David Owen (2) (1938–)

I have to say I had not read the John Wyndham novel this book takes its inspiration from, nor the film Village of the Damned - and I am far from being a “young” adult, but don’t let any of this put you off - go out and buy this book anyway because it is a terrific read. The narration moves between the main characters and I found this really worked well - the tension rises gradually as we find out how each of the girls deals with the mystery of being pregnant. I am not particularly fond show more of science fiction or the supernatural but there is a reality and grit about this novel that makes you suspend disbelief. I felt involved with them. Towards the end I carried the book around the house with me in order to finish it. But what was really quite a shock was that I realised I had some of the same prejudices about these “alien unruly “ children as the other “ordinary” people in the block. I don’t want to reveal the end but it did bring a lump to my throat when I read how courageous these girls really were - and what it means to give people a chance and a choice. Brilliant book! show less

The last strike by the anonymous bullying group really hit Kat hard. She was never the popular girl with many friends, but at least online she could be the person she saw in herself, but now, that is taken away from her and she just wants to vanish, fade away. Her wish is granted, slowly her body becomes translucent, only Safa, sharing the same fate can see her. She quickly finds out that there are others, not just people who would like to be someone different and forget their old life and show more be forgotten, but people who actually faded away. However, there is still one thing she needs to do on earth: the bullies have found another target and she must stop them and therefore collaborate with one of them.

Admittedly, I wasn’t really thinking that the act of vanishing in the novel was meant “real”, yet, this unrealistic aspect is the only thing I wasn’t completely happy with. Apart from this, David Owen has really captured the emotions of teenager who feel like they don’t fit in, that they cannot lead the life they would like to have and the hardship of going to school and being exposed to the attacks of bullies.

I found both protagonists – Kat as the good, pitiable girl and Wesley who first seems to be her enemy but then turns out to be in a comparable situation – strong characters for the novel. They are easy to relate to and the problems they face are things most pupils might know from their everyday life. The novel also had some suspense that kept you read on and it surely made you think of how you treat your family members and how attentive you are concerning the people around you that you never really see.

All in all, I liked it and would surely recommend it to young people who are searching for their identity and place in the world. show less

David Owen has a theory that hubris has afflicted a lot of leaders, this is his second book on the topic (first being The Hubris Syndrome); that they get cocky and then make mistakes because they think they're right. That absolute power can corrupt and that no leader should be left lead past 8 years. This book is divided really into four parts, the first is a quick run-through (almost gossipy) of the mental and physical health of a lot of 20th century leaders. Then he does an indepth (which show more I found kinda tedious) look at Prime Minister Eden; President Kennedy; Shah of Iran and President Mitterand. The part that had me skipping pages was part 3, Bush, Blair and the war in Iraq, I really didn't care. The lessons for the future should possibly be read by a lot of poliicians and political leaders.

Overall, it was okay, moments made me want to do more research, others made me gloss over the book. David Owen is a doctor as well as a politician so he knows a fair bit about medicine and illnesses, but he is trying to prove a thesis, which may be at least partially correct but the book really didn't do much for me. show less

I love this collection. Chosen by David Owen all the royalties from the book went to Great Ormond Street hospital.
I found it in a bookshop in Chester way back in 1992 (!) and it has prooved to be indispensable and much loved.
It is an anthology of poems which are grouped into one of Shakespeare's Seven Ages of Man , from As You Like It.
Infant; School; Lover; Soldier; Wisdom; Sixth Age and Last Scene.