The Shell House
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Review
"A dramatic . . . complex combination of both contemporary and historical fiction."--"Booklist"
"From the Hardcover edition."
Jonathan Douglas, The Financial Times
Newbery writes wonderfully ...
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is a really good read, and deals with some adult issues in a very clever and sensitive way. It deals with issues about identity, religion and sexuality.
Its main character is a teenage boy called Greg, who comes across a burnt out ruin of an old house. There he meets a girl, who is a devout christian, and with her trys to discover the story behind the house. At the same time he is dealing with the issues of his own sexuality.
The book is well written, but is a little slow to start and slightly confusing with the switches between time at first. However, once you get in to it, you will not be able to put it down. One thing, I think this should really be classified as an adult book, with its themes and some of it's scenes.
Please read this, it's not possible to read this and dislke it!!!!!!
Its main character is a teenage boy called Greg, who comes across a burnt out ruin of an old house. There he meets a girl, who is a devout christian, and with her trys to discover the story behind the house. At the same time he is dealing with the issues of his own sexuality.
The book is well written, but is a little slow to start and slightly confusing with the switches between time at first. However, once you get in to it, you will not be able to put it down. One thing, I think this should really be classified as an adult book, with its themes and some of it's scenes.
Please read this, it's not possible to read this and dislke it!!!!!!
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
As with many books that I later find to be absolutely amazing, I debated over whether to buy Shell House for quite a while. In the end I bought it, only because one of my friends had recommended it, and I needed something to read on holiday. But as soon as I got into it, I couldn't believe I hadn't bought it sooner.
The book is written following two different characters - Greg and Edmund, during two different times - modern day and during the First World War. The central characters in both time zones face similar problems, but in different situations. The description of being involved in the war was very detailed and extremely realistic. It was really interesting to see how the two different characters battled with their problems in different circumstances.
You immediately feel empathy towards all the main characters, and after a very short amount of time you begin to feel so deeply for them that it's almost impossible to tear yourself away from the story and back to reality.
This novel deals with many normal teenage issues - problems with sexuality, religion and even death amongst others. However, even though Linda Newbery tackles some potentially very difficult and emotional topics, it holds itself together incredibly well, and somehow still uplifts you at the end, even after the emotional roller-coaster it takes you on first!
I'm 14 but would recommend this book for anyone above the age of about 13, since it has some explicit content and wouldn't be suitable for a younger reader. However, it's a great read for anyone and it really makes you think. I love it. A definite 10 out of 10, and I'll be recommending it to everyone I know!
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Whilst being somewhat slow to start, the Shell House by Linda Newbery, also errs on the side of incorporating too much scene setting, before it eventually gets down to what is ultimately the tender and challenging story about a young man's awakening to his own personal sexuality.
One of the novels central characters, Greg, is a teenager who stumbles across the restoration of a stately home and is drawn to the intrigue of its history. This particular history he hopes to piece together with his newfound friend and companion, a devout young teenage Christian girl whose parents are part of the restoration society. What is slowly revealed to the reader thereby is the story of another young man a few decades back, who was himself battling to deal with coming out of the closet about his own personal sexual preferences.
The various conflicts between love and faith, sexuality and familial duty are all explored in Newbery's book, which has been hailed in some circles as groundbreaking because of its honest portrayal of a young boy's need to be true to that which he feels and thinks.
The juxtaposition of constant questioning about faith, the Christian faith in particular, will no doubt rile some of the more conservative readers, but this is all necessary to underpin the core truth held within this book. That core truth being that young people will and should question the life lessons and values they learn from different sources and individuals, and should be trusted to make the right choices if they have a supportive, nurturing and caring environment.
One of the novels central characters, Greg, is a teenager who stumbles across the restoration of a stately home and is drawn to the intrigue of its history. This particular history he hopes to piece together with his newfound friend and companion, a devout young teenage Christian girl whose parents are part of the restoration society. What is slowly revealed to the reader thereby is the story of another young man a few decades back, who was himself battling to deal with coming out of the closet about his own personal sexual preferences.
The various conflicts between love and faith, sexuality and familial duty are all explored in Newbery's book, which has been hailed in some circles as groundbreaking because of its honest portrayal of a young boy's need to be true to that which he feels and thinks.
The juxtaposition of constant questioning about faith, the Christian faith in particular, will no doubt rile some of the more conservative readers, but this is all necessary to underpin the core truth held within this book. That core truth being that young people will and should question the life lessons and values they learn from different sources and individuals, and should be trusted to make the right choices if they have a supportive, nurturing and caring environment.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Incredible
This book is one of the most affecting that I've ever read. It's one of the few books I've ever which deals with two of the most important issues in a teenager's life - religion... Read more
Published on 10 Feb 2007 by Dmitri Shostakovich
A real gem
I came across this book in my local library. It was sitting on a shelf labelled 'on sale'. So, with time and 50p to spare, I bought it. Read more
Published on 19 April 2006 by homesick_alien
Wow.
I was first introduced to this book when me and some of my peers were lucky enough to meet Linda Newbery, at this time I hadn't actually read any of her books. Read more
Published on 23 Sep 2005 by "lovewilltearusapart"
Amazing
This book is absolutely incredible. I was given it two years ago as a Christmas present, and now wonder why I didn't read it earlier. Read more
Published on 1 Feb 2005
brilliant
this is fantastic, and is a brilliant read. the only thing that spoils it that it does sometimes appear that the author hasnt spent as much time on the first world war part, as it... Read more
Published on 17 July 2004 by "sisi252"
Must read
this is the most amazing moving book i have read. i chose it solely because of its content of first world war history, but found it really moving. Read more
Published on 11 Jun 2004
Brilliant
This is one of the best books I have read in an extremely long time. The narrative is fantastic, a beautiful mix between detailed and vague, leaving just the right amount for the... Read more
Published on 20 Jan 2004 by C. MCGHIE
The Most Powerful Young Adults' Book Around
I first read 'The Shell House' as part of a reading assignment and fell in love with it after the first few pages. Read more
Published on 2 Nov 2003
What could have been a book of the century.
This book is about a normal teenage boy named Greg who all of a sudden, because of a stately home, finds his life being turned upside down. Read more
Published on 3 Aug 2003 by "jjb890"
Entering the Shell House
One of the things that appeals to me when choosing my next read is the opening - the unusual and enigmatic first sentence of 'The Shell House' immediately introduces the troubles... Read more
Published on 25 Jun 2003 by "thecyberpixie"
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