What do you think?
Rate this book
The Lip
Away from the hotels and holiday lets, there is an unseen side of Cornwall, where the shifting uncertainties of the future breed resentment and mistrust.
Melody Janie is hidden. She lives alone in a caravan in Bones Break: a small cliff-top on Cornwall's north coast. She spends her time roaming her territory, spying on passing tourists and ramblers, and remembering. She sees everything and yet remains unseen.
However, when a stranger enters her life, she is forced to confront not only him but the terrible tragedies of her past.
The Lip is a novel about childhood, isolation and mental health, told in the unique and unforgettable voice of Melody Janie.
'All of this is Bones Break. All of this is mine.
I know every inch of it; I know it as intimately as the seagulls. I stand at dead-centre, my feet teetering on the edge of the lip. Below, the thundering tattoo of waves on rock. Wind catches the tips of my hair, lifting them above my ribs: less force than it takes to knock me down; enough to make me right myself with a step to the left, and then another back again. Here on the lip, it is vital to know where my feet are.'
Melody Janie is hidden. She lives alone in a caravan in Bones Break: a small cliff-top on Cornwall's north coast. She spends her time roaming her territory, spying on passing tourists and ramblers, and remembering. She sees everything and yet remains unseen.
However, when a stranger enters her life, she is forced to confront not only him but the terrible tragedies of her past.
The Lip is a novel about childhood, isolation and mental health, told in the unique and unforgettable voice of Melody Janie.
'All of this is Bones Break. All of this is mine.
I know every inch of it; I know it as intimately as the seagulls. I stand at dead-centre, my feet teetering on the edge of the lip. Below, the thundering tattoo of waves on rock. Wind catches the tips of my hair, lifting them above my ribs: less force than it takes to knock me down; enough to make me right myself with a step to the left, and then another back again. Here on the lip, it is vital to know where my feet are.'
384 pages, Hardcover
Published March 18, 2021
27 people are currently reading
507 people want to read
About the author
Charlie Carroll
4 books16 followersCharlie Carroll grew up in a small Cornish village. He left to study English and Philosophy at the University of Nottingham and, despite going on to live and travel in various countries around the world, always found himself returning to Cornwall. He is the author of one novel, The Lip (2021), and three non-fiction books: The Friendship Highway (2014), No Fixed Abode (2013) and On the Edge (2010). He has twice won the K Blundell Trust Award for 'writers under 40 who aim to raise social awareness with their writing', wrote the voice-over for the TV series Transamazonica (2017), and is one of the Kindness of Strangers storytellers.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
February 7, 2021
This is the story of nineteen year old Melody Janie Rowe, a loner, who is living in a caravan behind her father’s dilapidated ‘Cafy’ at Bones Break on the north Cornish coast. The Lip is a projecting cliff edge, then a sheer drop to a small inaccessible cove beneath. She spends her time on ‘her land’ hiding from ‘Emmets’ (non Cornish) and relishing the wonderful surroundings.
This is a beautifully written story which is almost poetic in places especially with reference to the Cornish coastline. It’s very visual writing too, you can see the cliffs, the undulating sea, the birds and the people. This slow burner powerful novel covers several relevant issues especially loneliness and mental health and does so with great sensitivity which in places is heartbreaking and moving. The storytelling is very intense in places and evokes a number of emotions. Melody Janie is extremely brave in her own way, she’s leaned independence and resilience, she’s isolated, a loner and she’s surviving the only way she knows how. In many respects she is lost and trapped in her memories, ensnared in a spiders web and can’t break free until she gets the help she desperately needs. The affinity she develops with Archie the labradoodle who has himself suffered prior to his current owner is deeply touching and moving. It’s almost like they see into each other’s souls. The passion for Cornwall, the fierceness of it’s independent spirit and balancing that with the impact and economic need for tourists attracted to this beautiful area comes across strongly. Melody’s desire to preserve its wild beauty comes from her father and you feel her near paranoia not to lose ‘her land’ to developers.
Overall, there is much to reflect on in this slow burner that builds to a powerful conclusion. It’s a compelling and original novel that is well worth reading.
4-5 stars.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to John Murray Press:Two Roads for the much appreciated arc for an honest review.
This is a beautifully written story which is almost poetic in places especially with reference to the Cornish coastline. It’s very visual writing too, you can see the cliffs, the undulating sea, the birds and the people. This slow burner powerful novel covers several relevant issues especially loneliness and mental health and does so with great sensitivity which in places is heartbreaking and moving. The storytelling is very intense in places and evokes a number of emotions. Melody Janie is extremely brave in her own way, she’s leaned independence and resilience, she’s isolated, a loner and she’s surviving the only way she knows how. In many respects she is lost and trapped in her memories, ensnared in a spiders web and can’t break free until she gets the help she desperately needs. The affinity she develops with Archie the labradoodle who has himself suffered prior to his current owner is deeply touching and moving. It’s almost like they see into each other’s souls. The passion for Cornwall, the fierceness of it’s independent spirit and balancing that with the impact and economic need for tourists attracted to this beautiful area comes across strongly. Melody’s desire to preserve its wild beauty comes from her father and you feel her near paranoia not to lose ‘her land’ to developers.
Overall, there is much to reflect on in this slow burner that builds to a powerful conclusion. It’s a compelling and original novel that is well worth reading.
4-5 stars.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to John Murray Press:Two Roads for the much appreciated arc for an honest review.
January 11, 2023
In brief - Heart wrenching. And I want to start reading it again! 4.5/5
In full
This is about Melody Janie, now in her late teens. She is living in a caravan near a beautiful, and somewhat wild, spot on the Cornish coast. She stays away from people as much as she can. She loves the part of the coast that she considers hers deeply. It is obvious early on that she has suffered some tragedies in her young life so far. She has one friend who visits her, Esther, but she has never met Melody in the caravan and doesn't know it exists. It is also clear that Melody does probably have some mental health issues. This is not the chocolate box version of Cornwall the holiday destination.
The story follows Melody Janie through a fairly short part of her life. It may be short but it is filled with events. Some of the narrative is in the present time however parts are reflections on her earlier life and that of her family.
Initially I found this intriguing however it was a little awkward to read. There are time shifts that have no signposting and I wasn't clear whether there was more than one narrator. You do need to know what "emmets" are too - being from the Westcountry that was fine with me! At times this is almost "stream of consciousness" writing but it felt appropriate. The more I read the more I wanted to read of Melody Janie's story.
Overall I found myself completely engaged with Melody Janie as a character. This was born out by the fact that towards the end my eyes started to water...! Tissues may be needed. There was a time when I thought I knew where this was going - it turned out I didn't and I was happy with that. This book manages to have beauty and poignancy as well as a simplicity too. It also made me laugh a time or two - frankly Dad's "mad spider dance" still makes me smile. The writing really is very good. I don't usually comment on the cover of books however I really did like this one.
Talking to Melody Janie her friend Esther says "how are you?" at one point and the answer is "unusual" which sums it up quite well. This will stay with me for quite a while. It's a powerful story of family, belonging, loss and other things too. 4.5/5 definitely.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
In full
This is about Melody Janie, now in her late teens. She is living in a caravan near a beautiful, and somewhat wild, spot on the Cornish coast. She stays away from people as much as she can. She loves the part of the coast that she considers hers deeply. It is obvious early on that she has suffered some tragedies in her young life so far. She has one friend who visits her, Esther, but she has never met Melody in the caravan and doesn't know it exists. It is also clear that Melody does probably have some mental health issues. This is not the chocolate box version of Cornwall the holiday destination.
The story follows Melody Janie through a fairly short part of her life. It may be short but it is filled with events. Some of the narrative is in the present time however parts are reflections on her earlier life and that of her family.
Initially I found this intriguing however it was a little awkward to read. There are time shifts that have no signposting and I wasn't clear whether there was more than one narrator. You do need to know what "emmets" are too - being from the Westcountry that was fine with me! At times this is almost "stream of consciousness" writing but it felt appropriate. The more I read the more I wanted to read of Melody Janie's story.
Overall I found myself completely engaged with Melody Janie as a character. This was born out by the fact that towards the end my eyes started to water...! Tissues may be needed. There was a time when I thought I knew where this was going - it turned out I didn't and I was happy with that. This book manages to have beauty and poignancy as well as a simplicity too. It also made me laugh a time or two - frankly Dad's "mad spider dance" still makes me smile. The writing really is very good. I don't usually comment on the cover of books however I really did like this one.
Talking to Melody Janie her friend Esther says "how are you?" at one point and the answer is "unusual" which sums it up quite well. This will stay with me for quite a while. It's a powerful story of family, belonging, loss and other things too. 4.5/5 definitely.
Note - I received an advance digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair review
January 3, 2022
Ow, Melody Janie, how I wish I could get my arms through the pages and give you a hug, a home, a room with a view on the coastline that you love so much.
A beautifully told story about childhood and bonds that will never break, friendship in all its forms, and how to cope with terrible loss. I could tell so much about this little gem, but I will refer to Yvonne's review who described it so much better than I ever would: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
What a terrific read to end the year !
A beautifully told story about childhood and bonds that will never break, friendship in all its forms, and how to cope with terrible loss. I could tell so much about this little gem, but I will refer to Yvonne's review who described it so much better than I ever would: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
What a terrific read to end the year !
November 30, 2021
“Let them visit, don’t let them stay”
Warning! Tissues will be required before you get to the end of this one!
That wistful cover art was the first thing which caught my eye, followed by the unique premise which held so much promise, written by a new to me author with such an intriguing biography – who could resist!
An exquisitely balanced, slow-burning, often lugubrious storyline, unfolded from the very first page and held me enthralled and trapped in its web of fragility until the very last word, when I emerged battered, bruised and almost broken, by Melody’s sad journey and final earth-shattering revelation, which in all honesty I never saw coming, even though I might have been one of the few who didn’t!
As this story featured few characters and covered such a small physical footprint, some fluently written, well structured, short chapters, which appeared almost seamless, kept everything focussed, very fluid and more importantly gave me those much needed short breathing spaces before continuing on my journey, without ever becoming disjointed or ‘clunky’. To expand further on the already cohesive premise, would be divulging far too many spoilers, so you really need to watch this immersive storyline unfold and play-out for yourself.
Multi layered, powerfully original in its concept, with an almost lyrical simplicity, yet hauntingly raw passion in its writing, The Lip offers a perceptive, poignant and beautifully nuanced journey, which explores the constantly changing frailty of the human mind; the destructive consequences of loneliness and isolation; the promise, power and redemptive qualities of family and friendship; tempered by the faint glimmer of recovery and hope for the future. This is a story about people clinging onto the edge with their fingertips, while all around them their world falls away.
A small cast of multi-faceted, wonderfully well drawn and defined characters, completely owned this storyline, with every word spoken and every action taken, being executed with careful consideration, an almost brutal yet naive honesty, and clear often compassionless thought for the consequences. Not easy to connect with or relate to, all searching for their own individual sense of belonging, totally unreliable, volatile and often manipulative, there is nonetheless a vulnerability and genuine authenticity about them, which makes them addictive and beguiling.
Narrated exclusively in the first person, by Melody Janie herself, who is often given to extremes of emotion and paranoia, her strength of passion and determination belie her perceived fragility of thought and reasoning. Protecting ‘her’ little corner of Cornwall from the Emmets (I have always used the word Grockle to mean the same thing), whilst waiting for her mother to return home, has been her all-consuming mission. The arrival of a stranger causes Melody extreme angst and distress, especially when she hears some disturbing information about the unwanted new guest to the area. Their forced relationship forms a pivotal part of the storyline and as their individual experiences are shared, they are each driven to the edge of both their physical and mental capacity to cope. They are destined to hurt one another, almost to the brink of destruction, before truth and honesty pull them back from the precipice and sow the seeds of new beginnings.
So powerful and intuitively skilled in the imagery of words and the depth, range and dimension they can add to a story, author Charlie Carroll has made the landscape of this small area of ‘off the beaten track’ Cornish coastline and its nearby villages, characters in their own right. Uncompromisingly, yet sympathetically and empathetically documented, the narrative delves deep into the consequences of social injustices caused by the current trend of ‘second home’ culture, which has all but destroyed the rural economy and home owning potential for the indigenous residents of the local community. As if to pour scorn on an already smouldering cauldron, severe storms causing coastal erosion and cliff landslips threaten Melody’s home and indeed her very life, although the purging and reshaping of the landscape acts as a catalyst for her reawakening and the small steps forward she must take, if she is to escape the long shadows caused by her mother’s ill health.
All the many reasons for which I read, were thrown out of the window, with the exception of ’emotion’, which oozed from the pages in copious quantities, threatening to overwhelm me at any moment. Reading this book definitely took me on a unique, personal and definitely not always comfortable journey, so I urge you to check out The Lip for yourself and see where your journey leads you!
To read my full review post, complete with extracts and author info. - visit...
https://www.fiction-books.biz/reviews...
Warning! Tissues will be required before you get to the end of this one!
That wistful cover art was the first thing which caught my eye, followed by the unique premise which held so much promise, written by a new to me author with such an intriguing biography – who could resist!
An exquisitely balanced, slow-burning, often lugubrious storyline, unfolded from the very first page and held me enthralled and trapped in its web of fragility until the very last word, when I emerged battered, bruised and almost broken, by Melody’s sad journey and final earth-shattering revelation, which in all honesty I never saw coming, even though I might have been one of the few who didn’t!
As this story featured few characters and covered such a small physical footprint, some fluently written, well structured, short chapters, which appeared almost seamless, kept everything focussed, very fluid and more importantly gave me those much needed short breathing spaces before continuing on my journey, without ever becoming disjointed or ‘clunky’. To expand further on the already cohesive premise, would be divulging far too many spoilers, so you really need to watch this immersive storyline unfold and play-out for yourself.
Multi layered, powerfully original in its concept, with an almost lyrical simplicity, yet hauntingly raw passion in its writing, The Lip offers a perceptive, poignant and beautifully nuanced journey, which explores the constantly changing frailty of the human mind; the destructive consequences of loneliness and isolation; the promise, power and redemptive qualities of family and friendship; tempered by the faint glimmer of recovery and hope for the future. This is a story about people clinging onto the edge with their fingertips, while all around them their world falls away.
A small cast of multi-faceted, wonderfully well drawn and defined characters, completely owned this storyline, with every word spoken and every action taken, being executed with careful consideration, an almost brutal yet naive honesty, and clear often compassionless thought for the consequences. Not easy to connect with or relate to, all searching for their own individual sense of belonging, totally unreliable, volatile and often manipulative, there is nonetheless a vulnerability and genuine authenticity about them, which makes them addictive and beguiling.
Narrated exclusively in the first person, by Melody Janie herself, who is often given to extremes of emotion and paranoia, her strength of passion and determination belie her perceived fragility of thought and reasoning. Protecting ‘her’ little corner of Cornwall from the Emmets (I have always used the word Grockle to mean the same thing), whilst waiting for her mother to return home, has been her all-consuming mission. The arrival of a stranger causes Melody extreme angst and distress, especially when she hears some disturbing information about the unwanted new guest to the area. Their forced relationship forms a pivotal part of the storyline and as their individual experiences are shared, they are each driven to the edge of both their physical and mental capacity to cope. They are destined to hurt one another, almost to the brink of destruction, before truth and honesty pull them back from the precipice and sow the seeds of new beginnings.
So powerful and intuitively skilled in the imagery of words and the depth, range and dimension they can add to a story, author Charlie Carroll has made the landscape of this small area of ‘off the beaten track’ Cornish coastline and its nearby villages, characters in their own right. Uncompromisingly, yet sympathetically and empathetically documented, the narrative delves deep into the consequences of social injustices caused by the current trend of ‘second home’ culture, which has all but destroyed the rural economy and home owning potential for the indigenous residents of the local community. As if to pour scorn on an already smouldering cauldron, severe storms causing coastal erosion and cliff landslips threaten Melody’s home and indeed her very life, although the purging and reshaping of the landscape acts as a catalyst for her reawakening and the small steps forward she must take, if she is to escape the long shadows caused by her mother’s ill health.
All the many reasons for which I read, were thrown out of the window, with the exception of ’emotion’, which oozed from the pages in copious quantities, threatening to overwhelm me at any moment. Reading this book definitely took me on a unique, personal and definitely not always comfortable journey, so I urge you to check out The Lip for yourself and see where your journey leads you!
To read my full review post, complete with extracts and author info. - visit...
https://www.fiction-books.biz/reviews...
February 21, 2021
This is one of those books that will stay with you for a long time, that’s if it doesn’t break you! I have read a couple of Carroll’s non fiction books and I found them very engaging, when I found out he was releasing his first novel I jumped at the chance of having a read. The first thing you spot is that incredible cover, wonderful colours and fantastic shapes, to me those swirls look like the landscape’s fingerprint. Next you check out the blurb and that gives nothing away, just how I like it, stepping into the unknown. What you find inside is one of the most incredible debut novels I have ever read, I was blown away by just how powerful the writing was and what an effect it had on me, as the big plot reveals started coming in I couldn’t help blurting out “F***!” a number of times.
The cast is very small, you have Melody Janie, a young woman, all on her own, having experienced tragedy in her life she has almost gone feral and spends her time protecting her land from outsiders, you have the stranger (so difficult not to give anything away) who comes into Melody’s life and turns it all on it’s head and you have the adorable Archie, every scene he is in brings joy to the pages. There is one more character worth a mention and that is the Cornish coastline, not really a character but it seems to come to life due to Melody’s bond with it. I reckon this is the first novel I’ve read since Wuthering Heights where the landscape is so essential to the plot, the area covered is very small but whilst reading this book it feels like that that is all there is.
The book has a lot of focus on mental health and it could easily have become overwhelming for the reader but it has been written with so much care and Melody has such a big heart it’s a book you’re guaranteed to fall in love with. You know you’ve read a great book when you have a heavy feeling in your stomach, I’ve got that right now and I’m gonna have to wait a day before I can pick up the next book. The first book of 2021 that I’ll be telling absolutely everybody to read.
Blog review: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2021...
The cast is very small, you have Melody Janie, a young woman, all on her own, having experienced tragedy in her life she has almost gone feral and spends her time protecting her land from outsiders, you have the stranger (so difficult not to give anything away) who comes into Melody’s life and turns it all on it’s head and you have the adorable Archie, every scene he is in brings joy to the pages. There is one more character worth a mention and that is the Cornish coastline, not really a character but it seems to come to life due to Melody’s bond with it. I reckon this is the first novel I’ve read since Wuthering Heights where the landscape is so essential to the plot, the area covered is very small but whilst reading this book it feels like that that is all there is.
The book has a lot of focus on mental health and it could easily have become overwhelming for the reader but it has been written with so much care and Melody has such a big heart it’s a book you’re guaranteed to fall in love with. You know you’ve read a great book when you have a heavy feeling in your stomach, I’ve got that right now and I’m gonna have to wait a day before I can pick up the next book. The first book of 2021 that I’ll be telling absolutely everybody to read.
Blog review: https://felcherman.wordpress.com/2021...
February 3, 2021
Melody Janie is adrift. Unmoored by recent tragic events in her life, she spends all her time alone on the cliffs at Bones Break on the Cornish north coast. She hides in the bracken and brambles, a voyeur, eavesdropping on the chattering hikers and campers. Her instinct is to drive them from the land she belongs to and loves, to protect it from them.
One day she accidentally runs into one of these tourists out walking his dog and has a rare conversation. He appears to be as guarded as she is herself, compelling her to find out more about him. In doing so, she begins to confront and process her own memories.
Melody Janie's isn't the Cornwall of the Eden Project, picturesque harbours, golden sands and crystal blue seas. This is the other Cornwall, the one the tourists don't often see - the gig economy Cornwall of poverty, rural isolation and deprivation, the Cornwall of slate grey seas and sideways rain, of land once scarred by mining now scarred by the glass and chrome of million pound homes. Her family run a cafe near Bones Break, and they have the love hate relationship with tourism familiar to many who live and work in the county today.
At first she is a hard one to grasp and understand. A virtual loner, she is elemental and spiky, but also naive and childlike. But as the story progresses we learn of the mental health issues that dogged her mother and the events she has had to deal with at such a young age. Her character unfurls, and with it, our sympathy.
The Lip is a heartbreaking story of isolation and loss, of a family fractured by tragedy and a young woman learning how to cope, that has its feet firmly rooted in the Cornish soil.
One day she accidentally runs into one of these tourists out walking his dog and has a rare conversation. He appears to be as guarded as she is herself, compelling her to find out more about him. In doing so, she begins to confront and process her own memories.
Melody Janie's isn't the Cornwall of the Eden Project, picturesque harbours, golden sands and crystal blue seas. This is the other Cornwall, the one the tourists don't often see - the gig economy Cornwall of poverty, rural isolation and deprivation, the Cornwall of slate grey seas and sideways rain, of land once scarred by mining now scarred by the glass and chrome of million pound homes. Her family run a cafe near Bones Break, and they have the love hate relationship with tourism familiar to many who live and work in the county today.
At first she is a hard one to grasp and understand. A virtual loner, she is elemental and spiky, but also naive and childlike. But as the story progresses we learn of the mental health issues that dogged her mother and the events she has had to deal with at such a young age. Her character unfurls, and with it, our sympathy.
The Lip is a heartbreaking story of isolation and loss, of a family fractured by tragedy and a young woman learning how to cope, that has its feet firmly rooted in the Cornish soil.
June 16, 2021
Cornwall for the visitor is a place of sunshine and cream teas, beautiful beaches and dramatic cliffs. For those that still live there is a very different story, poverty, low paid casual work and an uncertain future.
Melody Janie is one of those locals, she is alone now after a series of family tragedies and she is living in a caravan hidden in woodland in Bones Break, near a small cliff top in north Cornwall. She trusts no one and spends her days walking her territory watching the tourists or emmets and they pass through.
She starts to see one newcomer to the area more frequently walk across what she considers her land. She hides from him initially and just observes what he is doing. But comes the time when they cross each others paths. His dog, Archie, seems to like her and they start to interact a little, but both not trusting each other. Like her, he has secrets that he is hiding from and is surprised that she doesn’t recognise him at all, but then she rarely reads the papers and has not had a phone for the past few years and is unaware of anything going on in the news.
One person from school who wants to see her again is Esther; she is at university in Bristol but is back regularly. She finds Melody Janie is remote and disturbed by all sorts of things happening around her. Esther recognises who the guy is that she has been talking to and recommends that she never sees him again…
It is difficult to reveal much more about the book without spoiling it. Safe to say that this is a fast-paced family drama centred around the character of Melody Janie. It deals with many social issues, from the influx of wealthy second homeowners to an area and how the locals resent this as the places they once could afford suddenly become out of reach. But it is also a story about mental health, how people are affected by events and how we need that one person to be there through everything. It is a little bleak, but then Carroll has managed to envelop lots of issues and social commentary in the story that rarely gets spoken about. Not one of your happy Cornish stories, but still a solid, well thought through plot.
Melody Janie is one of those locals, she is alone now after a series of family tragedies and she is living in a caravan hidden in woodland in Bones Break, near a small cliff top in north Cornwall. She trusts no one and spends her days walking her territory watching the tourists or emmets and they pass through.
She starts to see one newcomer to the area more frequently walk across what she considers her land. She hides from him initially and just observes what he is doing. But comes the time when they cross each others paths. His dog, Archie, seems to like her and they start to interact a little, but both not trusting each other. Like her, he has secrets that he is hiding from and is surprised that she doesn’t recognise him at all, but then she rarely reads the papers and has not had a phone for the past few years and is unaware of anything going on in the news.
One person from school who wants to see her again is Esther; she is at university in Bristol but is back regularly. She finds Melody Janie is remote and disturbed by all sorts of things happening around her. Esther recognises who the guy is that she has been talking to and recommends that she never sees him again…
It is difficult to reveal much more about the book without spoiling it. Safe to say that this is a fast-paced family drama centred around the character of Melody Janie. It deals with many social issues, from the influx of wealthy second homeowners to an area and how the locals resent this as the places they once could afford suddenly become out of reach. But it is also a story about mental health, how people are affected by events and how we need that one person to be there through everything. It is a little bleak, but then Carroll has managed to envelop lots of issues and social commentary in the story that rarely gets spoken about. Not one of your happy Cornish stories, but still a solid, well thought through plot.
April 11, 2021
Melody Janie is hidden. Isolated. Alone.
And she likes it that way.
Melody lives alone in an old and run-down caravan in Bones Break: a tiny cliff-top on the remote outskirts of Cornwall’s north coast and she is more than happy to be left in peace where she can be herself.
Her days are filled with roaming around places that she claims as her own, and living out days long gone in the now disused and derelict cafe that her family owned but now it is only Melody who wanders and haunts within its dilapidated walls.
Spying on tourists, spiting them for ruining her life so many years ago and remembering events gone by, until one day a stranger arrives and she is left with no choice but to confront this new figure but also finally come face to face with the ghosts of her past and admit to what happened to her parents, and to her little sister which all seemed like a life time ago.
Melody cannot, will not recall the demons of her tragic past. She surely isn’t strong enough to finally say out loud the events which took place so many years ago. Her father taken from her much too soon, her mother in and out of their lives, and her little sister who only wants to help.
But not all is what it seems as Melody starts to slowly see things just for what they really are and maybe she can own up to those tragic events which shaped her forever and perhaps find a way to move on.
This novel shines much needed light on the very real struggle many people face with their mental health, isolation, and never feeling good enough. Tragic, bleak, and poignant this is a must-read.
And she likes it that way.
Melody lives alone in an old and run-down caravan in Bones Break: a tiny cliff-top on the remote outskirts of Cornwall’s north coast and she is more than happy to be left in peace where she can be herself.
Her days are filled with roaming around places that she claims as her own, and living out days long gone in the now disused and derelict cafe that her family owned but now it is only Melody who wanders and haunts within its dilapidated walls.
Spying on tourists, spiting them for ruining her life so many years ago and remembering events gone by, until one day a stranger arrives and she is left with no choice but to confront this new figure but also finally come face to face with the ghosts of her past and admit to what happened to her parents, and to her little sister which all seemed like a life time ago.
Melody cannot, will not recall the demons of her tragic past. She surely isn’t strong enough to finally say out loud the events which took place so many years ago. Her father taken from her much too soon, her mother in and out of their lives, and her little sister who only wants to help.
But not all is what it seems as Melody starts to slowly see things just for what they really are and maybe she can own up to those tragic events which shaped her forever and perhaps find a way to move on.
This novel shines much needed light on the very real struggle many people face with their mental health, isolation, and never feeling good enough. Tragic, bleak, and poignant this is a must-read.
July 9, 2021
On an isolated part of the Cornish cliff side there is a small cafe where Melody Janie works and hidden not far behind it is the craven where she lives. Life has been harsh to her for a while, so she walks along the cliff path spying on ramblers and tourists. One day she meets a dog and his owner and an uneasy friendship begins.
This is the Cornwall away from the holiday spots and picture perfect scenes. Instead this book questions the problems of reliance on tourism and second home owners, isolation and mental health and resentment all tied up together. It's an interesting view and you question Melody Janie's perspective as a reliable narrator.
This is the Cornwall away from the holiday spots and picture perfect scenes. Instead this book questions the problems of reliance on tourism and second home owners, isolation and mental health and resentment all tied up together. It's an interesting view and you question Melody Janie's perspective as a reliable narrator.
January 10, 2021
A book that will stay with me for a while I think.
About loneliness,and secrets,mental health struggles.
All set against a stunning backdrop that's falling apart.
Being isolated and afraid to ask for help.
Its unbelievably sad in parts,and really pulled on my heart strings.
Yet,theres also hope,people who will keep reaching out,and will be there.
Beautifully done.
About loneliness,and secrets,mental health struggles.
All set against a stunning backdrop that's falling apart.
Being isolated and afraid to ask for help.
Its unbelievably sad in parts,and really pulled on my heart strings.
Yet,theres also hope,people who will keep reaching out,and will be there.
Beautifully done.
July 2, 2022
Setting: Cornwall, UK.
Melody Janie lives in a caravan in woods near her mother's clifftop cafe, The Cafy, where she mounts a vigil to protect 'her land' from any possible depredation by the 'emmets' (tourists) who she sees as the scourge of Cornwall. Melody Janie is 19 years old but has suffered the traumas of her father being killed in a road accident, her mentally-ill mother 'disappearing' and witnessing her little sister Lucy committing suicide by jumping off the nearby cliff, The Lip. As she waits for her mother to return, she looks after The Cafy (even though it is not open) and takes pride in the gorgeous scenery around her.
Things start to change when she encounters an 'emmet' who goes by the name of Richard Brown. Melody Janie is more drawn to Richard's rescue dog, Archie, than to Richard - and the feeling is mutual. But Richard is very reluctant to talk about himself - for reasons that later become apparent. At the same time, end of season storms are causing coastal erosion of Melody Jaine's beloved cliffs. As these situations develop and Melody continues to wait for her mum to return, she is forced to re-evaluate all that she holds dear....
I have been looking forward to reading this book for a while but waited until I was actually on holiday in my beloved Cornwall to do so - which, for me, made the reading more relevant and enjoyable.
I can really appreciate the resentment expressed by the various characters in relation to the way tourists have so changed the landscape of Cornwall - and largely not for the better - yet, at the same time, 'needing' the tourists in order to make any sort of living after their mining and fishing industries have been decimated. Not a lot that we as individuals can do about that but it was certainly well-expressed by the author through his characters!
The story itself, together with the setting and characters, was a great read with a couple of unforeseen twists as it developed. An excellent debut novel from this author and I look forward to more from him in the same vein - 9/10.
Melody Janie lives in a caravan in woods near her mother's clifftop cafe, The Cafy, where she mounts a vigil to protect 'her land' from any possible depredation by the 'emmets' (tourists) who she sees as the scourge of Cornwall. Melody Janie is 19 years old but has suffered the traumas of her father being killed in a road accident, her mentally-ill mother 'disappearing' and witnessing her little sister Lucy committing suicide by jumping off the nearby cliff, The Lip. As she waits for her mother to return, she looks after The Cafy (even though it is not open) and takes pride in the gorgeous scenery around her.
Things start to change when she encounters an 'emmet' who goes by the name of Richard Brown. Melody Janie is more drawn to Richard's rescue dog, Archie, than to Richard - and the feeling is mutual. But Richard is very reluctant to talk about himself - for reasons that later become apparent. At the same time, end of season storms are causing coastal erosion of Melody Jaine's beloved cliffs. As these situations develop and Melody continues to wait for her mum to return, she is forced to re-evaluate all that she holds dear....
I have been looking forward to reading this book for a while but waited until I was actually on holiday in my beloved Cornwall to do so - which, for me, made the reading more relevant and enjoyable.
I can really appreciate the resentment expressed by the various characters in relation to the way tourists have so changed the landscape of Cornwall - and largely not for the better - yet, at the same time, 'needing' the tourists in order to make any sort of living after their mining and fishing industries have been decimated. Not a lot that we as individuals can do about that but it was certainly well-expressed by the author through his characters!
The story itself, together with the setting and characters, was a great read with a couple of unforeseen twists as it developed. An excellent debut novel from this author and I look forward to more from him in the same vein - 9/10.
August 28, 2022
This book seems to have predominantly rave reviews on here, but I didn't enjoy it. Although Melody Janie has experienced two tragic losses, I found her almost impossible to sympathise with. She's near-feral and has an extremely hostile opinion of the tourists who come to "her" land. She barely washes, eats the canned supplies from her family's café (which has fridges full of rotting meat), and spies on people from various hiding spaces around the cliffs. The writing was meant to convey a sense of mystery, but it just irritated me, and the twists were predictable. It also annoyed me that the author describes a meal MJ (can't retype that stupid name) makes for herself twice and then says, "and then she ate her breakfast" or "and then she ate her dinner." Pot noodle for breakfast isn't that shocking. So I didn't care about the character. The descriptions of birds and the sea and the cliff were slightly better than the rest of the book, but overall not a good book for me.
May 26, 2022
Touching story of 19 year old loner Melody Janie who lives alone on the North Cornish coast, watching over her land following the death of her parents.
This was possibly enhanced by the fact I read it while on the coast in which the book is set. Being on the Cornish cliffs in the landscape which is so central this story certainly adds something to it but that’s not to take away from this touching and powerful tale which unashamedly made me feel emotional more than once.
I near enough read this in one sitting, it’s a heartfelt study of human behaviour. It’s about not treating everything as it seems, the power of friendship and loss.
This was possibly enhanced by the fact I read it while on the coast in which the book is set. Being on the Cornish cliffs in the landscape which is so central this story certainly adds something to it but that’s not to take away from this touching and powerful tale which unashamedly made me feel emotional more than once.
I near enough read this in one sitting, it’s a heartfelt study of human behaviour. It’s about not treating everything as it seems, the power of friendship and loss.
March 27, 2021
Not sure what to say about this book other than, Wow. The twists, turns, heartbreak & insight into mental health, judgemental behaviour & about other peoples' heartache. Above all, friendship. Can't think of another book I've been so engrossed in.
I'm tempted to start it again because I'm certain there'll be things I noticed the second time round that I missed the first.
I'm tempted to start it again because I'm certain there'll be things I noticed the second time round that I missed the first.
March 18, 2021
Melody Janie lives all alone in a caravan on the edge of the Cornish Cliffs - her beloved kingdom of Bones Break. Fate has not been kind to Melody, and she prefers to keep herself very much apart from other people, especially the tourists who invade her privacy. She normally spends her time watching them from afar and spying on their movements, but with no wish to know them better.
But when a stranger intrudes on her little corner of heaven, Melody is forced to take action and challenge him about his act of trespass on 'her land', and in doing so she is forced to confront the truth about her own past at the same time.
The Lip is an outstanding novel, set in a Cornwall that is somewhat different to the one we generally read about. No romantic, windswept happenings for our author Charlie Carroll here, although the vistas may indeed be beautiful. Instead this is a book about people clinging onto the edge with their fingertips while all around them their world falls away, and it's a theme Carroll injects into his novel in more ways than one.
Melody Janie quite literally lives in the edge of the cliffs, which are eroding under her at an alarming rate, but she is also on the edge of the local community, preferring solitude over mixing with those that know her story (or think they do), and both of these circumstances are products of the tragedies of her childhood. Her world has shrunk to the confines of Bones Break and she lives only to protect the last vestiges of her mother's dream and uphold the custodianship imbued in her by her father.
Charlie Carroll also uses this book to give us brilliant insight into the hidden side of Cornwall. Beneath the picture-postcard scenes, Cornwall is one of the poorest areas of the UK, and has a very uncomfortable relationship with the tourists and second homers that are attracted here by its beauty and clement weather. As traditional ways of life have disappeared, Cornwall needs the money tourism brings, but the proliferation of holiday lets and the demand for bolt-holes from the rat-race has priced many locals out of the housing market, especially the young, and tensions understandably run high. How long can the real Cornwall cling on?
The Lip allows us to see both the beauty and the beastly sides of Cornish life through Melody Janie's eyes, which is really rather clever, and her story allows Carroll to bring in a whole raft of themes in the telling too - childhood, unresolved trauma, isolation and the pressure of modern life all there for us to examine in their dark glory - and oh boy, does he pull off a wonderful sleight of hand in misdirecting us in terms of what we think we know about Melody Janie's story. Bravo, Mr Carroll!
The Lip was an absolute delight for me, and far more of an emotional journey that I was expecting. It took me to some pretty raw and uncompromising places, but along with the darkness, this is also a tale that encompasses the beauty of friendship found in unexpected places, taking a chance, and coming to terms with what life has thrown at us. When the world falls away from under our feet, we do not always have to sink down into the depths - an ending can also be a beginning, and the ending of this book is one that will touch you to the very core. I loved it!
But when a stranger intrudes on her little corner of heaven, Melody is forced to take action and challenge him about his act of trespass on 'her land', and in doing so she is forced to confront the truth about her own past at the same time.
The Lip is an outstanding novel, set in a Cornwall that is somewhat different to the one we generally read about. No romantic, windswept happenings for our author Charlie Carroll here, although the vistas may indeed be beautiful. Instead this is a book about people clinging onto the edge with their fingertips while all around them their world falls away, and it's a theme Carroll injects into his novel in more ways than one.
Melody Janie quite literally lives in the edge of the cliffs, which are eroding under her at an alarming rate, but she is also on the edge of the local community, preferring solitude over mixing with those that know her story (or think they do), and both of these circumstances are products of the tragedies of her childhood. Her world has shrunk to the confines of Bones Break and she lives only to protect the last vestiges of her mother's dream and uphold the custodianship imbued in her by her father.
Charlie Carroll also uses this book to give us brilliant insight into the hidden side of Cornwall. Beneath the picture-postcard scenes, Cornwall is one of the poorest areas of the UK, and has a very uncomfortable relationship with the tourists and second homers that are attracted here by its beauty and clement weather. As traditional ways of life have disappeared, Cornwall needs the money tourism brings, but the proliferation of holiday lets and the demand for bolt-holes from the rat-race has priced many locals out of the housing market, especially the young, and tensions understandably run high. How long can the real Cornwall cling on?
The Lip allows us to see both the beauty and the beastly sides of Cornish life through Melody Janie's eyes, which is really rather clever, and her story allows Carroll to bring in a whole raft of themes in the telling too - childhood, unresolved trauma, isolation and the pressure of modern life all there for us to examine in their dark glory - and oh boy, does he pull off a wonderful sleight of hand in misdirecting us in terms of what we think we know about Melody Janie's story. Bravo, Mr Carroll!
The Lip was an absolute delight for me, and far more of an emotional journey that I was expecting. It took me to some pretty raw and uncompromising places, but along with the darkness, this is also a tale that encompasses the beauty of friendship found in unexpected places, taking a chance, and coming to terms with what life has thrown at us. When the world falls away from under our feet, we do not always have to sink down into the depths - an ending can also be a beginning, and the ending of this book is one that will touch you to the very core. I loved it!
May 28, 2021
2.5 stars
Some books are a pleasure to read, not necessarily because of the plot, but because of the voice and writing style. For me, this is definitely not one of those books. I bought the book for its Cornwall setting, but neither the subject matter nor the writing style brought me pleasure. It's an easy enough read in terms of the language and short chapters, but I had to force myself through it. I found the subject matter quite grim, to be honest, but the grimness wasn't totally the problem. I just couldn't really believe in it.
I was interested in what I thought was the premise: a 19 year old girl wants to protect her patch of Cornish coastline from the encroachment of tourists (she refers to them as 'emmets'). It's a big issue in Cornwall, the poorest county in England. On one hand, the economy depends on tourism, but the pressures of tourism brings plenty of problems, too. Second home owners (absentee for much of the year) drive the property prices up so locals cannot afford housing - an issue that is touched on in the book, although that hasn't been the case for Melody Janie's family. (They own a house, a caravan and a cafe.) Tourists come for the beautiful natural landscape, but then they clutter it up in both senses of the word. They despoil it. Melody Janie's family have made their living running a cafe (the Cafy) for the benefit of tourists - mostly walkers on the coastal path - but for Melody Janie, at least, their customers represent a threat to her privacy.
I am interested in this problem, but it's actually just a side-note in the book. Indeed, it's almost a red herring - or at least a dead end. The real issue in the book is mental illness. At the very beginning of the book we learn that Melodie Janie is alone. She has an uneasy 'friendship' with another loner - a somewhat dubious character with a sweet dog - but except for the occasional visits from an old school friend, she is alone. The plot of the book gradually unravels the mystery of what has happened to Melodie Jane's family. To say much more would spoil the plot, but it turns out that Melodie Jane is not the most reliable of narrators.
The portrayal of mental illness in this book may be very well-done, but as mentioned before, I had a lot of trouble believing in the characters. There was something about the heaping of tragedies that I found very wearisome, although it wasn't nearly as intense as, say, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, and I found that book very affecting. Perhaps my mood has been more to blame than the book, but it was certainly a flat reading experience for me..
Some books are a pleasure to read, not necessarily because of the plot, but because of the voice and writing style. For me, this is definitely not one of those books. I bought the book for its Cornwall setting, but neither the subject matter nor the writing style brought me pleasure. It's an easy enough read in terms of the language and short chapters, but I had to force myself through it. I found the subject matter quite grim, to be honest, but the grimness wasn't totally the problem. I just couldn't really believe in it.
I was interested in what I thought was the premise: a 19 year old girl wants to protect her patch of Cornish coastline from the encroachment of tourists (she refers to them as 'emmets'). It's a big issue in Cornwall, the poorest county in England. On one hand, the economy depends on tourism, but the pressures of tourism brings plenty of problems, too. Second home owners (absentee for much of the year) drive the property prices up so locals cannot afford housing - an issue that is touched on in the book, although that hasn't been the case for Melody Janie's family. (They own a house, a caravan and a cafe.) Tourists come for the beautiful natural landscape, but then they clutter it up in both senses of the word. They despoil it. Melody Janie's family have made their living running a cafe (the Cafy) for the benefit of tourists - mostly walkers on the coastal path - but for Melody Janie, at least, their customers represent a threat to her privacy.
I am interested in this problem, but it's actually just a side-note in the book. Indeed, it's almost a red herring - or at least a dead end. The real issue in the book is mental illness. At the very beginning of the book we learn that Melodie Janie is alone. She has an uneasy 'friendship' with another loner - a somewhat dubious character with a sweet dog - but except for the occasional visits from an old school friend, she is alone. The plot of the book gradually unravels the mystery of what has happened to Melodie Jane's family. To say much more would spoil the plot, but it turns out that Melodie Jane is not the most reliable of narrators.
The portrayal of mental illness in this book may be very well-done, but as mentioned before, I had a lot of trouble believing in the characters. There was something about the heaping of tragedies that I found very wearisome, although it wasn't nearly as intense as, say, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, and I found that book very affecting. Perhaps my mood has been more to blame than the book, but it was certainly a flat reading experience for me..
May 20, 2021
Ok So I am going to write this review before i Consider what my rating should be.
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review and am grateful to Netgalley for the opportunity to read it. I was attracted to this book more by the setting than anything else - I have walked half of the 650 odd miles of the South West Coast Path and was intrigued by a fiction book set in that area.
I find when considering what to say that anything I sat about the plot line will necessarily ruin the book for other reader. It is impossible to give an idea of where the narrative goes without giving away the unknowns.
The book is, in my view more character than narrative driven. There is a real emphasis on the thoughts and feelings, the events and people that have brought our characters to the edge they are not teetering on. There is also a very limited cast of character so everything essentially centres around Melody Janie (an awful name IMO but i will admit you won't forget it). I struggled with the book for almost all of the first half - here i was reading a book about a dysfunctional MC with no real sense of where it was all going. However as the book progresses Melody Janie's interactions with others increase and a story begins to emerge. It is only at that point that I realised how clever the author had been. I had no idea where he was going and the way he led me to the next steps in the narrative was exquisite.
I cannot give it 5 stars - there were too many moments when I thought it was not worth continuing. It deserves much more than a blah 3 stars a rating in my mind which means it was Ok but nothing special) So it is firmly in the 4 Star realm
I will look out for more from this author who is new to me
I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review and am grateful to Netgalley for the opportunity to read it. I was attracted to this book more by the setting than anything else - I have walked half of the 650 odd miles of the South West Coast Path and was intrigued by a fiction book set in that area.
I find when considering what to say that anything I sat about the plot line will necessarily ruin the book for other reader. It is impossible to give an idea of where the narrative goes without giving away the unknowns.
The book is, in my view more character than narrative driven. There is a real emphasis on the thoughts and feelings, the events and people that have brought our characters to the edge they are not teetering on. There is also a very limited cast of character so everything essentially centres around Melody Janie (an awful name IMO but i will admit you won't forget it). I struggled with the book for almost all of the first half - here i was reading a book about a dysfunctional MC with no real sense of where it was all going. However as the book progresses Melody Janie's interactions with others increase and a story begins to emerge. It is only at that point that I realised how clever the author had been. I had no idea where he was going and the way he led me to the next steps in the narrative was exquisite.
I cannot give it 5 stars - there were too many moments when I thought it was not worth continuing. It deserves much more than a blah 3 stars a rating in my mind which means it was Ok but nothing special) So it is firmly in the 4 Star realm
I will look out for more from this author who is new to me
June 1, 2021
The book follows the story of Melody-Janie who lives alone along the south west coast path in a caravan she calls home. As the story unfolds you begin to understand why she is there and why she is alone. Her life is an existence, punctuated only by memories and breathtaking scenery.
She meets a man who helps her to understand what has gone on and a plot twist near the end makes you realise how difficult her life had become before she was alone.
A good read, although up until half way I had no idea where the story was going, so stick with it.
A book that has mental ill health at its heart, and shows how loved ones can be affected by tragedy.
She meets a man who helps her to understand what has gone on and a plot twist near the end makes you realise how difficult her life had become before she was alone.
A good read, although up until half way I had no idea where the story was going, so stick with it.
A book that has mental ill health at its heart, and shows how loved ones can be affected by tragedy.
March 6, 2021
The Lip is a unique, delicate debut.
A sorrowful yet beautiful tale with a broken yet heartening protagonist.
Covering the subjects of mental health, family, grief and loss. Charlie writes in a way that is sensitive and gentle.
Each chapter infused with intricate details.
This is a story that paints an unexpected but poignant picture of Cornwall. I felt like I could actually be there.
Filled with unanticipated emotion, by the end I felt strangely at peace.
I feel as though reading this book should be compulsory
A sorrowful yet beautiful tale with a broken yet heartening protagonist.
Covering the subjects of mental health, family, grief and loss. Charlie writes in a way that is sensitive and gentle.
Each chapter infused with intricate details.
This is a story that paints an unexpected but poignant picture of Cornwall. I felt like I could actually be there.
Filled with unanticipated emotion, by the end I felt strangely at peace.
I feel as though reading this book should be compulsory
March 18, 2021
I loved this so much. The writing is really beautiful , it’s an addictive and well paced read, it’s written so well, as it focuses a lot on mental health which could be overwhelming, but it’s not at all due to the great authors style and the characters arcs, I especially loved the message about the healing power of friendship. A really emotional and powerful read, highly recommended
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion
May 9, 2021
This novel dealt with some very important topics namely mental ill-health and the long lasting effects on the family, loneliness, isolation and the sense of belonging. I thought the author dealt with them in a sensitive way making a good story which had twists and surprises.
July 5, 2021
This is a dark tale.
One of loss and the madness that grief can bring.
It’s a tale of kindnesses, friendship, prejudice, fear and cruelty.
It’s a tale of mental illness and how that impacts on a small family.
Meanwhile , the main love story is that of this Wild Coastline, the shifting tides and how it shapes Melody Janie…
I LOVE this book!
One of loss and the madness that grief can bring.
It’s a tale of kindnesses, friendship, prejudice, fear and cruelty.
It’s a tale of mental illness and how that impacts on a small family.
Meanwhile , the main love story is that of this Wild Coastline, the shifting tides and how it shapes Melody Janie…
I LOVE this book!
September 16, 2021
I don't really know what to say about this. A 19 years old girl lives in an isolated caravan in Cornwall. As the tale unfolds, mostly from looking backwards to the past, we are presented with mental illness, loss of Cornish industries and the rise of tourism, media pressure and influence and a love of home and the countryside. Disturbing to read, but a good glimpse into the lives of others.
May 25, 2024
An engaging read - likeable protagonist and stunning descriptions of the Cornish coastline with a page turning and tragic story.
Towards the end I literally jaw dropped- iykyk
A definite 4.5/5
Towards the end I literally jaw dropped- iykyk
A definite 4.5/5
December 21, 2021
Two weeks after I’ve finished reading this book, I still find myself thinking sometimes of Melody Janie, wondering how she is... Yes, I know she is a fictional character, however, Charlie Carroll has a special way of making words bring her to life and, at least for me, she is out there, living her life, taking chances, making friends.
Melody Janie lives by herself in a caravan and spends her days on what she calls „my land”, Bones Break, Cornwall, which spreads from the coast path signpost, to the eastern headland, where the lip forms the boundary of „her” land, „outwards, but not downwards”, as it includes a part of the Atlantic below, where the „lonely Gull Rock [...] stands out tall and serene”, and then „the field of untamed grass” circles the Cafy before it „streams” towards the woods. This land, „her” land, Melody Janie vouched to guard and preserve, so it can never be changed or taken over by the „emmets”, whom she spies on and does her best to scare away, whenever they seem to want to stay more than they’re welcome.
The lip, the zawn below, her pocket hideaway and the shelf on the cliff she uses for spying on tourists, the Cafy and her caravan in the woods are the world she knows, loves and thinks she needs to protect, while metaphorically protecting and re-living the happy memories of her life connected to all of these landmarks. But as she eventually faces the truth and accepts it, and as she realizes what and who is really valuable in her life, the imaginary walls she built around her for protection crumble and crash into the waves, making way to new opportunities, new life, new people and, why not, new adventures.
Charlie Carroll majestically introduces us to the world, life and thoughts of Melody Janie and as I mentally listened to her voice telling the story and describing „her” land, I always had the sensation I was there, next to her, hearing her voice rising and lowering just like the ocean waves.
This is a heartwarming novel about coping, mourning, finding oneself, communion with nature, friendship and courage to rise from the ashes or, in this case, from storms, crumbles and the ocean waves.
Although it doesn’t depict the touristic side of Cornwall, the novel still made me want to visit and take in the beauty of the Atlantic coast. It is a novel I definitely recommend it and I do believe it deserves to be translated for those not reading in English. I can’t wait for a new Charlie Carroll novel and I hope we will get to read another one soon.
Melody Janie lives by herself in a caravan and spends her days on what she calls „my land”, Bones Break, Cornwall, which spreads from the coast path signpost, to the eastern headland, where the lip forms the boundary of „her” land, „outwards, but not downwards”, as it includes a part of the Atlantic below, where the „lonely Gull Rock [...] stands out tall and serene”, and then „the field of untamed grass” circles the Cafy before it „streams” towards the woods. This land, „her” land, Melody Janie vouched to guard and preserve, so it can never be changed or taken over by the „emmets”, whom she spies on and does her best to scare away, whenever they seem to want to stay more than they’re welcome.
The lip, the zawn below, her pocket hideaway and the shelf on the cliff she uses for spying on tourists, the Cafy and her caravan in the woods are the world she knows, loves and thinks she needs to protect, while metaphorically protecting and re-living the happy memories of her life connected to all of these landmarks. But as she eventually faces the truth and accepts it, and as she realizes what and who is really valuable in her life, the imaginary walls she built around her for protection crumble and crash into the waves, making way to new opportunities, new life, new people and, why not, new adventures.
Charlie Carroll majestically introduces us to the world, life and thoughts of Melody Janie and as I mentally listened to her voice telling the story and describing „her” land, I always had the sensation I was there, next to her, hearing her voice rising and lowering just like the ocean waves.
This is a heartwarming novel about coping, mourning, finding oneself, communion with nature, friendship and courage to rise from the ashes or, in this case, from storms, crumbles and the ocean waves.
Although it doesn’t depict the touristic side of Cornwall, the novel still made me want to visit and take in the beauty of the Atlantic coast. It is a novel I definitely recommend it and I do believe it deserves to be translated for those not reading in English. I can’t wait for a new Charlie Carroll novel and I hope we will get to read another one soon.
March 21, 2021
Don’t judge a book by its cover, they say, but the moment I saw ‘The Lip’ by Charlie Carroll, I fell in love with its breathtaking beauty and knew I wanted to read it.
“I have often wondered what she thought of in those last moments. I like to believe that if she thought of anything, it was of my land, of the overwhelming beauty of it from the lip. And then I hope she thought of nothing at all. Because there is peace in that.” (p.1)
This is the story of Melody Janie who, due to recently tragedies, lives alone in the safe haven of her little caravan on a remote stretch of her beloved Cornish coast, Bones Break. Resentful of the tourists who invade “her land”, she is not only unwelcoming, but actively tries to discourage them from staying and/or returning. When a stranger moves into a nearby empty cottage she is forced to confront what lies beneath the surface of her precariously constructed life as well as trying to unearth the stranger’s secrets too.
Most of the chapters in ‘The Lip’ are short, a few pages at most, a lot of the sentences too, which has the dual effect of adding to Melody Janie’s erratic way of living as well as providing a stark contrast with the sea, the sky, the cliffs, which are, themselves, almost endless; Nature, in effect, being as much a character in the story as Melody Janie.
The opening chapters of ‘The Lip’ are deceptive, the seemingly simple life of Melody Janie and the love of her land are merely the beginning of this beautiful, but heart wrenching story. Layered like Russian dolls, Carroll deftly prises open the secrets of Melody Janie’s life as the narrative progresses, taking the reader on a journey down to unexpected depths.
The stranger Melody Janie encounters and befriends, almost against her will, lends pace to the narrative of this otherwise quiet and gentle book. As readers, we are swept up in Melody Janie’s obsessive quest to unearth his true identity.
Don’t judge a book by its cover, they say, but this cover did the book justice. ‘The Lip’ by Charlie Carroll is beautiful and breathtaking, harsh and heartbreaking, but more than anything it is a story about friendship and love, for each other and ourselves, and hope. In those things, I want to believe there is peace for Melody Janie.
“I have often wondered what she thought of in those last moments. I like to believe that if she thought of anything, it was of my land, of the overwhelming beauty of it from the lip. And then I hope she thought of nothing at all. Because there is peace in that.” (p.1)
This is the story of Melody Janie who, due to recently tragedies, lives alone in the safe haven of her little caravan on a remote stretch of her beloved Cornish coast, Bones Break. Resentful of the tourists who invade “her land”, she is not only unwelcoming, but actively tries to discourage them from staying and/or returning. When a stranger moves into a nearby empty cottage she is forced to confront what lies beneath the surface of her precariously constructed life as well as trying to unearth the stranger’s secrets too.
Most of the chapters in ‘The Lip’ are short, a few pages at most, a lot of the sentences too, which has the dual effect of adding to Melody Janie’s erratic way of living as well as providing a stark contrast with the sea, the sky, the cliffs, which are, themselves, almost endless; Nature, in effect, being as much a character in the story as Melody Janie.
The opening chapters of ‘The Lip’ are deceptive, the seemingly simple life of Melody Janie and the love of her land are merely the beginning of this beautiful, but heart wrenching story. Layered like Russian dolls, Carroll deftly prises open the secrets of Melody Janie’s life as the narrative progresses, taking the reader on a journey down to unexpected depths.
The stranger Melody Janie encounters and befriends, almost against her will, lends pace to the narrative of this otherwise quiet and gentle book. As readers, we are swept up in Melody Janie’s obsessive quest to unearth his true identity.
Don’t judge a book by its cover, they say, but this cover did the book justice. ‘The Lip’ by Charlie Carroll is beautiful and breathtaking, harsh and heartbreaking, but more than anything it is a story about friendship and love, for each other and ourselves, and hope. In those things, I want to believe there is peace for Melody Janie.
March 23, 2021
From the moment I saw the cover and learnt the book was set on the North Cornwall coast I wanted to read it. I love this stretch of coastline and living just over the border in the next county I've spent much time walking the coast path in this area.
I've not been able to put this book down, finishing it earlier today. I've loved the writing style and how easy it has been to visualise the Cornish coastline whilst reading.
The narrative switches from the past to the present, seen through Melody Janie's eyes. Such a brilliant insight into a very much unseen and hidden aspect of life in Cornwall.
This story is all about secrets, mental health, loneliness and isolation and one that pulls irrevocably on the heartstrings. I wanted to reach into pages and hug Melody Janie so many times.
This story beautifully tells both sides of life in Cornwall. The light and the dark, and not just the picture postcard scenes. Cleverly and delicately written, and one that will stay with me for some time to come.
I've not been able to put this book down, finishing it earlier today. I've loved the writing style and how easy it has been to visualise the Cornish coastline whilst reading.
The narrative switches from the past to the present, seen through Melody Janie's eyes. Such a brilliant insight into a very much unseen and hidden aspect of life in Cornwall.
This story is all about secrets, mental health, loneliness and isolation and one that pulls irrevocably on the heartstrings. I wanted to reach into pages and hug Melody Janie so many times.
This story beautifully tells both sides of life in Cornwall. The light and the dark, and not just the picture postcard scenes. Cleverly and delicately written, and one that will stay with me for some time to come.
February 19, 2023
I’ve just closed this book after finishing it and it’s going to stay with me for such a long time. I’ve been completely transported. Such a wild and vivid setting for a story that completely engrossed me. I could see every image. What a read.
March 3, 2023
I loved this book! My heart breaking for Melanie J, the intrigue around Richard, and the danger of assumptions. All with the fantastic backdrop of the Cornish coast. Just a fabulous read.
March 15, 2021
The Lip
Melodie Janie is 19 and living alone in a caravan on the patch of lane that she ‘owns’ in Cornwall. She narrates in the first person as she describes her daily routine. The scavenging for food in the now derelict Cafy that her family once owned, her life in the caravan and how she is almost invisible to the world. It had once been her mother’s dream to own a seaside café and the whole family moved down to. Cornwall to run one that was successful, in a modest fashion, until her father was killed in a car crash. Afterwards, Mum disappeared and now Melodie awaits her return. But her younger sister, Lucy, could wait no longer and Melodie found her broken body on the zarn, or beach, below the lip and protected her from being taken out to sea until the coastguard came to take her. The Lip of the title refers to a projecting cliff and the above a sheer drop to the small inaccessible cave beneath which is where she waited for the coastguard.
Meanwhile, Melodie, patrols her land on the Cornish coast and keeps an eye out for emmetts. These are the summer tourists drawn to Cornwall who come and go or buy second homes and price the locals out. She has an old schoolfriend, Esther, who makes fleeting appearances and Melodie is comfortable with her. However, it’s an Emmett who will change Melodie’s isolated existence. A visitor, Richard Brown, is living in an old house with his rescue dog, Archie. He’s in hiding and she is determined to drive him away. But they strike up an acquaintance while walking along the clifftop and Archie takes a shine to her.
But soon, Melodie’s last possession will vanish and she will need to make a choice about what to do with her life.
This is a book about loss and how memories can trap you in the past until that’s all you have left. It isn’t a book for everyone. It’s a slow burner which builds to a surprising ending. I thought that I knew where the book was going but then it decided to go another, more interesting, way and I’m always intrigued by books that can do that. I sympathized with Melodie in that she had lost everything that was precious in her life and often she appeared emotionally numb and shell-shocked by it all. And yet she was still determined to protect her piece of land, Bones Break, a place that she knew intimately.
It’s very visual writing with a lot of descriptions of nature; the Corish coastline, seabirds, wildflowers, passing seals, the sea and its moods and the beauty of the zawn. I really felt that the author painted a very powerful picture of the landscape and what drove Melodie to want to stay there. There’s also the unpredictability of the land which can literally fall beneath your feet without warning. The land can give so much but it can also take it away. The author’s knowledge of Cornwall painted such a vivid portrait of it that it was almost a character in itself.
The other side of Cornwall was also depicted. This is the side that tourists don’t see; a depressed economy relying on the resented emmetts to survive and then once the summer ends there is silence. Melodie sees a noisy Saturday night in a nearby town and it makes her run back to Bones Break again. This is not her world, she has stepped out of it. She is painfully aware that its residents maliciously gossip about her.
I thought that the author really captured the feelings and thoughts of a damaged teenage girl who is on the cusp of another major change in her life. It was an atmospheric, haunting debut novel and one that will stay in my mind. It wasn’t an easy read but it was a novel that was worth it.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.
Melodie Janie is 19 and living alone in a caravan on the patch of lane that she ‘owns’ in Cornwall. She narrates in the first person as she describes her daily routine. The scavenging for food in the now derelict Cafy that her family once owned, her life in the caravan and how she is almost invisible to the world. It had once been her mother’s dream to own a seaside café and the whole family moved down to. Cornwall to run one that was successful, in a modest fashion, until her father was killed in a car crash. Afterwards, Mum disappeared and now Melodie awaits her return. But her younger sister, Lucy, could wait no longer and Melodie found her broken body on the zarn, or beach, below the lip and protected her from being taken out to sea until the coastguard came to take her. The Lip of the title refers to a projecting cliff and the above a sheer drop to the small inaccessible cave beneath which is where she waited for the coastguard.
Meanwhile, Melodie, patrols her land on the Cornish coast and keeps an eye out for emmetts. These are the summer tourists drawn to Cornwall who come and go or buy second homes and price the locals out. She has an old schoolfriend, Esther, who makes fleeting appearances and Melodie is comfortable with her. However, it’s an Emmett who will change Melodie’s isolated existence. A visitor, Richard Brown, is living in an old house with his rescue dog, Archie. He’s in hiding and she is determined to drive him away. But they strike up an acquaintance while walking along the clifftop and Archie takes a shine to her.
But soon, Melodie’s last possession will vanish and she will need to make a choice about what to do with her life.
This is a book about loss and how memories can trap you in the past until that’s all you have left. It isn’t a book for everyone. It’s a slow burner which builds to a surprising ending. I thought that I knew where the book was going but then it decided to go another, more interesting, way and I’m always intrigued by books that can do that. I sympathized with Melodie in that she had lost everything that was precious in her life and often she appeared emotionally numb and shell-shocked by it all. And yet she was still determined to protect her piece of land, Bones Break, a place that she knew intimately.
It’s very visual writing with a lot of descriptions of nature; the Corish coastline, seabirds, wildflowers, passing seals, the sea and its moods and the beauty of the zawn. I really felt that the author painted a very powerful picture of the landscape and what drove Melodie to want to stay there. There’s also the unpredictability of the land which can literally fall beneath your feet without warning. The land can give so much but it can also take it away. The author’s knowledge of Cornwall painted such a vivid portrait of it that it was almost a character in itself.
The other side of Cornwall was also depicted. This is the side that tourists don’t see; a depressed economy relying on the resented emmetts to survive and then once the summer ends there is silence. Melodie sees a noisy Saturday night in a nearby town and it makes her run back to Bones Break again. This is not her world, she has stepped out of it. She is painfully aware that its residents maliciously gossip about her.
I thought that the author really captured the feelings and thoughts of a damaged teenage girl who is on the cusp of another major change in her life. It was an atmospheric, haunting debut novel and one that will stay in my mind. It wasn’t an easy read but it was a novel that was worth it.
My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews