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Mark II (Paperback)

by Chris Farnell (Author) "'You remember how Mark was very ill?' ..." (more)
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
RRP: £6.99
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  • This item: Mark II by Chris Farnell

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Product details

  • Paperback: 164 pages
  • Publisher: Tindal Street Press (4 May 2006)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0954791398
  • ISBN-13: 978-0954791391
  • Product Dimensions: 19.2 x 12.8 x 2 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 841,939 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Product Description

Synopsis

Philosophical about life and death in a light, approachable way, this book is a mature debut from a 21-year-old novelist. Mark Haddon's "Curious Incident..." meets Kazuo Ishiguro's "Never Let Me Go". This 13-year-old narrator's best friend is resurrected through cloning technology. This is an adult fiction, with strong crossover appeal for teenagers and publicity campaigns on both fronts. "You see, I'd never really believe he was dead..." Phil still calls for his best friend every day on his way to school, despite Mark's recent death after a long illness. Then one morning, Mark is back, cloned by Laz-R-Us, much to his parents' relief and little sister Lauren's disappointment: "That's not my brother. He's too nice". Phil realises too that Mark isn't the best friend he knew, but it's up to him to teach this new version of Mark the basics of school life: how not to backchat playground bully Chaz Spencer, how not to wear a school tie, and how not to take advice from Kirsty the annoyingly perceptive class do-gooder. And, before long, Mark is his best friend again hanging out behind the art block, playing on his GameBoy, advising him on how to ask out Sadie Goodman.

But, these ordinary days are interrupted by a dramatic event that turns Mark's naivety into something else entirely. Just when Mark II Mark-the-clone seems settled as a thorough replacement of the original Mark, we realise that no one's heard the last of that original Mark, or the secret circumstances behind his death...Told with teenage energy by two friends, this is a witty, insightful novel that takes the deftest of approaches to mortality and grief.

Inside This Book (Learn More)
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'You remember how Mark was very ill?' Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

4 Reviews
5 star:
 (3)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
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Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Tender, pitch perfect and moving., 12 Aug 2006
By Rebecca Wigmore (Ashford, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I almost hesitate to recommend this book online because this young author is so good that I want to keep him all to myself. Truly, this book captures what it is to be a teenage boy - the rules, the tiny moments, the intense friendships and the excrutiating interactions (or not) with the opposite sex. Farnell is equally astute with the female characters and has created one of the most realistic teen girls in modern fiction - and imbues Kirsty - one of those intelligent, irritatingly and desperately 'good' Christian girls - with some real soul and a complex inner life. Kirsty could have been a tiresome cliche and instead she is utterly wonderful and compellingly flawed.

However, the focus of novel is on the shifting relationship between Phil and Mark, the clone of the title. As Phil tries to teach the clone how to 'be' fourteen, male and something close in nature to his dead best friend. The dialogue here is so convincing and funny that you almost forget the difficult questions the novel throws at you, at its core, this is a book that asks what it is to be an individual and crucially, what it is to be human. The ending is heartbreaking for all the right reasons - this is what we expect from a love story and this is ultimately what the novel becomes. 'Mark II' is an astonishing debut and Farnell a prodigious new talent. Read him and weep.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars MARK II - CHRIS FARNELL, 11 May 2006
well,what can i say! this is a FAB 1st book from a promising young writer.
It had me gripped from start to finish! ( 1 1/2 days!)
It is a witty,thought provoking and empathetic read.The author displays a massive array of emotions and understanding of really difficult( and sometimes very funny ) emotional situations. I laughed aloud and cried equally whilst reading this book.It will leave you thinking...........
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Mark II, 30 Aug 2006
By Helen Burzynska (Birmingham, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
What I loved about Mark II is that it is a light-hearted examination of a very dark topic.
The charm lies in the unique depiction of life as a teenager in the twenty-first century. Not only do we have to deal with the harassment of bullies, and the heartache of first love, but we also have to face the new problems encountered by technology.

The reason I was so entranced by Mark II is because it explores a subject which is usually inherent in a science fiction novel, but places it in a situation to which we are all familiar. The story is both hilarious and thought provoking. The hilarity lies in the clone's naivety and its inability to fit in socially, despite it being an exact replica of `Mark.' I laughed out loud at the flippancy of Mark's parents; their desperation to believe that this moronic clone was the identical copy of their son. I cringed at the clone's ignorant blunders, his complete inability to grasp the concept of playground etiquette. The aspect I enjoyed most about the novel is that behind its light-hearted exterior it tackled some of the most deep philosophical questions of our time such as `what is it to be human?' It gave me leeway to explore the human condition whilst also enjoying an entertaining story.

The beauty of Mark II is that you can make the read as intense as you wish. It is not too dark and imposing, but rather incredibly readable and witty. Farnell is clearly a bright new talent, certainly someone to watch out for.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant
I bought this book after hearing an interview with the author on BBC radio and I wasn't disappointed. Read more
Published on 28 Jul 2006 by P. Sharpe

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