Waves - Sharon Dogar.

Waves by Sharon Dogar.

"A remarkable novel...suffused by an atmosphere both sensuous and sinister." - Philip Pullman.

Three quarters into it, and I just can't wait till the end. I'm only stopping reading in order to write this.

It's a fantastic young adult novel that caters to adult needs, tackling themes regarding loss, grief and family issues. The protagonists Hal and Charley are brother and sister who find themselves tied with a strong bond that goes beyond the norm - they can hear each others thoughts, and whats more, they can see through each other's 'chameleon' eyes. Charley, deep in a coma in a hospital bed, reaches out for help to Hal, who is vacationing at their holiday house during the summer, hoping he can save her from the depths. The rest of the family, believing there is no hope for Charley, only fuels Hal's desires to 'rescue' his sister by finding out what really happened last summer to her.

It is a dark book; even the romantic scenes between Hal and Jackie, and Charley's flashbacks to her and Pete the 'surf-god', are infused with a sinister quality, like there is something not quite right, and the dangers of young love. Sharon Dogar treats human emotions and the strong bonds between family in a powerful way, and the symbolism of waves can be read in so many different ways, for changing emotions, danger, starting afresh and growing up.

Alright, back to the book!

Books.

How to explain books? I can only explain what they mean to me. They are everything. The way they look, the way they smell, the sound their pages make when they turn, the stories they tell, oh the stories. It's the words that make books come alive. I'm not just talking fiction (although, fiction is my favourite, hands down), cookbooks use their words to make magic, books about hobbies, how to knit, crafts, travel. Some use pictures to tell the story. It is what is enclosed in the pages that mean the most.

But perhaps I am too adamant. Because I have to say, standing there in the book shop or library, with my satchel resting on my shoulder, and gazing up (or down) at the rows and rows and stacks and stacks of books that lay out in front of me like endless possibilities, it is the way the books look on the shelves that take my attention. I do love a good spine, a good cover page.

They are expensive, yes, but they are there for the taking.

Everything that books consist of make books what they are to me.

I know I'm meant to have books in my life forever. I started off as a tiny booklover, scouting the library shelves, wanting to read adult books when I was eleven, and I know I will end my life as a booklover, scouting the opshop shelves for old gems.

I thought once - is it possible to read every book in the world? No.

But lets try and read as many as we can.

Jamie, 21, girl, movie lover, book lover obvs, personal baker and cook, vintage sunglasses collector, TV on DVD watcher, laugher, animal lover, and pun artist.

Pleased to meetcha!

This blog will contain all my book ravings, my thoughts, my dreams and book reviews.