The Icarus Girl
3 journalers for this copy...
'Stop looking to belong, half-and-half child. Stop. There is nothing, there is only me, and I have caught you.'
Jessamy Harrison is eight years old. Sensitive, whimsical, possessed of an extraordinary and powerful imagination, she spends hours writing haiku, reading Shakespeare, or simply hiding in the dark warmth of the airing cupboard. As the half-and-half child of an English father and a Nigerian mother, Jess just can't shake off the feeling of being alone wherever she goes, and the other kids in her class are wary of her tendancy to succumb to terrified fits of screaming.
When she is taken to her mother's family compound in Nigeria for the first time, she meets her uncles and aunts and cousins - and her formidable old grandfather. Then one day in the deserted Boys' Quarters, she encounters Titiola, a ragged little girl her own age. it seems that at last Jess has found another outsider who will understand her. TillyTilly knows secrets both big and small, and some she won't reveal. But as TillyTilly shows Jess just how easy it is to hurt those around her, Jess begins to realise that she doesn't know who TillyTilly is at all.
Jessamy Harrison is eight years old. Sensitive, whimsical, possessed of an extraordinary and powerful imagination, she spends hours writing haiku, reading Shakespeare, or simply hiding in the dark warmth of the airing cupboard. As the half-and-half child of an English father and a Nigerian mother, Jess just can't shake off the feeling of being alone wherever she goes, and the other kids in her class are wary of her tendancy to succumb to terrified fits of screaming.
When she is taken to her mother's family compound in Nigeria for the first time, she meets her uncles and aunts and cousins - and her formidable old grandfather. Then one day in the deserted Boys' Quarters, she encounters Titiola, a ragged little girl her own age. it seems that at last Jess has found another outsider who will understand her. TillyTilly knows secrets both big and small, and some she won't reveal. But as TillyTilly shows Jess just how easy it is to hurt those around her, Jess begins to realise that she doesn't know who TillyTilly is at all.
I met Helen Oyeyemi at the Edinburgh Book Festival a couple of years ago and she was one of my favourite authors as she had this wonderful warm smile, I was so hoping that when I finally picked up this book it would live up to my hopes.
And it definitely did, Jessamy is a lovely character, utterly human and believable while TillyTilly remains an enigma. Nigeria and England are equally comfortable locations, just with different ways of life.
And it definitely did, Jessamy is a lovely character, utterly human and believable while TillyTilly remains an enigma. Nigeria and England are equally comfortable locations, just with different ways of life.
It's here! :) This looks like a great read, thanks, pumpkin-head.
Received this book from Sudokugirl.
One of the most unusual stories I read recently. Really good book. The storytelling is superb and I look forward to reading other books from this author.
One of the most unusual stories I read recently. Really good book. The storytelling is superb and I look forward to reading other books from this author.
