Hatrack River Forum: Wow. What a book for a buck!

This is topic Wow. What a book for a buck! in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

It is The Icarus Girl by Helen Oyeyemi, who was 19 when she wrote it.

Here is a review, which is pretty spot on for me. It is about a young girl whose mother is Nigerian, and whose father is English. She meets an imaginary? friend who turns out to be quite interesting.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2102-1446057,00.html

And yes, I did pick it up because of Icarus. Even though I have always known of Icarus the mythological being, I now see books with Icarus in the title and have an unconscious Hatrack response to pick them up.

This was a very, very good book, and I am excited to read this young woman's work as she matures. Holy moly.

[ May 02, 2005, 08:42 AM: Message edited by: Elizabeth ]

Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :

I haven't read it yet, I'm waiting until it's in paperback. But the fact that she wrote it when she was 18 makes me so jealous... [Wink]

*Goes off to work on novel*

Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :

We got 9 books in the wheel of time series by Robert Jordan for 9 dollars total.

We also found a 196... 4? (not sure, but in the 60's) copy of Dune for a dollar, as well as the first book of the Dark Tower series.

Heheh... bins at grocery stores are cool.

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

Bella Bee, this was paperback! It was in the bin which was basically free, and the dollar goes to charity.

It was published in 2005. I will go check, but I thought it was the first printing.

Edit: I looked up the Nigerian legends about twins. Very interesting. This particular group of Nigrians has the highest incidence of multiple births in the world.

[ May 02, 2005, 02:20 PM: Message edited by: Elizabeth ]

Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :

I've only ever seen it in hard back in my local Borders... Wait, you're right, it is in paperback too.

*Goes and orders from Amazon* [Smile]

Posted by Audeo (Member # 5130) on :

quote:
Oyeyemi’s ambitious first novel (written while she was studying for her A-levels)

Who says that procrastination is a bad thing? No time like the time when you really need to be doing something else to get started on that novel of yours.

Posted by Ryuko (Member # 5125) on :

I went to a convention and got a bunch of graphic novels for two dollars apiece, and a bunch more for a dollar apiece. It was awesome.

Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :

Audeo, she procrastinated her way into a career. She is really amazing.