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The Other Book Paperback – 7 Jan 2008

4.1 out of 5 stars 15 customer reviews

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Product details

  • Paperback: 272 pages
  • Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC (7 Jan. 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0747590435
  • ISBN-13: 978-0747590439
  • Product Dimensions: 12.9 x 1.8 x 19.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 771,467 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Product Description

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

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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Customer Reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
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Top Customer Reviews

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.
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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.
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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.
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By TeensReadToo TOP 1000 REVIEWER on 26 Jun. 2008
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
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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.
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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!
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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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