Billy and I recently read Meg Rosoff’s How I Live Now. Billy is our pet goat. And I know he doesn’t look like a goat, but Billy believes he’s a goat, and that’s all that’s important. Billy is sporting a pair of reading glasses, personally crafted by Hamburger, because Billy is a smart little goat who likes to read, and he also wanted to make me feel better about having to wear reading glasses. He’s quite the considerate little goat. Anyways, both Billy and I were quite disturbed by How I Live Now, and Billy has insisted on writing this review. And since Billy has no concept of spoilers, consider yourself warned.
Umm, hi. Billy the goat here. I’ve never written a review before (well, except for the book report I had to write for homework last month), but Softdrink told me that it’s easy, all I had to do was write about my feelings for That Book. I really like to read. Sometimes I sit the back of Softdrink’s reading chair and read over her shoulder. That’s how we read That Book. And it’s a good thing that Billy was there, because Softdrink got really disturbed at a certain point in the book, but Billy’s gonna talk about that later.
First of all, me and Softdrink have been reading lots of stuff about this Meg Rosoff, how her books are great and stuff, and how she’s pretty much all that and a bag of chips (I like Doritos, by the way). So we decided to give one of her books a try. Softdrink chose How I Live Now, because somebody named Nymeth mentioned it on her blog, and also because it was on sale. Softdrink was feeling cheap.
This one is about some war that happens in England (which is a country really far away). There’s this girl (she’s the narrator), and her step-mom pretty much hates her, and she’s really skinny because she doesn’t eat much, so her dad sends her to England to live with her aunt and cousins. Except when she gets to England, the threat of war seems bigger, and her aunt goes off to Oslo (which is even further away) because her aunt seems like she’s important, and this girl and her cousins are left to fend for themselves. Except this girl, she kind of falls for one of her boy cousins. Eww. I have lots of girl cousins, and I’d just like to say… Gross!
Anyways, the war happens, which is kind of confusing, because you never really find out why, or who. I know it wasn’t a past war, though, because the girl has a cell phone, and they didn’t have those back then. So it’s a made-up war. But the girl and her cousins are confused, too, so there is that. I guess we don’t find out much about the war because the girl that’s narrating doesn’t know much, either. So we’re confused like her.
Then, adults figure out that these kids (um, people kids, not goat kids) are all alone on the farm and they split them up and the girl and her little girl cousin are sent elsewhere to live. And that goes on for awhile, and so does the war, until they decide to walk back to the farm, even though they don’t really know where they’re going. And at one point, they find this cute little goat that used to be their pet. His name was Ding, because he had a little bell. But he was sick and the girl, well, she, well. Oh, I can’t say! It was horrible. And it made Softdrink and me almost cry! Well, mostly Softdrink.
So anyways, me and Softdrink didn’t like the book so much after that. Before that, we were mostly confused. After that, everyone made it back to the farm eventually. Some other stuff happens, like post-traumatic stress syndrome (which I know all about because I looked it up in my encyclopedia) but I don’t want to talk about it anymore. Me and Softdrink are still really sad about Ding. And confused about the war. And honestly, we didn’t care much for the book.
That’s all. Bye.
*snort* brilliant review! Thanks, Billy.
I’m sorry that neither of you enjoyed the book. I really like it but What I Was by Meg Rosoff is even better.
.-= Claire (Paperback_Reader)´s last blog ..The Man Booker Prize 2009 =-.
Hmmm, Billy’s gonna have to think about whether or not he wants to read any more Meg Rosoff.
Oh, sorry to hear you and Billy didn’t like the book too much. How old is Billy? He writes a great review!
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Wondrous Words Wednesday =-.
Billy is just a kid.
Hahahahaha
.-= Word Lily´s last blog ..Words from my reading =-.
Too bad you and Billy were not too thrilled about his book. I have it on my wish list, but now I will consider looking into the possibility of getting it from the library instead
.-= Louise´s last blog ..Should I feel bad or am I just like you? Book Buying Binge! =-.
Every other review I’ve read raves about it, though! I was a bit disappointed. And traumatized.
I’m sad that you didn’t like this one because I’ve heard so many great things about it! Different strokes for different folks I guess.
Better luck with the next one!
.-= Heather @ Book Addiction´s last blog ..Two DNF’s up for grabs =-.
I heard great things, too! I must have not been in a suitably appreciative mood. Plus, there was the whole Ding thing.
Oh Billy…do tell! What a horrible experience for you and Softdrink. Poor Ding! Poor everyone. Such a sad tale.
.-= Ti´s last blog ..Happy Birthday to My Little One! Then & Now. =-.
I don’t think Billy will be reading over my shoulder any more.
Dear Billy and softdrink,
You have made me and my stuffed armadillo, who are total Meg Rosoff fancreatures, cry a single lone tear.
But we concede that we still love you.
Well, since Billy and I cried, we’re even. :-p
Love it! Awesome review.
.-= Word Lily´s last blog ..Words from my reading =-.
Um, I meant that I love your review (I haven’t read the book.).
.-= Word Lily´s last blog ..Words from my reading =-.
This is freaking awesome and was one of the highlights of my day. I hope Billy will be returning for more reviews in the future. And please tell him that his skills have inspired my basset hound to write an upcoming Sunday Salon as was recently requested on Twitter. LOVE it. Welcome to the blogging world, Billy.
.-= Rebecca @ The Book Lady’s Blog´s last blog ..Looking forward to Fall Back Weekend: The evolution of a sacred tradition =-.
Billy’s gonna end up with a big head…I probably won’t be able to keep him off the blog now.
And I look forward to hearing from Millie!
Billy, you write great reviews! I hope you’ll pitch in more often with more reviews (not that I don’t like Softdrink’s reviews, too).
.-= Belle´s last blog ..Incoming! The Memoirs Edition =-.
Thanks Belle! It was a lot of fun. And everyone’s been so nice!
-Billy
i hadn’t heard of Meg Rosoff until now.
I wonder what Billy would think of “Three Bags Full” by Leonie Swann
!
.-= Valerie´s last blog ..Playing With My New Toy! =-.
He’s a little intrigued.
Thanks for the great review, Billy!
.-= Melody´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.
You’re welcome.
That is so cute. I’m never fond of war stories. So I probably have the same taste as Billy. Mooo. (oops. what does goat sound like?)
.-= mee´s last blog ..Sunday Salon: Events Galore! =-.
Maaaaaaaaa.
Oh Dear Billy, i am sorry… that must have been hard to read about another goat… i can totally understand why neither of u didn’t like the book..
now, this doesn’t mean that u dnt read and not write reviews… u should .. you know.. i really like your style..
Have a good day Billy dear.. **hugss**
er! SoftDrink… to u too
.-= Veens´s last blog ..Footsteps in the Dark by Georgette Heyer =-.
Hi Veens! How did you know I needed a hug?? I’ve been telling Hamburger and Softdrink, but they’ve been a little stingy.
-Billy
Poor Billy. I hope he’s still talking to Softdrink, who subjected him to the horrors and sadness that was Ding. I haven’t read the book but my dog pal Rex is hoping I won’t force him to read such stories. And Rex is way older than Billy and probably wouldn’t be able to spring back so quickly.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Review: Shanghai Girls by Lisa See =-.
Billy is still talking to me, although we did go to the post office today to get rid of That Book.
Oh! I hope this doesn’t turn poor Billy away from books. Relationship confusion and goat-sickness must have been hard for him. I hope you find a nicer book for Billy.
.-= Hazra´s last blog ..REVIEW The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time- Mark Haddon =-.
Billy and Jilly hah! Sorry couldn’t help it. Billy’s very cute, hopefully he’s gonna be back soon with a book he likes better.
.-= Joanne´s last blog ..How To Survive The PPP =-.
Poor Billy. Don’t let the nasty goat munchers scare you (and I also recommend you don’t watch Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations).
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..The More You Wish You Didn’t Know: How to Become a God =-.
My stuffed animals didn’t like this one much either.
.-= Lenore´s last blog ..Book Review: Secret Son by Laila Lalami =-.
I’m digging Billy’s specs! Should we look for the “hamburger” designer label the next time we pick up a pair of sunglasses!?
.-= Dawn – She is Too Fond of Books´s last blog ..Winners of *The Listeners* by Gloria Whelan =-.