Over four hundred years ago, a book is buried within the grounds of Oldstone Manor. There it lies, shrouded in a brooding curse, until one day the earth stirs and the book is discovered once more. As twelve-year-old Edward Pollock starts to turn the pages of an ancient book, he is drawn into a place that is both terrifying and bewitching. A place where dark forces imperil charmed lands. Soon Edward begins to realise that malicious powers are at play. The wall between man and ghost is weakening, and the world beyond is threatening great fear and destruction.
The Other Book
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Review
'Philip Womack is a huge talent ... this [The Other Book] is an impressive debut' -- Daily Telegraph
'Philip Womack is a writer of huge talent, well-read in the literature of fantasy, and the effects he achieves are beautiful ... this [The Other Book]is an impressive debut' -- Daily Telegraph
'The New Philip Pullman' -- Tatler
'The helter-skelter pace and well-worn formula for the triumph of the good will keep any right-thinking ten-year old hooked' -- The Spectator
'Womack excels at vivid and lyrical phrasing ... Can't wait for more' -- Literary Review
'Womack is not simply writing for children; he is, like many of the best children's writers, remembering how it felt to be a child'
-- Times Literary Supplement
'Philip Womack is a writer of huge talent, well-read in the literature of fantasy, and the effects he achieves are beautiful ... this [The Other Book]is an impressive debut' -- Daily Telegraph
'The New Philip Pullman' -- Tatler
'The helter-skelter pace and well-worn formula for the triumph of the good will keep any right-thinking ten-year old hooked' -- The Spectator
'Womack excels at vivid and lyrical phrasing ... Can't wait for more' -- Literary Review
'Womack is not simply writing for children; he is, like many of the best children's writers, remembering how it felt to be a child'
-- Times Literary Supplement
Review
'The helter-skelter pace and well-worn formula for the triumph of the good will keep any right-thinking ten-year old hooked'
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By M. Arco
Format:Paperback
I read many children books and found The Other Book excellent. It awakens curiosity in the reader with a suspenseful plot, interwoven with ancient mythology that is set in present day England. With the protagonist Edward Pollock, the reader explores the boundaries of the other world by means of a book: the eponymous other book. Womack's refined and descriptive style transports the reader into every situation. The action is gripping and the emotion is palpable. Womack manages to make Edward Pollock very real and the reader immediately identifies with his fears and emotions as his character develops during the trials he faces over the course of the book.
While reading the book, I felt Edward's sense of helplessness, his excitement at his first encounter with power and its manipulative force. The narrative conveys his sense of confusion and his strength of character to make the right decision when faced with problematic dilemmas. Womack's metaphors are strong and the boundaries between this world and the other world melt into each other, becoming grey and ill-defined, reflecting the blurred lines of human interaction that the author illustrates when he shows the relationships between characters. The beautiful Lady Anne, the comforting Reverend, the school bully Guy and Edward's best friend Will are not the stock characters that they could be, instead they soon show themselves to be other than expected. What seems true does not always hold true in The Other Book.
The Other Book is the sort of book that encourages children to read and teaches them something to boot. It has an elaborate vocabulary but is not inaccessible for children. References to Greek words, which manage not to be pretentious, are a nice touch.... Read more ›
While reading the book, I felt Edward's sense of helplessness, his excitement at his first encounter with power and its manipulative force. The narrative conveys his sense of confusion and his strength of character to make the right decision when faced with problematic dilemmas. Womack's metaphors are strong and the boundaries between this world and the other world melt into each other, becoming grey and ill-defined, reflecting the blurred lines of human interaction that the author illustrates when he shows the relationships between characters. The beautiful Lady Anne, the comforting Reverend, the school bully Guy and Edward's best friend Will are not the stock characters that they could be, instead they soon show themselves to be other than expected. What seems true does not always hold true in The Other Book.
The Other Book is the sort of book that encourages children to read and teaches them something to boot. It has an elaborate vocabulary but is not inaccessible for children. References to Greek words, which manage not to be pretentious, are a nice touch.... Read more ›
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By L. C. Bishop
Format:Paperback
I read The Other Book on a train from Devon to London. I normally feel that I might die of boredom on the four hour journey but this time it simply flew. Womack's prose syle is elegant and witty but not overly complicated. It was never patronising as so much "teenage fiction" is. In tone I thought it harked back to the late Victorian children's writers like Richmal Crompton and Arthur Ransome. Edward Pollock made a cheerfully stoic hero in his personal struggle against the dark magic that grips both his boarding school and himself. Womack's unflinching treatment of the struggle of good against evil rather reminded me of Tolkein, and he skilfully weaves the mystical past into the prosaic present. The chapter in the mental hospital is totally brilliant. THIS IS NOT HARRY POTTER. It's much better.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I greatly anticipated reading "The Other Book" having heard very good reviews about it. In no way was I disappointed. I found each adventure as gripping as the next and Edward's embarkment on his journeys seemed to race me through the book. Womack's battle between good and evil reminded me of Tolkien and his references to Greek provided an innovative and interesting aspect to the reading.
A truly enjoyable read. Thoroughly recommended for all ages, not only for young teens.
A truly enjoyable read. Thoroughly recommended for all ages, not only for young teens.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By John Carver
Format:Paperback
I wasn't sure if I'd enjoy this book when a friend leant it to me but I couldn't have been more wrong. It's beautifully written, deftly plotted and kept me up half the night finishing it. Womack has pulled off a delicate balancing act between appealing to a young and old readership. It took me right back to my childhood. Thoroughly recommended.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By TeensReadToo
TOP 100 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
Oldstone Manor is a strange old place all by itself. When you add in a boarding school where Greek and Latin aren't dead languages, it gets just plain weird. But something particularly strange, even for Oldstone, is going on. The problem is that no one, other than Edward, seems to be noticing. Well, maybe not no one.
It started with the crazy recurring dreams. Dreams about places he recognizes even though he's never been there, people who seem familiar even though he's never met them. Then there's the strange Lady that suddenly comes to stay and teach. As intimidating as she is, her companion, Mrs. Phipps, is one hundred times creepier. And then there's the book. The one that calls to him, invades his sleep, and magically disappears as if Edward somehow absorbed it into his body.
If only someone would listen to him! That is, someone who wasn't locked up in an insane asylum or someone who wanted to kill him.
This is a creepy, dark book. There is magic, drama, danger, and chills. It may be a bit slow to start, but once it gets going... It's like a roller coaster; you might want to stop and get off, but there's no way you can.
Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman
It started with the crazy recurring dreams. Dreams about places he recognizes even though he's never been there, people who seem familiar even though he's never met them. Then there's the strange Lady that suddenly comes to stay and teach. As intimidating as she is, her companion, Mrs. Phipps, is one hundred times creepier. And then there's the book. The one that calls to him, invades his sleep, and magically disappears as if Edward somehow absorbed it into his body.
If only someone would listen to him! That is, someone who wasn't locked up in an insane asylum or someone who wanted to kill him.
This is a creepy, dark book. There is magic, drama, danger, and chills. It may be a bit slow to start, but once it gets going... It's like a roller coaster; you might want to stop and get off, but there's no way you can.
Reviewed by: Carrie Spellman
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The Other Book is beautifully written and extremely gripping. It's fast-paced and quite spooky in places. There are some amazing twists in the plot. Characters were well developed and often quite surprising. The main character was interesting, and the difficult/scary situations he had to deal with were really cleverly described, so you started to really identify with him. An awesome book!
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is brill it is really exciting. I really like Philip Pullman and Philip Reeve, but I think Philip Womack is maybe even better. I hope he writes lots more books. I'm definately going to recommend The Other Book to all my friends.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Poor.
I saw Philip Womack's name on a list of authors that could supposedly be the next J K Rowling, and I was pretty excited that I would be stumbling across a hidden gem when I saw the... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Reviewer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful, imaginative and gripping
My son of thirteen couldn't put this book down! He rated it on parallel with Eragon, and is already nagging for the sequel. Read more
Published on 8 Sep 2009 by S. Hopper
5.0 out of 5 stars
the best book ever written
This book has changed my life. it is one of my favorite books ever and am buying his up coming book the liberators i advise to pre-order his next book and buy this one. Read more
Published on 21 Feb 2009 by Constantine Normanby
5.0 out of 5 stars
BRILLIANT!!!!
This wonderful book will suit any reader - it is both thrilling and engaging and I loved every minute of it!!!!! Read more
Published on 4 May 2008 by JaneAustenLover44
1.0 out of 5 stars
Very poor
This book is badly written and the plot has huge gaps. There were some good ideas but it was very poorly executed.. some lines of prose actually had me laughing aloud!
Published on 1 May 2008 by C. o'neill
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
Really enjoyed this book - couldn't put it down. Brought back memories of my boarding school days... Highly recommended.
Published on 29 Feb 2008 by A. Bolton
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