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55th out of 152 books
—
223 voters
How the Trouble Started
The police were involved over the trouble. They had to be. 'I was just playing,' I told them, but that wasn't enough. They wanted to know what I understood by 'intent'.
Donald Bailey is sixteen. He can't forget the trouble that happened when he was eight, when the police were called. His mother can't forget either and even leaving their home town doesn't help. Then Donald b...more
Donald Bailey is sixteen. He can't forget the trouble that happened when he was eight, when the police were called. His mother can't forget either and even leaving their home town doesn't help. Then Donald b...more
Paperback, 230 pages
Published
July 5th 2012
by Farber and Farber
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How the Trouble Started by Robert Williams takes us on the journey of Donald Bailey, first, as an eight year old little boy who caught wind of some trouble. The first person narrative draws us close to Donald as he recounts fading memories of an incident involving a two year old little boy from down the street. Police question him and his mother questions him - all wanting to know the truth of what happened. But being the little boy that he is, Donald doesn't have the answers. All he can do is e...more
This first-person stream-of-conscientiousness novel doesn't build suspense exactly, but once begun, you cannot put it down. Author Robert Williams gets inside the mind of a child and this same child as a teenager so effectively that you have to wonder who this author is that he has such insights.
At the age of six, Donald kills a toddler. Was it an accident? Was it done maliciously because of anger at his mother? The reader doesn't know any more than little Donald knows, but Donald has to live w...more
At the age of six, Donald kills a toddler. Was it an accident? Was it done maliciously because of anger at his mother? The reader doesn't know any more than little Donald knows, but Donald has to live w...more
When asking in my favourite second hand bookshop (actually in Clitheroe where Williams is from) for yet another copy of Luke & Jon (as I insist on passing on any in my possession) I discovered that Robert Williams had the courtesy of providing us with another fix of his delicate northern prose. Without question I made the purchase and justified to myself the putting aside of the other books I had ling ago promised that I would read.
All the way through I am thinking, this is not as good as Lu...more
All the way through I am thinking, this is not as good as Lu...more
I had a feeling this coming-of-age story was going to be an addictive read from the very first paragraph, which begins like this.....
"The police were involved over the trouble. They had to be. But I didn't think of them as the police at first. As an eight-year-old boy I expected uniforms, flashing lights and handcuffs. Speeding cars and the glimpse of a gun. Instead there was this woman in a business suit who drove a grey car slowly and always smelt of coffee. She told me to call her Tracy, but...more
"The police were involved over the trouble. They had to be. But I didn't think of them as the police at first. As an eight-year-old boy I expected uniforms, flashing lights and handcuffs. Speeding cars and the glimpse of a gun. Instead there was this woman in a business suit who drove a grey car slowly and always smelt of coffee. She told me to call her Tracy, but...more
When Donald Bailey was 8 years old, he was involved in an accident that resulted in the death of a toddler. Soon after, he and his mother relocated to another town where no one knew them. Donald was never allowed to speak of the accident again, but as he got older, the incident consumed him. Now, as a 16-year old, he reaches out to a local boy and they become friends. However, Donald's memories and perceptions aren't always spot on.
This wasn't a particularly exciting book, but it was extremely e...more
This wasn't a particularly exciting book, but it was extremely e...more
The initial premise of this book - the difference between perception and reality - was what got me to pick it up in the first place. It's the tale of 16-year-old Donald Bailey, who it transpires killed a two-year-old boy when he was eight, and what happens when he befriends a vulnerable eight-year-old. All the events of the book are filtered through Donald's point of view, allowing us to question the reality of what he witnesses.
It's a well-written book that, while not an edge-of-the-seat page-t...more
It's a well-written book that, while not an edge-of-the-seat page-t...more
Thought provoking.
I enjoyed this Young Adult book but, for me, it never quite hit the mark. The premise was great - something momentous happened when Donald was eight years old, which had repercussions on the rest of his life.
We only gradualy discover what this momentous event was, even Donald has a problem remembering clearly, after all, he was only eight. As a result the family moves from the area and Donald finds himself a bit of a loner.
He tries to atone for his part in 'the trouble' but his...more
I enjoyed this Young Adult book but, for me, it never quite hit the mark. The premise was great - something momentous happened when Donald was eight years old, which had repercussions on the rest of his life.
We only gradualy discover what this momentous event was, even Donald has a problem remembering clearly, after all, he was only eight. As a result the family moves from the area and Donald finds himself a bit of a loner.
He tries to atone for his part in 'the trouble' but his...more
The trouble started when Donald Bailey was eight. He was just a kid, and it was just an accident, but still… a two-year-old wound up dead. What does an eight year old know about grief, about heart break, about the fragility of life?
Eight years later, living in a different town where no one except his mother knows about the trouble, Donald now fully understands what he did. With no way to atone, he reaches out to a boy named Jake who seems vulnerable and in need of a friend. Jake is the same age...more
Eight years later, living in a different town where no one except his mother knows about the trouble, Donald now fully understands what he did. With no way to atone, he reaches out to a boy named Jake who seems vulnerable and in need of a friend. Jake is the same age...more
This novel had me absolutely riveted for the first two-thirds of its story. Donald, the young main character of How the Trouble Started, is utterly engaging. His emotional and intellectual journey towards understanding the events that occurred when he was essentially a toddler is a compelling and brutally honest one. The realities that he experiences as a consequence of his own actions are heartbreaking and resonant even when you grasp the horror of "the trouble." It is this resonance that break...more
I received a copy of this from NetGalley for my review
I haven't read such a thought-provoking novel in a long time. My initial attraction was the jacket summary and title, I thought the story appeared intriguing and I was spot on. From the moment I read the first paragraph I was hooked on the story. The main protagonist Donald is portrayed in such a way you want to know his character and his story. Donald is evidence that one can never escape their past and our past shapes us into the person we...more
I haven't read such a thought-provoking novel in a long time. My initial attraction was the jacket summary and title, I thought the story appeared intriguing and I was spot on. From the moment I read the first paragraph I was hooked on the story. The main protagonist Donald is portrayed in such a way you want to know his character and his story. Donald is evidence that one can never escape their past and our past shapes us into the person we...more
The writing was compelling and a sense of the sinister pervaded the novel.Donald Bailey is sixteen and unable to cope with the death of a toddler that he caused when he was a young boy. It haunts him. A disfunctional relationship with his mother and few friends make it a sad life for this lonely boy who befriends an 8 year old boy with whom he identifies. I found the ending a bit disappointing.
A gripping journey through the mind of a troubled young boy called Donald. Williams beautifully describes the difficulties of living in a small town when you've got a reputation. He also vividly paints the picture of strained family life.
The relationships are well written and How The Trouble is not without it's more tender and amusing moments.
A very enjoyable and also pleasingly easy read.
The relationships are well written and How The Trouble is not without it's more tender and amusing moments.
A very enjoyable and also pleasingly easy read.
Well-written and intriguing read. Review to follow.
Jun 13, 2013
Tara Lewis
marked it as to-read
Jun 04, 2013
Gertrude Lightwood
marked it as to-read
May 23, 2013
Mahra
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May 06, 2013
Sophie
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Mar 21, 2013
Jolene Montes
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Mar 18, 2013
Tamari
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Mar 13, 2013
Natalie Clark
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Mar 03, 2013
Caroline
marked it as to-read
Feb 23, 2013
smai91
marked it as to-read
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