Jeremy and the Summer of Stalking (Book) - 4/15/2014 5:45:36 AM
5.0 out of 5 stars Strangely amazing! 12 April 2014
By Michaela Hilton
Format:Kindle Edition
A unique and different write up, of a deranged and unique man, who keeps you wanting to read more and more.
Jeremy and the Summer of Stalking (Book) - 3/2/2014 2:49:15 AM
'Jeremy and the Summer of Stalking' is written in a first-person narrative, journal style. It revolves around a loner called, you've guessed it, Jeremy, who at the start of the book, is living with his aunt, who he hates; there is some underlying family scandal involving Jeremy and another auntie, and he is not thought of kindly because of it. I loved the start of the book, which begins with one of Jeremy's shopping trips with a council worker who has been assigned to look after him, and whom he also despises (though she hates him too). These outings occur regularly throughout the book, and are set pieces that could probably stand as short stories in their own right. They grow increasingly bizarre as the story progresses, and are often a welcome relief from the grim, squalid main themes of the story. However, for me, the standout character of the story is Jeremy's sister Anne, who is thick as two short planks. I genuinely nearly fell off my bed with laughter at some of the things Anne comes out with. A definite negative is that Anne isn't included in the story as much as she deserves to be.
The main character, Jeremy, remains somewhat a mystery, his intentions often vague, though that appears to be the intention (it's definitely left wide open for a sequel); he can be amusing and infuriating in equal measure, and you never really know just how deep any inherent evil may lie in him (if indeed it does at all, but certainly one major event that occurs early on in the book would suggest so). He's certainly not a very likable 'hero', but he does have his charms, even if they are quite sinister. There are other mysteries about the character that keep cropping up for the duration of the novel, and a nice little twist at the end that I didn't see coming.
Jeremy made me laugh to such an extent that I nearly fell off the bed. It's not normal or predictable. It's not part of one of the usual genres that are peddled to everyone at the moment. It's so nice to be able to find something fresh and different. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.
