This week, I read a book called Surrender by Sonya Hartnett. The book focuses around 2 main characters: Anwell, who is nicknamed Gabriel and his best friend Finnigan. The narrative flips between the two boys point of view, each telling the story of their friendship through their own eyes. Gabriel, we learn is dying. Of what, is unclear, but it is from his deathbed that he begins recounting his friendship with Finnigan. Gabriel had always been picked on at school because of ‘the accident.’ Students laughed at him and called him a kook, because of what he did. Finnigan walks up to Gabriel’s yard one day and explains that he’s heard what the other kids call him, but he still decides he’s going to be friends with the boy. The two make a pact to be blood brothers. Finnigan decides that Gabriel must only do good things while he will only do bad things. Because of this, Finnigan runs through town, causing havoc for everyone. Gabriel reveals to Finnigan the nature of ‘the accident’ which helps understand the events that occur throughout the next few years. Gabriel is the cause of several more similar accidents, and choosing to die of his own accord, because he cannot live in a world where Finnigan is, as he has become sickened with their friendship.
I enjoyed the book immensely. I had trouble putting it down and stepping away from it from any amount of time. It was an extremely quick read and the story seemed to flow right from the pages. It moved from a very basic story to something complicated and sinewy very quickly. The accident that Gabriel caused seemed very innocent, but as you continue reading, you can see how deep set it was with him as he carried that weight all those years. It was well thought out and unlike anything I had read in awhile. I also really enjoyed the imagery the author used. Every sentence painted a gorgeous portrait in my head. As I was reading sentences, I realized only then that the words she used were very foreign placed in that order, and yet it described the actions perfectly. I was extremely impressed with it.
When I picked the book up, I wasn’t sure what I was expecting. I still am not sure exactly how to classify the book, as it doesn’t quite fit a genre, but it’s definitely different from most young adult fiction that I’ve ever read before. I’d definitely reccommend it. I’d love for someone else to read it so I could talk out the twist in the last ten pages of the novel. It really pulled one over on me, but once I had realized the twist, I went back and realized there were subtle hints throughout the book that guided the reader to the twist.
I enjoyed the book immensely. I had trouble putting it down and stepping away from it from any amount of time. It was an extremely quick read and the story seemed to flow right from the pages. It moved from a very basic story to something complicated and sinewy very quickly. The accident that Gabriel caused seemed very innocent, but as you continue reading, you can see how deep set it was with him as he carried that weight all those years. It was well thought out and unlike anything I had read in awhile. I also really enjoyed the imagery the author used. Every sentence painted a gorgeous portrait in my head. As I was reading sentences, I realized only then that the words she used were very foreign placed in that order, and yet it described the actions perfectly. I was extremely impressed with it.
When I picked the book up, I wasn’t sure what I was expecting. I still am not sure exactly how to classify the book, as it doesn’t quite fit a genre, but it’s definitely different from most young adult fiction that I’ve ever read before. I’d definitely reccommend it. I’d love for someone else to read it so I could talk out the twist in the last ten pages of the novel. It really pulled one over on me, but once I had realized the twist, I went back and realized there were subtle hints throughout the book that guided the reader to the twist.