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Coram Boy
  
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Coram Boy [Audiobook] (Audio Cassette)

by Jamila Gavin (Author), Cornelius Garrett (Reader)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Audio Cassette
  • Publisher: Chivers Children's Audio Books; Unabridged edition (July 2002)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0754063127
  • ISBN-13: 978-0754063124
  • Product Dimensions: 22.9 x 16.5 x 2.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1,723,770 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #68 in  Books > Children's Books > Authors & Illustrators > G > Gavin, Jamila

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Product Description

Amazon.co.uk Review

Eighteenth-century England is the setting for Jamilla Gavin's sweeping saga of growing-up, struggle, tradition and corruption. From an acorn of an idea about a real-life good Samaritan of yesteryear, the author has crafted a satisfying, if occasionally painful, novel that spans the lives of several fortunate and unfortunate young people of the day.

The author has researched her backdrop very well, and the atmospheric sights and sounds of the time are both vivid and captivating. Readers will smell the dirty streets and close-living of urban London, revel in the summer splendour of the finest country houses and then flinch when the harshness of life for the poorest souls is revealed in uncomfortable detail.

For in the late 1700s your circumstance of birth meant everything. Toby and Aaron may both find themselves living at Captain Thomas Coram's Hospital for parentless children, but their histories are as far apart as they could possibly be. Toby has been rescued from a life of slave labour in a faraway country; Aaron is the illegitimate son of the heir to a large country estate. They are watched over by Mish--a simple soul who has been with them since their arrival. His devotion to them is absolute, but his motives are not altogether straightforward. Could this curious man really be Meshak, the son of a wicked child-killer who was hanged at the gallows for his crimes?

Coram Boy is a glorious web of changing fortunes and subtle intrigues. There is tragedy and corruption, hope and evil. Sometimes brutal and sometimes unceasingly bleak, the genre of historical fiction has rarely been this good. It's undoubtedly the kind of book that wins awards. (Age 12 and over) --John McLay --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Customer Reviews

38 Reviews
5 star:
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4 star:
 (14)
3 star:
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2 star:
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1 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (38 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars A great read, if a bit coincidental., 20 Oct 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: Coram Boy (Contents) (Paperback)
I was amazed top see that someone had posted a review claiming this book wasn't suitable for children. I am 12, I loved this book, and I have a nine year old sister who, although some of it went over her head, also thought it was brilliant! The parts that included dying babies were dealt with with sympathy, compassion and great care, although, yes, they were moving. The first half is about Meshak Gardiner, a 'simpleton' and son of a baby trader and peddlar; Alexander Ashbrook, a musical genius who leaves home because his father won't comtinue to allow him to train as a musician; Thomas Ledbury, Alexander's companion at Gloucester cathedral; and Melissa Milcote, who Alexander falls in love with.
The second part is about Meshak, now a man known as Mish, Alexander's son Aaron, and Toby, Aaron's friend at the Coram hospital. When Mr Gaddarn (who has another name- that person presumed dead) puts Toby to work in his house as 'a little black puppy' for the nobles to play with, Toby finds out he is shipping Coram children away as slaves and hareem girls. Aaron was apprenticed out to Mr Burney, a musician, because he shares his father's amazing musical talent, and he and Toby try to stop this. I was choked at the end... The only thing about this book I wasn't sure of was the coincidences, and the way everyone connected up. It was a very small world indeed! But Jamila Gavin made them make sense, at least. Read it, whatever your other tastes are- and if you are a parent, don't worry because any sensible, intelligent child of nine or above, or even eight, will be moved but certainly not disturbed.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars 'Coram' read it!, 30 Jun 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Coram Boy (Paperback)
Coram boy is an intricate tapestry of intertwined lives, set in the gothic time period. It appeals to a huge variety of people, due to its superb range of characters and situations. From the misunderstood Meshak, to star-crossed lovers Alex and Melissa. It evokes a cacophony of emotions, from pity and anger to extreme joy. You find yourself swept along with the characters and instantly absorbed into the story.
Coram Boy begins with the disturbing tale of Meshak and his cruel father, Otis. The troubled Meshak is burying crying bundles in ditches under the command of his overbearing father. This is swiftly contrasted by the switch to Alexander's lavish life style as he holidays with his choral friend Thomas. Here we are introduced to the book's main female characters; sister Isobel and the angelic Melissa. As the plot continues, we begin to discover links between the two stories which are pulled closer together as time goes by.
Although confusing at times, Coram Boy is an intriguing and compelling novel. One which we would recommend everybody to read.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Madness for Meshak, 30 Jun 2004
By A Customer
This review is from: Coram Boy (Paperback)
Coram boy is a compelling novel where different lives and cultures become intertwined.The story line covers many aspects of live as the characters involved are of different status and the huge range of characters creates an intricate tapestry when they all come together. The book contains smaller story-lines within the rest which are more subtle but just as important.The character Meshak is a misunderstood and emotionally-scared boy who is part of a disturbing story-line, involving his cruel and slightly insane father, named Otis.The main love of the book comes from the two young adults, Alexander and Melissa who are involved in a deep and slightly passionate relationship which is broken by alexanders father when he rids the house of the idea and music.
As the book unfolds the story-lines connect revealing a dramatic finish.Many of the main characters are children or young adults who tend to annoy the adults.The main downfall of the book is the fact that there are too many different story-lines which, at times, become hard to follow.
Although the book has a few flaws it is a must-read and i rate it 4 stars out of 5.I recommend this book to anyone who undrestands the suffering of children in the past.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, Painful and Reminiscent of Dickens
This is an award winning book set around the philanthropic venture of one Captain Thomas Coram, who set up a home for orphans in the 18th century - the Foundling Hospital. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Sir Furboy

4.0 out of 5 stars Gavin's Coram
This is definitely for the older child. A very interesting and heaart-rending story which leaves one thinking that the main character found peace st the very end. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mrs. I. J. Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars A good read
After a recent visit to the Foundling Museum in London I felt drawn to read more about the historical struggles of young babies and children who had nobody to care for them... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Sandy

2.0 out of 5 stars All becomes a bit predictable
Coram Boy is set in 18th century England and contrasts lives of the fortunate and unfortunate children of the times. Read more
Published on 23 Oct 2007 by Wynne Kelly

5.0 out of 5 stars Coram Boy - boring or inspiring?
I am 13 years old and have recently been set this book as a 'Class Reader'. I finished it a couple of weeks ago now but it is one of those books that has a long term impact. Read more
Published on 18 Jan 2007 by xx-luvly liv-xx

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for kids
This is a moving tale of slavery, friendship and oppression that will surely appeal to adults even though the teenager is the primary target audience. Read more
Published on 6 Aug 2006 by Catfish

5.0 out of 5 stars a stinking masterpiece
This is a big packed story set in the eighteenth century - and sadly not that different from today. Okay, we tend to bury fewer babies in the ditches but parents remain... Read more
Published on 21 July 2006 by J. Reader

3.0 out of 5 stars Promising Start...
Whilst the story line manages to remain gripping (if largely predictable) throughout, Jamila Gavin seems to get bored about a third of the way through and only occaisionally... Read more
Published on 31 July 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Coram Boy Review
We read this novel as part of a group-reading task at school. Coram Boy combines many connecting storylines. Read more
Published on 30 Jun 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars An amazing book that you'll love
I thought this book was great. It started slowly and took a while to get into the main story but once it got going I couldn’t put it down. Read more
Published on 26 May 2004 by eliseholmes2

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