The Fire-eaters |
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David Almond
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Pages: 256 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0340773839
Pub: Hodder Children's Books
Pub date: 2004-04-15
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 50274
Editorial Review:
Continuing his tradition of strange and wild novels for young adults, David Almond, in The Fire Eaters, introduces a bizarre character making a sparse living as a self-mutilating, fire-swallowing street performer. McNulty's existence shakes young protagonist Bobby Burns to the core as he contemplates the end of the world (the year is 1962 and the US and Soviet Union seem to be heading toward nuclear war), power, pain, class and death, as well as friendship. The menace and sweetness in Bobby's life parallels the worlds, big and small, he inhabits. A loving family, seaside home and good friends form the foundation. But a crack in that wall is spreading: Bobby's father is ill, class differences are separating him from his best friend, and a ruthless schoolmaster is forcing Bobby to understand that everything has a price. McNulty's growled refrain--"Pay! You'll not see nowt till you pay!"--reiterates the lesson for the often bewildered, but ever stronger boy. Readers familiar with Almond's other haunting books, including the award-winning Skellig, will welcome this rich, challenging novel. As always, Almond refuses to shy away from the big topics, resulting in a novel dappled with light and dark, filled with wonder and mystery. --Emilie Coulter, Amazon.com
Reader Reviews:
Definate No-Go!!!! (1/3 people found this helpful)
I heard about this book from a review and people really rated it, so i went out and bought it..... complete wast of money!! The book was so uninteresting and the plot never really hit a climax, it was just dreary from start to finish, it didn't seem to follow any sort of order.
It is the first David Almond book that I've bought and it certainly didn't impress me, baised on that story i won't be buying another of his books.....Sorry!!
Definate No-Go!!!! (1/8 people found this helpful)
I heard about this book from a review and people really rated it, so i went out and bought it..... complete wast of money!! The book was so uninteresting and the plot never really hit a climax, it was just dreary from start to finish, it seem to follow any sort of order.
It is the first David Almond book that I've bought and it certainly didn't impress me, baised on that story i won't be buying another of his books.....Sorry!!
The fire eaters (5/6 people found this helpful)
It was a good book because the author can discribe very well what all the characters feel, what they think, whom they love or hate. I loved it because there were a lot of philosophical passages and when I read them, I thought of all the problems in the book myself. I was incited to think of our own problems now. On the other hand, it was a little bit boring too, there was no action. Sometimes I thought something was going to happen, but it wasn't.
The language was very easy and there were no difficult words.
I would recommend this book to all the children and teenagers, so that they will learn to be respectful for this earth and for all the living things.
Pay! You'll not see nowt till you pay! (6/6 people found this helpful)
This is a wonderful and moving book.
It really touched my heartstrings, and is the first Almond book I've read.
It's set in 1962 during the Cuban Missile and centers around the life of young Bobby Burns, an 11 year boy growing up on the East coast of England.
Bobby's life seems charmed - a perfect family, a loving mother and father and a community of friends who love and protect him - but things are changing.
Whilst the World teeters on the brink of Nuclear War Bobby's father has a mysterious illness, and life at his new Catholic school is cruel and viscious and unfair.
In the midst of all this is McNulty, the mysterious Fire breathing strongman who seems to be be fighting his own war against past demons.
Who is he, where does he come from and what does he want from Bobby?
Almond's writting is rich and multi-layered but with a lovely defness of touch.
He skillfully intermingles the personal battles of young Bobby and his family and friends with what happened during that tumultous year of 1962.
The end result never feals forced but instead is a convincing story that just oozes warmth and depth from page to page.
david almond's fire eaters, (1/18 people found this helpful)
This book was rather interesting in the way that it was so boring. It takes to long to get in o the main depth of the story making you want to just put the book down and never eer read it again.
Although i found it shocking it is not the worst book i have read it is far from it but it s still quite high on my dislike scale.
Here is a paragph from my friend.
So far this book has been the most dull and boring ever it has made me dilusional!
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Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Children’s Books -> Ages 9-11 -> Authors -> Almond, David
Books -> Subjects -> Children’s Books -> Ages 12-16 -> Authors -> Almond, David
Books -> Subjects -> Children’s Books -> Fiction -> General AAS
Books -> Subjects -> Children’s Books -> General AAS
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Age (feature_two_browse-bin) -> Ages 12-16
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Paperback
Books -> Refinements -> Font Size (format_browse-bin) -> Regular Size