By the Shore

by Galaxy Craze

Published to great international acclaim, Galaxy Craze's best-selling debut, By the Shore, launched a young actress into literary fame. In clear and sparkling prose, her novel evokes a fragile, bittersweet world of youth on the cusp of adulthood and "captures perfectly the hopes and hurts of childhood" (The New York Times Book Review). Twelve-year-old May lives in a less than thriving oceanfront bed-and-breakfast run by her single mother. Her life is filled with the frustrations and promise of youth, complicated by a loving if distracted young mother who strives to care for her two children without forfeiting fun and passion. May puts her faith in the things that elude her - her absent father, the London city life left behind, the acceptance of the popular girls who have boyfriends -- and wonders if her life will ever change. When a kindly writer and his glamorous editor come to lodge in the weeks before Christmas, opportunities are in the air. But then May's playboy father, estranged from the family for years, drops in and threatens to freeze the delicate new possibilities stirring in all their lives.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Novels, Coming Of Age, British Literature

240 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Galaxy Craze (born 1972 in London, England) is an actress and writer. She moved to the U.S. with her mother in 1980 and currently lives in Brooklyn, NY. She appeared in a few independent films in the late 1990s, and wrote a novel, By the Shore, published in 1999. She is a 1993 graduate of Barnard College.

Craze told an interviewer that she "didn't say I wanted to be a writer, I just knew that's what I like to do." Another interviewer described her "beauty (as) a quiet, dreamy, and ethereal sort."

Reviews

[Ashley Keeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so rarely give books five stars because, as the common English teacher constantly remarks, there is always something that somebody will see fantastic while another sees it as merely stereotypical or overdone. As I indulged this novel, I believed I could see where some may find discontent; but I adored it for that very reason. It was a chilled bundt of gelatin sullenly moving on with its day. I found it calming and relaxing no matter what was happening; Craze writes beautifully. It has been almost a year since my eyes crossed over the words on the pages of this novel but the imprint of them has stained my soul and tainted my words. Contemporary and overall astounding, I've found Craze's By the Shore to be one of the lesser-known simple without lacking meaning novels.

[Dianne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice read. It was good for a first effort by actress Galaxy Craze (yes, I checked, it's her real name). It is set in the 1970s, in a English seaside village. The main character is 12 yr old May, a loner type. She lives with her mum Lucy and little brother Eden in a former girls' school now a Bed & Breakfast. The 'plot' revolves around how May feels about things; the coming and goings of her mum's friends and her dad and the male writer, Rufus, who comes and stays to get some work done in the quiet winter months. The nice part was Craze's descriptive writing.

[Gemma Lolos · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the Shore is definitely one of my favorite books. It is a great read, and Galaxy Craze's prose is refreshingly clear and beautiful. She perfectly captures the spirit of a twelve year old girl with the character of May, which adds a great deal of depth to the story. I was instantly hooked the moment I began reading, and I admit to re-reading the novel multiple times since finishing it. It is a gem, and a excellent first novel for Craze.

[Debbie Petersen Wolven · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful summer read that perfectly captures what it is like to be 12 years old and on the cusp of adolescence, trying to figure out your place in the world. I found myself drawn back to that time in my own life, recalling the agony of wishing to fit in with the "cool" group, trying to make sense of the behavior of the adults around me, the boredom of schoolwork, etc. The love story that serves as backdrop is sweetly delivered and realistic. I enjoyed the beach town scenery and the many lovely turns of phrase. My only complaint is that I continued reading until 2:30 am and consequently have been sleepy all day.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather quck vacation read. The characters in the novel are interesting and can easily be pictured in the readers mind. The young May seems to need some slight push to help her understand herself and become a stronger person. One can only hope that she will somewhat acheive this in her crazy mixed up upbringing. Seems like her Mother is sweet and trying but lets herself slip into her old party ways. Mom is too weak and easily influenced by her friends and circumstances.

[Rick Hocker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is told from the viewpoint of an 11-year-old girl. A mysterious writer stays at the inn that her mother owns and manages. Nothing monumental happens in this book, but the author exquisitely portrays the girl's impressions, feelings and longings with beautiful metaphors. It is not a book I would normally read, but I enjoyed the rich language and lovingly crafted sentences.

[Gabrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminded me that writing fiction is a worthy pursuit. I loved this novel.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book several years ago and liked it way more this time. A page turner with words of wisdom in between.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is classified as a young adult book/coming of age, which I hardly read.

Yes, that is her real name! She was born in 1971 so maybe her parents were hippies? She's also a former actress.

May, who is 12, lives with her single mother, Lucy, and her brother Eden, 6, in a town in England, which is a former schoolhouse. She rents it out to people to make money after she got fired in London, and they moved here. Rufus, a writer, moves in. It is the Winter and no other guests are there. The high time is Summer. Rufus and her mother get friendly but only as friends.

May isn't a popular girl in school and she has a best friend Jolene who she hangs around with. When a popular girl invites her to her birthday party, she is elated. She was never a part of a group before and never fit in.

A sweet story and as for the ending, another open ended one. Draw your own conclusion as always.

[Heidi-Anne Mooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Told by 12 year old May, this book read very fast as she shared her childhood with a mother not completely present at times and shared about her younger brother and how they lived in an old school converted to an inn by the shore. I enjoyed her writing style as she shared how a 12 year old might think.

[Cindy · Rating 1 out of 5]

It’s rare for me to not finish a book, but I just couldn’t get into this one. Slow, confusing (confused?), and self-indulgent. Maybe I am just not in the mood for a teenage girl’s viewpoint right now?

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mycket bra debut, känslan och knorren mot slutet.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a nice read. Very good for a first novel

[Mellanie C · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not like this book. I kept waiting for something to happen, but nothing really did.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book was confusing. I was not clear of the point. The mom seemed a reluctant mom which as a single mom does not help matters. May seemed to secretly hold disdain for her mother who seemed to place her being a mom on another priority. I seriously was beyond myself and almost put the book down when she left before finishing or feeding her child dinner a 6 yr old home alone so she could chase the father of the to be second child around to a bar, wow and he did not stick around... shocker. Lucy just seemed like an absent minded child chasing pretty butterflies through a field not seeming to care or consider how her actions affected others. Her friends were not help as birds of a feather. Not to mention the "father of the year" of May who was so blatantly a user of many vices, and that psycho Patricia. It is any wonder anyone could live at all. I guess the only sane being seemed to be Rufus, and sorry to say even though he was an eye of the hurricane of this hot mess novel, he seemed to be determined to be sucked up into the storm. I finished this novel as I honor commitments to the books I wish to read, but I seriously was tempted to demand the hours I spent wasting my time reading it, when I have 10 more potentially promising novels drawing my attention away.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a rambling story of a young girl with a depressed mother who had two children while living a rock 'n' roll lifestyle of sex and drugs then later bought an abandoned school and turned it into a boarding house that has only two guests during the time period of the novel. I didn't love it, but I also didn't hate it. It was easy to put down and easy to pick up again.

[Christa Forster · Rating 3 out of 5]

Towards the final chapters, I sensed that she was running for the end. Like she wanted to get out of the novel. However, I still liked the story, found myself hoping for the ending I wanted and received.

[Karen Benson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The fact that it took me nearly a month to finish this speaks volumes. A checked out mother with two children makes for a sad existence. I basically found it just sad for everyone involved. I don't really see myself reading any other novels by this author -- definitely not my cup of tea.

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has, I think, been my most long-standing favorite book, this and Rebecca. It's so poetic and pretty. I really do love it.

[Harley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible character development

[Ellen R · Rating 4 out of 5]

Galaxy Craze is a gifted writer. I wish she published more often. This book sucks you into the life of a young girl and doesn't let you go. Great read.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

beautiful, concise writing and characterizations of a mother and her children, male lead a bit fuzzy though.

[Daisy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I resisted this because of the author's name but when I gave in, I remember being kind of charmed by the story. It reminds me of Hideous Kinky or that reminds me of this, I don't remember any more.

[Sarahjane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book, I read it a few years ago but it stuck with me.

[Rachel Strang · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it, but the book didn't really have a point to it.

[andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ended up being way better than I expected. Much more than a beach or poolside read - there's some great substance here.

[Sarah Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I've read this year. It is a quiet little book. I couldn't let it go afterward.

[Julie Ehlers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a simple story, but very sweet and lovely in places, and quite emotionally astute.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story - recommend.