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Close Your Eyes
Southfield High School is oh so normal, with its good teachers, its bad, and its cliques. But despite the cliques, there's a particular group of friends who have known each other forever and know that they can rely on each other for anything.
There's the twins: Aisha, rebellious, kind, and just a tiny bit worried about what the hell she's going to do once this year is over, and Ash, smart, quiet and observant. Then there's Remy, the loudmouth, and Gemma, who's more interested in college boys and getting into the crap club in town. And then there's Elise: the pretty one.
But at the start of Year 11, when the group befriend the new boy, Elijah, things start to change. The group find themselves not as close as they used to be.
Until one Tuesday, when the students are trapped inside the school building. And one of them has a gun.
Close Your Eyes is the story of a school shooting which, through interviews, messages and questionable actions, asks: Who is truly responsible?
There's the twins: Aisha, rebellious, kind, and just a tiny bit worried about what the hell she's going to do once this year is over, and Ash, smart, quiet and observant. Then there's Remy, the loudmouth, and Gemma, who's more interested in college boys and getting into the crap club in town. And then there's Elise: the pretty one.
But at the start of Year 11, when the group befriend the new boy, Elijah, things start to change. The group find themselves not as close as they used to be.
Until one Tuesday, when the students are trapped inside the school building. And one of them has a gun.
Close Your Eyes is the story of a school shooting which, through interviews, messages and questionable actions, asks: Who is truly responsible?
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
29 people are currently reading
817 people want to read
About the author
Nicci Cloke
10 books124 followersNicci Cloke is the author of eight novels, including two under the pseudonym Phoebe Locke. Her books have been published in twelve languages.
She previously worked as a nanny, a cocktail waitress and a Christmas Elf to support her writing. Before being published, she worked as a permissions manager, looking after literary estates including those of Sylvia Plath, Ted Hughes and T. S. Eliot, and was also communications manager at the Faber Academy.
She previously worked as a nanny, a cocktail waitress and a Christmas Elf to support her writing. Before being published, she worked as a permissions manager, looking after literary estates including those of Sylvia Plath, Ted Hughes and T. S. Eliot, and was also communications manager at the Faber Academy.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
August 31, 2017
3.5/3.75 stars
Close Your Eyes was a fascinating and realistic portrayal of friendship and the consequences of our actions. It was successful because it did not focus on the shock or ‘thrill’ factor of a school shooting or by any means glorify or romanticise the notion but, instead, took a character-driven direction. It carefully laid out a story that explored perspective and casualty, ultimately breaking down the bonds of teen relationships and the way in which our actions can influence the people closest to us. It was incredibly well-written and cleverly orchestrated, keeping enough information away from the readers that it left us desperately flipping the pages to find out the full story. It was thrilling and engaging but it did so in a way that never turned the school shooting factor into a plot device. Instead, it pulled the reader into the lives of its characters and made the mystery of their friendship’s break down the key motivator.
Like Follow Me Back, I absolutely adored the formatting of this thriller. The use of Messenger chat logs, interview transcripts and journal entries added a whole other layer to the story. It really helped to show how we all interpret our own actions differs greatly from how those actions are received or interpreted by other people. I just wish that chat logs could have actually been set out properly. I said it in regards to Follow Me Back and I still believe it now, especially because they were such an integral part of the story. It sounds like a vain request to want the book to be more aesthetically pleasing but you cannot disagree that everyone instantly recognises the bubble message box as a text message or online message so having them separated from the bulk of the text would have added just that little bit more fluidity and clarity to the formatting. I understand that it was probably just not in the budget for this book but I think it would have been worth it.
I did find it a little hard to connect to the characters, but mainly because I, personally, disagreed with a lot of their decisions. Aisha was definitely a standout and I liked how that she was complex and three dimensional. I felt that Ash could have played a larger role in the story if Cloke wanted him to - which I personally did - and I did find Gemma and Remy to be a bit… unlikeable. However, none of the characters were by any means unrealistic or poorly written. In fact, I admired Cloke for making somewhat unlikable characters realistic and engaging, not matter how much I personally baulked at their actions. Cloke also to capture the general tone of all the teen characters’ monologues and conversations. I also really appreciated the nuanced perspectives. I will say that some of the Messenger chats were the teensiest bit over the top but only by the slightest smidge, not enough to really bother me. As a whole, Cloke did quite a fantastic job of differentiating the actions and thoughts of each of the six characters.
Ultimately, this book argued the value and importance of perspective. It showed me the consequences of making decisions based on selective evidence, how we can pick and choose the right moments to shed a particular light on an event and shape it to suit our whims. We so often assign blame without considering the wider consequences, even amongst our family and friends, and this novel showed us how easily we forget that our actions are not meaningless. Every choice we make, every time we speak out loud or interact with someone else, we create a moment and while that moment may seem insignificant or meaningless at the time, it is still a moment capable of holding weight, of shaping and defining, someone else’s life. Is it our responsibility consider this every time we act? Are we responsible for the way other people’s interpret or react to our decisions? That is the question that Close Your Eyes raises and it did it so, so well.
The reasons that it did work so well? It forms no conclusions of its own. Cloke allowed her readers to decide what factors led to the end scene unfolding in the manner it did. Was it the shooter’s choice to do what they did - and therefore, their fault - or, because their motivations hinged on the actions of some of the other characters, were they just as responsible? Only partially responsible? It is up to readers to make their decisions on that and that they in which Close Your Eyes was written allowed that to happen. It broke down the concept of perspective and truly wrote a thought-provoking and captivating read.
Overall?
While this novel may not be for everyone, it affected me in ways I did not expect. It made me reconsider my attitudes towards what constitutes a supportive relationship. It made me question my idea of causality and blame. It made school shooting seems so much more than the media presents them. I found myself engaged and enthralled by the writing style. I enjoyed the characters, particularly how Cloke managed to capture the essence of somewhat unlikable characters and make them feel real and present in the story. The formatting was clever and used social media perfectly. I just wish that they author had been given the printing budget to properly set out the chat logs and journal entries, etc. I will definitely be anticipating Cloke’s next novel.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
Close Your Eyes was a fascinating and realistic portrayal of friendship and the consequences of our actions. It was successful because it did not focus on the shock or ‘thrill’ factor of a school shooting or by any means glorify or romanticise the notion but, instead, took a character-driven direction. It carefully laid out a story that explored perspective and casualty, ultimately breaking down the bonds of teen relationships and the way in which our actions can influence the people closest to us. It was incredibly well-written and cleverly orchestrated, keeping enough information away from the readers that it left us desperately flipping the pages to find out the full story. It was thrilling and engaging but it did so in a way that never turned the school shooting factor into a plot device. Instead, it pulled the reader into the lives of its characters and made the mystery of their friendship’s break down the key motivator.
Like Follow Me Back, I absolutely adored the formatting of this thriller. The use of Messenger chat logs, interview transcripts and journal entries added a whole other layer to the story. It really helped to show how we all interpret our own actions differs greatly from how those actions are received or interpreted by other people. I just wish that chat logs could have actually been set out properly. I said it in regards to Follow Me Back and I still believe it now, especially because they were such an integral part of the story. It sounds like a vain request to want the book to be more aesthetically pleasing but you cannot disagree that everyone instantly recognises the bubble message box as a text message or online message so having them separated from the bulk of the text would have added just that little bit more fluidity and clarity to the formatting. I understand that it was probably just not in the budget for this book but I think it would have been worth it.
I did find it a little hard to connect to the characters, but mainly because I, personally, disagreed with a lot of their decisions. Aisha was definitely a standout and I liked how that she was complex and three dimensional. I felt that Ash could have played a larger role in the story if Cloke wanted him to - which I personally did - and I did find Gemma and Remy to be a bit… unlikeable. However, none of the characters were by any means unrealistic or poorly written. In fact, I admired Cloke for making somewhat unlikable characters realistic and engaging, not matter how much I personally baulked at their actions. Cloke also to capture the general tone of all the teen characters’ monologues and conversations. I also really appreciated the nuanced perspectives. I will say that some of the Messenger chats were the teensiest bit over the top but only by the slightest smidge, not enough to really bother me. As a whole, Cloke did quite a fantastic job of differentiating the actions and thoughts of each of the six characters.
Ultimately, this book argued the value and importance of perspective. It showed me the consequences of making decisions based on selective evidence, how we can pick and choose the right moments to shed a particular light on an event and shape it to suit our whims. We so often assign blame without considering the wider consequences, even amongst our family and friends, and this novel showed us how easily we forget that our actions are not meaningless. Every choice we make, every time we speak out loud or interact with someone else, we create a moment and while that moment may seem insignificant or meaningless at the time, it is still a moment capable of holding weight, of shaping and defining, someone else’s life. Is it our responsibility consider this every time we act? Are we responsible for the way other people’s interpret or react to our decisions? That is the question that Close Your Eyes raises and it did it so, so well.
The reasons that it did work so well? It forms no conclusions of its own. Cloke allowed her readers to decide what factors led to the end scene unfolding in the manner it did. Was it the shooter’s choice to do what they did - and therefore, their fault - or, because their motivations hinged on the actions of some of the other characters, were they just as responsible? Only partially responsible? It is up to readers to make their decisions on that and that they in which Close Your Eyes was written allowed that to happen. It broke down the concept of perspective and truly wrote a thought-provoking and captivating read.
Overall?
While this novel may not be for everyone, it affected me in ways I did not expect. It made me reconsider my attitudes towards what constitutes a supportive relationship. It made me question my idea of causality and blame. It made school shooting seems so much more than the media presents them. I found myself engaged and enthralled by the writing style. I enjoyed the characters, particularly how Cloke managed to capture the essence of somewhat unlikable characters and make them feel real and present in the story. The formatting was clever and used social media perfectly. I just wish that they author had been given the printing budget to properly set out the chat logs and journal entries, etc. I will definitely be anticipating Cloke’s next novel.
Review copy provided by the publisher for an honest review.
February 2, 2017
Fast paced and addicting, Close Your Eyes really utilises every type of writing to make you want to keep turning the pages. I really liked the mixture of transcripts and messages amongst the third person, although this could make the narrative overly expositional. Your suspicions are led well through the book, and the plot twist was something else (should have seen in coming though...)
Fave character was probably Mrs. Wu. What a legend.
Fave character was probably Mrs. Wu. What a legend.
February 6, 2017
This book was fast-paced and addicting and I was pleasantly surprised that there managed to be some twists I wasn't expecting! I really enjoyed the mixed media format, too, and was generally interested in a story about a school shooting in the UK because, thank fully!, that's not something you read about everyday.
January 31, 2017
I read "Close Your Eyes" in one sitting - this is not the first (nor is it likely to be the last) book I have read recently that has a school shooting at the heart of it - but this one resonated, probably due to the clever plotting and emotional core of it.
We follow a friendship group through the ups and downs of school life, of family, the deeper connections forming, all whilst knowing that things are not going to end well for everyone. I think what I liked most was the depth given to each of the characters - and how, in the end, the author brought a difficult but realistic understanding of why a tragedy unfolded. Nicci Cloke got me invested in these people, in their inner thoughts and feelings and so when things go so horribly wrong there is a real tug on the heartstrings.
It is beautifully written, cleverly obfuscated and purely character driven. It is not about shock value but about personality, events that form us, things that others casually throw out there not knowing the hurt they are causing (or sometimes knowing exactly that) Nobody in Close Your Eyes has entirely pure motives all the time, they are human being with all their flaws, jealousies and idiosyncrasies - and sometimes that adds up to mental instability and a lashing out. Not always with violence, but this author takes on the nuances.
I thought it was very very good indeed. Because it is an easy read but also an extraordinarily hard one. Addictive and pacy at the same time as considered and intriguing.
Yes. I'd definitely recommend it.
We follow a friendship group through the ups and downs of school life, of family, the deeper connections forming, all whilst knowing that things are not going to end well for everyone. I think what I liked most was the depth given to each of the characters - and how, in the end, the author brought a difficult but realistic understanding of why a tragedy unfolded. Nicci Cloke got me invested in these people, in their inner thoughts and feelings and so when things go so horribly wrong there is a real tug on the heartstrings.
It is beautifully written, cleverly obfuscated and purely character driven. It is not about shock value but about personality, events that form us, things that others casually throw out there not knowing the hurt they are causing (or sometimes knowing exactly that) Nobody in Close Your Eyes has entirely pure motives all the time, they are human being with all their flaws, jealousies and idiosyncrasies - and sometimes that adds up to mental instability and a lashing out. Not always with violence, but this author takes on the nuances.
I thought it was very very good indeed. Because it is an easy read but also an extraordinarily hard one. Addictive and pacy at the same time as considered and intriguing.
Yes. I'd definitely recommend it.
May 28, 2021
The two Nicci Cloke books I have now read both deal with really taboo and distressing subjects. "Follow me back" dealt with internet predators and now "Close your Eyes" deals with a school shooting through texts, interviews and police statements. It was taut, gripping and incredibly powerful to read. I loved the way it was formatted, jumping backwards and forwards from past to present.
March 2, 2018
makes me think about actual school shootings
Read
November 27, 2018 *DNF @ 25%*
Copy kindly received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I hate to DNF a book, but unfortunately in this case, I just wasn't feeling this one. I was very kindly given a review copy through NG and, I think the idea of this book is a really great one, and I'm sure other people will like this. It just wasn't for me. I think thats because of the way its written - the story is told through the form of interviews and chats between friends, and a little bit of what happened at the time. So while this isn't my kind of writing style, I'm sure other people will enjoy this, because the idea of the storyline itself is a good one.
Copy kindly received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I hate to DNF a book, but unfortunately in this case, I just wasn't feeling this one. I was very kindly given a review copy through NG and, I think the idea of this book is a really great one, and I'm sure other people will like this. It just wasn't for me. I think thats because of the way its written - the story is told through the form of interviews and chats between friends, and a little bit of what happened at the time. So while this isn't my kind of writing style, I'm sure other people will enjoy this, because the idea of the storyline itself is a good one.
August 13, 2017
It wasn't till I opened the first page of this book that I realized it was going to be a school shooting novel. I, however, am a fan of the school shooting novels as I find them so powerful and emotive as I am the type of person who would to reach out to the shooter and befriend them before things turned bad to the point of no return. Close Your Eyes tells the story of a group of friends at Southfield High School. There are the twins Aisha and Ash, Remy, Gemma, Elise, and Eli. Elise and Eli are the last two to join their group of friends, and things seem to be going well except this last few months, their group of friends have been separating and spending time in twos or elsewhere and strange things have been happening. Each of the friends is going through their problems, but we discover that a couple of them, their problems run deeper than anyone ever realized. We have Aisha who has been spending a lot of time lately partying and sneaking out, only to have her life exposed to a Gossip Girl sort of blog. Eli's sister had a breakdown at their old school which forced them to move, and Elise's family went through a similar situation to Eli's which makes sense to why the pair connected. I have to admit the last few chapters of this book; I did not see that coming. When the truth was revealed, I have to say part of me was blown away, but the other part of me could see how everything had eventually built up to this moment and showed what a tipping of the scales could do as desperation , injustice and a feeling like we have nothing can lose can push us all into a spiralling oblivion. Just think - what would you do if you had nothing to lose and the only consequence was death which you knew was coming anyway.Would you be like one of the characters in this book and either commit suicide or would you be like the other and shoot up the school? Close Your Eyes by Nicci Cloke was a thought-provoking, and emotional rollercoaster of a YA read.
July 3, 2018
Some surprising plot twists...
February 2, 2017
Thank you to Pansing Distributors for providing me with an ARC of this book!
Wow. I am completely stunned at how brilliantly this book was planned out and written.This book is set in Britain and is unique, being a thriller based on a school shooting. It's filled with so much emotional and scenes which scared me and filled me with trepidation as to who the killer was. 5 stars and I will definitely be checking out the rest of Nicci Cloke's books!
I'm still shaking from the reality of this book.
Wow. I am completely stunned at how brilliantly this book was planned out and written.This book is set in Britain and is unique, being a thriller based on a school shooting. It's filled with so much emotional and scenes which scared me and filled me with trepidation as to who the killer was. 5 stars and I will definitely be checking out the rest of Nicci Cloke's books!
I'm still shaking from the reality of this book.
March 16, 2018
It was a sad and heartbreaking book but it was really intriguing as it did not focus on the actual shooting but the friendship surrounding it and why it actually happened. The writer shows that so many small incidents can escalate and turn into something extreme without anyone realising it even the people close to you. It allows people to notice the dangers of bullying and gives you an insight on what people are really feeling under their suit of armour.
April 27, 2017
Review will be up on my blog soon;
alwaysandforeverreading.wordpress.com
alwaysandforeverreading.wordpress.com
February 1, 2023
4.5
Well, I did not see that coming…
Well, I did not see that coming…
August 22, 2023
This was really good and not what I expected at all.
November 12, 2017
Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.
When I first picked up Close Your Eyes by Nicci Cloke, I didn't know just how complicated and thought-provoking this story was going to be. Nothing is as simple as it looks, and everyone sees things differently.
Close Your Eyes is about a diverse group of friends, how their friendships change over the course of a year, and how those changes lead to one of them picking up a gun and taking it to school. The story is told half in retrospect, after the shooting, with transcripts of interviews with some of the friends, one of the teachers, a psychologist, but also with news and radio reports. Those (we never really know who) who are putting all of this information together also use blog posts, diary entries, and text messages between the friends from before the school shooting, too. And the book is told half in third person from the perspective of a number of friends, of the events leading up to the shooting, as they happen.
What's really clever is the way the book is put together. The third person narration is told in chronological order, from a holiday the six friends went on until after the shooting. The epistolary part of the story almost feels like a jigsaw puzzle; We'll be shown an interview with one of the friends, then something in third person from that friend's perspective (showing the difference in what they say happened and what actually did happen), then next we'll have an interview with a psychologist, who seems to be talking about what we've just read about. For the most part, the interviews with the friends, the text messages, the blog posts, correspond to the third person narration, but everything else, there's nothing that says it's to do with the specific event you just read about, but it very much feels like it is.
You'll have noticed I've not mentioned which friends narrate the story, whose blog posts are used, etc. This is due to spoilers. The narration changes hands as the story progresses; one tells the story for a while, then someone else takes over, and then things change again. So at the beginning of the book, you don't know who will be narrating later, and as the interviews also correspond with the narration - interviews with the friends after the shooting - to say who narrates is also to say who survives. Even though part of the story is being told in retrospect, certain things are only revealed to the reader at certain times, so you never quite know. You're being guided through the story; you've been taken by the hand and are walking down a certain path, a path of the leader's choosing. So, in some ways, there's a mystery aspect to the story.
And, really, there's a mystery aspect to the whole story. You're being led to believe that friend X is the shooter, but while you're being led to believe this, from the way the epistolary side of things is pieced with the narration, it is never actually said that "X was the shooter." So is it X? Everything points to X, but is it too easy to be X? Or is that the point, a double bluff? Because it looks like it's X, we may doubt it is X, have us guessing it might be someone else... and then end up being X anyway? It was very, very clever. There were a couple of days in the middle of reading Close Your Eyes I was unable to read for, but I was still thinking about the story. I thought about where I was in the story, and about what I had read so far. I was thinking it was far too easy to be X - I've read Cloke's previous novel, Follow Me Back, and knew how good Cloke was at twists and the unexpected - and then something struck me. Something a psychologist said. It seemed at the time to be talking about X, but I then realised it's quite possible what the psychologist was talking about could refer to Y! From then on, I was convinced it was Y, and I thought myself so clever as little things I remembered from what I'd previously read, and what followed when I could read again all seemed to fit my theory. But it turned out I was completely wrong. As I said above, nothing is as simple as it seems.
As clever as Close Your Eyes is, it is also heartbreaking. There are things about the past of a number of characters' pasts that are just unimaginable. Close Your Eyes really plays on your emotions, because you end up really feeling for those it would be easy to tar with the "bad" brush, and being really bloody upset with those who are "innocent". Though it depends on how you define innocent, and how you define bad. Because what this book is really about is bullying, and the consequences - the effects - of your actions, no matter how small. What is bullying, anyway? Teasing someone a little here, a laugh at someone's expense there - just what friends do, right? There's no malice in it, and definitely no harm. But is there? We don't know what people have been through, we don't know their pasts, so we don't know how that will affect them. And, as an outsider, we don't really know what is going through the head of the one making the joke, or the one laughing. And then there's perspectives and the truth; you can have A think B is just shy, that there's nothing weird about them being quiet and observant, but then C can think B is creepy the way they watch everything, notice everything, plotting maybe, and then you can have the real reasons B is like they are. And if you're C who feels a little uneasy around B, not knowing about B's past? Even though they are your friend, what might you do? There are a lot of people who do a lot of bad things, some small, some huge. They may not have a gun in their hand, they may not be taking life, but they're definitely not innocent. And you never know how much can be too much for some one, nor how someone who it's too much for will react. So, like the description above says, who is truly responsible? It's really very thought provoking.
There's one niggle I had with this book. Once we get to the shooting and we're inside the shooter's head, it is very clear that this person is in need of help. I couldn't say for sure that they have a mental illness, because I'm not a doctor, but they definitely need counselling. It does feel like they have a problem, though, that they could potentially have a mental illness - and there are even interviews with a psychologist who talks about the shooter's past and what that could mean to them. And that made me feel a little uneasy. When things like this happen - when someone picks up a gun and goes on a shooting rampage - the state of their mental health is questioned, or any mental illness they have come to light. I worry that this story may be adding to that idea the news perpetuates when things like this happen, that those with mental illness are dangerous, and therefore upholding the stigma surrounding mental illness. I don't know, I simply don't know enough to be sure that that's what this book is doing. At the same time, for the shooter to not need help, their whole backstory would need to change, because they need help long before they pick up a gun. I don't know what the answer is here, but it did make me feel a little uncomfortable.
Still, Close Your Eyes is a very clever, very thought-provoking, and very upsetting novel. The scenes when the shooting is taking place, the accounts of it - even though I knew it had already happened and was over - it was just terrifying. I felt for the shooter, but I also feared them. Close Your Eyes has so many layers to it, and is so complex; this is more than just a school shooting with a whodunnit element, this is a story about people, how we can never really know people, and a book, I feel, promotes kindness and compassion. What Cloke has done with this story, with these characters... it's pretty incredible.
Thank you to Hot Key Books for the eProof.
When I first picked up Close Your Eyes by Nicci Cloke, I didn't know just how complicated and thought-provoking this story was going to be. Nothing is as simple as it looks, and everyone sees things differently.
Close Your Eyes is about a diverse group of friends, how their friendships change over the course of a year, and how those changes lead to one of them picking up a gun and taking it to school. The story is told half in retrospect, after the shooting, with transcripts of interviews with some of the friends, one of the teachers, a psychologist, but also with news and radio reports. Those (we never really know who) who are putting all of this information together also use blog posts, diary entries, and text messages between the friends from before the school shooting, too. And the book is told half in third person from the perspective of a number of friends, of the events leading up to the shooting, as they happen.
What's really clever is the way the book is put together. The third person narration is told in chronological order, from a holiday the six friends went on until after the shooting. The epistolary part of the story almost feels like a jigsaw puzzle; We'll be shown an interview with one of the friends, then something in third person from that friend's perspective (showing the difference in what they say happened and what actually did happen), then next we'll have an interview with a psychologist, who seems to be talking about what we've just read about. For the most part, the interviews with the friends, the text messages, the blog posts, correspond to the third person narration, but everything else, there's nothing that says it's to do with the specific event you just read about, but it very much feels like it is.
You'll have noticed I've not mentioned which friends narrate the story, whose blog posts are used, etc. This is due to spoilers. The narration changes hands as the story progresses; one tells the story for a while, then someone else takes over, and then things change again. So at the beginning of the book, you don't know who will be narrating later, and as the interviews also correspond with the narration - interviews with the friends after the shooting - to say who narrates is also to say who survives. Even though part of the story is being told in retrospect, certain things are only revealed to the reader at certain times, so you never quite know. You're being guided through the story; you've been taken by the hand and are walking down a certain path, a path of the leader's choosing. So, in some ways, there's a mystery aspect to the story.
And, really, there's a mystery aspect to the whole story. You're being led to believe that friend X is the shooter, but while you're being led to believe this, from the way the epistolary side of things is pieced with the narration, it is never actually said that "X was the shooter." So is it X? Everything points to X, but is it too easy to be X? Or is that the point, a double bluff? Because it looks like it's X, we may doubt it is X, have us guessing it might be someone else... and then end up being X anyway? It was very, very clever. There were a couple of days in the middle of reading Close Your Eyes I was unable to read for, but I was still thinking about the story. I thought about where I was in the story, and about what I had read so far. I was thinking it was far too easy to be X - I've read Cloke's previous novel, Follow Me Back, and knew how good Cloke was at twists and the unexpected - and then something struck me. Something a psychologist said. It seemed at the time to be talking about X, but I then realised it's quite possible what the psychologist was talking about could refer to Y! From then on, I was convinced it was Y, and I thought myself so clever as little things I remembered from what I'd previously read, and what followed when I could read again all seemed to fit my theory. But it turned out I was completely wrong. As I said above, nothing is as simple as it seems.
As clever as Close Your Eyes is, it is also heartbreaking. There are things about the past of a number of characters' pasts that are just unimaginable. Close Your Eyes really plays on your emotions, because you end up really feeling for those it would be easy to tar with the "bad" brush, and being really bloody upset with those who are "innocent". Though it depends on how you define innocent, and how you define bad. Because what this book is really about is bullying, and the consequences - the effects - of your actions, no matter how small. What is bullying, anyway? Teasing someone a little here, a laugh at someone's expense there - just what friends do, right? There's no malice in it, and definitely no harm. But is there? We don't know what people have been through, we don't know their pasts, so we don't know how that will affect them. And, as an outsider, we don't really know what is going through the head of the one making the joke, or the one laughing. And then there's perspectives and the truth; you can have A think B is just shy, that there's nothing weird about them being quiet and observant, but then C can think B is creepy the way they watch everything, notice everything, plotting maybe, and then you can have the real reasons B is like they are. And if you're C who feels a little uneasy around B, not knowing about B's past? Even though they are your friend, what might you do? There are a lot of people who do a lot of bad things, some small, some huge. They may not have a gun in their hand, they may not be taking life, but they're definitely not innocent. And you never know how much can be too much for some one, nor how someone who it's too much for will react. So, like the description above says, who is truly responsible? It's really very thought provoking.
There's one niggle I had with this book. Once we get to the shooting and we're inside the shooter's head, it is very clear that this person is in need of help. I couldn't say for sure that they have a mental illness, because I'm not a doctor, but they definitely need counselling. It does feel like they have a problem, though, that they could potentially have a mental illness - and there are even interviews with a psychologist who talks about the shooter's past and what that could mean to them. And that made me feel a little uneasy. When things like this happen - when someone picks up a gun and goes on a shooting rampage - the state of their mental health is questioned, or any mental illness they have come to light. I worry that this story may be adding to that idea the news perpetuates when things like this happen, that those with mental illness are dangerous, and therefore upholding the stigma surrounding mental illness. I don't know, I simply don't know enough to be sure that that's what this book is doing. At the same time, for the shooter to not need help, their whole backstory would need to change, because they need help long before they pick up a gun. I don't know what the answer is here, but it did make me feel a little uncomfortable.
Still, Close Your Eyes is a very clever, very thought-provoking, and very upsetting novel. The scenes when the shooting is taking place, the accounts of it - even though I knew it had already happened and was over - it was just terrifying. I felt for the shooter, but I also feared them. Close Your Eyes has so many layers to it, and is so complex; this is more than just a school shooting with a whodunnit element, this is a story about people, how we can never really know people, and a book, I feel, promotes kindness and compassion. What Cloke has done with this story, with these characters... it's pretty incredible.
Thank you to Hot Key Books for the eProof.
March 18, 2017
This brutal & quite original story about a school shooting, deals with the repercussions of any sort of bullying. The story focuses on the events that lead to the horrific incident using transcripts, interviews, online conversations etc which adds to the drama & thriller aspect. Starting with the emergency call captures your attention from the very beginning.
At the center of the story is a group of 6 teens with one of them being the quiet "weird" one, Elijah, who you don't know at the beginning if he is shooter or victim. Their POVs tell us the story until that devastating curve ball that just "whoosh" hits you in the chest and you are numb till you realize what that even bigger curve ball is!
The book deals with the questions of when behavior becomes a type of bullying, violent, when should or if we should get involved? Where does privacy end and genuine concern begin/ Are their signs of the oncoming tragedy, or is it all 20/20 hindsight?
As the web of the group's interaction untangles, you get the feel for each one's role & start having your own theories of what is to come and opinions of fault. I believe the POVs of everyone involved were done very well, with each having the appropriate voice.
The accounts during the shooting, especially of the shooter, crank the intensity really high, and your heart is in the throat until the end. A thrilling captivating read which will spark many discussions of its themes.
At the center of the story is a group of 6 teens with one of them being the quiet "weird" one, Elijah, who you don't know at the beginning if he is shooter or victim. Their POVs tell us the story until that devastating curve ball that just "whoosh" hits you in the chest and you are numb till you realize what that even bigger curve ball is!
The book deals with the questions of when behavior becomes a type of bullying, violent, when should or if we should get involved? Where does privacy end and genuine concern begin/ Are their signs of the oncoming tragedy, or is it all 20/20 hindsight?
As the web of the group's interaction untangles, you get the feel for each one's role & start having your own theories of what is to come and opinions of fault. I believe the POVs of everyone involved were done very well, with each having the appropriate voice.
The accounts during the shooting, especially of the shooter, crank the intensity really high, and your heart is in the throat until the end. A thrilling captivating read which will spark many discussions of its themes.
December 2, 2018
Questo libro l'ho visto tra i suggerimenti di Amazon, non ricordo se dopo aver letto Hate List oppure Violent Ends. In ogni caso ne sono rimasta subito intrigata.
E mi ci sono buttata alla cieca. Ignoravo tutto dell'autrice e avevo dato per scontato che fosse ambientato negli USA - d'altronde la cronaca ci fornisce purtroppo spesso notizie di sparatorie nelle scuole americane.
Invece ho cominciato a leggere e mi sono accorta che il numero d'emergenza qui è il 999 invece del 911 e gli anni scolastici hanno nomi diversi, quindi ho capito subito che la storia è ambientata in Inghilterra.
La Southfield è una scuola come le altre, con i suoi gruppetti e con i suoi clichés - ma credo che tutti ad un certo punto siamo stati un cliché in un modo o nell'altro.
Qui abbiamo un gruppetto di amici composto da sei ragazzi che sì, effettivamente ognuno rappresenta un tipico cliché scolastico, ma in maniera sfumata perché non sono portati all'estremo. Di base sono ragazzi normali, non vengono dipinti né come super-popolari ma nemmeno come sfigati - sebbene poi sia qui dove casca il cliché.
Abbiamo i gemelli Aisha e Ash, la prima che con gli esami alle porte e la scelta del college non ha la minima idea di cosa fare in futuro e si sente sotto pressione e con il secondo che è praticamente un genio sempre sui libri.
Amici loro da sempre sono Gemma e Remy, la prima molto bella e di successo con i ragazzi e migliore amica di Aisha e il secondo amico di Ash - anche se da quando è un ginnasta nella squadra della scuola ha anche altri amici con cui uscire.
Abbiamo Elise, arrivata un paio di anni prima e accolta nel gruppo, bella e intelligente come Ash e abbiamo Elijah, l'ultimo arrivato che è entrato nel gruppo quasi per caso. Perché Elijah viene definito strano, è sempre silenzioso e osserva, viene preso di mira dagli altri a scuola e ha una storia straziante a casa, vuole fare il tatuatore e i suoi disegni sono tanti belli quanto inquietanti.
Sono un gruppo normale, un gruppo che cerca di stare tutti insieme quando è possibile, ma che si separa anche per fare ognuno la sua vita.
Aisha e Ash condividono quel rapporto speciale tra gemelli, Aisha e Gemma escono insieme nei weekend; Ash e Remy non passano più tanto insieme ma Remy cerca sempre di fare uno sforzo per essere presente, anche se forse i loro diversi interessi li stanno portando su strade diverse. Ash ed Elijah sembrano capirsi anche nel silenzio e sono molto uniti, Ash ed Elise ripassano sempre insieme, Elise aiuta Elijah a trovarsi un lavoro per quando la scuola sarà finita.
Ma poi un giorno qualcuno porta una pistola a scuola e comincia a fare fuoco.
Com'è possibile che sia successo? Come hanno fatto a non accorgersi di niente? C'erano stati segnali e non li avevano colti?
Questo libro mi è piaciuto davvero, ho trovato elementi di Hate List e di One of Us is Lying che ovviamente non posso nominare altrimenti svelerei troppo.
Close Your Eyes non si focalizza sulla sparatoria, ma si focalizza invece sui personaggi e sui loro rapporti - su come le nostre azioni inevitabilmente influenzino quelle di chi ci circonda. E tiene per sé le informazioni, ti dice il minimo indispensabile in maniera criptica e questo ti porta a leggere sempre più velocemente per svelare il mistero di ciò che è successo quel giorno.
Mi è piaciuto tantissimo il modo in cui è narrato: ci sono post di blog, testimonianze, trascrizioni di conversazioni su Facebook e Whatsapp e di pagine di diario, dichiarazioni di uno psicologo, interviste e interrogatori un anno dopo la sparatoria ai protagonisti.
Cominciamo dal giorno della sparatoria nel maggio 2015 e poi vediamo la storia che parte qualche mese prima dell'evento per mostrarci come siamo arrivati a quel punto, intervallata dalle considerazioni dei ragazzi nel settembre 2016.
Vediamo come i ricordi e i dettagli cambiano e si modificano a seconda di chi sta raccontando, di come ammettano che quanto stanno dichiarando possa essere influenzato da una conoscenza di fatti che oggi sanno ma che all'epoca ignoravano, vediamo come non tutti avevano notato le stesse cose.
Close Your Eyes è una frase che viene detta in due particolari circostanze, ma è anche un po' il mood del romanzo perché indica tutti quelli che si voltano dall'altra parte di fronte al bullismo e ai soprusi e chiudono gli occhi negando che sia mai accaduto. Indica tutti quei giornali che pur di fare i titoloni di testa e vendere stravolgono la storia a loro piacimento, distorcendo i fatti senza alcun riguardo per le persone di cui parla e indica tutti quelli che credono ciecamente a quella versione perché l'hanno detta i giornali.
In questo romanzo ci sono bullismo e rabbia e se da una parte siamo portati - giustamente e doverosamente - a condannare un'azione del genere, dall'altra si è pure portati ad empatizzare in una certa misura. Si tratta di un terreno scivoloso, ma non mi sono sentita emotivamente manipolata dall'autrice.
Ma capisco perché Jennifer Brown - l'autrice di Hate List - abbia sempre dichiarato che non avrebbe mai scritto la versione di Nick, perché farlo ed entrare nella sua testa sarebbe stato come giustificare un atto che invece va condannato.
Così come vanno condannati tutti coloro che hanno commesso quegli atti atroci e quegli adulti che dicono sempre che la scuola ha una politica di tolleranza zero verso il bullismo, ma poi puntualmente non vede oppure si volta dall'altra parte e non fa niente.
Ma in questo romanzo c'è anche tanta amicizia e devo dire che tra i ragazzi ho apprezzato il lato giocoso e protettivo di Remy con le ragazze - sebbene anche lui commetta tutta una serie di errori e leggerezze - e Ash per il suo voler fare sempre la cosa giusta e il non voler mai parlare male di nessuno.
Alcuni dei ragazzi hanno più spazio di altri - Aisha più di tutti, ma nessuno di loro è scritto in maniera poco realistica. Tutti hanno avuto qualcosa che mi ha parlato.
So che non ho detto praticamente nulla del romanzo, ma per voi è meglio così se deciderete di leggerlo perché voglio che vi immergiate nella storia e che restiate con gli occhi ben aperti.
E quello di chiudere gli occhi è qualcosa che spesso facciamo anche noi - magari in modo innocente e in circostanze più "leggere" e a volte inconsciamente - perché non sempre prestiamo attenzione a tutto. Sarebbe impossibile prestare davvero attenzione a tutto.
E mi ci sono buttata alla cieca. Ignoravo tutto dell'autrice e avevo dato per scontato che fosse ambientato negli USA - d'altronde la cronaca ci fornisce purtroppo spesso notizie di sparatorie nelle scuole americane.
Invece ho cominciato a leggere e mi sono accorta che il numero d'emergenza qui è il 999 invece del 911 e gli anni scolastici hanno nomi diversi, quindi ho capito subito che la storia è ambientata in Inghilterra.
La Southfield è una scuola come le altre, con i suoi gruppetti e con i suoi clichés - ma credo che tutti ad un certo punto siamo stati un cliché in un modo o nell'altro.
Qui abbiamo un gruppetto di amici composto da sei ragazzi che sì, effettivamente ognuno rappresenta un tipico cliché scolastico, ma in maniera sfumata perché non sono portati all'estremo. Di base sono ragazzi normali, non vengono dipinti né come super-popolari ma nemmeno come sfigati - sebbene poi sia qui dove casca il cliché.
Abbiamo i gemelli Aisha e Ash, la prima che con gli esami alle porte e la scelta del college non ha la minima idea di cosa fare in futuro e si sente sotto pressione e con il secondo che è praticamente un genio sempre sui libri.
Amici loro da sempre sono Gemma e Remy, la prima molto bella e di successo con i ragazzi e migliore amica di Aisha e il secondo amico di Ash - anche se da quando è un ginnasta nella squadra della scuola ha anche altri amici con cui uscire.
Abbiamo Elise, arrivata un paio di anni prima e accolta nel gruppo, bella e intelligente come Ash e abbiamo Elijah, l'ultimo arrivato che è entrato nel gruppo quasi per caso. Perché Elijah viene definito strano, è sempre silenzioso e osserva, viene preso di mira dagli altri a scuola e ha una storia straziante a casa, vuole fare il tatuatore e i suoi disegni sono tanti belli quanto inquietanti.
Sono un gruppo normale, un gruppo che cerca di stare tutti insieme quando è possibile, ma che si separa anche per fare ognuno la sua vita.
Aisha e Ash condividono quel rapporto speciale tra gemelli, Aisha e Gemma escono insieme nei weekend; Ash e Remy non passano più tanto insieme ma Remy cerca sempre di fare uno sforzo per essere presente, anche se forse i loro diversi interessi li stanno portando su strade diverse. Ash ed Elijah sembrano capirsi anche nel silenzio e sono molto uniti, Ash ed Elise ripassano sempre insieme, Elise aiuta Elijah a trovarsi un lavoro per quando la scuola sarà finita.
Ma poi un giorno qualcuno porta una pistola a scuola e comincia a fare fuoco.
Com'è possibile che sia successo? Come hanno fatto a non accorgersi di niente? C'erano stati segnali e non li avevano colti?
Questo libro mi è piaciuto davvero, ho trovato elementi di Hate List e di One of Us is Lying che ovviamente non posso nominare altrimenti svelerei troppo.
Close Your Eyes non si focalizza sulla sparatoria, ma si focalizza invece sui personaggi e sui loro rapporti - su come le nostre azioni inevitabilmente influenzino quelle di chi ci circonda. E tiene per sé le informazioni, ti dice il minimo indispensabile in maniera criptica e questo ti porta a leggere sempre più velocemente per svelare il mistero di ciò che è successo quel giorno.
Mi è piaciuto tantissimo il modo in cui è narrato: ci sono post di blog, testimonianze, trascrizioni di conversazioni su Facebook e Whatsapp e di pagine di diario, dichiarazioni di uno psicologo, interviste e interrogatori un anno dopo la sparatoria ai protagonisti.
Cominciamo dal giorno della sparatoria nel maggio 2015 e poi vediamo la storia che parte qualche mese prima dell'evento per mostrarci come siamo arrivati a quel punto, intervallata dalle considerazioni dei ragazzi nel settembre 2016.
Vediamo come i ricordi e i dettagli cambiano e si modificano a seconda di chi sta raccontando, di come ammettano che quanto stanno dichiarando possa essere influenzato da una conoscenza di fatti che oggi sanno ma che all'epoca ignoravano, vediamo come non tutti avevano notato le stesse cose.
Close Your Eyes è una frase che viene detta in due particolari circostanze, ma è anche un po' il mood del romanzo perché indica tutti quelli che si voltano dall'altra parte di fronte al bullismo e ai soprusi e chiudono gli occhi negando che sia mai accaduto. Indica tutti quei giornali che pur di fare i titoloni di testa e vendere stravolgono la storia a loro piacimento, distorcendo i fatti senza alcun riguardo per le persone di cui parla e indica tutti quelli che credono ciecamente a quella versione perché l'hanno detta i giornali.
In questo romanzo ci sono bullismo e rabbia e se da una parte siamo portati - giustamente e doverosamente - a condannare un'azione del genere, dall'altra si è pure portati ad empatizzare in una certa misura. Si tratta di un terreno scivoloso, ma non mi sono sentita emotivamente manipolata dall'autrice.
Ma capisco perché Jennifer Brown - l'autrice di Hate List - abbia sempre dichiarato che non avrebbe mai scritto la versione di Nick, perché farlo ed entrare nella sua testa sarebbe stato come giustificare un atto che invece va condannato.
Così come vanno condannati tutti coloro che hanno commesso quegli atti atroci e quegli adulti che dicono sempre che la scuola ha una politica di tolleranza zero verso il bullismo, ma poi puntualmente non vede oppure si volta dall'altra parte e non fa niente.
Ma in questo romanzo c'è anche tanta amicizia e devo dire che tra i ragazzi ho apprezzato il lato giocoso e protettivo di Remy con le ragazze - sebbene anche lui commetta tutta una serie di errori e leggerezze - e Ash per il suo voler fare sempre la cosa giusta e il non voler mai parlare male di nessuno.
Alcuni dei ragazzi hanno più spazio di altri - Aisha più di tutti, ma nessuno di loro è scritto in maniera poco realistica. Tutti hanno avuto qualcosa che mi ha parlato.
So che non ho detto praticamente nulla del romanzo, ma per voi è meglio così se deciderete di leggerlo perché voglio che vi immergiate nella storia e che restiate con gli occhi ben aperti.
E quello di chiudere gli occhi è qualcosa che spesso facciamo anche noi - magari in modo innocente e in circostanze più "leggere" e a volte inconsciamente - perché non sempre prestiamo attenzione a tutto. Sarebbe impossibile prestare davvero attenzione a tutto.
February 26, 2017
This story is horrifying. It is the stuff that nightmares are made of (I had to follow it with a fluffy romance just so I could sleep). While I'm certainly showing my appreciation of the story, and the bravado of the author in tackling this tricky content, I really hated this story. Then again, I doubt that this, as a story, is one that will be loved (although it will no doubt be talked about).
It really kicked a lot of goals for me, and while it did work, if I am honest I was never completely converted. The narration, which constantly zipped in and out of time and moved between various writing forms, was disjointed and will probably leave many readers confused. I persisted, and things seem to sort themselves out, but many YA readers may not persevere, which is a tremendous shame. I found the cast of characters tricky to keep track of, and while this kind of reflects the chaos the book depicts, it was a little annoying.
That said, this is a worthwhile read and a story that deserves to provoke meaningful discussions on the topic of bullying and gun violence in schools.
It really kicked a lot of goals for me, and while it did work, if I am honest I was never completely converted. The narration, which constantly zipped in and out of time and moved between various writing forms, was disjointed and will probably leave many readers confused. I persisted, and things seem to sort themselves out, but many YA readers may not persevere, which is a tremendous shame. I found the cast of characters tricky to keep track of, and while this kind of reflects the chaos the book depicts, it was a little annoying.
That said, this is a worthwhile read and a story that deserves to provoke meaningful discussions on the topic of bullying and gun violence in schools.
April 5, 2018
Close Your Eyes is a tough, heartbreaking read that doesn't pull its punches. Told in scraps of prose and text messages and interviews, a story unfolds about a group of friends who slowly fall apart until one of them falls victim to the temptation of revenge.
If you loved This Is Where It Ends, I would definitely recommend picking this one up.
Warnings: a depiction of a school shooting, depictions of bullying, references to suicide and mental health issues, reference to an abortion.
If you loved This Is Where It Ends, I would definitely recommend picking this one up.
Warnings: a depiction of a school shooting, depictions of bullying, references to suicide and mental health issues, reference to an abortion.
August 25, 2020
It must be a good read if I’ve got through it in less than 24 hours. Books of this ilk aren’t usually masterpieces, and this one isn’t, but it was a suspenseful and well written story with characters that felt real. This could have been set in my old secondary school. It’s not for sensitive readers I might add. But I feel like it does present the issues of bullying and suicidal ideation in the right way. I enjoyed it and I will be reading it again for sure.
July 20, 2017
omg this book has got to me on so many levels i feel so emotional after just finishing it. bullying .. friendship.. depression.. drama.. i am trusly touched by this amazing book. a school shooting.. very dark story told in such a powerful way. the characters were great and lots of twists n turns. wonderful book. also her other book follow me back was mega good too!
February 18, 2023
sooo this book was just so different
first, i love the formatting of the story from diary entries to interviews to regular prose and Cloke managed to show such a tragic situation from multiple povs with it seeming effortless
first, i love the formatting of the story from diary entries to interviews to regular prose and Cloke managed to show such a tragic situation from multiple povs with it seeming effortless
June 25, 2025
⭐Rating - 3
Close Your Eyes was an interesting read, but it didn’t fully hit the mark for me. The premise—a school shooting mystery told from multiple perspectives—had a lot of potential, and the author clearly aimed to create a thought-provoking narrative that delves into the complexities of trauma and loss. However, the constant shift between the six characters caused a bit of a headache as I tried to keep track of who was who. While I appreciate the effort to give a rounded view of the events, the mix of third-person flashbacks and first-person present-day "interviews" made the narrative feel a little disjointed at times. It was challenging to get fully invested in any one character because of the frequent transitions; just as I began to understand one perspective, the story would shift to another, interrupting my emotional connection.
One twist I really appreciated was that the school shooting took place in the UK, which isn’t something you often see in real life. This choice added a fresh angle to the story, inviting readers to consider the broader implications of such tragedies beyond the familiar settings typically portrayed in media. The author’s decision to explore this rarely discussed topic in a different cultural context made the story feel timely and relevant. Throughout the book, the narrative evokes a deep sense of empathy and reflection, compelling readers to think about the impact of school shootings on students and communities alike.
That said, the pacing was solid, and the twists kept me curious enough to see how it all unfolded. The way the author layered the mysteries and revelations was engaging, maintaining a sense of suspense that propelled me forward. I found myself turning the pages, eager to uncover the truth behind the tragedy, even if the emotional engagement was somewhat lacking. The writing style was accessible, making it a suitable choice for a young adult audience, though it might not resonate as strongly with older readers looking for deeper character development.
Overall, Close Your Eyes is not a bad read; it’s just one that didn’t completely wow me. It certainly has its merits, particularly for those interested in suspenseful YA thrillers that tackle serious themes. However, readers should not expect anything too ground-breaking in terms of narrative structure or character depth. It's worth checking out if you enjoy thrillers that keep you on your toes, but be prepared for a somewhat fragmented experience that may leave you wanting more from the characters and their journeys.
Close Your Eyes was an interesting read, but it didn’t fully hit the mark for me. The premise—a school shooting mystery told from multiple perspectives—had a lot of potential, and the author clearly aimed to create a thought-provoking narrative that delves into the complexities of trauma and loss. However, the constant shift between the six characters caused a bit of a headache as I tried to keep track of who was who. While I appreciate the effort to give a rounded view of the events, the mix of third-person flashbacks and first-person present-day "interviews" made the narrative feel a little disjointed at times. It was challenging to get fully invested in any one character because of the frequent transitions; just as I began to understand one perspective, the story would shift to another, interrupting my emotional connection.
One twist I really appreciated was that the school shooting took place in the UK, which isn’t something you often see in real life. This choice added a fresh angle to the story, inviting readers to consider the broader implications of such tragedies beyond the familiar settings typically portrayed in media. The author’s decision to explore this rarely discussed topic in a different cultural context made the story feel timely and relevant. Throughout the book, the narrative evokes a deep sense of empathy and reflection, compelling readers to think about the impact of school shootings on students and communities alike.
That said, the pacing was solid, and the twists kept me curious enough to see how it all unfolded. The way the author layered the mysteries and revelations was engaging, maintaining a sense of suspense that propelled me forward. I found myself turning the pages, eager to uncover the truth behind the tragedy, even if the emotional engagement was somewhat lacking. The writing style was accessible, making it a suitable choice for a young adult audience, though it might not resonate as strongly with older readers looking for deeper character development.
Overall, Close Your Eyes is not a bad read; it’s just one that didn’t completely wow me. It certainly has its merits, particularly for those interested in suspenseful YA thrillers that tackle serious themes. However, readers should not expect anything too ground-breaking in terms of narrative structure or character depth. It's worth checking out if you enjoy thrillers that keep you on your toes, but be prepared for a somewhat fragmented experience that may leave you wanting more from the characters and their journeys.
January 16, 2018
I received this book in my 'Book Advent Calendar' (Spoiler alert, the calendar did not live up to my expectations) - that being said, this book went straight onto my tbr shelf because, school shootings? PEAK MY INTEREST. I don't know what it is about school shootings and apparently, it's sort of weird but I have a slight fascination with school shootings, be it in movies, documentaries or apparently now books? As out of three books I've read so far this year - two of them have featured school shootings.
This book is laid out in different types of media throughout, blog entries, text messaging, newspaper reports and then the fictional side of things. I really enjoyed this layout and whilst it's not something I would typically lean towards, I felt it really worked within this story. I actually found myself, preferring the other media styles to the story part and would feel slightly disappointed once I reached those passages. This concept worked well with this particular story because of the different characters involved and it meant we got to see their perspectives on a past occurrence but also their side of things throughout the past and their actions and reasons for their behaviour, at the time.
When it comes to the characters, I didn't particularly care for any of them. They were all just pretty average, I don't know if that's a result of so many characters featured in a short book with a huge topic but no character made me feel anything; not sad, sympathetic - nothing. However, there was something about this book, I read it in one sitting as the storytelling made me want to know what happened. Well, I know what happened but I wanted to know how it happened and how we got there! One slight negative I have is the fact that two of the characters were massively kept in the dark and we barely got to know anything about them that wasn't featured in other characters opinions. And without giving too much way, I understood why in order to make the storytelling more effective but ultimately, it meant we didn't get to understand those characters as deeply. And they were pretty important to the story.
Overall, I thought this was a good read, it kept me hooked and there were a few twists and turns thrown in for good measure. It didn't quite grip me in the way that I hoped but I still very much enjoyed it. Plus, it was set in the UK which just made it all the more eerie.
This book is laid out in different types of media throughout, blog entries, text messaging, newspaper reports and then the fictional side of things. I really enjoyed this layout and whilst it's not something I would typically lean towards, I felt it really worked within this story. I actually found myself, preferring the other media styles to the story part and would feel slightly disappointed once I reached those passages. This concept worked well with this particular story because of the different characters involved and it meant we got to see their perspectives on a past occurrence but also their side of things throughout the past and their actions and reasons for their behaviour, at the time.
When it comes to the characters, I didn't particularly care for any of them. They were all just pretty average, I don't know if that's a result of so many characters featured in a short book with a huge topic but no character made me feel anything; not sad, sympathetic - nothing. However, there was something about this book, I read it in one sitting as the storytelling made me want to know what happened. Well, I know what happened but I wanted to know how it happened and how we got there! One slight negative I have is the fact that two of the characters were massively kept in the dark and we barely got to know anything about them that wasn't featured in other characters opinions. And without giving too much way, I understood why in order to make the storytelling more effective but ultimately, it meant we didn't get to understand those characters as deeply. And they were pretty important to the story.
Overall, I thought this was a good read, it kept me hooked and there were a few twists and turns thrown in for good measure. It didn't quite grip me in the way that I hoped but I still very much enjoyed it. Plus, it was set in the UK which just made it all the more eerie.
April 30, 2021
3.8 stars.
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Close Your Eyes is a story that revolves around a group of friends and a school shooting. The story is told in the form of interviews, messages and blog posts. With each chapter, the reader learns a little bit more about this story and how things evolved into a tragic event. The closer you get to the end of the book, the more conflicted you on who is truly to blame for the outcome.
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POSITIVES:
* school shootings are rare here in the U.K. so it was interesting to read about it in a British school setting - makes it seem more real and scary, as these things aren't restricted to countries, it really can happen anywhere
* focuses on lots of important topics such as drug addiction, bullying, the negatives of social media, suicidal tendencies and of course, school shootings
* great readability - had me wanting to read more whenever I could
* each character was foused on and had their own spotlight
* like how it was told through things like interviews with each character, messages sent between them and blog posts
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NEGATIVES:
* everything escelated really quickly at the end and then it finished abruptly, which felt a little jarring
* would have been nice to see a few pages of a "six months later" type of thing to round up the story and bring it to more of a solid close
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Overall, I think this was a really great book, with a great message and a captivating storyline. I hope a lot of young people wil take into mind and will inspire them to step up to stop bullies and toxic environments instead of joining in. I'm very much looking forward to reading more of Nicki Cloke’s works.
You can read a slightoy extended version of this review on my Wordpress at:
https://loiereads.wordpress.com/2021/...
-
Close Your Eyes is a story that revolves around a group of friends and a school shooting. The story is told in the form of interviews, messages and blog posts. With each chapter, the reader learns a little bit more about this story and how things evolved into a tragic event. The closer you get to the end of the book, the more conflicted you on who is truly to blame for the outcome.
-
POSITIVES:
* school shootings are rare here in the U.K. so it was interesting to read about it in a British school setting - makes it seem more real and scary, as these things aren't restricted to countries, it really can happen anywhere
* focuses on lots of important topics such as drug addiction, bullying, the negatives of social media, suicidal tendencies and of course, school shootings
* great readability - had me wanting to read more whenever I could
* each character was foused on and had their own spotlight
* like how it was told through things like interviews with each character, messages sent between them and blog posts
-
NEGATIVES:
* everything escelated really quickly at the end and then it finished abruptly, which felt a little jarring
* would have been nice to see a few pages of a "six months later" type of thing to round up the story and bring it to more of a solid close
-
Overall, I think this was a really great book, with a great message and a captivating storyline. I hope a lot of young people wil take into mind and will inspire them to step up to stop bullies and toxic environments instead of joining in. I'm very much looking forward to reading more of Nicki Cloke’s works.
You can read a slightoy extended version of this review on my Wordpress at:
https://loiereads.wordpress.com/2021/...
August 28, 2018
"Close Your Eyes" is a fast-paced, thrilling and intriguing novel about a school shooting. I liked the way prose was intertwined with excerpts from interviews, transcripts of TV news reports, newspaper articles and so on. The decision to have a lot of the narrative in the present tense was interesting and while it's been done a few times before, it's difficult to get it right, but I think the author managed it here.
I had an inkling about the "twist" before it happened, but the book kept me guessing enough that it still surprised me. It was very cleverly done and makes you really question your own preconceptions about school shootings and their perpetrators. It skilfully found the acceptable point between making the school shooter a sympathetic character - something I think books need to avoid at all costs - and making them a caricature of a soulless monster, which would be downright unbelievable. The book found a good midway point between the two, creating a character with a difficult childhood and tragic past, and personality flaws and anger issues, which combined and culminated in this terrible, unforgivable act.
Definitely a book to make you pause for thought. I read it in one sitting as I couldn't put it down.
I had an inkling about the "twist" before it happened, but the book kept me guessing enough that it still surprised me. It was very cleverly done and makes you really question your own preconceptions about school shootings and their perpetrators. It skilfully found the acceptable point between making the school shooter a sympathetic character - something I think books need to avoid at all costs - and making them a caricature of a soulless monster, which would be downright unbelievable. The book found a good midway point between the two, creating a character with a difficult childhood and tragic past, and personality flaws and anger issues, which combined and culminated in this terrible, unforgivable act.
Definitely a book to make you pause for thought. I read it in one sitting as I couldn't put it down.
November 5, 2019
I'm always interested in books about school shooters because I find the issue fascinating. I believe school shootings are represent the darkest horrors of our society: children killing children is so chilling because we both mourn the lives taken and the loss of innocence. However, I must say it's a hard topic to tackle in fiction, and so far I have only found one novel I thought of as compelling. Close Your Eyes is not that book.
Although I appreciated the fact the shooter is, for once, a girl, and although I like the way the novel incorporates interviews, news articles, phone call transcripts etc., I must say the structure is all over the place. The plot twists and climax fail to deliver because there's no build up to them -- it just feels like the author is coming up with plot points on the spot. The characters aren't sufficiently fleshed out either, and that makes it hard to connect with the story. Additionally, I found Elise's backstory incredibly hard to believe, and Elijah is ultimately just a prop (besides - I can't be the only one weirded out because she compares him to her dead brother??? Especially considering they're having sex).
Although I appreciated the fact the shooter is, for once, a girl, and although I like the way the novel incorporates interviews, news articles, phone call transcripts etc., I must say the structure is all over the place. The plot twists and climax fail to deliver because there's no build up to them -- it just feels like the author is coming up with plot points on the spot. The characters aren't sufficiently fleshed out either, and that makes it hard to connect with the story. Additionally, I found Elise's backstory incredibly hard to believe, and Elijah is ultimately just a prop (besides - I can't be the only one weirded out because she compares him to her dead brother??? Especially considering they're having sex).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 25, 2017
Honestly, the first half of the book took me kinda long to read. I liked the story but for some reason the names annoyed me a little. I didn‘t like how similar the names Aischa and Ash or Eli and Elise were. You can name your characters however you want, why give them such similar names?
But that‘s the only negative thing I have to say about this book. I like how the book had me fooled. I defintely did not think Elise was the shooter but Elijah. And that‘s when I started reading the book more quickly. I really wanted to know why she did what she did and so I couldn‘t put the book down anymore.
I like how the story is told with past and future events. I like how in the interviews you only see their answers and not the questions. I think the questions would have stopped the flow(?). Also, I normally really dislike books with more than one protagonist. I don‘t like knowing what every character thinks. I prefer reading the book from one person‘s perspective. But here, I loved it. Great job, Nicci Cloke!
But that‘s the only negative thing I have to say about this book. I like how the book had me fooled. I defintely did not think Elise was the shooter but Elijah. And that‘s when I started reading the book more quickly. I really wanted to know why she did what she did and so I couldn‘t put the book down anymore.
I like how the story is told with past and future events. I like how in the interviews you only see their answers and not the questions. I think the questions would have stopped the flow(?). Also, I normally really dislike books with more than one protagonist. I don‘t like knowing what every character thinks. I prefer reading the book from one person‘s perspective. But here, I loved it. Great job, Nicci Cloke!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2017
Having read Follow Me Back and found it really disappointing, I was nervous about this book. I ended up thinking it was really, really interesting, engaging and sad, though.
I enjoyed the structure (use of articles, interviews, text conversations etc.) It was great for exposition and lots of perspectives, without feeling messy or overdone.
I had this strange feeling about Ash throughout. I could tell nearly immediately that he loved (or at least liked) Elijah and his subtle presence throughout the story had me on edge. I was so glad that he wasn't killed off, but the moment describing his shooting gave me goosebumps actually.
Really interesting twist having Elise be the anonymous profile on the forum and the shooter (and Elijah having commit suicide before it even takes place).
I found Gemma, Remi and Aisha to all be engaging characters. Clearly they were all flawed, but fundamentally good, I think.
I enjoyed the structure (use of articles, interviews, text conversations etc.) It was great for exposition and lots of perspectives, without feeling messy or overdone.
I had this strange feeling about Ash throughout. I could tell nearly immediately that he loved (or at least liked) Elijah and his subtle presence throughout the story had me on edge. I was so glad that he wasn't killed off, but the moment describing his shooting gave me goosebumps actually.
Really interesting twist having Elise be the anonymous profile on the forum and the shooter (and Elijah having commit suicide before it even takes place).
I found Gemma, Remi and Aisha to all be engaging characters. Clearly they were all flawed, but fundamentally good, I think.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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