Halton Teenz Bookspace discussion

Megan and I are reading this to review for Publishers/Reading Agency.
I've just read a few pages, and it starts in 'Now' which seems very strange in aftermath to some disaster. I've noticed the chapters alternate now and then which will be interesting as past gradually revealed. V. readable so far
We'd love the reviews of others also. Library has lending copies and reading group copies. Contact me for these either through goodreads or maria.hardie@halton.gov.uk

Remember to let me have a look at the other books like Millions by FC Boyce.

My friend Amy recently read this book and kindly wrote a review:
'In Darkness by Nick Lake is a hard hitting book about the legends and magic of Haiti. Shorty's desolation and isolation throughout the book is well described as he recaps his life and the events up to that day of the earthquake. I loved the way the past and present were linked between Shorty and Touissant and how, even in the darkness of the collapsed hospital, Nick Lake constantly changed the atmosphere around Shorty. However I did find a lot of the terminology confusing to grasp at first; the names of people and terms for them were hard to separate during the first few chapters. Once I had gotten into the book though, I found it hard to put down. I have to say I was slightly disappointed by the quick ending but the authors note at the end helped to put everything into perspective. Over all I really enjoyed this book and would recommend this to others my age. It was an interesting read.'

I finished reading 'In darkness' last month and found it to be quite an eye opening read. This is my review.

Author Nick Lake tells the story of a young man trapped in darkness not knowing where he is and uncertain of what is happening around him and he invites us into his tale, a story of gang life, of sibling separation and a dynamic overview of political war whilst the foundation of Haiti is being lain down by Toussaint L’Overture, a rebel forming a slavery rebellion.

What is most striking about this novel is the ideas and attitude behind it doesn’t necessarily mean it is a young person’s novel. This is grown up and more appropriate for an older audience as it delves into the world of Haiti and travelling back and forth in time to the formation and destructive revolution of key historical figures and the central teenage boy, trapped in darkness recapping to the reader how he arrived in a desolate hospital.

And the structure to this award winning novel is key to the development of the settings and lifestyle of central character Shorty, a young man who was separated from his sister, who had a difficult upbringing and becoming involved in gang life. Balancing his story alongside the slow build up of Haiti’s history and Toussaint L’Overture, a rebel who fought for slave freedom brings along a remarkable novel of deep political history with heavy family drama, death and national angst.

As a teenage/young adult novel I was struck by the violent broadness of Nick Lake’s story, it is staggeringly brutal and unafraid to skirt around drug intakes and deals, political death threats and bloody imagery. It is quite startling also to read a swear word practically on every page. So if you’re planning on using this to teach or read with your teenage son or daughter, be wary this is a heavy drama.
However the central character is well established as a teenager with his gangster attitude, his friends and often Nick Lake inserts references to modern rappers which some may find funny and others might find ridiculous. As if the use of slang, race and imagery generate would be classed as stereotypical.

The stand out feature to this 2012 novel is Shorty’s moving reflection towards his family. With regards to his lost sister Nick Lake writes in a beautiful way that only a sibling could really appreciate. He generates a feeling of a connection with writing from the point of view of Shorty and scripting some heart rendering statements about his sister’s outlook on life, how she was, how she cared, what she looked like and now, what little he can remember. It may generate a tear or two.

If your history knowledge is as small as mine then fear not as when this book gets into its groove there is some strong scene setting from Nick Lake and detailed history to entice and intrigue. The problem with this is that it can feel long winded and by being dragged into a deep meaningful history lesson, ‘In Darkness’ can lose some of the intensity that the characters can brilliantly generate. And perhaps that’s a key when this book gets going. It’s intense and violent and mentally strong and you feel, an important novel given the history of Haiti. The structure of the book works well, going from the present to the past and back allows the author to tell two stories at once and this works having a break in between the heavy and the light side of life. But as a result the flow of the story is corrupted and it is challenging to recapture that feeling of being right there in the heart of war to being in the hospital.

In Darkness therefore is quite a unique book to place on a shelf. It feels important, and it is, and at the same time despite the wonderful drama and detailed historical overview, it is quite a challenging read.