Black Boxes
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More About the Author
Product Description
Review
Praise for In Search of Adam:
‘There is little in the way of relief in this harrowing first novel, but Smailes' sensitivity towards her subjects – and the poetry of her writing – carry the story.’ Financial Times
‘In Search of Adam by Caroline Smailes…a stunning insight into the disturbed mind of a girl living in the North-East. It has re-defined what writing can do for the reader – it can change the way you look at people.’ Terry Deary
‘Fantastic. She's a natural. It's confident, harrowing, uplifting and what's more it's set in the North East!’ Paul Magrs
Book Description
Julie Myerson meets Ian McEwan in this gripping novel of family breakdown.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Black Boxes is a book that gives you your money's worth on every page. Once again Caroline has taken one of life's most important and rarely discussed issues and with her very unique voice, made it into a very readable novel.
Black boxes is compelling reading.
I expect readers who are not familiar with Caroline's writing will think that the topic is used to allay one's fear of the situation but as usual she does no such thing. Instead, she bravely examines each nuance of this emotive topic, detailing the root cause and perpetuating factors, following the path of destruction that unrecognised postnatal depression can become.
Although this is not an academic work, it accomplishes what no textbook will ever do and I strongly recommend it as reading for Health and Social Care students. I admire Caroline hugely for writing this book and know that each person who reads it will develop a greater understanding of some very sensitive issues that are very much a part of many people's lives.
Postnatal depression is the main issue but emotional abuse, neglect, bullying, love and hate are also seamlessly blended in this book written from the mother Ana's and daughter Pip's perspective. Pip's voice also speaks for her brother Davie. Ana speaks with imperfect and egocentric hindsight, Pip cries out from the harsh, damaging reality of the present time.
The parallels are sharp, perfectly honed, gleaming. There is white hot pain contained within the pages of this book.
Pip and Davie need a hiding tree, a place to escape the tsunami like destruction of their parent's madness's. Their pain rings out like the tones that can be coaxed from the rim of wet crystal and I found myself reading with the certainty that one of their songs was going to stop.
I challenge you to read Pip's closing words without a tear in your eye...
Black boxes is compelling reading.
I expect readers who are not familiar with Caroline's writing will think that the topic is used to allay one's fear of the situation but as usual she does no such thing. Instead, she bravely examines each nuance of this emotive topic, detailing the root cause and perpetuating factors, following the path of destruction that unrecognised postnatal depression can become.
Although this is not an academic work, it accomplishes what no textbook will ever do and I strongly recommend it as reading for Health and Social Care students. I admire Caroline hugely for writing this book and know that each person who reads it will develop a greater understanding of some very sensitive issues that are very much a part of many people's lives.
Postnatal depression is the main issue but emotional abuse, neglect, bullying, love and hate are also seamlessly blended in this book written from the mother Ana's and daughter Pip's perspective. Pip's voice also speaks for her brother Davie. Ana speaks with imperfect and egocentric hindsight, Pip cries out from the harsh, damaging reality of the present time.
The parallels are sharp, perfectly honed, gleaming. There is white hot pain contained within the pages of this book.
Pip and Davie need a hiding tree, a place to escape the tsunami like destruction of their parent's madness's. Their pain rings out like the tones that can be coaxed from the rim of wet crystal and I found myself reading with the certainty that one of their songs was going to stop.
I challenge you to read Pip's closing words without a tear in your eye...
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is very powerful. Black Boxes comes at you on so many different levels, it's not one for the faint hearted but it certainly made me think. Alternating between heartbreaking and exasperating, Ana's story kept me reading to the end, even if often that was painful. As others have said, it is brave and individual writing and does weave a gripping tale out of a desperate reality.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I loved this book. The characters are so real and the writing is brave, unique and really achieves in breaking the mould. I am shocked by some of the other reviews for this book, especially as they are not really at all about the quality of writing or characterisation.
If you have ever known anyone with any mental health problems or any child who has lived through neglect/bullying/parents in broken relationship you will not be disappointed in the perceptive and realistic representation of those in the book who have these issues.
It is a heartbreaking and powerful book and I have recommended it to anyone who'll listen...
If you have ever known anyone with any mental health problems or any child who has lived through neglect/bullying/parents in broken relationship you will not be disappointed in the perceptive and realistic representation of those in the book who have these issues.
It is a heartbreaking and powerful book and I have recommended it to anyone who'll listen...
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Black boxes
Not my usual style of reading, this book was quite difficult to get into for the first few pages, and I was a little confused until I worked out what was going on. Read more
Published 2 months ago by A. Richardson
Really didn't like this book
Found this book difficult to read, didn't like the writing style, enjoyed the parts about Pipa, wouldn't read anything else by the author.
Published 3 months ago by Karen Loudon
Beautiful & Harrowing
I absolutely loved this novel, although at times I wanted to put it down if I'm honest as it is very intense and Ana's voice is extremely powerful throughout. Read more
Published 3 months ago by bethanchloe
The best kindle purchase I've made this month
This dark novel's sustained intensity impressed me more than anything else. It's an in-your-face portrait of self-destruction, the spiralling mood of Ana all the more believable... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mr. N. G. Sanders
Bravely written
None of us like to be confronted with the seedy side of life, or the individuals who suffer depression, child neglect or raw emotional pain. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Josephine
Heartbreaking but compelling
I have just finished Black Boxes which I read in record time for me as I'm not the most profilic reader, but once it had me in its grip it refused to let go. Read more
Published 13 months ago by J. M. Ward
Annoying and repetitive
I have read Smailes 'In Search of Adam' which I quite enjoyed. She has an unusual writing style to say the least. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Rosebud
Not pleasant and doesn't go anywhere
I bought this one for my kindle and whilst I did finish it it wasn't a pleasant or rewarding read.
The ideas behind the book are good, but they are not developed what... Read more
The ideas behind the book are good, but they are not developed what... Read more
Published 17 months ago by C. Bannister
Disturbing, but compelling
Ana Lewis is a woman who has had a tough life. She loves her ex, Alex, so much, but he doesn't love her and in fact has treated her appallingly. Read more
Published on 16 Mar 2010 by Nicola
Devastating and beautiful
I started reading Black Boxes one morning when I woke up very very early - and then couldn't put it down. I ended up taking it to work, reading every step of the way. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2010 by Kate
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