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Dislocate
If you asked her parents, teachers and psychiatrists, they would all say that Francis Kelly is a deeply troubled young woman. However, as far as Francis can see, they are not that well-adjusted, either. But even she can recognise that things are not going well at home and school, and with friends like Billy Rowley, she could do without her numerous enemies. Thankfully for Francis, when you can manipulate time, your problems have solutions.
178 pages, Paperback
Published August 14, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 21, 2019
I will start this review by saying that it took me a while to get into this book. It is very far away from my usual comfort zone of fantasy and sci-fi. I struggled through about a third of the book, before I put it down and decided that it would become one of my few DNF. Unlike most books that I have DNF’d, it then played on my mind, so I picked it up again ad finished it within a few days.
Dislocate is a rather odd book. It’s difficult to define the book in terms of plot; it doesn’t really have a beginning or an end, and the middle isn’t in a particularly linear order. As the story is being told from the perspective of a mentally unwell 14 year old, I think this may have been the point the author was making, but I found it to be slightly distracting.
The main character is well thought out and develops through the book. The side characters are also well thought through. Overall, the book is well written, with very few editing issues. Johnson has clearly put a lot of time and thought into the whole book and, after my initial difficulties, found the book to be an immersive experience. While I found that I wanted to find out what happened to Francis, I have not found myself thinking about the book since I finished reading.
I have reviewed this book using my normal review criteria, which I fear has given the book a worse rating than it deserves. At 3.25 stars, this is a good book, but it doesn’t fit into the archetype of a novel which makes it difficult to judge. If your looking for a bit of a mind bending experience with a disturbed character you find yourself weirdly fond of, this is the book for you.
Dislocate is a rather odd book. It’s difficult to define the book in terms of plot; it doesn’t really have a beginning or an end, and the middle isn’t in a particularly linear order. As the story is being told from the perspective of a mentally unwell 14 year old, I think this may have been the point the author was making, but I found it to be slightly distracting.
The main character is well thought out and develops through the book. The side characters are also well thought through. Overall, the book is well written, with very few editing issues. Johnson has clearly put a lot of time and thought into the whole book and, after my initial difficulties, found the book to be an immersive experience. While I found that I wanted to find out what happened to Francis, I have not found myself thinking about the book since I finished reading.
I have reviewed this book using my normal review criteria, which I fear has given the book a worse rating than it deserves. At 3.25 stars, this is a good book, but it doesn’t fit into the archetype of a novel which makes it difficult to judge. If your looking for a bit of a mind bending experience with a disturbed character you find yourself weirdly fond of, this is the book for you.
August 13, 2018
Confession - I wrote this, and I am writing the (glowing) review in the hope it assists in my effort to promote it. The book started life as a short story, for a writing competition I subsequently learnt I was not eligible to enter. The short story remains embedded in the novel - primarily the scenes where Francis sits in 'sessions' with her psychiatrist.
This is my first novel, written over the second half of 2016, and follows the troubled yet articulate observations of the teenage protagonist - Francis Kelly. A girl with super human abilities to control time, yet surfers terrible social and emotional difficulties. The title 'dislocate' reflects her inherent separation - socially, philosophically, emotionally, and ultimately physically from the world in which she is immersed.
I guess Francis is my contribution to the superhero genre, but this is no Marvel/DC comic hero and her abilities manifest from her day to day environment and crushing experiences rather than some extraordinary event.
Even now I am not sure whether I have created a hero or a monster - the cheat answer would be to say she is both. Personally, I like Francis, I had a lot of fun writing her, and while I would naturally reject her right to use her powers as she does -I would challenge the reader to say that she was not provoked.
Hope you like it. Thanks for reading this far at least. MJ
This is my first novel, written over the second half of 2016, and follows the troubled yet articulate observations of the teenage protagonist - Francis Kelly. A girl with super human abilities to control time, yet surfers terrible social and emotional difficulties. The title 'dislocate' reflects her inherent separation - socially, philosophically, emotionally, and ultimately physically from the world in which she is immersed.
I guess Francis is my contribution to the superhero genre, but this is no Marvel/DC comic hero and her abilities manifest from her day to day environment and crushing experiences rather than some extraordinary event.
Even now I am not sure whether I have created a hero or a monster - the cheat answer would be to say she is both. Personally, I like Francis, I had a lot of fun writing her, and while I would naturally reject her right to use her powers as she does -I would challenge the reader to say that she was not provoked.
Hope you like it. Thanks for reading this far at least. MJ
October 16, 2018
Fair warning, this book is not for everyone, but you might, like me, find it one of the best reads you've never heard of. It's very dark, violent, meandering, sometimes tangential to itself, and deeply (deeply!) introspective. Imagine yourself observing as an archaeologist slowly, painstakingly brushes away layers upon layers of sediment to reveal something fascinating and unique, exquisitely formed, and profoundly disturbing.
This is the process of Johnston's exploration into the f***ed-up life and paranormal gift of Francis Kelly. If this weirdness doesn't scare you off, read it. I devoured in one sitting, and will probably (a rarity for me) read it again.
This is the process of Johnston's exploration into the f***ed-up life and paranormal gift of Francis Kelly. If this weirdness doesn't scare you off, read it. I devoured in one sitting, and will probably (a rarity for me) read it again.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews