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Skin Deep
It's what's inside that counts...Art student and former model Diana has always been admired for her beauty, but what use are good looks when you want to shine for your talent? Insecure and desperate for inspiration, Diana needs a muse.Facially disfigured four-year-old Cal lives a life largely hidden from the world. But he was born to be looked at and he needs love too. A chance encounter changes everything and Cal becomes Diana's muse. But as Diana's reputation develops and Cal grows up, their relationship implodes.Both struggle to be accepted for what lies within. Is it possible to find acceptance in a society where what's on the outside counts for so much?
- GenresFiction
325 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 7, 2017
2 people are currently reading
770 people want to read
About the author
Laura Wilkinson
5 books87 followersLaura Wilkinson grew up in a Welsh market town and now lives in Brighton with her husband and two boys. Her novels: Skin Deep, The Family Line, Public Battles, Private Wars and Redemption Song are published by award-winning Welsh press, Accent. What does all her work have in common? Compelling stories, fascinating characters, and ideas that make you think a little. At least she hopes so! As well as writing fiction, she works as an editor & mentor for literary consultancy, Cornerstones, and The Writing Coach. Find out more here: http://laura-wilkinson.co.uk. Or follow her on Twitter: @ScorpioScribble. She loves to hear from readers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 4, 2017
Not my type of book,slow book.
June 5, 2017
An interesting exploration of how looks affect our relationships and the attitude of others.
Set initially in Manchester, 1980s, the author takes a beautiful young art student, Diana, who is rebelling against a lifetime of abuse by her distant and uncaring mother. Diana is desperate to make a name for herself in the art world, and prove she is more than ‘just a pretty face’. A chance meeting with a small child, Cal, born with extreme disfigurements and neglected by his drug-addicted parents, spurs Diana into creating modern art that uses both her beauty and his ugliness. But she needs him with her to keep up her newfound fame. This forms the premise of the book and it is fascinating to see how the relationship between Cal and Diana develops. Seen from each other’s point of view and through flashbacks, I found the author’s style engaging and evocative. I cannot say I liked Diana, who, to my mind, put her own needs above those of Cal, but the beauty of this work is that the main protagonists were utterly believable and I needed to read to the end to find out what happened.
I would recommend this book to those who want an intelligent and thought-provoking read.
Set initially in Manchester, 1980s, the author takes a beautiful young art student, Diana, who is rebelling against a lifetime of abuse by her distant and uncaring mother. Diana is desperate to make a name for herself in the art world, and prove she is more than ‘just a pretty face’. A chance meeting with a small child, Cal, born with extreme disfigurements and neglected by his drug-addicted parents, spurs Diana into creating modern art that uses both her beauty and his ugliness. But she needs him with her to keep up her newfound fame. This forms the premise of the book and it is fascinating to see how the relationship between Cal and Diana develops. Seen from each other’s point of view and through flashbacks, I found the author’s style engaging and evocative. I cannot say I liked Diana, who, to my mind, put her own needs above those of Cal, but the beauty of this work is that the main protagonists were utterly believable and I needed to read to the end to find out what happened.
I would recommend this book to those who want an intelligent and thought-provoking read.
June 29, 2017
Well! It would seem Laura Wilkinson has done it again. Honoured to have read and reviewed two of her other books; both of which, like Skin Deep have relationships at their heart. Both of which in their own way, like Skin Deep, proved to be very moving.
A sort of modern day Beauty And The Beast though to be honest I'm not altogether sure just which was which. Whether it was Diana, art student and one time model who, though still able to turn heads, I found myself constantly questioning; doubting whether she was quite as beautiful inside as she was out OR whether it was Cal who, outwardly badly facially disfigured, I found my heart going out to as he struggled to be accepted.
Seen from both their points of view. In many ways both products of their upbringing (to say any more might be to include spoilers, you'll have to read the book for yourselves), suffice to say as their relationship grows so it slowly implodes.
Beautifully written. Diana's and Cal's stories so eloquently told, it is this that is the mainstay of the book, it is through them that we get to meet so many other wonderfully drawn characters as, told both in the past and in flashback, we discover not only them but also ourselves.
Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper
Disclaimer: Read and reviewed as part of a Book Tour. No financial compensation was asked for nor given
A sort of modern day Beauty And The Beast though to be honest I'm not altogether sure just which was which. Whether it was Diana, art student and one time model who, though still able to turn heads, I found myself constantly questioning; doubting whether she was quite as beautiful inside as she was out OR whether it was Cal who, outwardly badly facially disfigured, I found my heart going out to as he struggled to be accepted.
Seen from both their points of view. In many ways both products of their upbringing (to say any more might be to include spoilers, you'll have to read the book for yourselves), suffice to say as their relationship grows so it slowly implodes.
Beautifully written. Diana's and Cal's stories so eloquently told, it is this that is the mainstay of the book, it is through them that we get to meet so many other wonderfully drawn characters as, told both in the past and in flashback, we discover not only them but also ourselves.
Copyright: Tracy Terry @ Pen and Paper
Disclaimer: Read and reviewed as part of a Book Tour. No financial compensation was asked for nor given
June 21, 2017
I have previously read Public Battles, Private Wars by Laura Wilkinson and admired her writing style, so was looking forward to delving into her latest offering. I wasn't disappointed, even though it is completely different from what I expected.
In a way it's a strange, almost uncomfortable tale, told in both present time and flashback. But it is one I came to understand; so many times we are judged by how we look and the author skilfully handles the characters; they come to life slowly but surely as the story progresses.
The dialogue is realistic and natural; the internal monologues of Cal as an adult are fascinating.
Some sections of the Northern setting in the 1980s were familiar for me and gave a good sense of place. The descriptions of the darkest parts of the city and the living conditions of the characters were well written and gave an insight to the seedier side of Manchester at that time.
Less than a plot and more of a thoughtful unravelling of the interior lives of both the protagonist, Diana, and the other main character, Cal, Skin Deep is a book that left me pondering on the rights and wrongs of Diana's actions on how her relationship with Cal. progresses.
Loved the ending by the way.
In a way it's a strange, almost uncomfortable tale, told in both present time and flashback. But it is one I came to understand; so many times we are judged by how we look and the author skilfully handles the characters; they come to life slowly but surely as the story progresses.
The dialogue is realistic and natural; the internal monologues of Cal as an adult are fascinating.
Some sections of the Northern setting in the 1980s were familiar for me and gave a good sense of place. The descriptions of the darkest parts of the city and the living conditions of the characters were well written and gave an insight to the seedier side of Manchester at that time.
Less than a plot and more of a thoughtful unravelling of the interior lives of both the protagonist, Diana, and the other main character, Cal, Skin Deep is a book that left me pondering on the rights and wrongs of Diana's actions on how her relationship with Cal. progresses.
Loved the ending by the way.
June 28, 2017
Thank you to the publisher and author for the ARC. I confirm this is an honest review.
Appearance and acceptance are themes within this book, when we delve into the psyche of Diana. Classically beautiful, she hates that her looks earned her - or rather, her mother - money when she was entered into beauty pageants. She hated the feeling of being used.
Heartbreaking circumstances lead to Diana adopting four year old Cal, whose face initially terrifies her, rescuing him from a lifetime of being hidden away. She puts him on a pedestal, both literally and metaphorically, when Cal inspires her to produce provocative pieces of art, making her name.
There is no doubting Diana's love for Cal and she truly believes she is helping him, but there's a fine line, and Diana is danger of crossing it. Is she so different from her mother?
The writing is exceptional - the descriptions of student life in a seedy part of Manchester bring the setting alive. It's emotional without being over-dramatic, and is a gripping read. Seeing how the two main characters develop, along with their relationships both with each other and others around them is intriguing. It certainly reminds you that appearances can be deceptive, and how even though we know beauty is only skin deep, we still judge by appearance.
Appearance and acceptance are themes within this book, when we delve into the psyche of Diana. Classically beautiful, she hates that her looks earned her - or rather, her mother - money when she was entered into beauty pageants. She hated the feeling of being used.
Heartbreaking circumstances lead to Diana adopting four year old Cal, whose face initially terrifies her, rescuing him from a lifetime of being hidden away. She puts him on a pedestal, both literally and metaphorically, when Cal inspires her to produce provocative pieces of art, making her name.
There is no doubting Diana's love for Cal and she truly believes she is helping him, but there's a fine line, and Diana is danger of crossing it. Is she so different from her mother?
The writing is exceptional - the descriptions of student life in a seedy part of Manchester bring the setting alive. It's emotional without being over-dramatic, and is a gripping read. Seeing how the two main characters develop, along with their relationships both with each other and others around them is intriguing. It certainly reminds you that appearances can be deceptive, and how even though we know beauty is only skin deep, we still judge by appearance.
August 13, 2017
I loved Skin Deep. It’s been beautifully and skilfully crafted, and Wilkinson’s style reminded me of Rose Tremain and Colm Tóibín’s wonderful writing. I instantly felt comfortable with Wilkinson’s unfussy style of prose, even though the subject matter constantly made me question my own views about appearance and the value society places on it. Because of the sense of unease that underlies the story, this novel made for uncomfortable yet addictive reading. I suspect this was exactly the reaction the author was aiming for, and she got it completely spot on.
You get the strongest feeling that Skin Deep has been lovingly created. The sense of place and time – Manchester, in the 1980s – permeates the pages and draws the reader very quickly into the artsy and drug fuelled world of Diana, one of the ‘beautiful’ main characters in this cleverly crafted work of literary fiction.
Diana, a struggling art student without a muse, has been a child model – forced into a ritual of staying slim and taking an unhealthy amount of care over her appearance by her mother, Bunny, who for years has been living her own life through her only child.
When we meet the morally hideous Bunny, she and Diana have been estranged for years, while Diana pursues her creative ambitions – and Bunny pursues men. This is the background to Diana discovering Cal in a squalid drug den. He’s the child of the couple who throw open their doors to all and sundry from the notorious Hulme estate to party in their drug laden flat.
Cal is a small child with a beautiful soul – a character, as a reader, you can’t help but love. When Diana first shockingly stumbles across him, he is locked in a remote room in a secret part of her friends’ home. Cal is different from the norm – in cruel speak we’d call him ‘ugly’. He’s not disfigured, he was born that way and he has to deal with it, just like Diana has to put up with the injustices her beauty has caused her.
Cal becomes Diana’s muse – and she begins to create a series of artwork depicting his face and strangely shaped body. Her artwork goes from ordinary to outstanding and, just like her mother depended on Diana’s beauty to make her a living, Diana comes to depend on Cal’s ‘ugliness’ to make hers.
Skin Deep is the sort of novel a book club would love – there’s so much to discuss and so many sides to the moral dilemma Laura Wilkinson has presented us with. With this novel, Laura has managed what her fictional character, Diana, would have given her right arm for back in 1980s Manchester – a masterpiece.
You get the strongest feeling that Skin Deep has been lovingly created. The sense of place and time – Manchester, in the 1980s – permeates the pages and draws the reader very quickly into the artsy and drug fuelled world of Diana, one of the ‘beautiful’ main characters in this cleverly crafted work of literary fiction.
Diana, a struggling art student without a muse, has been a child model – forced into a ritual of staying slim and taking an unhealthy amount of care over her appearance by her mother, Bunny, who for years has been living her own life through her only child.
When we meet the morally hideous Bunny, she and Diana have been estranged for years, while Diana pursues her creative ambitions – and Bunny pursues men. This is the background to Diana discovering Cal in a squalid drug den. He’s the child of the couple who throw open their doors to all and sundry from the notorious Hulme estate to party in their drug laden flat.
Cal is a small child with a beautiful soul – a character, as a reader, you can’t help but love. When Diana first shockingly stumbles across him, he is locked in a remote room in a secret part of her friends’ home. Cal is different from the norm – in cruel speak we’d call him ‘ugly’. He’s not disfigured, he was born that way and he has to deal with it, just like Diana has to put up with the injustices her beauty has caused her.
Cal becomes Diana’s muse – and she begins to create a series of artwork depicting his face and strangely shaped body. Her artwork goes from ordinary to outstanding and, just like her mother depended on Diana’s beauty to make her a living, Diana comes to depend on Cal’s ‘ugliness’ to make hers.
Skin Deep is the sort of novel a book club would love – there’s so much to discuss and so many sides to the moral dilemma Laura Wilkinson has presented us with. With this novel, Laura has managed what her fictional character, Diana, would have given her right arm for back in 1980s Manchester – a masterpiece.
June 5, 2017
I received a free copy of this book from Accent Press in exchange for an honest review.
Diana is an ex-model used to being stared at for her beauty. But she’s finding it hard to make her way in the world of art and as an artist. While at a party one night, Diana meets a young boy called Cal who was born with severe facial disfigurements. Cal becomes Diana’s muse but while she feels like she’s helping him as he helps her with her work, she might actually be destroying him.
This book ended up being a lot more enjoyable than I thought, and really well written. I liked the gritty setting of Hulme in Manchester and felt like the 90s college vibe, drugs, drinks and grunge vibe near the start of the book really suited the tone of the type of art world Diana seemed to be involved with.
This book has a way of making you feel really uncomfortable because while Diana does seem to have good intentions with Cal and she genuinely cares for him, her main motive is using him as her muse. And it just feels wrong. But this is one of the reasons why I enjoyed reading the book - I kind of wanted to put it down but at the same time I couldn’t.
I would have liked to have seen a bit more progress when it came to Cal’s mental health I think, as he did really struggle with it for a while as a teenager and it could be quite worrisome. We don’t really know if he got the help he needed or not and I feel it’s important that getting help like that is addressed in books that have characters suffering from depression.
I did quite enjoy this book and liked getting a peek into the world of art through it as well.
Diana is an ex-model used to being stared at for her beauty. But she’s finding it hard to make her way in the world of art and as an artist. While at a party one night, Diana meets a young boy called Cal who was born with severe facial disfigurements. Cal becomes Diana’s muse but while she feels like she’s helping him as he helps her with her work, she might actually be destroying him.
This book ended up being a lot more enjoyable than I thought, and really well written. I liked the gritty setting of Hulme in Manchester and felt like the 90s college vibe, drugs, drinks and grunge vibe near the start of the book really suited the tone of the type of art world Diana seemed to be involved with.
This book has a way of making you feel really uncomfortable because while Diana does seem to have good intentions with Cal and she genuinely cares for him, her main motive is using him as her muse. And it just feels wrong. But this is one of the reasons why I enjoyed reading the book - I kind of wanted to put it down but at the same time I couldn’t.
I would have liked to have seen a bit more progress when it came to Cal’s mental health I think, as he did really struggle with it for a while as a teenager and it could be quite worrisome. We don’t really know if he got the help he needed or not and I feel it’s important that getting help like that is addressed in books that have characters suffering from depression.
I did quite enjoy this book and liked getting a peek into the world of art through it as well.
June 29, 2017
All reviews can be found on my blog at https://thewritinggarnet.wordpress.com
Do you remember, as a child, constantly being told that ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’, or ‘it’s what’s inside that counts’, or ‘beauty is only skin deep’? I remember getting told them SO many times. I would always ‘pfft’ every time I heard those phrases, especially ‘if someone is nasty about your looks, it’s because they are jealous’. Reaaalllyyy? Take a moment and think back to your childhood; were you ever told those phrases? If you’re a parent, do you ever tell those phrases to your children? Keep those thoughts in your mind for now…
Diana had a childhood of being pulled from pillar to post, pouting for all and sundry, and being on the receiving end of angry outbursts; she was a child model. Unfortunately, due to her rocky childhood, the emotional scars still run deep and her insecurity level has reached its maximum. Will Diana decide to channel her thoughts into her latest artwork? Or will history end up repeating itself?
After finding out what Diana endured as a child, I truly felt like she would become the best person to stand up for others in the same boat, or that she would be able to stand up for those whose looks make people gasp in disgust. I wanted her to stand with those people who had been ridiculed for what they look like, instead of being accepted for who they are.
When the Laura Wilkinson introduced character, Cal, to the storyline, my heart shattered into tiny pieces. Instead of a young boy being exactly that, young, the fickle people around him couldn’t (and didn’t want to) see anything other than their judgemental thoughts. Cal was born disfigured.
Right at the very start, I asked you to think about certain phrases and whether you remember being told them as a child, or whether you tell your children (if you’re a parent) those phrases. I used to get told them growing up, and as a parent myself, I tell my three-year old daughter something similar; ‘it doesn’t matter what we look like, as long as we are happy and we are loved, that’s all that matters’. With all of that in mind, reading Cal and Diana’s journey was incredibly heart breaking, eye-opening, and unfortunately bang on. Society is extremely judgemental, and extremely unforgiving. If someone is deemed ‘different’, like Cal, people aren’t able to cope. They feel the need to either hide those human beings away, or parade them around like a popular animal in the zoo. Whether you have been brought up to love people for who they are, ‘Skin Deep’ will require a big bar of chocolate and a cosy blanket whilst you read it. Trust me. Now, if you have been brought up to believe that anyone with different looks are freaks, and that they deserve nasty comments; I can promise you that you will end up thanking Laura Wilkinson for opening your eyes and making you realise that just because skin is thick, it doesn’t mean it can take abuse.
‘Skin Deep’ had me feeling so many emotions, in such a short space of time. Whilst a lot of this storyline is quite difficult to read due to the subject it is centred around, ‘Skin Deep’ really is the type of novel you just have to finish, no matter what state you’re in. My opinion of Diana kept changing; one minute I felt sorry for her, the next minute she absolutely disgusted me. I can’t tell you my reasons for that as it will definitely give something away, but I will be intrigued to see what other think of her in particular.
Don’t get me wrong, ‘Skin Deep’ contained multiple questionable characters, and I would be here ages discussing each and every one of them, BUT, whilst there were some characters who will no doubt receive a visit from the karma police in due course, there were a couple of beautiful characters who were worth their weight in gold.
Laura Wilkinson’s novel should be given out in schools, as a reminder of how much words can actually hurt. ‘Skin Deep’ is such a work of art; a beautifully written novel which literally speaks for itself.
Heart-breaking yet poignant, heart-warming yet powerful, emotional yet eye-opening; ‘Skin Deep’ needs to be read by everyone, and anyone.
This truly is a book to be remembered.
Thanks Accent Press.
Do you remember, as a child, constantly being told that ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder’, or ‘it’s what’s inside that counts’, or ‘beauty is only skin deep’? I remember getting told them SO many times. I would always ‘pfft’ every time I heard those phrases, especially ‘if someone is nasty about your looks, it’s because they are jealous’. Reaaalllyyy? Take a moment and think back to your childhood; were you ever told those phrases? If you’re a parent, do you ever tell those phrases to your children? Keep those thoughts in your mind for now…
Diana had a childhood of being pulled from pillar to post, pouting for all and sundry, and being on the receiving end of angry outbursts; she was a child model. Unfortunately, due to her rocky childhood, the emotional scars still run deep and her insecurity level has reached its maximum. Will Diana decide to channel her thoughts into her latest artwork? Or will history end up repeating itself?
After finding out what Diana endured as a child, I truly felt like she would become the best person to stand up for others in the same boat, or that she would be able to stand up for those whose looks make people gasp in disgust. I wanted her to stand with those people who had been ridiculed for what they look like, instead of being accepted for who they are.
When the Laura Wilkinson introduced character, Cal, to the storyline, my heart shattered into tiny pieces. Instead of a young boy being exactly that, young, the fickle people around him couldn’t (and didn’t want to) see anything other than their judgemental thoughts. Cal was born disfigured.
Right at the very start, I asked you to think about certain phrases and whether you remember being told them as a child, or whether you tell your children (if you’re a parent) those phrases. I used to get told them growing up, and as a parent myself, I tell my three-year old daughter something similar; ‘it doesn’t matter what we look like, as long as we are happy and we are loved, that’s all that matters’. With all of that in mind, reading Cal and Diana’s journey was incredibly heart breaking, eye-opening, and unfortunately bang on. Society is extremely judgemental, and extremely unforgiving. If someone is deemed ‘different’, like Cal, people aren’t able to cope. They feel the need to either hide those human beings away, or parade them around like a popular animal in the zoo. Whether you have been brought up to love people for who they are, ‘Skin Deep’ will require a big bar of chocolate and a cosy blanket whilst you read it. Trust me. Now, if you have been brought up to believe that anyone with different looks are freaks, and that they deserve nasty comments; I can promise you that you will end up thanking Laura Wilkinson for opening your eyes and making you realise that just because skin is thick, it doesn’t mean it can take abuse.
‘Skin Deep’ had me feeling so many emotions, in such a short space of time. Whilst a lot of this storyline is quite difficult to read due to the subject it is centred around, ‘Skin Deep’ really is the type of novel you just have to finish, no matter what state you’re in. My opinion of Diana kept changing; one minute I felt sorry for her, the next minute she absolutely disgusted me. I can’t tell you my reasons for that as it will definitely give something away, but I will be intrigued to see what other think of her in particular.
Don’t get me wrong, ‘Skin Deep’ contained multiple questionable characters, and I would be here ages discussing each and every one of them, BUT, whilst there were some characters who will no doubt receive a visit from the karma police in due course, there were a couple of beautiful characters who were worth their weight in gold.
Laura Wilkinson’s novel should be given out in schools, as a reminder of how much words can actually hurt. ‘Skin Deep’ is such a work of art; a beautifully written novel which literally speaks for itself.
Heart-breaking yet poignant, heart-warming yet powerful, emotional yet eye-opening; ‘Skin Deep’ needs to be read by everyone, and anyone.
This truly is a book to be remembered.
Thanks Accent Press.
July 6, 2017
Beauty is only skin deep. External attractiveness has no relation to goodness or essential quality. This maxim was first stated by Sir Thomas Overbury in his poem "A Wife" (1613): "All the carnall beauty of my wife is but skin-deep."
Most of us will agree that indeed, beauty is only skin deep, and that a person's character is more important than how they look. I also expect that whilst most of us believe that, many of us are guilty of judging a person by how they look, and expecting their character to reflect their body.
In Skin Deep, Laura Wilkinson explores this belief and has produced a powerful and hard-hitting story that will make the reader question themselves, and those around them.
Diana is beautiful. From early childhood, that beauty has been the one aspect of her life that has brought the most pain. Paraded around beauty competitions by her cold, bitter mother; slapped when she didn't win and hugged closely when she took the crown, her beauty has brought her nothing but pain. The novel opens in 1980s Hulme, Manchester as Diana moves into a squalid flat on a rough council estate, defying her parents, and determined to become an artist.
Despite her desire to leave her past behind, the question of beauty has consumed her and continues to do so when she meets Cal; just five years old, neglected by his addicted parents, hidden away from the rest of the world, and ugly. 'Ugly' is a harsh word to use about a small child, but Cal's face is disfigured by congenital defects and although there may be beauty inside him, it is his facial features that have shaped his life so far, just as Diana's beauty has shaped her.
Laura Wilkinson's writing is sharp and emotive and she spares nothing in her description of the neighbourhood, the people and the dark contrast between herself and Cal. Diana is a troubled, often badly flawed woman. She tells herself that she only has Cal's best interests at heart, but as the story progresses, the reader comes to realise that Diana is often selfish and deluded, and her fellow characters realise that too.
This author has a remarkable ability to convey the human emotions, passions and fears so incredibly well. Skin Deep is often troubling, sometimes uncomfortable, but completely and utterly compelling. The characterisation is incredible and engaging, and love them, or hate them, they really will get under your skin.
Captivating and beautifully written. Skin Deep is a story that will trouble the reader, yet delight at the same time.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
Most of us will agree that indeed, beauty is only skin deep, and that a person's character is more important than how they look. I also expect that whilst most of us believe that, many of us are guilty of judging a person by how they look, and expecting their character to reflect their body.
In Skin Deep, Laura Wilkinson explores this belief and has produced a powerful and hard-hitting story that will make the reader question themselves, and those around them.
Diana is beautiful. From early childhood, that beauty has been the one aspect of her life that has brought the most pain. Paraded around beauty competitions by her cold, bitter mother; slapped when she didn't win and hugged closely when she took the crown, her beauty has brought her nothing but pain. The novel opens in 1980s Hulme, Manchester as Diana moves into a squalid flat on a rough council estate, defying her parents, and determined to become an artist.
Despite her desire to leave her past behind, the question of beauty has consumed her and continues to do so when she meets Cal; just five years old, neglected by his addicted parents, hidden away from the rest of the world, and ugly. 'Ugly' is a harsh word to use about a small child, but Cal's face is disfigured by congenital defects and although there may be beauty inside him, it is his facial features that have shaped his life so far, just as Diana's beauty has shaped her.
Laura Wilkinson's writing is sharp and emotive and she spares nothing in her description of the neighbourhood, the people and the dark contrast between herself and Cal. Diana is a troubled, often badly flawed woman. She tells herself that she only has Cal's best interests at heart, but as the story progresses, the reader comes to realise that Diana is often selfish and deluded, and her fellow characters realise that too.
This author has a remarkable ability to convey the human emotions, passions and fears so incredibly well. Skin Deep is often troubling, sometimes uncomfortable, but completely and utterly compelling. The characterisation is incredible and engaging, and love them, or hate them, they really will get under your skin.
Captivating and beautifully written. Skin Deep is a story that will trouble the reader, yet delight at the same time.
https://randomthingsthroughmyletterbo...
June 30, 2017
Diana has had an emotionally abused childhood, but has she learnt from her experiences?
Not having read anything by Laura Wilkinson before, I had no idea what to expect from Skin Deep and hadn’t even looked at the genre and blurb as I began. Wow. I was sucked into the narrative by the fabulous quality of the writing from the very first word.
Skin Deep is a gripping social commentary on what makes us who we are, on society’s demands for us to conform physically and on the way we can manipulate others to our own ends, albeit sometimes unwittingly. Laura Wilkinson writes with such intelligence and skill that I was gripped throughout; rather like those who might stare at Cal, I found I couldn’t tear myself away in spite of myself.
I found the social and cultural messages about the obsession with the way we look so well handled. There’s no preachiness here and having reflected for some time on Diana’s behaviour, which I can understand perfectly, I still can’t make up my mind what I think about her. Indeed, the quality of characterisation is so good that I completely forgot I was reading a story and that Cal, Alan, Diana et al were not real people. I thought about them, wondering what was happening to them, when I wasn’t actually reading the book.
Having read Skin Deep, I feel quite disturbed. It stirred memories of teaching a child not dissimilar to Cal and the level of protection I felt towards him and it has made me wonder if I might behave exactly like Diana at her worst moments in the same circumstances. This is not a comfortable thought.
Whilst Skin Deep is a cracking story with a sophisticated plot that keeps the reader entertained throughout, it is so much more. Reading Skin Deep made me uneasy, made me question my whole belief system and make me thankful I am an ordinary person with an ordinary life. I loved Skin Deep and can’t recommend it highly enough.
https://lindasbookbag.com/2017/06/30/...
Not having read anything by Laura Wilkinson before, I had no idea what to expect from Skin Deep and hadn’t even looked at the genre and blurb as I began. Wow. I was sucked into the narrative by the fabulous quality of the writing from the very first word.
Skin Deep is a gripping social commentary on what makes us who we are, on society’s demands for us to conform physically and on the way we can manipulate others to our own ends, albeit sometimes unwittingly. Laura Wilkinson writes with such intelligence and skill that I was gripped throughout; rather like those who might stare at Cal, I found I couldn’t tear myself away in spite of myself.
I found the social and cultural messages about the obsession with the way we look so well handled. There’s no preachiness here and having reflected for some time on Diana’s behaviour, which I can understand perfectly, I still can’t make up my mind what I think about her. Indeed, the quality of characterisation is so good that I completely forgot I was reading a story and that Cal, Alan, Diana et al were not real people. I thought about them, wondering what was happening to them, when I wasn’t actually reading the book.
Having read Skin Deep, I feel quite disturbed. It stirred memories of teaching a child not dissimilar to Cal and the level of protection I felt towards him and it has made me wonder if I might behave exactly like Diana at her worst moments in the same circumstances. This is not a comfortable thought.
Whilst Skin Deep is a cracking story with a sophisticated plot that keeps the reader entertained throughout, it is so much more. Reading Skin Deep made me uneasy, made me question my whole belief system and make me thankful I am an ordinary person with an ordinary life. I loved Skin Deep and can’t recommend it highly enough.
https://lindasbookbag.com/2017/06/30/...
June 14, 2017
Skin Deep is a very thoughtful novel looking at whether beauty is just 'Skin Deep' or whether what lies beneath is most important. Diana is a former model, pushed into modelling by her mother Bunny. She has never enjoyed being stared at and judged by her good looks and is desperate to be valued for her talent. She is also a talented artist, though this is not valued at all by her mother, and longs to be respected for her art as much as her looks. "See, I am more than a pretty face. Look at me. Look at all of this." Living in Hulme in Manchester, she is caught up in the student scene of parties, late nights, drink and drugs. At a party, she discovers the son of a drug addicted couple hidden away in a room. Young Cal is only four years old but is kept away from the eyes of others to hide his facial deformity. The nature of this isn't specified but sounds like some kind of congenital deformity, although I did wonder if it could have been caused by his parents' drug-taking. Diana is inspired by the little boy both in her personal life and in her art and so begins a long relationship between them.
I found Skin Deep to be a very thought-provoking novel. I think we do all judge people we meet on initial appearances to a certain extent, until we get to know them better. This was certainly a story that made me reflect that we really do need to take that time to get to see below surface appearances. It also made me think about how we should be careful what we wish for. Cal in particular, felt that if he looked different, more normal if you like, that his life would be very different. To a certain extent he is probably right, he would have had a different life had he looked more like other people. However, painful surgery he has when younger - necessary for medical reasons - does not change how he feels about himself, even though his appearance does change a bit.
Diana was a fascinating character and my feelings towards her changed many times throughout the book. Initially I felt sympathy for her as she struggled to have her talent valued more than her looks. When she met Cal and was determined to make his life better for him, I felt she was someone to be admired. But gradually I began to feel that she was exploiting Cal for her own gain as she used him in her art and became quite angry with her. It seemed that she was using him to try to feel better about herself.
I was intrigued by the chapters from Cal's point of view. Cal's thoughts come as he lies heavily bandaged in a hospital bed. As well as wondering why he was there, it was interesting to read his recollections of his younger life. As this point, the reader gets to learn his take on some of the events previously told from Diana's point of view. Quite often, his perceptions were very different.
Skin Deep is a book which I found an intriguing read and one which was thoughtfully written. It asks that the reader really considers what is beautiful and what is ugly, whether people can re-invent themselves by changing their looks and if does this make them a better person. I must make mention of the very clever ending. The author had guided me to think there was a particular way the story would end but in fact, I had mis-judged the situation. A thought-provoking and quietly compelling read.
I found Skin Deep to be a very thought-provoking novel. I think we do all judge people we meet on initial appearances to a certain extent, until we get to know them better. This was certainly a story that made me reflect that we really do need to take that time to get to see below surface appearances. It also made me think about how we should be careful what we wish for. Cal in particular, felt that if he looked different, more normal if you like, that his life would be very different. To a certain extent he is probably right, he would have had a different life had he looked more like other people. However, painful surgery he has when younger - necessary for medical reasons - does not change how he feels about himself, even though his appearance does change a bit.
Diana was a fascinating character and my feelings towards her changed many times throughout the book. Initially I felt sympathy for her as she struggled to have her talent valued more than her looks. When she met Cal and was determined to make his life better for him, I felt she was someone to be admired. But gradually I began to feel that she was exploiting Cal for her own gain as she used him in her art and became quite angry with her. It seemed that she was using him to try to feel better about herself.
I was intrigued by the chapters from Cal's point of view. Cal's thoughts come as he lies heavily bandaged in a hospital bed. As well as wondering why he was there, it was interesting to read his recollections of his younger life. As this point, the reader gets to learn his take on some of the events previously told from Diana's point of view. Quite often, his perceptions were very different.
Skin Deep is a book which I found an intriguing read and one which was thoughtfully written. It asks that the reader really considers what is beautiful and what is ugly, whether people can re-invent themselves by changing their looks and if does this make them a better person. I must make mention of the very clever ending. The author had guided me to think there was a particular way the story would end but in fact, I had mis-judged the situation. A thought-provoking and quietly compelling read.
June 30, 2017
This is the fourth novel written by Laura Wilkinson that I’ve read, and for me, it is her most accomplished work to date. “Skin Deep” is a take on how we are shaped by our parents’ treatment, how we are judged by appearance, and how validation by others is often how we measure ourselves (rightly or wrongly).
It is certainly no happily-ever-after tale, and sometimes makes for uncomfortable reading, but this is its strength. Diana is a flawed and therefore, highly believable character. Cal is the boy who gets caught up in Diana’s craving for validation as a “serious” artist, and her quest to try and prove that external beauty should not be more important than the person inside. She tries to impress upon Cal that it’s okay to be considered a freak in the eyes of society (and that no one is “normal” anyway), but time and again she unwittingly displays that what other people think is the thing that matters the most to her.
This is a complex, fascinating study of human nature. I did have sympathy for Diana, mainly due to her treatment during childhood, which meant her behaviour could be understood more readily. But I also felt sympathy for Cal because he is used by Diana; although ultimately he ends up in a better place than the alternative life he might have led.
I enjoyed the references to beauty and the beast, the mirror, and Frankenstein, which gave the narrative a fairy-tale feel at times, and contrasted vividly with the realism of the setting. I admired the seamless point of view, time and tense shifts.
This novel manages that rare thing: a complex, but easy read. It is crafted skilfully by a very talented author. Highly recommended.
It is certainly no happily-ever-after tale, and sometimes makes for uncomfortable reading, but this is its strength. Diana is a flawed and therefore, highly believable character. Cal is the boy who gets caught up in Diana’s craving for validation as a “serious” artist, and her quest to try and prove that external beauty should not be more important than the person inside. She tries to impress upon Cal that it’s okay to be considered a freak in the eyes of society (and that no one is “normal” anyway), but time and again she unwittingly displays that what other people think is the thing that matters the most to her.
This is a complex, fascinating study of human nature. I did have sympathy for Diana, mainly due to her treatment during childhood, which meant her behaviour could be understood more readily. But I also felt sympathy for Cal because he is used by Diana; although ultimately he ends up in a better place than the alternative life he might have led.
I enjoyed the references to beauty and the beast, the mirror, and Frankenstein, which gave the narrative a fairy-tale feel at times, and contrasted vividly with the realism of the setting. I admired the seamless point of view, time and tense shifts.
This novel manages that rare thing: a complex, but easy read. It is crafted skilfully by a very talented author. Highly recommended.
June 27, 2017
Former model, Diana is a young art student when she first meets four year old Cal who is locked away in his own private world, hidden from view by his drug addled parents because of a facial disfigurement. Diana finds inspiration for her art in Cal and using him as her muse, she not only produces some spectacular artwork but she also fall in love with Cal.
As Diana and Cal's lives intertwine we find some comfort in that two quite damaged souls are able to find some sort of resolution with each other, and yet, damaged as they are, their combined stories make such a fascinating story. I think the author has done a really good job of allowing us a glimpse into the life affirming idea that we are all worth so much more than what we see, superficially, on the surface, and that by exploring people, quite literally, skin deep, we gain so much more of an insight into their character.
Taking the concept of beauty and the beast, and turning it on its head, is really interesting idea and I think that the author has done a good job of allowing the story to evolve without ever resorting to over-sentimentality. The characterisation is good; I loved Cal from the beginning, and yet, I wasn’t very sure about Diana, her motives in caring so much for the boy were commendable and yet, there were times when I felt that she was just as guilty of manipulating him for her own success as perhaps others were for seeing only his disfigurement, and not the person inside.
Skin Deep is an interesting novel, with a well written thoughtful insight into what makes us, despite our defects, continually search for an elusive perfection.
As Diana and Cal's lives intertwine we find some comfort in that two quite damaged souls are able to find some sort of resolution with each other, and yet, damaged as they are, their combined stories make such a fascinating story. I think the author has done a really good job of allowing us a glimpse into the life affirming idea that we are all worth so much more than what we see, superficially, on the surface, and that by exploring people, quite literally, skin deep, we gain so much more of an insight into their character.
Taking the concept of beauty and the beast, and turning it on its head, is really interesting idea and I think that the author has done a good job of allowing the story to evolve without ever resorting to over-sentimentality. The characterisation is good; I loved Cal from the beginning, and yet, I wasn’t very sure about Diana, her motives in caring so much for the boy were commendable and yet, there were times when I felt that she was just as guilty of manipulating him for her own success as perhaps others were for seeing only his disfigurement, and not the person inside.
Skin Deep is an interesting novel, with a well written thoughtful insight into what makes us, despite our defects, continually search for an elusive perfection.
January 3, 2018
‘Skin Deep’ by Laura Wilkinson is a thoughtful, difficult book to read about modern-day notions of beauty, ugliness and society’s fascination with appearance. At times it made me feel uncomfortable. It is the sort of book which you find yourself thinking about long after you have finished reading it. It will make you think about your own attitudes to others, do you unconsciously leap to judgement based on their outward appearance, and how much do you worry about your own looks?
Hulme, Manchester, 1984. Students Diana and Linda start university, Diana is studying art, Linda art history. Diana is keen to make her mark for something she can do with her hands, rather than how she looks. A former child model, people stare at her in the street such is her beauty. Via Jim, Linda’s boyfriend, Diana meets Cal, a four-year old boy neglected by his drug addict parents. He has a severe facial disfigurement and is kept from sight. He does not know a normal life. ‘Normal’ is a word which crops up often. In the child, Diana finds someone dealing with a mirror image of her own challenge: as Cal hides his face from strangers, Claire tried to avoid people ogling her beauty. I found the beginning a little slow and the story takes off once Diana is inspired by Cal to create a different kind of art.
Throughout time, artists have had muses. Cal becomes Diana’s muse, unwittingly at first when he is a child. The book treads a difficult, uncomfortable line. Diana loves Cal and tries to do the best, but what if her best is wrong? Of course, that is the thought process the author wants the reader to explore. As Diana’s success as an artist grows and Cal becomes a teenager, he starts to resent being ‘used’. Is she ultimately any different from her mother, Bunny, who forced her to enter beauty competitions, to refuse biscuits because they would make her fat?
The viewpoint switches between Diana and Cal and jumps around in time, particularly in the second half, which was disorientating. The main voice is Diana’s. I found her exploitative and unlikeable and would have liked to hear more from the adult Cal and the child Diana. Nonetheless this is a powerful, difficult read with underlying imagery of decay hidden by beauty.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-revie...
Hulme, Manchester, 1984. Students Diana and Linda start university, Diana is studying art, Linda art history. Diana is keen to make her mark for something she can do with her hands, rather than how she looks. A former child model, people stare at her in the street such is her beauty. Via Jim, Linda’s boyfriend, Diana meets Cal, a four-year old boy neglected by his drug addict parents. He has a severe facial disfigurement and is kept from sight. He does not know a normal life. ‘Normal’ is a word which crops up often. In the child, Diana finds someone dealing with a mirror image of her own challenge: as Cal hides his face from strangers, Claire tried to avoid people ogling her beauty. I found the beginning a little slow and the story takes off once Diana is inspired by Cal to create a different kind of art.
Throughout time, artists have had muses. Cal becomes Diana’s muse, unwittingly at first when he is a child. The book treads a difficult, uncomfortable line. Diana loves Cal and tries to do the best, but what if her best is wrong? Of course, that is the thought process the author wants the reader to explore. As Diana’s success as an artist grows and Cal becomes a teenager, he starts to resent being ‘used’. Is she ultimately any different from her mother, Bunny, who forced her to enter beauty competitions, to refuse biscuits because they would make her fat?
The viewpoint switches between Diana and Cal and jumps around in time, particularly in the second half, which was disorientating. The main voice is Diana’s. I found her exploitative and unlikeable and would have liked to hear more from the adult Cal and the child Diana. Nonetheless this is a powerful, difficult read with underlying imagery of decay hidden by beauty.
Read more of my book reviews at http://www.sandradanby.com/book-revie...
July 10, 2017
A superlative read
Skin Deep is a great read. An excellently crafted tale and so very well written.
For me, it was Cal’s voice which really sucked me in; he is so perfectly drawn.
I won’t go into plot detail as it would give too many spoilers.
Read the book and become drawn into Cal’s world, and Diana’s – a flawed and very real heroine - whose story is as tragic as Cal's in many ways.
As usual (I've read all of Laura's books), the supporting cast is fantastic, I particularly liked Alan.
Very highly recommended, and will make a great beach read for the reader who wants more than just a good story ...
Surely Skin Deep is a contender for an award in the future.
Skin Deep is a great read. An excellently crafted tale and so very well written.
For me, it was Cal’s voice which really sucked me in; he is so perfectly drawn.
I won’t go into plot detail as it would give too many spoilers.
Read the book and become drawn into Cal’s world, and Diana’s – a flawed and very real heroine - whose story is as tragic as Cal's in many ways.
As usual (I've read all of Laura's books), the supporting cast is fantastic, I particularly liked Alan.
Very highly recommended, and will make a great beach read for the reader who wants more than just a good story ...
Surely Skin Deep is a contender for an award in the future.
June 2, 2017
A former model is working towards her degree show in art. A subject her parents despise as “not being a proper subject”. Whilst there she forms an attachment to the son of some friends. Friends who are slightly dodgy to say the least but Cal she can’t help but love. Cal becomes Diana’s muse and all her work is inspired by him and his uniqueness. The characterisations in this are the mainstay of the book and done very eloquently. The beauty and the beast and how the world around them treats them. People do judge books by their covers and until they know what is beneath stare at the “un-ordinariness” of anyone who isn’t quite to the normal mould. A thought provoking, interesting powerful read.
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased
I voluntarily chose to read this ARC and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased
June 16, 2017
A thought-provoking beautifully executed story.
The concept of this book intrigued me as I've been concerned for a long time about society's obsession with perfection and how people with any sort of disability or deformity are treated. Laura is a talented writer and she drew me in right away with her fascinating characters, vivid description and the complex relationship between Diana, the beautiful former model and the four year old deformed Cal, who she loves and protects but then exploits in her quest for the perfect art. There were similarities between Diana's mother's treatment of her, pushing her into modelling which Diana resented very much, and Diana's obsession with using Cal in her art, not realising how much he was beginning to resent her and that she was exploiting him. Both the characters of Diana and Cal were skilfully drawn, and the writing was vivid and, at times, raw. Great ending too.
This story will stay with me for a long time.
The concept of this book intrigued me as I've been concerned for a long time about society's obsession with perfection and how people with any sort of disability or deformity are treated. Laura is a talented writer and she drew me in right away with her fascinating characters, vivid description and the complex relationship between Diana, the beautiful former model and the four year old deformed Cal, who she loves and protects but then exploits in her quest for the perfect art. There were similarities between Diana's mother's treatment of her, pushing her into modelling which Diana resented very much, and Diana's obsession with using Cal in her art, not realising how much he was beginning to resent her and that she was exploiting him. Both the characters of Diana and Cal were skilfully drawn, and the writing was vivid and, at times, raw. Great ending too.
This story will stay with me for a long time.
May 24, 2017
I was drawn to this book by its title. This book was a real breath of fresh air, and it involves a lot of complex characters whose lives collide and become entwined. I found this book really thought provoking, and whilst it was sad how certain people choose to live their lives in a drug fuelled fog, it was also a real eye opener. There are lots of dynamics to this book, and it held me all the way through. I thoroughly recommend this book, as it is not your average story..... It shows how we need certain people in our lives at certain times, and how that intensity can just implode and tear your life apart. Excellent read.
June 15, 2017
I enjoyed this book although at times it was a difficult read, in spite of this I couldn't put it down!
Diana is an art student who is not doing very well until a chance encounter with facially disfigured, 4 year-old Cal. He provides her with inspiration as her muse, and over a period of time she gains an excellent income from her paintings. Despite her love for Cal, I did feel she was using him and that made it uncomfortable reading at times.
Overall a very well-written book and a well deserved 4 stars.
Diana is an art student who is not doing very well until a chance encounter with facially disfigured, 4 year-old Cal. He provides her with inspiration as her muse, and over a period of time she gains an excellent income from her paintings. Despite her love for Cal, I did feel she was using him and that made it uncomfortable reading at times.
Overall a very well-written book and a well deserved 4 stars.
June 17, 2017
A powerful, haunting and perfectly structured story about a boy with a facial disfigurement who becomes the muse of a young art student whose past as a model made her miserable. The characters are complex and compelling, the setting of 1980s Manchester feels very authentic and the ending works beautifully
May 17, 2017
The synopsis of this book really caught my attention, as the subject matter of appearance is always a topic that is often discussed by many.
Diana is a struggling art student who lacks inspiration, however a chance encounter with young Cal helps her with the inspiration she lacks. Due to Diana's childhood, where her mother forced her to take part in beauty pageants, Diana wishes to be free of the notion that she is only beautiful on the outside. Cal was born with a disfigurement. Diana uses her beauty and Cal's disfigurement as a shock factor in her art.
This is a well written story, which explores the concept of beauty interestingly. It also shows the struggle of Diana as a student. The characters fit well into the story allowing it to progress. A thought provoking book, which I would definitely recommend.
Diana is a struggling art student who lacks inspiration, however a chance encounter with young Cal helps her with the inspiration she lacks. Due to Diana's childhood, where her mother forced her to take part in beauty pageants, Diana wishes to be free of the notion that she is only beautiful on the outside. Cal was born with a disfigurement. Diana uses her beauty and Cal's disfigurement as a shock factor in her art.
This is a well written story, which explores the concept of beauty interestingly. It also shows the struggle of Diana as a student. The characters fit well into the story allowing it to progress. A thought provoking book, which I would definitely recommend.
May 24, 2017
I really enjoyed this book, it was totally different to all the other books I have read recently. I found my sympathies towards each character changing throughout the book. Characterisation was fantastic.
Overall a really good read
Overall a really good read
June 6, 2017
This book surprised me in many ways. Being a Mancunian I loved its setting and grew up in the era it was set so it brought back many memories. I struggled with the relationships and friendships portrayed in the book and they often made me incredibly uncomfortable. I felt that the manner in which Diana became Legal Guardian of Cal was very far fetched and somewhat unbelievable. Their relationship was very uncomfortable to read about and almost bordering on abusive as I felt Cal was used throughout his life. I would have liked to have seen more of Cal as an adult and how he dealt with the mental health issues and scars of his unusual upbringing when he stopped living with Diana. Not the easiest book to read but worth a read anyway.
July 14, 2017
Firstly the blurb for Skin Deep is brilliant – I found it impossible to not be drawn in – and really teases the story well. I was eager to read this book the moment I read the blurb. Normally I read them once and forget all about them by the time I start the book, but this one I couldn’t get off of my mind and this had me starting Skin Deep a lot earlier than I had planned.
Skin Deep is the story of Diana and Cal and what it feels like in a world where everyone is already judging you, where appearances mean so much.
Diana is a model turned art-student. She’s beautiful, but she’s not interested in using her looks for her career, something which certain people around her don’t understand, or don’t want to understand. Art is Diana’s passion, whilst modelling takes Diana back to a place in her life she doesn’t want to revisit. Diana meets Cal when he is a child. Cal was born facially disfigured and because of that his parents neglected him, hiding him away because of how he looks. As he grows up, we see that his mental health has been impacted, and also how Diana has decided that he is the perfect muse for her art.
The author sets a scene really well. Whilst I didn’t connect with the story straight away, I had already built up a vivid picture of the 1980s Manchester she was trying to portray early on. There was lots of drugs and drinking, and the world felt a bit of a murky place, which leads on similarly to the art world Diana craves being a part of. It was quite shocking to learn about the way Cal’s parents had hid him away, as well as sad to see how they were living in a haze without seeing what they really had in life.
Diana was a model when she was younger. She’s beautiful, but has had that beauty abused from the person who should be closest to her from a young age. Diana has no interest in pursuing modelling – she loves art and wants to be recognised for that, not her looks. Though I enjoyed reading about her, I never really liked Diana. There were aspects to her personality I could understand, and I found her interesting, but I couldn’t warm to her. At times I felt this made Skin Deep a bit hard-going as there was very little about her character that endeared me enough to read on, but despite this Skin Deep offered a lot more than that so it did keep me reading and the further into the book I was, the more I couldn’t put it down.
The relationship between Diana and Cal was utterly fascinating and the more I read it, the more I wanted to talk about it. Parts of it just didn’t feel right to me as it felt like Diana was using Cal for her own gain. He was her muse and she was taking advantage of him because he was different from the rest. Often it felt like Cal himself was not what she was interested in. It was Cal’s disfigurements, his “ugly” that Diana wanted, because that, contrasted with her “beauty”, would make for great art. It works at giving Diana recognition as an artist, but as this happens I felt her relationship with Cal becomes very one-sided as she needs him to help her progress further whilst leading him on at the same time. Honestly I was hooked trying to find out how it was all going to end up.
Skin Deep is such a powerful novel and I still can’t get it off my mind. Everything about it was utterly thought-provoking. There’s a surprisingly gritty feel about this book which gets under your skin in the style of a killer psychological thriller, leaving you turning the pages quickly to find out what happens next but feeling that bit of apprehension and discomfort at the turn the story is taking. The way this book develops had me engrossed. I would have liked for the author to have touched on mental health more, as this would have made it even grittier and more relevant in a time where mental health is much more well-known and well talked about. Without this, however, Skin Deep was still a wonderfully thought-provoking read, a difficult subject well written with characters and situations that linger on my mind weeks after finishing the book.
Skin Deep is the story of Diana and Cal and what it feels like in a world where everyone is already judging you, where appearances mean so much.
Diana is a model turned art-student. She’s beautiful, but she’s not interested in using her looks for her career, something which certain people around her don’t understand, or don’t want to understand. Art is Diana’s passion, whilst modelling takes Diana back to a place in her life she doesn’t want to revisit. Diana meets Cal when he is a child. Cal was born facially disfigured and because of that his parents neglected him, hiding him away because of how he looks. As he grows up, we see that his mental health has been impacted, and also how Diana has decided that he is the perfect muse for her art.
The author sets a scene really well. Whilst I didn’t connect with the story straight away, I had already built up a vivid picture of the 1980s Manchester she was trying to portray early on. There was lots of drugs and drinking, and the world felt a bit of a murky place, which leads on similarly to the art world Diana craves being a part of. It was quite shocking to learn about the way Cal’s parents had hid him away, as well as sad to see how they were living in a haze without seeing what they really had in life.
Diana was a model when she was younger. She’s beautiful, but has had that beauty abused from the person who should be closest to her from a young age. Diana has no interest in pursuing modelling – she loves art and wants to be recognised for that, not her looks. Though I enjoyed reading about her, I never really liked Diana. There were aspects to her personality I could understand, and I found her interesting, but I couldn’t warm to her. At times I felt this made Skin Deep a bit hard-going as there was very little about her character that endeared me enough to read on, but despite this Skin Deep offered a lot more than that so it did keep me reading and the further into the book I was, the more I couldn’t put it down.
The relationship between Diana and Cal was utterly fascinating and the more I read it, the more I wanted to talk about it. Parts of it just didn’t feel right to me as it felt like Diana was using Cal for her own gain. He was her muse and she was taking advantage of him because he was different from the rest. Often it felt like Cal himself was not what she was interested in. It was Cal’s disfigurements, his “ugly” that Diana wanted, because that, contrasted with her “beauty”, would make for great art. It works at giving Diana recognition as an artist, but as this happens I felt her relationship with Cal becomes very one-sided as she needs him to help her progress further whilst leading him on at the same time. Honestly I was hooked trying to find out how it was all going to end up.
Skin Deep is such a powerful novel and I still can’t get it off my mind. Everything about it was utterly thought-provoking. There’s a surprisingly gritty feel about this book which gets under your skin in the style of a killer psychological thriller, leaving you turning the pages quickly to find out what happens next but feeling that bit of apprehension and discomfort at the turn the story is taking. The way this book develops had me engrossed. I would have liked for the author to have touched on mental health more, as this would have made it even grittier and more relevant in a time where mental health is much more well-known and well talked about. Without this, however, Skin Deep was still a wonderfully thought-provoking read, a difficult subject well written with characters and situations that linger on my mind weeks after finishing the book.
August 24, 2017
Skin Deep is a powerful, if at times a difficult read. The main plot line deals with the question of what makes people beautiful. In todays society where our lives are documented on social media, and the importance of the selfie it really captures the zeitgeist of the period.
The narrative goes between Diana and Cal and their lives. Diana's story follows her from the 1980's to the present day, from a student to a renowned artist. Cal's story is told from a hospital bed where he is recovering from a cosmetic procedure which he hopes will make him look 'normal'. Cal also has flashbacks that take him back through his childhood to becoming an adult. He reminisces about certain events and his feelings and thought about them. He is never really sure if some of them are real memories of just imaginings of his mind. What these thought do is let us see his feelings about who he is, how he is seen by other others and how the fame brought about by Diana's art has effected him.
As characters Diana and Cal are polar opposites. Diana is blonde, beautiful, and comes from a privileged background. However, her relationship with her mother, Bunny, is strained due to years of abuse, both physical and emotional; Bunny pushed Diana in her modelling career and would hit her if she misbehaved.
Cal is dark haired and facial disfigured, kept out of sight so he doesn't frighten others. He is neglected by his drug addict parents, kept in a bedroom with his toys and television. Diana sees him as the antithesis to her and beauty and makes this into a life long art project; she makes him more beautiful and herself less so, even going to the lengths of injecting saline in to her face to distort it. What I found really interesting all of this is that the abused became the abuser; Diana in her relentless pursuit of her art pushes Cal into the limelight without really considering how it could effect him, she even resorts to blackmail at one point. However, I still had sympathy for her, she really did love Cal and thought she was doing her best for him. In my eyes she redeems herself by realising what she has done, even if it may be too late to save her realtionship.
Laura Wilkinson's prose is beautifully written and her characterisation really engages the reader, realism in plot and characters come through. The only problem for me was the timeline; there was very little indication of what year we were in, the age of Cal at the important parts of the story. Personally I feel that the inclusion of years would have added to my enjoyment of the book, I felt it would help me understand more of Cal's journey and feelings.
Overall, Skin Deep is an original and thought provoking read, with characters that will capture your heart. I think it is a novel that will certainly stay with me for a long time; it is intelligent and gives a balanced argument to both sides of the story. I highly recommend this book, and think it would benefit a teenage audience as well as adult as it questions so many values in todays society.
The narrative goes between Diana and Cal and their lives. Diana's story follows her from the 1980's to the present day, from a student to a renowned artist. Cal's story is told from a hospital bed where he is recovering from a cosmetic procedure which he hopes will make him look 'normal'. Cal also has flashbacks that take him back through his childhood to becoming an adult. He reminisces about certain events and his feelings and thought about them. He is never really sure if some of them are real memories of just imaginings of his mind. What these thought do is let us see his feelings about who he is, how he is seen by other others and how the fame brought about by Diana's art has effected him.
As characters Diana and Cal are polar opposites. Diana is blonde, beautiful, and comes from a privileged background. However, her relationship with her mother, Bunny, is strained due to years of abuse, both physical and emotional; Bunny pushed Diana in her modelling career and would hit her if she misbehaved.
Cal is dark haired and facial disfigured, kept out of sight so he doesn't frighten others. He is neglected by his drug addict parents, kept in a bedroom with his toys and television. Diana sees him as the antithesis to her and beauty and makes this into a life long art project; she makes him more beautiful and herself less so, even going to the lengths of injecting saline in to her face to distort it. What I found really interesting all of this is that the abused became the abuser; Diana in her relentless pursuit of her art pushes Cal into the limelight without really considering how it could effect him, she even resorts to blackmail at one point. However, I still had sympathy for her, she really did love Cal and thought she was doing her best for him. In my eyes she redeems herself by realising what she has done, even if it may be too late to save her realtionship.
Laura Wilkinson's prose is beautifully written and her characterisation really engages the reader, realism in plot and characters come through. The only problem for me was the timeline; there was very little indication of what year we were in, the age of Cal at the important parts of the story. Personally I feel that the inclusion of years would have added to my enjoyment of the book, I felt it would help me understand more of Cal's journey and feelings.
Overall, Skin Deep is an original and thought provoking read, with characters that will capture your heart. I think it is a novel that will certainly stay with me for a long time; it is intelligent and gives a balanced argument to both sides of the story. I highly recommend this book, and think it would benefit a teenage audience as well as adult as it questions so many values in todays society.
November 20, 2017
An intriguing story which explores the depths of the true human beauty and strengths.
What's beauty? What's ugly, exactly?
What makes us, well, truly beautiful?
Diana is an ex-model who ends up in Manchester to attend Art college and there finds her call.
Cal is a little boy segregated in a dark, moldy room by his very parents, the reason being his monstrous appearance.
Diana meets Cal almost accidentally, and it is as if her inner muse is stricken by a lightening. Might be Cal the subject she was looking for to create something unique, to avoid being thrown out of Art school and finally find her path?
Thanks to Cal's willingness to help and please her, Diana gets to create the masterpiece she wants, a collection of pictures depicting monstruosity in a way no one's ever seen before. Life then leads her and Cal to become family, but Cal's willingness to help starts to fade the older he gets and, with that, his unique relationship with Diana.
Who's the real freak? The poor kid with a face no one would like to look at or his adoptive mum, who would go to great lengths to use his image to get the fame and recognition she thinks she deserves?
A truly honest, brutal account on how people's perception can sometimes change other human beings' lives. The task ahead was all but simple, and yet Laura Wilkinson managed to give us this little treasure of a book, bringing us back to Manchester as it was in the 80s, making us think about the real significance of the word "monster".
What's beauty? What's ugly, exactly?
What makes us, well, truly beautiful?
Diana is an ex-model who ends up in Manchester to attend Art college and there finds her call.
Cal is a little boy segregated in a dark, moldy room by his very parents, the reason being his monstrous appearance.
Diana meets Cal almost accidentally, and it is as if her inner muse is stricken by a lightening. Might be Cal the subject she was looking for to create something unique, to avoid being thrown out of Art school and finally find her path?
Thanks to Cal's willingness to help and please her, Diana gets to create the masterpiece she wants, a collection of pictures depicting monstruosity in a way no one's ever seen before. Life then leads her and Cal to become family, but Cal's willingness to help starts to fade the older he gets and, with that, his unique relationship with Diana.
Who's the real freak? The poor kid with a face no one would like to look at or his adoptive mum, who would go to great lengths to use his image to get the fame and recognition she thinks she deserves?
A truly honest, brutal account on how people's perception can sometimes change other human beings' lives. The task ahead was all but simple, and yet Laura Wilkinson managed to give us this little treasure of a book, bringing us back to Manchester as it was in the 80s, making us think about the real significance of the word "monster".
August 13, 2017
I have enjoyed all of Laura Wilkinson's books but this is the best yet. She always manages to find a new way of looking at the world. Here we are transported back to 1980s Manchester and anyone who was there will be carried on a tide of nostalgia. Beauty is skin deep and when ex-model and art student Diana and facially disfigured child Cal meet in a tower block slum a new family is born. That family turns out to be pretty dysfunctional as Diana exploits Cal in the name of art and Cal struggles to find an identity all of his own. It's a cracking read, exploring the very modern theme of a society obsessed with the way we look rather than who we are inside.
October 2, 2018
An engaging book where I was torn between 3 & 4 stars. I came up with 3 because of 2 things. I wasn't convinced about how easy it was for Diana to adopt Cal, and secondly too much time was spent about Diana's struggle to be an artist and her art. Between fifty and a hundred pages could have been cut. This was overwritten. We should have seen more of the relationship between Diana and Cal and there was more scope for conflict between the two main protagonists as Cal moved into adulthood.
Wilkinson's asks some uneasy questions about looks and disability, for that reason alone the book is worth reading.
Wilkinson's asks some uneasy questions about looks and disability, for that reason alone the book is worth reading.
June 30, 2017
An interesting look at how people choose to live their lives and how they view others. A thought provoking book where phrases to do with looks pop into ones head. 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder' . We all view people and beauty differently and this novel shows this remarkably well with Cal a disfigured child who is locked away by his parents because of his looks and yet Diana eventually sees past this and grows to love him whilst using him as inspiration for her creations.
Highly recommend this novel.
Highly recommend this novel.
February 27, 2025
Picked this book up in a charity shop because I read the back and it drew me in! But unfortunately giving this book a 3* because it took me so long to read and was a slow burner! It really drags on… I loved the characters and the meaning behind the story was an eye opener but I must say I kinda just wanted it to end lol. Although I am glad I read it and it really shone through that beauty is in the eye of the beholder! 💕
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