Jack O'Donnell

I've really struggled to review Lily Poole; not because I didn't like it, but because I'm not really sure what I've read...and perhaps that is the whole point. With mental health being the underlying theme, you're never sure what version of reality you're being shown and I was really impressed with Jack O'Donnell's ability to create this purposeful confusion in his debut novel.

The 1970's in Scotland pretty much mirrors the same era in the North East of England as the lifeblood of the region show more is slowly dying with the imminent closure of the shipyards, leaving men out of work and school leavers with no job prospects. This is exactly the case for the main character, John, who is at a loose end and has no purpose in life until he notices a young girl, Lily, clinging to the railings afraid to cross the icy road to school. John befriends Lily and makes sure that he is there every day to see her safely across the road to school, but the mums taking their children to school report John for hanging around the school and watching the children. John is confused as he is simply helping Lily, and can't understand why the mothers and the police can't see that...but that's because only John can see Lily.

There seemed to be several different versions of John: the almost child-like innocent John who trudged through the snow to help an invisible girl to school and the volatile teenager whose family are not sure what he is capable of. This wasn't a book I raced through as it was very dark in places but equally tender in others. Jack O'Donnell is definitely one to watch out for as he has an amazingly divergent writing style: so dark and vivid, yet so tender and dreamlike. An impressive debut novel.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. show less

A Quick Creepy Tale

Quick little psychological horror story with a clever twist. Honestly it was pretty fun, creepy, and clever. Bought it on a whim and was actually pretty happy with it, I may end up picking up some of the collected editions from the Land of Fright series at some point in the near future