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The Color of the Sun
Award-winning author David Almond pens the dreamlike tale of a boy rediscovering joy and beauty within and around him, even amid sorrow.
One hot summer morning, only weeks after his father's death, Davie steps out his front door into the familiar streets of the Tyneside town that has always been his home. But this seemingly ordinary day takes on an air of mystery and tragedy as the residents learn that a boy has been killed. Despite the threat of a murderer on the loose, Davie turns away from the gossip and sets off toward the sunlit hill above town, where the real and imaginary worlds begin to blur around him. As he winds his way up the hillside, Davie sees things that seem impossible but feel utterly right, that renew his wonder and instill him with hope. Full of the intense excitement of growing up, David Almond's tale leaves both the reader and Davie astonished at the world and eager to explore it.
One hot summer morning, only weeks after his father's death, Davie steps out his front door into the familiar streets of the Tyneside town that has always been his home. But this seemingly ordinary day takes on an air of mystery and tragedy as the residents learn that a boy has been killed. Despite the threat of a murderer on the loose, Davie turns away from the gossip and sets off toward the sunlit hill above town, where the real and imaginary worlds begin to blur around him. As he winds his way up the hillside, Davie sees things that seem impossible but feel utterly right, that renew his wonder and instill him with hope. Full of the intense excitement of growing up, David Almond's tale leaves both the reader and Davie astonished at the world and eager to explore it.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2018
41 people are currently reading
829 people want to read
About the author
David Almond
121 books823 followersDavid Almond is a British children's writer who has penned several novels, each one to critical acclaim. He was born and raised in Felling and Newcastle in post-industrial North East England and educated at the University of East Anglia. When he was young, he found his love of writing when some short stories of his were published in a local magazine. He started out as an author of adult fiction before finding his niche writing literature for young adults.
His first children's novel, Skellig (1998), set in Newcastle, won the Whitbread Children's Novel of the Year Award and also the Carnegie Medal. His subsequent novels are: Kit's Wilderness (1999), Heaven Eyes (2000), Secret Heart (2001), The Fire Eaters (2003) and Clay (2005). His first play aimed at adolescents, Wild Girl, Wild Boy, toured in 2001 and was published in 2002.
His works are highly philosophical and thus appeal to children and adults alike. Recurring themes throughout include the complex relationships between apparent opposites (such as life and death, reality and fiction, past and future); forms of education; growing up and adapting to change; the nature of 'the self'. He has been greatly influenced by the works of the English Romantic poet William Blake.
He is an author often suggested on National Curriculum reading lists in the United Kingdom and has attracted the attention of academics who specialise in the study of children's literature.
Almond currently lives with his family in Northumberland, England.
Awards: Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing (2010).
His first children's novel, Skellig (1998), set in Newcastle, won the Whitbread Children's Novel of the Year Award and also the Carnegie Medal. His subsequent novels are: Kit's Wilderness (1999), Heaven Eyes (2000), Secret Heart (2001), The Fire Eaters (2003) and Clay (2005). His first play aimed at adolescents, Wild Girl, Wild Boy, toured in 2001 and was published in 2002.
His works are highly philosophical and thus appeal to children and adults alike. Recurring themes throughout include the complex relationships between apparent opposites (such as life and death, reality and fiction, past and future); forms of education; growing up and adapting to change; the nature of 'the self'. He has been greatly influenced by the works of the English Romantic poet William Blake.
He is an author often suggested on National Curriculum reading lists in the United Kingdom and has attracted the attention of academics who specialise in the study of children's literature.
Almond currently lives with his family in Northumberland, England.
Awards: Hans Christian Andersen Award for Writing (2010).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 199 reviews
May 17, 2020
3.5 ⭐️
“Sometimes a memory or a dream is a fine place to be. And sometimes it can seem like everything is just a dream.”
Ok, so first things first. Don’t listen to the synopsis. This book isn’t “dark and twisted”, it’s not even really a detective story. It’s a sweet, magical middle grade tale.
It’s the summer holidays and Davie’s mum has told him to get out into the world.
“The day is long, the world is wide, you’re young and free.”
On his explorations he comes across a dead body, that of Jimmy Killen. And Davie believes he knows who did it. The Killen’s and the Craig’s have had a family feud for generations - it had to have been Zorro Craig.
So Davie decides to find him. He faces the big hill by his town and decides to walk up it. Along the way he meets all kinds of weird and wonderful people.
“Colour the world children...create your own imperfect world.”
There is a slight ghostly element to this book, but I wouldn’t call it dark or twisted. So I can see why people are disappointed when that is what they are expecting.
I found it to be a quick read with loads of little gems and quotes to enjoy. It helps you to find the magic in the world, which is definitely needed at a time like this.
“He takes the chick into his cupped palm...and gazed at it. How can anything be so yellow? How can anything be so frail and yet so filled with life...how can anything be anything?”
“Sometimes a memory or a dream is a fine place to be. And sometimes it can seem like everything is just a dream.”
Ok, so first things first. Don’t listen to the synopsis. This book isn’t “dark and twisted”, it’s not even really a detective story. It’s a sweet, magical middle grade tale.
It’s the summer holidays and Davie’s mum has told him to get out into the world.
“The day is long, the world is wide, you’re young and free.”
On his explorations he comes across a dead body, that of Jimmy Killen. And Davie believes he knows who did it. The Killen’s and the Craig’s have had a family feud for generations - it had to have been Zorro Craig.
So Davie decides to find him. He faces the big hill by his town and decides to walk up it. Along the way he meets all kinds of weird and wonderful people.
“Colour the world children...create your own imperfect world.”
There is a slight ghostly element to this book, but I wouldn’t call it dark or twisted. So I can see why people are disappointed when that is what they are expecting.
I found it to be a quick read with loads of little gems and quotes to enjoy. It helps you to find the magic in the world, which is definitely needed at a time like this.
“He takes the chick into his cupped palm...and gazed at it. How can anything be so yellow? How can anything be so frail and yet so filled with life...how can anything be anything?”
August 22, 2018
I want to set my stall out, I love David Almond’s style of writing. Skellig is one of my top ten all time favourite stories thus far in my advanced years.
Davie starts the day finding some toys from his younger years which, after a bit of reminiscing, he puts into his back pack with his sketchbook and goes down to the kitchen where mum is baking. She packs him off with a buttered slice of bara brith (sp?) and a piece of cheese to go a wandering. He doesn’t get far before he hears of a murder and sees the body of a boy he knows of. Almond treats this scene with sensitivity and completely from a child’s eye view. The boy he sees is part of one of the little town’s rival gangs and Davie thinks he knows who the murderer is. He sets off heading up out of the village and the story of his day unfolds.
Davie meets characters from his little north east town and Almond brings them to life with a truth that is quite touching. He writes with a warmth and an obvious love of the world and in particular his part of the world. Each character is crafted with care. Each character making the story go forward...and sometimes backward as Davies’ earlier life is revealed through them. Almond some how weaves a touch of other worldly ness into his stories as if it’s the most natural thing- which I guess it is! Memories, thoughts of how we carry on after loosing someone from our lives, wonderings about how those people’s lives leave an echo or an energy. There is nothing scary here and as a child I can remember feeling it strange that people around me were afraid of death or been speaking about those who had died.
The way Almond can describe a flavour or a texture (fruit gums!) or a colour without overkill is without equal.
The ending was brilliant, clever and left me feeling positive and hopeful. Sometimes I am fearful for the generation of my grandchildren but in some small way this story reminds me each generation brings its own courage forged from the generations that have gone before.
Fabulous book, beautifully written.
Davie starts the day finding some toys from his younger years which, after a bit of reminiscing, he puts into his back pack with his sketchbook and goes down to the kitchen where mum is baking. She packs him off with a buttered slice of bara brith (sp?) and a piece of cheese to go a wandering. He doesn’t get far before he hears of a murder and sees the body of a boy he knows of. Almond treats this scene with sensitivity and completely from a child’s eye view. The boy he sees is part of one of the little town’s rival gangs and Davie thinks he knows who the murderer is. He sets off heading up out of the village and the story of his day unfolds.
Davie meets characters from his little north east town and Almond brings them to life with a truth that is quite touching. He writes with a warmth and an obvious love of the world and in particular his part of the world. Each character is crafted with care. Each character making the story go forward...and sometimes backward as Davies’ earlier life is revealed through them. Almond some how weaves a touch of other worldly ness into his stories as if it’s the most natural thing- which I guess it is! Memories, thoughts of how we carry on after loosing someone from our lives, wonderings about how those people’s lives leave an echo or an energy. There is nothing scary here and as a child I can remember feeling it strange that people around me were afraid of death or been speaking about those who had died.
The way Almond can describe a flavour or a texture (fruit gums!) or a colour without overkill is without equal.
The ending was brilliant, clever and left me feeling positive and hopeful. Sometimes I am fearful for the generation of my grandchildren but in some small way this story reminds me each generation brings its own courage forged from the generations that have gone before.
Fabulous book, beautifully written.
August 9, 2019
Well, what do I say about this book? It was weird and meant well, but I couldn't enjoy it at all.
Davie is searching for Zorro Craig who was suspected to have murdered a boy causing rift between two families who were already on opposite ends. His search takes him uphill and he encounters a lot many people, including his dead dad and many others, and Davie learns a thing or two from them.
Davie might have benefitted from his journey, but I didn't. The conversations seemed bland and boring and I was often lost on where the plot was headed. I understand what the author tried to do though, by letting us understand the grief Davie was going through after his dad died. But really, there was little characterization I could see. It might be more of a its-me-not-the-book kinda experience but I honestly couldn't stop thinking why I was forcing myself to complete it.
Davie is searching for Zorro Craig who was suspected to have murdered a boy causing rift between two families who were already on opposite ends. His search takes him uphill and he encounters a lot many people, including his dead dad and many others, and Davie learns a thing or two from them.
Davie might have benefitted from his journey, but I didn't. The conversations seemed bland and boring and I was often lost on where the plot was headed. I understand what the author tried to do though, by letting us understand the grief Davie was going through after his dad died. But really, there was little characterization I could see. It might be more of a its-me-not-the-book kinda experience but I honestly couldn't stop thinking why I was forcing myself to complete it.
March 26, 2021
Verovatno da se nikada u životu nisam osetio ovako prevarenim. Ko god da je napisao sinopsis knjige, zbog kojeg sam se toliko radovao knjizi je jedan odličan biznismen, jer sinopsis prodaje knjigu, a toliko je misleading da to prosto nije realno. Ne znam šta je pisac hteo da uradi sa ovom knjigom, mislim, znam, poenta knjige je očigledna, pisac je ponovi toliko puta da postane izlizana, ali zašto je iko ovaj roman izdao, to mi će za mene zauvek biti misterija.
Sve pohvale dizajneru koji je odradio predivan posao sa naslovnicom koja me je u startu i privukla, iako je i ONA, kada se pročita opis knjige 100% misleading.
Svakako će mi knjiga, kao predmet u ovom slučaju, ostati draga jer je bila deo diiivnog poklona. 💚
Sve pohvale dizajneru koji je odradio predivan posao sa naslovnicom koja me je u startu i privukla, iako je i ONA, kada se pročita opis knjige 100% misleading.
Svakako će mi knjiga, kao predmet u ovom slučaju, ostati draga jer je bila deo diiivnog poklona. 💚
July 6, 2019
David Almond is one of my favorite authors. Thus, I was so very disappointed to read his most recent book The Color of Sun. It was a book that seemed to have little plot, and there simply was way too much meandering text. I'm glad this wasn't my first book I've read of his or I would not continue to read others.
Sadly, this book was a trip to nowhere.
Sadly, this book was a trip to nowhere.
Read
August 21, 2019(Gifted)
A magical, dreamy stroll of a story, about a boy grieving for his father and taking a stroll in the wake of the murder of a lad from the local rival gangs. Half real and half imagined, this is a Newcastle filled with ghosts and myths, and I read it in one gulp.
A magical, dreamy stroll of a story, about a boy grieving for his father and taking a stroll in the wake of the murder of a lad from the local rival gangs. Half real and half imagined, this is a Newcastle filled with ghosts and myths, and I read it in one gulp.
July 25, 2019
Many thanks to the publisher Candlewick Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Color of the Sun is the newest YA story by well-known author David Almond, about a boy trying to find his place in the world after the death of his father. We follow him throughout a single day in his life, as he makes his way through his hometown, talks to a variety of people and tries to find back the beauty in everyday life.
If you know me, you know how deeply up my alley this type of book is, and you can imagine my excitement when I got approved for an ARC. For that reason, I genuinely feel bad for saying: this was a miss for me.
Let me start off by saying: I can imagine (even remember) the feeling of those first weeks after the death of a parent, and all the ways that colors your view of the world around you. Even in ways you wouldn’t necessarily expect... I believed this book was trying to capture just that, and I was rooting the entire time that it would succeed at that. Unfortunately, I just didn’t feel it…. That distinct headspace and vibe was the only thing this book needed to capture for me to potentially love it, but for me personally, it just missed the mark.
The Color of the Sun is quite the ambitious book, that tries to do a lot of things in very little page time. It covers coming of age, captures a small town vibe, tackles the way grief plays with the mind, and encompasses a variety of very expansive topics such as faith, religion, hatred and the difference between truth and interpretation. Although I can appreciate the authors ideas behind all of this, I don’t feel like the topic got the depth they deserved in this barely over 200 page format. Just as we barely start scratching the surface of something interesting, the novel pulls us away and meanders in a different direction again. And for better or for worse, this book sure does like to meander… It meanders from thought to thought in Davie’s head, from person to person and place to place. In the context of the story, I actually liked that style of writing. It gives a feeling of fleetingness to every contact, which makes a lot of sense to be the experience of a boy who’s recently been confronted with death and mortality. It will also make it hard to relate to, or get to know the characters, which I feel might deter young readers from picking up this book.
With stories like this, I always try to take into consideration the intended audience, as well as my personal opinion. In this case, I don’t think this is a book what’ll have a mass appeal: it’s going to be for a specific kind of reader, looking for a very specific thing. If you’re looking for a slow built, slice of life story, that focusses on life after loss and is more about emotional ambience than actual plot points: this might be for you. That being said, I feel that I, in this case, was the target audience, and still personally didn’t find quite what I was looking for.
In the end, I feel there is a lot of good at the heart of this book, but you might need to dig a little deeper to find it. Grief, and the experience after a loss is a very personal one, and this book feels like it matches that. The fact that I didn’t connect with it personally, should not deter you from picking up this book, especially if it feels like something that you’re looking for. Sometimes the most polarizing books on topics like this are the best ones for you as an individual. The Color of the Sun might just be that kind of book, even though it wasn’t the right fit for me.
The Color of the Sun is the newest YA story by well-known author David Almond, about a boy trying to find his place in the world after the death of his father. We follow him throughout a single day in his life, as he makes his way through his hometown, talks to a variety of people and tries to find back the beauty in everyday life.
If you know me, you know how deeply up my alley this type of book is, and you can imagine my excitement when I got approved for an ARC. For that reason, I genuinely feel bad for saying: this was a miss for me.
Let me start off by saying: I can imagine (even remember) the feeling of those first weeks after the death of a parent, and all the ways that colors your view of the world around you. Even in ways you wouldn’t necessarily expect... I believed this book was trying to capture just that, and I was rooting the entire time that it would succeed at that. Unfortunately, I just didn’t feel it…. That distinct headspace and vibe was the only thing this book needed to capture for me to potentially love it, but for me personally, it just missed the mark.
The Color of the Sun is quite the ambitious book, that tries to do a lot of things in very little page time. It covers coming of age, captures a small town vibe, tackles the way grief plays with the mind, and encompasses a variety of very expansive topics such as faith, religion, hatred and the difference between truth and interpretation. Although I can appreciate the authors ideas behind all of this, I don’t feel like the topic got the depth they deserved in this barely over 200 page format. Just as we barely start scratching the surface of something interesting, the novel pulls us away and meanders in a different direction again. And for better or for worse, this book sure does like to meander… It meanders from thought to thought in Davie’s head, from person to person and place to place. In the context of the story, I actually liked that style of writing. It gives a feeling of fleetingness to every contact, which makes a lot of sense to be the experience of a boy who’s recently been confronted with death and mortality. It will also make it hard to relate to, or get to know the characters, which I feel might deter young readers from picking up this book.
With stories like this, I always try to take into consideration the intended audience, as well as my personal opinion. In this case, I don’t think this is a book what’ll have a mass appeal: it’s going to be for a specific kind of reader, looking for a very specific thing. If you’re looking for a slow built, slice of life story, that focusses on life after loss and is more about emotional ambience than actual plot points: this might be for you. That being said, I feel that I, in this case, was the target audience, and still personally didn’t find quite what I was looking for.
In the end, I feel there is a lot of good at the heart of this book, but you might need to dig a little deeper to find it. Grief, and the experience after a loss is a very personal one, and this book feels like it matches that. The fact that I didn’t connect with it personally, should not deter you from picking up this book, especially if it feels like something that you’re looking for. Sometimes the most polarizing books on topics like this are the best ones for you as an individual. The Color of the Sun might just be that kind of book, even though it wasn’t the right fit for me.
June 9, 2018
This was the second Almond book that I have read, so I was already familiar with the author’s unique style of story-telling. Reader be warned, David Almond’s books are not for everyone. Do not expect a suspense laden plot and a neat ending. The book will leave you entranced and wondering while capturing essence of a sunny summer day in a Tyneside small town. Almond manages to conjure the English Northerners’ charm in enriching his character’s speech with regional accents.
The story seems to have an allegory at heart that a person constantly changes and exemplifies this by means of Davie’s journey throughout the day. The mystery of Jimmy Killen’s murder seems to give off Romeo & Juliet or West Side Story vibes; yet nothing is like it seems and the story entails an unsuspected twist. What I like about Almond’s tales is, that the borders between reality and fiction tend to blur (there are various instances in which the book reflects on itself being a work of fiction and on how reality is produced by means of the printed word on paper). The more the story progresses, the harder it gets to fathom what is to be seen as real in the fictive world.
The book defies conventional star rating systems whatsoever, which is why I will see it as a piece of art and not rate it. I enjoyed reading it; yet, would assess it as a read that requires reading once more at a later point.
The story seems to have an allegory at heart that a person constantly changes and exemplifies this by means of Davie’s journey throughout the day. The mystery of Jimmy Killen’s murder seems to give off Romeo & Juliet or West Side Story vibes; yet nothing is like it seems and the story entails an unsuspected twist. What I like about Almond’s tales is, that the borders between reality and fiction tend to blur (there are various instances in which the book reflects on itself being a work of fiction and on how reality is produced by means of the printed word on paper). The more the story progresses, the harder it gets to fathom what is to be seen as real in the fictive world.
The book defies conventional star rating systems whatsoever, which is why I will see it as a piece of art and not rate it. I enjoyed reading it; yet, would assess it as a read that requires reading once more at a later point.
June 8, 2020
I just didn't understand the point of this book. The story wanted to be poetic and lyrical but ended up being a disappointment. Really.
The whole conversation was bland and boring and I couldn't relate to the story or the characters. The writing wasn't my favorite thing either.
I don't know but this book wasn't for me. The blurb sounded really exciting but the book didn't provide me that.
The whole conversation was bland and boring and I couldn't relate to the story or the characters. The writing wasn't my favorite thing either.
I don't know but this book wasn't for me. The blurb sounded really exciting but the book didn't provide me that.
March 16, 2019
Een speciaal boek en leuk om een keer gelezen te hebben.
February 11, 2019
A difficult book to describe but one that gradually gets under your skin. I read this in almost one sitting such was the way in which I was drawn in. A timeless almost dreamlike quality to the writing, the imagery is beautiful. Having never visited the area I did believe I could see it.
Davie, a boy grieving for his father, is at that point in life when you are neither child nor adult and sometimes feel drawn to aspects of both. His journey through one day is thoughtful and ultimately reassuring. There are parts where I wanted to go back and reread to try and understand more fully. Perhaps I don't need to, perhaps it's enough that I felt better for having read it. This is in part a celebration of our world, nature and our surroundings but also of creativity and of friendship and reconciliation.
The place felt so real to me and Davie such a sympathetic character. There are some beautiful moments that are touching and wise.
My review probably makes little sense and doesn't mention a plot but the plot is not really the point, I don't think. A book worth reading, honestly, please don't be put off by my waffling review.
I loved the cover by David Litchfield too
Davie, a boy grieving for his father, is at that point in life when you are neither child nor adult and sometimes feel drawn to aspects of both. His journey through one day is thoughtful and ultimately reassuring. There are parts where I wanted to go back and reread to try and understand more fully. Perhaps I don't need to, perhaps it's enough that I felt better for having read it. This is in part a celebration of our world, nature and our surroundings but also of creativity and of friendship and reconciliation.
The place felt so real to me and Davie such a sympathetic character. There are some beautiful moments that are touching and wise.
My review probably makes little sense and doesn't mention a plot but the plot is not really the point, I don't think. A book worth reading, honestly, please don't be put off by my waffling review.
I loved the cover by David Litchfield too
July 9, 2019
I love Almond’s novels, but this one doesn’t quite hit the mark. In some ways, however, it’s remarkable. It follows Davies, a boy who has just lost his father, through one day of wandering through his small town after a murder. He talks to priests, little kids, sworn enemies, and even the ghost of his father. There’s a dreamlike, ruminative quality that reminds me of James Joyce’s Ulysses. Davies learns about war, human nature, love, religion, all kinds of great stuff.
The only flaw is ... not much happens. And because this is a YA book, I think something should, a least a bit more. I could see myself getting very frustrated at this book as a teen reader.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc.
The only flaw is ... not much happens. And because this is a YA book, I think something should, a least a bit more. I could see myself getting very frustrated at this book as a teen reader.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc.
June 4, 2018
He literally NEVER disappoints.
April 29, 2021
Wenn Davies Mutter ihren Sohn an die frische Luft schickt, vermittelt sie dabei eine eigenartige Stimmung. Sie verhält sich, als würde sie ihren Sohn für längere Zeit nicht wiedersehen, zugleich sät sie bei mir als Leser Zweifel daran, dass sie ihren jugendlichen Sohn ernstnimmt. Davie ist in dem Alter, in dem Fußball für ihn noch interessanter ist als der Gedanke an Mädchen. Als in Davies Heimatort bei Newcastle die Nachricht die Runde macht, dass Jimmy Killen tot aufgefunden wurde und sein Freund Josh den Toten gesehen haben soll, bricht jedoch die Realität in Davies kindliche Idylle ein. Das düstere und zugleich strahlend helle Buchcover mit einem Kind vor dunkler, herbstlicher Szene bei Nacht und zwei Personen in einer gespiegelten farbigen Darstellung eines vor Leben strotzenden Baums lässt ahnen, dass Davies Welt aus Hell und Dunkel besteht, aus Geborgenheit und Trauer. Josh Todd ist offenbar bestens informiert und hat eine Theorie, wer der Täter gewesen sein könnte. Die Killens und die Craigs waren verfeindete Sippen, für Josh gibt es daher nur eine Erklärung, wie der Mann ums Leben gekommen sein muss.
Davie wiederum träumt sich aus der Gegenwart fort zur Beerdigung seine Vaters, er schwebt förmlich aus der Realität heraus. Almonds Leser ahnen von dieser Szene an, dass der Junge noch einen langen Weg vor sich haben wird, bis er seine Trauer bewältigen kann. Davies Weg wirkt auf mich wie ein Pilgerweg zu sich und zur Person seines Vaters, den seine Mutter selbstverständlich mitvollzieht, so wie Eltern ein viel jüngeres Kind ernstnehmen würden, das zeitweise in einer Fantasiewelt lebt. Davie trifft auf Polizisten, Priester, den vertrauten Hausarzt, allesamt Figuren, die in einer Kleinstadt sicher von seinem Verlust wissen werden. Deutlich wird in Davies realen und fantastischen Erlebnissen eine Spaltung des Orts in verfeindete Wohnviertel, an der Religion und die Institution Kirche nicht unbeteiligt sind – und die an den Nordirland-Konflikt denken lässt. Ob man auf Davies Seite oder der von Jimmy Killen lebt, scheint reiner Zufall zu sein, ebenso, ob ein Kind von heute behütet aufwächst oder in einem anderen Jahrhundert zur Arbeit ins Bergwerk geschickt worden wäre.
Davies ungewöhnlicher Pilger-Weg zu seiner Trauer um den verstorbenen Vater findet in einer vom Bergbau und unüberwindbaren Klassenschranken geprägten Region statt, in der Geschichte anhand von Kriegsverletzungen und von Arbeitsunfällen erzählt wird. Der Junge therapiert sich durch seinen Weg selbst, auf dem deutlich die Forderung an ihn hervortritt, ein ganzer Kerl zu werden. Für ganze Kerle gibt es offenbar kein Verhaltensmuster der Trauer.
“Ein finsterheller Tag” zeigt den ungewöhnlichen Trauerprozess eines ungewöhnlichen Jungen. Davies Leben in verschiedenen Welten ist sicher eine Herausforderung für jugendliche Leser – die Zielgruppe ab 12 sollten Erwachsene jedoch nicht unterschätzen.
Davie wiederum träumt sich aus der Gegenwart fort zur Beerdigung seine Vaters, er schwebt förmlich aus der Realität heraus. Almonds Leser ahnen von dieser Szene an, dass der Junge noch einen langen Weg vor sich haben wird, bis er seine Trauer bewältigen kann. Davies Weg wirkt auf mich wie ein Pilgerweg zu sich und zur Person seines Vaters, den seine Mutter selbstverständlich mitvollzieht, so wie Eltern ein viel jüngeres Kind ernstnehmen würden, das zeitweise in einer Fantasiewelt lebt. Davie trifft auf Polizisten, Priester, den vertrauten Hausarzt, allesamt Figuren, die in einer Kleinstadt sicher von seinem Verlust wissen werden. Deutlich wird in Davies realen und fantastischen Erlebnissen eine Spaltung des Orts in verfeindete Wohnviertel, an der Religion und die Institution Kirche nicht unbeteiligt sind – und die an den Nordirland-Konflikt denken lässt. Ob man auf Davies Seite oder der von Jimmy Killen lebt, scheint reiner Zufall zu sein, ebenso, ob ein Kind von heute behütet aufwächst oder in einem anderen Jahrhundert zur Arbeit ins Bergwerk geschickt worden wäre.
Davies ungewöhnlicher Pilger-Weg zu seiner Trauer um den verstorbenen Vater findet in einer vom Bergbau und unüberwindbaren Klassenschranken geprägten Region statt, in der Geschichte anhand von Kriegsverletzungen und von Arbeitsunfällen erzählt wird. Der Junge therapiert sich durch seinen Weg selbst, auf dem deutlich die Forderung an ihn hervortritt, ein ganzer Kerl zu werden. Für ganze Kerle gibt es offenbar kein Verhaltensmuster der Trauer.
“Ein finsterheller Tag” zeigt den ungewöhnlichen Trauerprozess eines ungewöhnlichen Jungen. Davies Leben in verschiedenen Welten ist sicher eine Herausforderung für jugendliche Leser – die Zielgruppe ab 12 sollten Erwachsene jedoch nicht unterschätzen.
August 7, 2019
Kort maar krachtig.
Dit is een erg bijzonder boek met een schrijfstijl die je moet liggen. Persoonlijk vond ik het erg mooi en grappig. Vreemd, dat ook. Een boek met een best simpel verhaal die tegelijk over van alles gaat en soms lijkt het alsof het nergens op slaat.
Dit is een erg bijzonder boek met een schrijfstijl die je moet liggen. Persoonlijk vond ik het erg mooi en grappig. Vreemd, dat ook. Een boek met een best simpel verhaal die tegelijk over van alles gaat en soms lijkt het alsof het nergens op slaat.
April 22, 2018
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of this book.
The Colour of the Sun follows Davie on one sunny summer day as he goes wandering, nothing in his rucksack but some bara brith, sketchbook and pencils, a fox mask and some antlers. It begins with two deaths - Davie's father, a few weeks earlier, and the body of a dead boy.
The whole book is like a love song to a summer's day. It's drenched in colour, scents and sounds, from the translucent brightness of the fruit gums given to Davie by the mysterious Wilf to the yellow of the gorse and the blue of the sky. There are some slightly fantastical elements to the story but they are interwoven so neatly that you have to go with it and accept that life - or at least this day in Davie's life - is slightly fantastical - and why not?
As well as the sensory immersion in the landscape, David Almond clearly has a huge affection for the particular language of the Tyneside area; Davie and other characters pause to point out and savour favourite words. Language almost becomes another sense - something that you can look at and feel and respond to in the same way that you can the colour of the sun.
It's nostalgic, beautifully written and filled with a yearning for youth and love of life in the face of death.
I was lucky enough to hear David Almond speak at a conference a couple of years ago - during his talk, he showed the audience his sketchbook, and the contents of his pencil case. He's given Davie that love of sketching ideas with pencils - an echo of himself - and it was lovely reading that connection.
A rich treat of a book that I'm sure will be on many award lists.
The Colour of the Sun follows Davie on one sunny summer day as he goes wandering, nothing in his rucksack but some bara brith, sketchbook and pencils, a fox mask and some antlers. It begins with two deaths - Davie's father, a few weeks earlier, and the body of a dead boy.
The whole book is like a love song to a summer's day. It's drenched in colour, scents and sounds, from the translucent brightness of the fruit gums given to Davie by the mysterious Wilf to the yellow of the gorse and the blue of the sky. There are some slightly fantastical elements to the story but they are interwoven so neatly that you have to go with it and accept that life - or at least this day in Davie's life - is slightly fantastical - and why not?
As well as the sensory immersion in the landscape, David Almond clearly has a huge affection for the particular language of the Tyneside area; Davie and other characters pause to point out and savour favourite words. Language almost becomes another sense - something that you can look at and feel and respond to in the same way that you can the colour of the sun.
It's nostalgic, beautifully written and filled with a yearning for youth and love of life in the face of death.
I was lucky enough to hear David Almond speak at a conference a couple of years ago - during his talk, he showed the audience his sketchbook, and the contents of his pencil case. He's given Davie that love of sketching ideas with pencils - an echo of himself - and it was lovely reading that connection.
A rich treat of a book that I'm sure will be on many award lists.
October 29, 2019
This book is beautifully written. Lyrical. Colorful. The author paints the world very beautifully.
I gave this book 3 stars, because of the story. While the author paints the darkness and moves us into the light in a beautiful way, the story though just isn't interesting at all.
I can see how some parents may have difficulty with the subject matter as the author questions the existence of God. There's a young priest who gives up the cloth and his faith for love. It's not just faith he questions, but he also questions God's existence. This, in turn, makes this young teenage boy question God's existence.
I did not care for how mean the boy was to the dog. I actually wanted to reach through those pages and slap the boy across the face for his cruelty. And the Craigs? These kids are straight out of a horror film. I am not quite sure how or why they even exist in this story.
Just so many different things going on in this book. I am sure the point of putting all of these crazy things into the story was for purposes of developing the main character's sense of purpose and being, maybe in "The Little Prince" sort of way. But this is not "The Little Prince."
Almond is a beautiful writer. Every writer has their weakness. For this book, the weakness is in the development of a good story. Sure there are life lessons he is trying to get out there, but the story is just not realistic. Even fantasy books can appear realistic when the story is told well. This story just seems too far fetched.
I gave this book 3 stars, because of the story. While the author paints the darkness and moves us into the light in a beautiful way, the story though just isn't interesting at all.
I can see how some parents may have difficulty with the subject matter as the author questions the existence of God. There's a young priest who gives up the cloth and his faith for love. It's not just faith he questions, but he also questions God's existence. This, in turn, makes this young teenage boy question God's existence.
I did not care for how mean the boy was to the dog. I actually wanted to reach through those pages and slap the boy across the face for his cruelty. And the Craigs? These kids are straight out of a horror film. I am not quite sure how or why they even exist in this story.
Just so many different things going on in this book. I am sure the point of putting all of these crazy things into the story was for purposes of developing the main character's sense of purpose and being, maybe in "The Little Prince" sort of way. But this is not "The Little Prince."
Almond is a beautiful writer. Every writer has their weakness. For this book, the weakness is in the development of a good story. Sure there are life lessons he is trying to get out there, but the story is just not realistic. Even fantasy books can appear realistic when the story is told well. This story just seems too far fetched.
November 19, 2021
کاش استودیو جیبلی ازش انیمیشن بسازه.
از اون کتابهای نرم و یواش و غمگین و دلگرمکننده بود. از اونها که موقع خوندنشون به چشم خودت میبینی که باد علفها رو تکون میده و خورشید کمکم پایین میره و سطح برکهی کوچیک دورافتاده موج برمیداره. آدم گاهی اوقات «داستان» نمیخواد، موقعیت میخواد و «وایب» و جزییات و فکر و فکر. آقای الموند خیلی شیوهی درستی داره تو قصه نوشتن و بسیار تحسینش میکنم و ازش ممنونم.
پینوشت: ۳۰۰ صفحه هم نیست و ۱۷۶ صفحه ست و اگه لایبررینی اینجا رو میبینه کاش درستش کنه.
از اون کتابهای نرم و یواش و غمگین و دلگرمکننده بود. از اونها که موقع خوندنشون به چشم خودت میبینی که باد علفها رو تکون میده و خورشید کمکم پایین میره و سطح برکهی کوچیک دورافتاده موج برمیداره. آدم گاهی اوقات «داستان» نمیخواد، موقعیت میخواد و «وایب» و جزییات و فکر و فکر. آقای الموند خیلی شیوهی درستی داره تو قصه نوشتن و بسیار تحسینش میکنم و ازش ممنونم.
پینوشت: ۳۰۰ صفحه هم نیست و ۱۷۶ صفحه ست و اگه لایبررینی اینجا رو میبینه کاش درستش کنه.
March 2, 2019
Hmm, niet echt mijn ding? Het raakte me niet echt, alle gebeurtenissen en personages vond ik maar gek en de personages spreken in dialect, wat me ook wat uit het verhaal haalde. Jammer, want het verhaal klonk erg goed!
August 28, 2019
Zeer kleurrijke schrijfstijl en bijzonder verhaal. Het was niet super hard mijn ding, maar heb er toch van genoten.
November 6, 2021
Enjoyed this book. This was my first book by the author and i defo want to read his others.Who was the killer after all? Well read this book and find out. Would recommend
August 23, 2021
David Almonds neues Buch „Ein finsterheller Tag“, ist alles andere als was man erwartet, rechnet man doch mit einer Detektivgeschichte als Davie von seinem Freund erfährt, dass eine Leiche in seiner Heimatstadt gefunden wurde. Sofort machen sich die neugierigen Jungen auf den Weg, um sich den Fund genauer anzusehen und für die beiden ist es sofort klar, wer der Mörder ist, als sie die Leiche von Jimmy Killen sehen. Es muss Zorro gewesen sein, ein Junge aus der Craig Familie. Die beiden Familien liegen schon lange im Streit und drohen sich mit Mord, doch was hat das Fass zum Überlaufen gebracht?
Davie will sich selbst auf die Suche nach dem Täter machen. Auf seinem Weg durch die Stadt, begegnet er den Menschen, mit welchen er aufgewachsen ist, er lauscht ihren Theorien und Gedanken und folgt selbst seiner Fantasie und träumt von sich, seinen verstorbenen Vater und dem Mord.
„Er wandert heute durch alles, als wäre es ein Traum, als wäre es eine Geschichte, die sich entfaltet. Es ist eine Geschichte von Entdeckungen, obwohl er durch Orte geht, die er so gut kennt. Es ist eine Geschichte, in der jeder Schritt ein Wort ist, das ihn weiter ins Unbekannte führt.“
Die Geschichte um Davie hat mich überrascht. In vielerlei Hinsicht. Ich habe eine Detektivgeschichte erwartetet und auch bekommen. Nur eben sehr anders, als erwartet. Viel tiefgründiger und bildgewaltiger. Themen wie Familienfehden, Hass, Vorurteile, Rollenbilder, Krankheit und Tod werden ebenso aufgegriffen, wie freie Entfaltung und das Erwachsenwerden an sich.
„Es gibt überall versteckte Orte, die nur darauf warten, gefunden zu werden“, sagte Dad. „Sogar in einer kleinen Stadt wie dieser, wo man meinen könnte, man hätte schon alles gesehen, was es zu sehen gibt.“
Dabei schwankt der Schreibstil zwischen philosophisch, poetisch und durch die Augen eines Kindes verträumt. Zu Beginn ist es nicht so einfach hinzufinden, doch nach den ersten Seiten gewöhnt man sich daran und wird von Davies Gedanken und seiner Reise durch die Kleinstadt mitgezogen. Die Hauptfigur und auch die Schauplätze sind toll beschrieben – manchmal etwas aussergewöhnlich, aber unbedingt lesenswert!
Davie will sich selbst auf die Suche nach dem Täter machen. Auf seinem Weg durch die Stadt, begegnet er den Menschen, mit welchen er aufgewachsen ist, er lauscht ihren Theorien und Gedanken und folgt selbst seiner Fantasie und träumt von sich, seinen verstorbenen Vater und dem Mord.
„Er wandert heute durch alles, als wäre es ein Traum, als wäre es eine Geschichte, die sich entfaltet. Es ist eine Geschichte von Entdeckungen, obwohl er durch Orte geht, die er so gut kennt. Es ist eine Geschichte, in der jeder Schritt ein Wort ist, das ihn weiter ins Unbekannte führt.“
Die Geschichte um Davie hat mich überrascht. In vielerlei Hinsicht. Ich habe eine Detektivgeschichte erwartetet und auch bekommen. Nur eben sehr anders, als erwartet. Viel tiefgründiger und bildgewaltiger. Themen wie Familienfehden, Hass, Vorurteile, Rollenbilder, Krankheit und Tod werden ebenso aufgegriffen, wie freie Entfaltung und das Erwachsenwerden an sich.
„Es gibt überall versteckte Orte, die nur darauf warten, gefunden zu werden“, sagte Dad. „Sogar in einer kleinen Stadt wie dieser, wo man meinen könnte, man hätte schon alles gesehen, was es zu sehen gibt.“
Dabei schwankt der Schreibstil zwischen philosophisch, poetisch und durch die Augen eines Kindes verträumt. Zu Beginn ist es nicht so einfach hinzufinden, doch nach den ersten Seiten gewöhnt man sich daran und wird von Davies Gedanken und seiner Reise durch die Kleinstadt mitgezogen. Die Hauptfigur und auch die Schauplätze sind toll beschrieben – manchmal etwas aussergewöhnlich, aber unbedingt lesenswert!
September 22, 2022
David Almond è uno degli più grandi scrittori contemporanei per ragazzi, ogni frase di questo libro sembra parte di una poesia, ogni considerazione di Davie un interessante punto di vista, ci sono scene strazianti, personaggi commoventi, momenti tensivi, tutto nell'arco di 24 ore. È stato un bel viaggio.
L'unico dubbio che ho e che non sono sicuro che se lo avessi letto da ragazzo mi sarebbe piaciuto.
L'unico dubbio che ho e che non sono sicuro che se lo avessi letto da ragazzo mi sarebbe piaciuto.
June 12, 2022
This book contains a number of fascinating and dream-like themes. I believe that Almond draws heavily on his own childhood to guide the story. Unusual, and thought provoking. It gets a “wow” from me.
April 26, 2020
I’ve always liked David Almond’s writing because of his unique way of looking at things. But as I read The Color of the Sun I felt like I was re-reading a story I already knew but didn’t remember clearly. Then it came to me - this is similar, perhaps too similar, to Joe Quinn’s Poltergeist. So it’s not that The Color of the Sun isn’t good, it’s absolutely David Almond excellent.
Almond sets young Davie off an an odyssey through his hometown of Tyneside on a hot summer day. As he wanders, Davie thinks about his father, who has recently passed away. While walking, he is told that a boy has been murdered, and Davie heads to the place the body was found. It turns out to be a boy Davie knows, who was also the town bully, part of a gang. Davie decides he knows who probably killed the boy, and heads to a nearby hill, believing the murderer also headed that way. As he goes, he meets a variety of different townspeople, a dog, the girl he may grow up to love, and the spirit of his father. As Davie explore questions about life and what it means, and if love can help you though hard times and heartbreak. Needless to say, by the time he returns home at the end of the day, Davie is a changed person.
Davie’s odyssey is a metaphor for trying to find his place in the world now that his dad is gone, making this a true coming of age tale as Davie tries to find his way back home.
Almond sets young Davie off an an odyssey through his hometown of Tyneside on a hot summer day. As he wanders, Davie thinks about his father, who has recently passed away. While walking, he is told that a boy has been murdered, and Davie heads to the place the body was found. It turns out to be a boy Davie knows, who was also the town bully, part of a gang. Davie decides he knows who probably killed the boy, and heads to a nearby hill, believing the murderer also headed that way. As he goes, he meets a variety of different townspeople, a dog, the girl he may grow up to love, and the spirit of his father. As Davie explore questions about life and what it means, and if love can help you though hard times and heartbreak. Needless to say, by the time he returns home at the end of the day, Davie is a changed person.
Davie’s odyssey is a metaphor for trying to find his place in the world now that his dad is gone, making this a true coming of age tale as Davie tries to find his way back home.
July 8, 2019
This novel is like a slow philosophical meditation on life, death, love and hate and the everyday miracle of the ordinary - 'the way that love can turn to hate, the way that life is overwhelmed by death and death by life, the way that light becomes the dark and dark the light.' The voice is dreamy, the observations of nature and place rich and raw, the setting an earlier era (50's 60's?) in the Tyneside with language befitting. Young Davie, who has recently lost his beloved father, sees the dead body of a local teen and sets off wandering over the hill, partly in search of the perceived perpetrator with the idea of bringing him back to face his fate, partly to be alone with his thoughts and his ghosts. It has an old fashioned feel to it and with little plot, centres on Davie's own emotional journey on who he is, how he fits in the Tyneside world, and coming to terms with the truth of what this means. I wondered if it was at least partly autobiographical. There is a lovely meta moment where Davie muses on just being words on a page. An intriguing read.
June 18, 2021
Ich bin sehr zwiegespalten nach Lesen des Buches.
Kennt ihr diese Coming of Age-Filme und Bücher, wo sich Personen auf eine Art Road Trip begeben, um am Ende zu sich selbst zu finden? Genau das liebe ich!
Ein finsterheller Tag beginnt erstmal recht merkwürdig und so ganz sympathisch wurde mir der gute Davie nie. Da ist ein Mord geschehen in seiner Kleinstadt und zufällig kennt er seinen Mörder. Oder war er es etwa doch nicht?
Der gute Davie trifft auf seinem Weg nette und auch skurille Persönlichkeiten, die ihm auf seiner Reise nach dem Mörder ein paar gute Tipps mit auf den Weg geben.
Sei es der Pfarrer, der beschließt aufgrund seiner Glaubensfrage nun doch kein Pfarrer zu sein oder Shona, das Mädchen, für das Davie schon mehr als nur Freundschaft empfindet.
Alles kam mir am Ende recht nichtssagend vor. Was ich echt schade fand, denn der Weg dorthin war schon mitunter spannend. Nur, was der Autor mir damit mitteilen wollte, wurde mir leider nicht so ganz ersichtlich.
Kinder ab 12 Jahre würde ich dieses Buch nicht empfehlen, da es schon einige sehr philosophische Züge mit sich bringt und vielleicht auch teilweise zu langweilig ist.
Mein Fazit
Leider war es nicht das Buch, was ich mir erhofft hatte zu lesen. Leider aber auch kein Buch, was mich in seinen Bann ziehen konnte.
Kennt ihr diese Coming of Age-Filme und Bücher, wo sich Personen auf eine Art Road Trip begeben, um am Ende zu sich selbst zu finden? Genau das liebe ich!
Ein finsterheller Tag beginnt erstmal recht merkwürdig und so ganz sympathisch wurde mir der gute Davie nie. Da ist ein Mord geschehen in seiner Kleinstadt und zufällig kennt er seinen Mörder. Oder war er es etwa doch nicht?
Der gute Davie trifft auf seinem Weg nette und auch skurille Persönlichkeiten, die ihm auf seiner Reise nach dem Mörder ein paar gute Tipps mit auf den Weg geben.
Sei es der Pfarrer, der beschließt aufgrund seiner Glaubensfrage nun doch kein Pfarrer zu sein oder Shona, das Mädchen, für das Davie schon mehr als nur Freundschaft empfindet.
Alles kam mir am Ende recht nichtssagend vor. Was ich echt schade fand, denn der Weg dorthin war schon mitunter spannend. Nur, was der Autor mir damit mitteilen wollte, wurde mir leider nicht so ganz ersichtlich.
Kinder ab 12 Jahre würde ich dieses Buch nicht empfehlen, da es schon einige sehr philosophische Züge mit sich bringt und vielleicht auch teilweise zu langweilig ist.
Mein Fazit
Leider war es nicht das Buch, was ich mir erhofft hatte zu lesen. Leider aber auch kein Buch, was mich in seinen Bann ziehen konnte.
April 5, 2019
Veel dialogen, korte zinnen, rare gesprekken, vreemde gedachten en de hele tijd een trage, lome warmte en gevoel van onrust. Wat een bijzonder boek. Jimmy Killen is vermoord en er dreigt een nieuwe familievete die vraagt om bloedwraak tussen de Killens en de Craigs. Want wie anders dan Zorro Craig kan Jimmy vermoord hebben? Want ze waren beiden verliefd op hetzelfde meisje... Terwijl Davie op zoek gaat naar Zorro ontdekt hij dat het leven wel iets ingewikkelder in elkaar zit.
Vanaf 12 jaar
Vanaf 12 jaar
December 1, 2023
It's just no.
I liked the plot but the way it was written was so bad for 98% of it, in my opinion. The way it was written with the slang and not just the dialogue was really infuriating and annoying to read. It isn't that I can't understand it, it's that it's just so ew in a 3rd person book. Speaking of, I prefer 1st person books at the moment so it already was hard to read.
Overall, has some issues but isn't the worst book in existence, it's just not for me.
I liked the plot but the way it was written was so bad for 98% of it, in my opinion. The way it was written with the slang and not just the dialogue was really infuriating and annoying to read. It isn't that I can't understand it, it's that it's just so ew in a 3rd person book. Speaking of, I prefer 1st person books at the moment so it already was hard to read.
Overall, has some issues but isn't the worst book in existence, it's just not for me.
October 8, 2018
Simply breathtaking storytelling. I was enthralled once again by the unique and beautiful voice of David Almond. It left me feeling like I’d just finished listening to the most exquisite piece of music ever.
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