- Library Binding: 272 pages
- Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (24 May 2005)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0375932038
- ISBN-13: 978-0375932038
- Product Dimensions: 21.1 x 14.2 x 2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
More About the Author
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
The Burning City is New York at the height of summer; one of the achievements of the Dorfman's, father and son, is that they make us see one of the most clichéd of cityscapes in a new light. For one thing, this is New York as seen by high-speed bike and roller-blade messengers, in which every street is a set of pit-falls and a set of opportunities; sixteen-year-old Heller wants to be the best and fastest and is quietly ruthless with himself and with pedestrians as he slides his bike under trucks and through building sites. It is also the New York of exiles and foreigners--Heller works for a company specialising in tidings of death and other miseries and spends his days telling people of a death in Paris or a forced marriage in Kurdistan. This is also an intelligent novel about adolescence; Heller is a flawed protagonist who learns some hard home truths about what is really important.
This is a touching and exciting book, the deliberate na&imul;veties of which reflect those of its profoundly ambiguous and amoral young hero; like him, it stands at the very edge of teen wish-fulfilment fantasies and adult concerns. --Roz Kaveney --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
"For pure adrenalin shot through with giddy intelligence, teenagers can't do much better than The Burning City."
--"Daily Telegraph" --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
--"Daily Telegraph" --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I sat down to read a couple of pages of this book and five hours later i was still transfixed.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I loved this book. It made me think about more than what was written. Which is always a good quality.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
Loved it
29 Aug 2011
Format:Paperback
I read this book a while ago, checked it out from the library and read it in a couple days. I loved it.
The description and even the other reviewer mention the flaws of the setting and how the plot seems unrealistic but in my mind these aren't flaws at all. When I read this book it had a bit of a nonsensical feel to me. Like it wasn't supposed to be completely realistic, it was supposed to be about the people rather than the plot. And the people are great. Heller is one of the best written characters I have read and for a young adult novel I think the characters are much more important than anything else because teens are looking for people to relate to.
As was said in one of the novel descriptions I think this book and it's characters are best for "thoughtful" teens. The story itself is quite interesting and does grab your attention, but the characters and their inner relationships and emotions are what makes the story, so if you're only interested in a story about a young bicyclist that's not what you're going to get. But if you want to read a story filled with characters who are complex and interesting and still so understandable, this is definitely a book you will love.
The description and even the other reviewer mention the flaws of the setting and how the plot seems unrealistic but in my mind these aren't flaws at all. When I read this book it had a bit of a nonsensical feel to me. Like it wasn't supposed to be completely realistic, it was supposed to be about the people rather than the plot. And the people are great. Heller is one of the best written characters I have read and for a young adult novel I think the characters are much more important than anything else because teens are looking for people to relate to.
As was said in one of the novel descriptions I think this book and it's characters are best for "thoughtful" teens. The story itself is quite interesting and does grab your attention, but the characters and their inner relationships and emotions are what makes the story, so if you're only interested in a story about a young bicyclist that's not what you're going to get. But if you want to read a story filled with characters who are complex and interesting and still so understandable, this is definitely a book you will love.
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful
the people, the people!!
22 Dec 2005
Format:Hardcover
i was given an advanced copy of this book and i didn't want to read it. i hate 'sports' books. i never even picked this up until after it was already in the library and cataloged and on the shelf. man was i an idiot:)
this book is great! wait, it's better than great:) the characters are amazing (and really, they make this book). every distinct, vivid, realistic, snarky, wonderful person in this story rocked.
heller meets people over and over in manhatten rather conviniently, and the story line is a little on the, shall we say, unrealistic side. however, these flaws are totally easy to overlook when the dialog happens. (besides, when was the last time i saw a movie with a realistic story line???)
absolutely unique.
this book is great! wait, it's better than great:) the characters are amazing (and really, they make this book). every distinct, vivid, realistic, snarky, wonderful person in this story rocked.
heller meets people over and over in manhatten rather conviniently, and the story line is a little on the, shall we say, unrealistic side. however, these flaws are totally easy to overlook when the dialog happens. (besides, when was the last time i saw a movie with a realistic story line???)
absolutely unique.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Children's Books > Fiction > Adventure
- Books > Children's Books > Fiction > Issues > Social
- Books > Children's Books > Fiction > Romance
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
