. At the same time that she is struggling with these changes, a family of travellers settle down unwelcomed in one of her family's fields. Iris finds herself drawn to them and the young boy Trick.
Infinite Sky is a story about first love, coming of age, prejudice, loyalty, heartbreak and so much more in a beautifully understated and heartbreaking way. It is a story where the lines between right and wrong are blurred and there are no easy answers. It is simplistic in its writing but make no mistake, the content is anything but. The story unfolds slowly as you get to know Iris and winds up until you reach the dramatic conclusion. I was left teary, questioning and wanting so much more. Although this book is geared to young readers I have to say, based on my reaction, that readers of all ages can enjoy it. Flood did a spectacular job in her writing of Iris and nailed the turmoil that occurs within a 13 year old girl. It is honest and precise in showing every angle, making it impossible not to empathise with all sides and characters in the story.
If I had to critic the story at all it would be that I wanted to know more about Trick and get inside his thought process. Could a second book be in the works???
I base my ratings a lot on the emotions that I feel when reading and the fact that this one had me in tears proved that I was invested in it. I really, really enjoyed it.
4.5 stars
I received an advanced readers copy of this book from Atheneum Books for Young Readers via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
I am writing this review minutes after putting the book down and I will warn you that my eyes are puffy and my emotions are raw. This book did not just give me that awful lump in my throat but tears that ran down my cheeks.
It is evident from the prologue that something terrible happens and the very last sentence of the prologue had me preparing for a doozy of a story.
"Is it possible to keep loving somebody when they kill someone you love?"
Iris is a thirteen year old girl who is dealing with a mother that left, a father that drinks too much and an older brother who has lost his way. At the same time that she is struggling with these changes, a family of travellers settle down unwelcomed in one of her family's fields. Iris finds herself drawn to them and the young boy Trick.
Infinite Sky is a story about first love, coming of age, prejudice, loyalty, heartbreak and so much more in a beautifully understated and heartbreaking way. It is a story where the lines between right and wrong are blurred and there are no easy answers. It is simplistic in its writing but make no mistake, the content is anything but. The story unfolds slowly as you get to know Iris and winds up until you reach the dramatic conclusion. I was left teary, questioning and wanting so much more. Although this book is geared to young readers I have to say, based on my reaction, that readers of all ages can enjoy it. Flood did a spectacular job in her writing of Iris and nailed the turmoil that occurs within a 13 year old girl. It is honest and precise in showing every angle, making it impossible not to empathise with all sides and characters in the story.
If I had to critic the story at all it would be that I wanted to know more about Trick and get inside his thought process. Could a second book be in the works???
I base my ratings a lot on the emotions that I feel when reading and the fact that this one had me in tears proved that I was invested in it. I really, really enjoyed it.
July 14, 2015
It's been months since I read a book as touching and heart-achingly beautiful as Flood's 'Infinite Sky'.
The novel opens simply enough. We meet Iris, the thirteen-but-not-yet-fourteen-year-old protagonist. There is her broken family, the gypsy caravan that has taken residence in her farm, and Trick, the cute traveler boy who lives with them. It's all set up to be a cute little boy-meets-girl story. Not until the fifty-page mark or so do we realize that 'Infinite Sky' wants to transcend YA conventions entirely and become Art, with a capital 'A'.
Flood succeeds by taking refuge in moderation. That is, the Rowells and the Greens and Macklers and Keplingers of the world write brilliant YA, but they worldbuild like no tomorrow. Reading their books is to fall into miniature universes with their own hipster speech patterns. 'Infinite Sky' does not reveal the world outside of Iris's farm, save for one or two scenes. It doesn't try for quirky dialogue. It doesn't attempt to find metaphors and meaning in the confusion of adolescence. We instead know enough about each character, and just enough, that the subtle nuance of interpersonal relationships fill the blanks for us. The final act asks the author to judge Iris's actions, and that kind of confidence is worthy of the reader's respect in itself. It makes this a very personal read in the way a Keil or Perkins title is not.
That 'Infinite Sky' is a British work, and by that I mean *stone* British, is another thing working in Flood's favor. Particular things such as the gender roles, the opinions regarding education, the general disdain for gypsies, and the state of the two-parent household ensure that we could be nowhere else but 1990's+ Britain. This is a good thing; the honest British-ness of 'Infinite Sky' will charm the hell out of you without even trying.
I could rave all week about this book, truthfully. I got to just-after-the-midway and ruled that, in the alternate universe where Studio Ghibli adapts British novels, 'Infinite Sky' was released to critical acclaim. Because in my head, there's no greater honor for a teen book than becoming a Miyazaki film, and the entire time I read 'Infinite Sky', I was marveling at how well that would work. =)
tldr; READ THIS BOOK NAO.
The novel opens simply enough. We meet Iris, the thirteen-but-not-yet-fourteen-year-old protagonist. There is her broken family, the gypsy caravan that has taken residence in her farm, and Trick, the cute traveler boy who lives with them. It's all set up to be a cute little boy-meets-girl story. Not until the fifty-page mark or so do we realize that 'Infinite Sky' wants to transcend YA conventions entirely and become Art, with a capital 'A'.
Flood succeeds by taking refuge in moderation. That is, the Rowells and the Greens and Macklers and Keplingers of the world write brilliant YA, but they worldbuild like no tomorrow. Reading their books is to fall into miniature universes with their own hipster speech patterns. 'Infinite Sky' does not reveal the world outside of Iris's farm, save for one or two scenes. It doesn't try for quirky dialogue. It doesn't attempt to find metaphors and meaning in the confusion of adolescence. We instead know enough about each character, and just enough, that the subtle nuance of interpersonal relationships fill the blanks for us. The final act asks the author to judge Iris's actions, and that kind of confidence is worthy of the reader's respect in itself. It makes this a very personal read in the way a Keil or Perkins title is not.
That 'Infinite Sky' is a British work, and by that I mean *stone* British, is another thing working in Flood's favor. Particular things such as the gender roles, the opinions regarding education, the general disdain for gypsies, and the state of the two-parent household ensure that we could be nowhere else but 1990's+ Britain. This is a good thing; the honest British-ness of 'Infinite Sky' will charm the hell out of you without even trying.
I could rave all week about this book, truthfully. I got to just-after-the-midway and ruled that, in the alternate universe where Studio Ghibli adapts British novels, 'Infinite Sky' was released to critical acclaim. Because in my head, there's no greater honor for a teen book than becoming a Miyazaki film, and the entire time I read 'Infinite Sky', I was marveling at how well that would work. =)
tldr; READ THIS BOOK NAO.
June 7, 2013
www.booksforcompany.com
In Short
- Infinite Sky is a unique read which tackles difficult 'subjects'.
- I loved both the main characters and felt they were developed well.
- I like how C.J. let the reader make their mind up about Trick and his character.
- The storyline kept my attention throughout the book.
In Long
I haven’t ever read a story like Infinite Sky before and I was excited to start reading it. I was intrigued by the storyline and wanted to get to know Trick’s character and see how C.J. had written him.
I really warmed to Iris right from the beginning; she’s a young girl who is growing up in a house with two males and no one to really rely on. I have never been through something like Iris but I still felt like I could relate to her, she had a lot going on alongside growing up and being a teenage girl. While reading Infinite Sky I loved being able to go on this journey with Iris, getting to know Iris and the people in her life, especially Trick because I got to know him at the same time as she got to know him.
I love how C.J. wrote Trick's character, she left his character open for the reader so they could make their mind up about him and didn't in any way try to make him a certain person.
I really liked the pace which C.J. set the book at, it gave me as the reader a chance to get to know both Iris and Trick and therefore I was able to understand their actions throughout the book. The storyline itself wasn’t one which gripped me until towards the end but it kept my attention right throughout the whole book and then got very gripping towards the end of the book!
Final Thoughts
Infinite Sky was a really good read which is a lovely story about coming of age. The characters had many different things to deal with throughout the book and I felt like I really went on a journey with them.
In Short
- Infinite Sky is a unique read which tackles difficult 'subjects'.
- I loved both the main characters and felt they were developed well.
- I like how C.J. let the reader make their mind up about Trick and his character.
- The storyline kept my attention throughout the book.
In Long
I haven’t ever read a story like Infinite Sky before and I was excited to start reading it. I was intrigued by the storyline and wanted to get to know Trick’s character and see how C.J. had written him.
I really warmed to Iris right from the beginning; she’s a young girl who is growing up in a house with two males and no one to really rely on. I have never been through something like Iris but I still felt like I could relate to her, she had a lot going on alongside growing up and being a teenage girl. While reading Infinite Sky I loved being able to go on this journey with Iris, getting to know Iris and the people in her life, especially Trick because I got to know him at the same time as she got to know him.
I love how C.J. wrote Trick's character, she left his character open for the reader so they could make their mind up about him and didn't in any way try to make him a certain person.
I really liked the pace which C.J. set the book at, it gave me as the reader a chance to get to know both Iris and Trick and therefore I was able to understand their actions throughout the book. The storyline itself wasn’t one which gripped me until towards the end but it kept my attention right throughout the whole book and then got very gripping towards the end of the book!
Final Thoughts
Infinite Sky was a really good read which is a lovely story about coming of age. The characters had many different things to deal with throughout the book and I felt like I really went on a journey with them.
May 20, 2013
With these words in the prologue, “Is it possible to keep loving somebody when they kill somebody you love?“, I asked myself whether I should go on. After all, the author has prepared the reader for the worst. I did read on because of two main reasons : 1) to find out who was the killer and the victim, both of whom were close to her heart; and 2) What happened? Ahem … that basically meant reading the whole book.
There’s Iris, a thirteen-year-old girl weathering a difficult teenage phase following her mother’s departure. Coping with an emotionally decrepit father and a brother with even more adjustment problems, Iris finds solace and friendship in Trick, a boy from the other side of the social divide. The premise itself makes for a sober, depressing read. No doubt there’s the warmth of friendship and blossoming of first love that adds colour and texture to the story, but the family problems at the beginning of the book, and the prologue itself, foretell an inevitable downward spiral towards the end. After a while, I found myself reading on, not so much for the storyline, but because of the author’s skills in presenting a story that’s makes it very much alive, and bolstering it with such simple yet effective prose.
“Infinite Sky” is an unforgettable story about love, loss, loyalty and family. The conclusion does not wrap up everything nicely, but it’s the kind of story that will keep you wondering about all the possible conclusions long after you’ve read the book. A debut novel from an extremely talented writer. Will I recommend this book to my daughters? Still thinking about it … difficult to know whether they can appreciate the book as it stands.
There’s Iris, a thirteen-year-old girl weathering a difficult teenage phase following her mother’s departure. Coping with an emotionally decrepit father and a brother with even more adjustment problems, Iris finds solace and friendship in Trick, a boy from the other side of the social divide. The premise itself makes for a sober, depressing read. No doubt there’s the warmth of friendship and blossoming of first love that adds colour and texture to the story, but the family problems at the beginning of the book, and the prologue itself, foretell an inevitable downward spiral towards the end. After a while, I found myself reading on, not so much for the storyline, but because of the author’s skills in presenting a story that’s makes it very much alive, and bolstering it with such simple yet effective prose.
“Infinite Sky” is an unforgettable story about love, loss, loyalty and family. The conclusion does not wrap up everything nicely, but it’s the kind of story that will keep you wondering about all the possible conclusions long after you’ve read the book. A debut novel from an extremely talented writer. Will I recommend this book to my daughters? Still thinking about it … difficult to know whether they can appreciate the book as it stands.
April 28, 2013
Originally reviewed at: ReadingToTheStarsAndBack
Infinite Sky was so emotional, I actually teared up towards the end.
Some reviewers have pointed out that it can be a little vague in places, but I think that’s how it’s meant to come across.
There was an innocence to Iris that was refreshing after reading YA novels that are about older teens.
In some ways it reminded me of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Not just because it contains death, but there was a spark in this novel similar to TFiOS.
The prejudice that the gypsies received in Infinite Sky was totally unfair. It wasn’t his fault! Forgive him!
Something is holding me back from rating this five stars, I have to go with what I feel is right so four stars it is! I’m sure that I’ll be thinking of Infinite Sky ling after I return it to the library. This is the kind of book I’ve been waiting to read for a while.
The cover is prettier in hardback than digital. I mean, obviously right? It’s so simple and sweet and I LOVE IT!
Overall, Infinite Sky is a really sweet, sometimes vague novel that you should read if you want to cry.
**On a side note, I’m going to lend it to my Mum and Nan because I think they’ll enjoy it too!**
Infinite Sky was so emotional, I actually teared up towards the end.
Some reviewers have pointed out that it can be a little vague in places, but I think that’s how it’s meant to come across.
There was an innocence to Iris that was refreshing after reading YA novels that are about older teens.
In some ways it reminded me of The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. Not just because it contains death, but there was a spark in this novel similar to TFiOS.
The prejudice that the gypsies received in Infinite Sky was totally unfair. It wasn’t his fault! Forgive him!
Something is holding me back from rating this five stars, I have to go with what I feel is right so four stars it is! I’m sure that I’ll be thinking of Infinite Sky ling after I return it to the library. This is the kind of book I’ve been waiting to read for a while.
The cover is prettier in hardback than digital. I mean, obviously right? It’s so simple and sweet and I LOVE IT!
Overall, Infinite Sky is a really sweet, sometimes vague novel that you should read if you want to cry.
**On a side note, I’m going to lend it to my Mum and Nan because I think they’ll enjoy it too!**
April 9, 2017
Infinite sky is a beautiful book which will make you smile and break your heart at the same time. I enjoyed it thoroughly and whizzed through it in one sitting because I literally couldn't put it down.
For me this book was really about the relationships you form with people and the challenges those relationships can face. The story follows Iris a teenage girl who makes friends with the gypsy boy who are camped up on her father's land. Her father is very prejudice against the gypsy family from the outset and forbids Iris from becoming friends with them and, like you'd expect, she completely ignores this and seeks him out anyway.
I won't tell you too much what happens as the story goes on as it would spoil it but I will say that the end of the book is absolutely devastating and really makes you think about friendships, family and loyalty. I really enjoyed following Iris and especially how she was torn between doing what she was told by her father and doing what she wanted to do.
The writing style in this book is brilliant and therefore a real pleasure to read. It's beautiful without being overly complicated or pretentious and therefore perfect for drawing in teenage readers. Definitely a book I will be recommended for a long time to come.
For me this book was really about the relationships you form with people and the challenges those relationships can face. The story follows Iris a teenage girl who makes friends with the gypsy boy who are camped up on her father's land. Her father is very prejudice against the gypsy family from the outset and forbids Iris from becoming friends with them and, like you'd expect, she completely ignores this and seeks him out anyway.
I won't tell you too much what happens as the story goes on as it would spoil it but I will say that the end of the book is absolutely devastating and really makes you think about friendships, family and loyalty. I really enjoyed following Iris and especially how she was torn between doing what she was told by her father and doing what she wanted to do.
The writing style in this book is brilliant and therefore a real pleasure to read. It's beautiful without being overly complicated or pretentious and therefore perfect for drawing in teenage readers. Definitely a book I will be recommended for a long time to come.
January 4, 2013
I started INFINITE SKY with the expectation of something pretty, something that would take my mind off things. It was, and it did.
The novel is about 13-year-old Iris, who befriends a mysterious gypsy boy, whose family has taken up residence near her home. Gypsy travellers are seen in a very negative manner in the story, Iris' father even forbidding her to talk to any of them. But her eyes are not prejudiced, and so begins a heart-warming relationship with the boy, Trick.
I really liked Iris' character. For somebody so young, she had so much to cope with (e.g. her mother leaving the family), but she remained strong and this brought such an uplifting feel to the story.
Flood's writing is simple in pieces, yet extravagant as a whole. INFINITE SKY is a gorgeous novel from an author whose writing I cannot wait to read more of.
(full review to come)
The novel is about 13-year-old Iris, who befriends a mysterious gypsy boy, whose family has taken up residence near her home. Gypsy travellers are seen in a very negative manner in the story, Iris' father even forbidding her to talk to any of them. But her eyes are not prejudiced, and so begins a heart-warming relationship with the boy, Trick.
I really liked Iris' character. For somebody so young, she had so much to cope with (e.g. her mother leaving the family), but she remained strong and this brought such an uplifting feel to the story.
Flood's writing is simple in pieces, yet extravagant as a whole. INFINITE SKY is a gorgeous novel from an author whose writing I cannot wait to read more of.
(full review to come)
July 24, 2013
Though I know Chelsey through our mutual author group The Lucky 13s, that has no bearing on the fact that INFINITE SKY is one of the most gorgeous YA novels I have ever read.
The story of young teen Iris simultaneously dealing with her mother's essential abandonment and her own curiosity about the gypsy-like boy and his family who have set up camp nearby is unusual and compelling. Characters are explored so beautifully through their actions and dialogue that I often marveled at the author's ability to hone in on details that most of us only experience on an intuitive or subconscious level, if at all. Additionally, the eggshell dance of a tense family dynamic is well choreographed via the relationship between Iris and her troubled older brother.
C.J. Flood is the real deal, and INFINITE SKY is, in my prediction, destined to become a modern classic. Read this book.
The story of young teen Iris simultaneously dealing with her mother's essential abandonment and her own curiosity about the gypsy-like boy and his family who have set up camp nearby is unusual and compelling. Characters are explored so beautifully through their actions and dialogue that I often marveled at the author's ability to hone in on details that most of us only experience on an intuitive or subconscious level, if at all. Additionally, the eggshell dance of a tense family dynamic is well choreographed via the relationship between Iris and her troubled older brother.
C.J. Flood is the real deal, and INFINITE SKY is, in my prediction, destined to become a modern classic. Read this book.
January 22, 2013
I was expecting Infinite Sky to be a beautiful and captivating read, but unfortunately it didn't live up to those expectations. It was pretty dull. Despite being bored for most of the book, I did get kicked right in the feels towards the end.
Full review: http://www.booksofamber.com/2013/01/i...
Full review: http://www.booksofamber.com/2013/01/i...
March 2, 2013
What an astonishing book. Lyrical and beautiful, Flood finds deep meaning in the smallest of things, each feeling familiar and at the same time, a wonder. I saw myself in Iris, trying to make sense of the complex adult world that we must live in, even as a child. This is a stunning debut by an incredible talent. Infinite Sky is an absolute delight, and Flood is an author to watch.
October 3, 2012
This book is gorgeous, and utterly heartbreaking. I read it a few weeks ago and I still can't stop thinking about it. You will need several boxes of tissues for this one!
Want to read
August 16, 2012What a beautiful cover.
May 7, 2013
I tried really hard to like this book but it just wasn't for me. *sigh*
Review to come. Probably.
Review to come. Probably.
January 5, 2016
Simple yet very grasping. Beautiful story.
April 8, 2017
DNF at48%
So after reading this for a few days I have ultimately decided to put it down where I am. I didn't find myself trapped in reading this book or sucked into the story at all. I didn't care about the characters or anything that happened to them and even when I was nearly half way through nothing really happened?
I really don't find myself often reading contemporary novels as I always need something constantly happening in a book to keep me reading - I maybe read like five or so a year. As I am seeing literally nothing but good reviews for this book it's probably just my tastes and my mood that made me not like this.
Honestly I feel like this book does have so much potential and I'm not surprised that people liked it I just don't think I was in the right mind set for it at all and honestly I hate reading a book that I just don't enjoy!
Currently just hoping that this is my real excuse for not finishing it and I'm not in a reading slump..
So after reading this for a few days I have ultimately decided to put it down where I am. I didn't find myself trapped in reading this book or sucked into the story at all. I didn't care about the characters or anything that happened to them and even when I was nearly half way through nothing really happened?
I really don't find myself often reading contemporary novels as I always need something constantly happening in a book to keep me reading - I maybe read like five or so a year. As I am seeing literally nothing but good reviews for this book it's probably just my tastes and my mood that made me not like this.
Honestly I feel like this book does have so much potential and I'm not surprised that people liked it I just don't think I was in the right mind set for it at all and honestly I hate reading a book that I just don't enjoy!
Currently just hoping that this is my real excuse for not finishing it and I'm not in a reading slump..
June 12, 2017
I feel like I know what this book was trying to do, but it didn't quite make it in my opinion. I was constantly confused, and I feel like it didn't really have a purpose except to put characters through awful circumstances and then ruin whatever point it was trying to make.
That said, it was written in a style I love, and kept me glued to the page the whole time, hence the three stars.
That said, it was written in a style I love, and kept me glued to the page the whole time, hence the three stars.
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