Carnegie book wards 2013 discussion

Just about to start this one. I've read 3 or 4 Marcus Sedgwick so this should be interesting. Some students have said it is not as dark as some of his novels. My cover - paperback is very different to the one on this post.

I am looking forward to reading this one too. I only read horror/scary books when they are on the short list as its not my thing. I have to admit that all the Marcus Sedgwick books that I have read I have enjoyed. My cover too is not like this one.....

I liked this but I found the ending a little flat, which was annoying.

Which Marcus Sedgewicks' have you read so far?

Mainly ones that have been on previously short lists. My Swordhand is swinging, revolver and white crow. I loved the two stories running through White Crow, not sure how your students understood the story without reading both bits, made me chuckle :)

:D The great thing about it was they seemed a baffled when I told them it was supposed to be integral. It was almost like 'Why would you? The typeface was weird and it was old!'

I've read those 3 and Blood Red, Snow White. I suppose Swordhand and Revolver are my two favourites but Revolver takes a long time to 'wind up'.

Midwinterblood: Started today and liked the opening. Intriguing.

I've read only read revolver and midwinterblood I think, although he's been in the carnegie so much I feel like I've read more!

This is the first Marcus Sedgewick book I've read (I think!) and I really liked it. I was sad we didn't get to know Eric and Merle very well despite the fact they were everywhere. Even though I haven't read any of his other books, I do think someone else should be given a turn to win if he's been on the list so many times before. Mind you, look at Hilary Mantel I suppose!

Yeah, I agree with you about getting to know Eric and Merle. I thought that's what the books would lead up to but I didn't feel it ever really did.

I haven't heard of Hilary mantle I don't think...?

Only 30 or so pages in but I like the way Sedgewick is creating mystery so far. Clearly something is up with the tea! Stop drinking it! It's like all the thrillers where the teenagers go into the basement to check out the creepy noise. Why? Have you no sense of self preservation? Just run!

Well that didn't go well for Eric! He should have listened to my advice!

I really like Midwinterblood. I loved the suspense. I was surprised by the level of violence. I enjoyed Sedgewick's use of language and imagery. And I certainly wouldn't mind if this won. Having said that I still have 4 to go.

As Zara says he's been on the shortlist enough times!

Ela wrote: "Yeah, I agree with you about getting to know Eric and Merle. I thought that's what the books would lead up to but I didn't feel it ever really did.

I haven't heard of Hilary mantle I don't think...?"

Hilary Mantel - she of Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, multi-prize winning British author. Her books are some of my favourites ever, although you do need to have a fairly sound grasp of who's who in Tudor England to read them!

Anyway, back to the shortlist, I wouldn't mind terribly if this won. It is a very interesting book, but I didn't adore it. That's why I prefer last year's shortlist - last year, I couldn't bear some books and really loved others. This year, they all seem to be... middling. Maybe I'd think otherwise if I went back and read them again, I don't know!

Here is a link to the Carl Larsson painting which Marcus Sedgewick uses as inspiration for the book. (view spoiler)[
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v37... (hide spoiler)]

Finished Midwinterblood recently, so far it's one of my favourites this year but I haven't finished yet. Loved how the stories interlink but not too obviously. Except this, I have read two other Marcus Sedgwicks - My Swordhand is Singing is my favourite and I've read the one set after Swordhand in Venice, Kiss of Death.

Yes I'd totally forgotten the Venice one. I thought that was very indifferent - not as good as his usual stuff. I had the feeling it was written for a younger audience. I really enjoyed Midwinterblood. Have you seen the painting Nick?

Finished Midwinterblood. I too felt that we didn't really get to know Eric and Merl which was a shame. Also did they know that they had met before in another life? It didn't really go into that either. They obviously had a connection but apart from the names it was difficult to see the connection. I was glad that the final story explained it all as I had to stop trying to link all the stories together as it was annoying me. I just took each story as something separate. I dont think it was as good as his other books and am not sure this will win. Thanks for the link to the picture....it's good to see it.

In his Carnegie interviews he says that the loose links are deliberate. That he deliberately change their relationships but that each included an element of sacrifice. I kind of liked that - it prevented it turning into 'Fallen'.

It was handled very well. I think maybe by the end I kind of knew more or less what was going to happen, and I'd seen the two of them on the brink of disaster so many times before it didn't seem to matter so much if they were about to die or not. They could always come back. I think that might have been a slight flaw - by linking the stories with sacrifice and tragedy, the theme reoccurs so often it loses shock impact. I need to read it again before I decide.

Mm I can see your point, though I was a bit shocked the first time it happened. I supposeit had an element of casualty about it HA ha.

Mmm my kids are still shying away from it at the moment... But they are mainly yr 7.
Didn't he win with Swordhand?

Ok I think this has been knocked out by In Darkness, Verity and Maggot Moon

Really don't want this to win, I just don't think its good enough. It had potential but |I felt the entire book was building to something that never happened which really frustrated me.

I agree completely! They would have made a good set of short stories with a better ending. I was also left feeling a bit deflated and let down by the ending.

Exactly, glad it's not just me :)

I liked it but theothers were just better.I also read it after the younger books so it was stronger than Greyhound!