August by Bernard Beckett

Title: August
Author: Bernard Beckett

Release Date: 28th February 2011

My Rating: 2/5

Blurb:

Trapped in a car wreck, upside down, bleeding, broken and in pain, Tristan and Grace are staring at death. When dawn breaks, they might be seen from the road and rescued, or not.

They wait, desperately holding onto life, unravelling the sequence of events that brought them together.

Tristan is a philosopher struggling with the question of free will. Grace's life of hardship allows no place for such ideas. But a brief encounter changes their lives, setting them on a collision course with love and death, and each other.

Part philosophical thriller, part love story, August is a compelling novel about will, freedom and what it means to live.

My Review:
August was quite the head-tripper and wasn't at all what I was expecting. It is set in an alternative time where a Holy Council is in control and those who are not worthy, live beyond the city walls. Both Tristan and Grace are originally from inside these walls but as their individual stories unfold, we discover the paths they took which led them to inhabit the outer regions and the circumstances that have led to their paths crossing on this fateful night.

It wasn't until I was well into the book that I realised August is not really aimed at the young adult market, more adult or at the least, upper secondary. Like Genesis, one of Beckett's previous releases, it questions human nature and is a philosophical thriller. It looks at human weakness, free will and probability. I personally struggled with it due to the content as I am not one to ponder philosophy and religion. However, I do enjoy Beckett's style of writing, and am eager to try Jolt and Malcolm and Juliet as they sound a little more up my alley, but unfortunately, August was not for me.

Teachers notes can be found here.
My review of Genesis is here.

Genesis by Bernard Beckett

Title: Genesis
Author: Bernard Beckett

Release Date: 1st August 2006. Republished 1st January 2011

My Rating: 4/5

Blurb:
It’s the year 2075.

The island Republic has emerged from a ruined world. Its citizens are safe but not free. They live in complete isolation from the outside world. Approaching planes are gunned down, refugees shot on sight. Until a man named Adam Forde rescues a girl from the sea.

Anaximander, a young Academy student, is put through a gruelling exam. Her special subject: the life of Adam Forde, her long-dead hero. What secrets has she discovered and what is her own surprising link to Adam? She is forced to confront the horrifying truth about her totalitarian world.

Genesis is a thriller that asks the big questions. What is it to be human? What makes a soul?

My Review:
Genesis is a deep, philosophical science fiction novel that leaves your brain churning over the concepts well after you have finished reading it.

As Anax answers questions about her hero Adam Forde, the story unfolds through her answers. We learn the history of The Republic through her knowledge and the holograms she has created about Art, the artificial intelligence that became Adam's companion after his imprisonment for rescuing an outsider. We witness the development of Art, as he watches, learns, and argues with Adam over what differentiates man from machine. Is it the ability to think, to create ideas? Is it the physical aspects? A conscience? A soul? It questions morals, ethics and humanity, and as Anax comes to the end of Adam and Art's story, she has a realisation that blows her world apart.

There were two surprises that I did not see coming and I was completely thrown by the ending. Genesis is a thought-provoking, original read that will bring out the philosopher in all of us. This novel would make for fabulous discussions and would make a great school reading text. Teachers notes are available here, Reading Group notes here.


Genesis has been published in more than 22 countries and has won the 2010 Young Adult Category of the Prix Sorcieres (France), the 2007 Esther Glen Award, and the 2007 NZ Post Book Award. In 2005, Bernard was awarded a fellowship where he worked on a project examining DNA mutations. This led to the writing of Genesis.

Perth Writers Festival Happenings and Giveaway!

Over the last week, I have been working in the book tent at the Perth Writers Festival. For those of you who didn't see my post back in January, PWF is an annual event in Perth held over the long weekend at the beginning of March and at the end of the Perth International Arts Festival. It is three days of local and international authors giving talks and workshops.

We don't get a lot of memorable moments working in the book tent but I did get to briefly meet Perth author Amanda 'AJ' Betts whose book, Wavelength, I reviewed last year. She came up to the cash register to buy something and I got a bit nervous and tongue-tied when I introduced myself, but she was lovely :)

There were quite a few talks I had hoped to attend but unfortunately, my shifts in the book tent were at the same time so I was unable to make it to any of them, except for half of the Melina Marchetta and Bernard Beckett talk (which I embarrassingly had to leave in the middle of, to make it to my shift).

Marchetta and Beckett

I'm sure most of you have heard of Melina Marchetta, someone Australian bloggers talk about and whose books are recommended left, right and centre, but Bernard Beckett, is a slightly lesser known New Zealand YA author. I have seen some of his books around in the past but never actually read one. But this weekend, I bought two (and had to stop myself from buying the others)! I can't wait to start them!

August, Beckett's latest book which was released last week, and the multi-award winning Genesis were the two I chose. I desperately wanted to get both these, and a couple of Marchetta books signed, but, being stuck in the extremely busy book tent, wasn't able to get away. Instead, my amazing friend Bryton lined up for me! She is totally awesome. Unfortunately, Marchetta wasn't signing (so, so annoyed and I could rant about it for quite some time, but I wont) but Bernard was, and he very generously posed for a photo so I could actually see him signing my books :D

GIVEAWAY!

At my request, Bryton also got a second copy of both August and Genesis signed for two lucky followers! The give-away is open Australia wide until March 31st 2011.

To enter there are two simple steps:

1. You must be a follower.
2. Leave me a comment on this post with which title you would like to win and tell me something that you like about The Tales Compendium.

Also, telling others isn't required but is appreciated. Please feel free to use the give-away button found below and link it back to this page.

August by Bernard Beckett

Trapped in a car wreck, upside down, bleeding, broken and in pain, Tristan and Grace are staring at death.

As they await their fate, with only a glimmer of hope they might be seen and rescued, we discover the stories of their lives, the sequences of events that brought them together and the shocking truth behind the cause of their crash.

Part philosophical thriller, part love story, August is a compelling novel of power, humanity and desire.

Genesis by Bernard Beckett

It’s the year 2075.

The island Republic has emerged from a ruined world. Its citizens are safe but not free. They live in complete isolation from the outside world. Approaching planes are gunned down, refugees shot on sight. Until a man named Adam Forde rescues a girl from the sea.

Anaximander, a young Academy student, is put through a gruelling exam. Her special subject: the life of Adam Forde, her long-dead hero. What secrets has she discovered and what is her own surprising link to Adam? She is forced to confront the horrifying truth about her totalitarian world.

Genesis is a thriller that asks the big questions. What is it to be human? What makes a soul?