Jellicoe Road [Hardcover]

I may have mentioned at some point (or at several points) that I am completely in love with audiobooks. They make my drive to work not just bearable, but enjoyable. I find that with audiobooks, your eyes don't get the chance to skip over the text and miss something important. Every nuance of a book is brought to life with unabridged recordings of books.
On The Jellicoe Road was another brilliant use of my Audible monthly membership. Rebecca Macauley brought Melina Marchetta's Australian narrative to life.

Taylor Markham was a protagonist who had me torn. At times I liked her cool independence and her "take no prisoners" attitude. At other times I was irritated by how tunnel-visioned she was. I guess when I was a teenager I suffered a case of near-sightedness and held the mistaken belief that my own tiny corner of the world was the sphere itself. Maybe that's just a part of growing up. Nonetheless, Taylor's selfishness irritated me. She'd been through a lot but didn't recognise the positives and potentials of her life.

The narrative of On The Jellicoe Road was split. On the one hand there was the first person narrative of Taylor, on the other was the manuscript written by Hannah, the woman who found and cares for Taylor. At first this was a tad confusing in the audiobook and it took me a few switches in perspective to figure out what was going on. However, I am slow...

I loved the setting of this book. The vivid description of the Jellicoe School and its surrounding grounds was made all the more bright and exciting by the Australian narrator who lent credence to the language. I found myself thinking in an Australian accent (a not at all believable one...) while listening to this book. What can I say? I'm an impressionable soul.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed On The Jellicoe Road. I'd heard a whole bunch of hype about it from my fellow bloggers and, while I'm not sure it's a book I'd rave about, it is a book which I found engaging, well-written and a pleasure to listen to. A solid four stars for this one!

Ah, for a very long time, the cat hasn't come across a book like Jellicoe Road. What a breath of (dusty Australian) fresh air this is! Taylor Markham is 17 when we meet her at Jellicoe School where she has just become the reluctant leader of the Underground Community who leads the territory wars between the school, the Townies and the Cadets. In an all interconnected puzzle of past and present friendships, loves and sorrows, Marchetta unfolds slowly but oh so beautifully the events that have lead Taylor to where she is at present.

For the longest of times (at least 100 pages!) the cat read this book with the hugest of frowns on her face, not knowing what to think what the heck was going on in the book. You get Taylor's story at the school and the present territory wars (say what?) interspersed with the story of a car accident on the Jellicoe Road some 20 years before, as well as the story of a boy in a tree who visits Taylor in her dreams, as well as a manuscript written by Taylor's (disappeared) guardian Hannah, about 5 teens... It's definitely not that this is a slow start, not at all, but the interconnectedness of everything makes it confusing at worst but mesmerizing at its absolute best...

All this is due to Marchetta's incredibly poetic talent. Her prose has a graceful and lyrical flow which is both electrifying and hypnotizing at the same time, but instead of slowing you down as you read, it urges you forward, wanting to savor every little bit of it,... Unlike so many other novels that either choose the character- or plot-oriented approach, I would argue you get the best of both worlds in Jellicoe Road. The characterization in Jellicoe Road moves beyond a mere portrayal of Taylor Markham, or Jonah Griggs (leader of the Cadets), or any of the other protagonists (from both eras). As the title suggests, Jellicoe Road in itself turns into a character, described in such detailed beauty, it would be an injustice not to mention it. The dusty heat of the Australian summer is all over the pages here.

At the same time, Marchetta's prose and her carefully woven tale of friendship, sadness and loss urges you on to keep on reading so you know the outcome of both stories. If there was ever a time to use the words `gorgeous' and `leaving you breathless' in connection with the style of an author, this is it. Melina Marchetta has the gift to draw readers in, to grab them by the throat, even if (especially if) they have the hugests of frowns on their faces trying to figure out what she is on about. She's one of those rare authors that doesn't take the reader for granted, who doesn't compromise about so-called plot conventions, who dares to go beyond the traditional boundaries of a genre or a plot device (like e.g. the love story between 2 protagonists).

Saying anything more about the plot or the characters of the book would spoil it. This is a book you need to take in wholly and completely. The cat will not spoil that for you. Suffice it say that you get a carefully crafted tale of friendship and love, of sorrow and loss, of belonging. Long to be.

Gold Star Award Winner!

Taylor Markam was abandoned by her mother at a 7-Eleven on Jellicoe Road when she was a mere eleven years old. Only moments later a woman by the name of Hannah picked her up and brought her to the Jellicoe School. Now she is seventeen and finds that Hannah is a rock in her inconsistent life. While she has Hannah, Taylor doesn't know much about her family except the horror stories she remembers of her mother.

She does find comfort, though, in a manuscript that Hannah has written about a group of five friends who met in the worst circumstances, but developed a remarkable friendship when they only had each other. When Hannah just up and leaves, Taylor doesn't understand what has happened and she becomes a wreck. Not only does she have to deal with Hannah's disappearance, but she has just been named the head of her House and the leader of the school kids in the annual territory wars against the "Townies" and "Cadets."

In the war, the three groups battle and negotiate, following an extensive set of rules that might as well be history. As the war wages on, Taylor learns to take an active role in her community, as well as develop relationships that she never thought possible. Especially with Jonah Griggs, the leader of the Cadets, whom she already has quite a history with.

This war will be like no other. It will not only be between the normal three parties, but among friends, hearts desires, and, most of all, Taylor herself.

From the title I was expecting a light and fun read. Wow, was I wrong! This book is filled with heartbreak, joy, laughter, and sorrow. It completely blew me away and surpassed every expectation I had, even though I was expecting something completely different.

Before I even get into the elements of the story I have to comment on how much talent the author has. Melina Marhetta's writing style is indescribable. It seemed that she was so comfortable writing the story and her words just flowed from page to page with great clarity. I loved how the author weaved many intricate details and mini-stories into one big story, making it like a puzzle that slowly comes together until those last couple of pieces just fall into place.

The only miff I had with this book is that it took me probably until the third chapter to actually understand what was going on. In the beginning, there were two stories and it was hard to wrap my head around everything that was happening. After that, though, it seemed the author settled into writing and the story took off.

Taylor, without a doubt, is one of the best characters that I think has ever been created. She has this true voice where you can hear and feel her emotions ring out. By the time the book had ended I felt like I knew Taylor like I know my best friends. While Taylor was the main character, the author did a fabulous job creating the other characters, too. Unlike many supporting characters in books, the characters in JELLICOE ROAD all had their own voices and became their own people, with real and likable personalities.

I highly recommend this book to readers everywhere. Whether you're a girl or a guy, you will treasure this novel and hold it near and dear to your heart for a long time to come. JELLICOE ROAD is a beautiful love story, a heart-wrenching story of loss, a poignant self-discovery, and, most of all, an unforgettable tale.

Pre-order this book NOW!! It hits stores August 26 and you don't want to miss out on this one-of-a-kind novel.

Reviewed by: Tasha