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89th out of 92 books
—
26 voters
The Stuff Of Nightmares
by
Malorie Blackman (Goodreads Author)
Kyle has always been afraid of things, especially dying. Whilst on a train on a school trip, Kyle realises that he isn’t the only one who has buried fears and, more importantly, he now burns with the desire to live, and to live without fear. But will Death release him?
Paperback, 341 pages
Published
(first published 2007)
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Couldn't finish this book. I'd heard of Malorie Blackman and knew second-hand that she was a very good author, but I just didn't like her style.
The plot, now that I think of it, was quite interesting, but I thought it could have been done better, or in different circumstances. Most of all I just didn't like the way it was narrated. Too much first person, far too much. Most of it wasn't even necessary, though I suppose since all the nightmares were personal then it made sense, but not if Kyle was...more
The plot, now that I think of it, was quite interesting, but I thought it could have been done better, or in different circumstances. Most of all I just didn't like the way it was narrated. Too much first person, far too much. Most of it wasn't even necessary, though I suppose since all the nightmares were personal then it made sense, but not if Kyle was...more
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I adore Malorie Blackman, her Noughts & Crosses series is just incredible and I have read a number of her other books, but I had never got round to this one. In fact it's been in my cupboard for about a year and I've never pulled it out. Now I have a week off work I'm doing a mass book read. (I've so far read 6 books in just over 2 days!!!)
Anyway this always looked a bit spooky and I shied away, but I decided to get stuck in.
Kyle is on a school trip when the train crashes, most of his classm...more
Anyway this always looked a bit spooky and I shied away, but I decided to get stuck in.
Kyle is on a school trip when the train crashes, most of his classm...more
This book I'm finding hard to review. It was good, enjoyable style, great way of introducing the characteristics of characters through their dreams and nightmares, I found that particularly interesting but there was just missing something. Maybe a CLIMAX!!! I feel the whole book was just about...nothing really. And it wasn't boring nothing, it was just, nothing.
Main characters for me are important because its their point of view we are constantly looking through, and through their point of view...more
Main characters for me are important because its their point of view we are constantly looking through, and through their point of view...more
I love Malorie Blackman's style of writing and I have always found her books very engaging. This was a whole new level of engaging. The mysterious character of Kyle is running away from his worst fears and the recent events that have happens to him. When he and his friends from school are caught up in a train crash he is forced to face those fears and also to realise that he is not alone in his guilt, sadness and terror when he gets to live his friend's worst fears and memories as well. Whilst h...more
I read this as part of the carnegie longlist 2010? and on balance, having read Noughts & Crosses &
was disappointed as I felt that Malorie Blackman wasn't presenting anything new. The title also oversold the horror element. However, having said that I am about to recommend it to a colleague to read aloud to disaffected teenagers on lunchtime detentions ,so it can't have been so bad if I think it will hold their attention.
I think for me personally, I was hoping for something new and startl...more
was disappointed as I felt that Malorie Blackman wasn't presenting anything new. The title also oversold the horror element. However, having said that I am about to recommend it to a colleague to read aloud to disaffected teenagers on lunchtime detentions ,so it can't have been so bad if I think it will hold their attention.
I think for me personally, I was hoping for something new and startl...more
Everybody hurts...
Malorie Blackman writes for older teenagers but this is not a book only for teenagers.
A portmanteau plot involving a young man who has to face both his fears and his grief enables Blackman to present 12 short stories based around the teenagers friends. Some stories are fine examples of ghost stories, some are horror stories, some sci-fi and even ghost sci-fi. They tackle difficult subjects like domestic abuse, grief and suicide and are not afraid to shy away from the uncomfort...more
Malorie Blackman writes for older teenagers but this is not a book only for teenagers.
A portmanteau plot involving a young man who has to face both his fears and his grief enables Blackman to present 12 short stories based around the teenagers friends. Some stories are fine examples of ghost stories, some are horror stories, some sci-fi and even ghost sci-fi. They tackle difficult subjects like domestic abuse, grief and suicide and are not afraid to shy away from the uncomfort...more
This review has been taken straight from my blog, The Bookmark Girl - http://thebookmarkgirl.blogspot.com/
Summary (jacket flap)
It begins with a ride on a train.
But where it ends is on a precipice of horror - dangling on the border between life and death. It's a moment with Kyle discovers that he's not the only one in his class who knows about fear. Not the only one who has nightmares. And now, as Death stalks the carriages, it's a moment when nightmares become real. Nightmares of wars, and a...more
Summary (jacket flap)
It begins with a ride on a train.
But where it ends is on a precipice of horror - dangling on the border between life and death. It's a moment with Kyle discovers that he's not the only one in his class who knows about fear. Not the only one who has nightmares. And now, as Death stalks the carriages, it's a moment when nightmares become real. Nightmares of wars, and a...more
I can't find it - someone bought it from the bookstore when I HAD NEARLY FIN - I mean how unfair - DON'T THEY KNOW WHO I AM.....ah got it today from the library....read it...Mortal Instruments book one now :D
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After a train wreck, Kyle can enter his friends' nightmares. Some are quite normal nightmares (Soldier Steve, afraid his family won't want him after losing his legs and an arm at war or the old South African woman dreaming of her time as a "slave" for her white employers), some are fantastic (his teacher marrying the devil or one about Medusa) and other seems to be showing a possible future (acidic rain after a war).
The author manages to include 13 short stories in this novel (some of them have...more
The author manages to include 13 short stories in this novel (some of them have...more
The stuff of nightmares is a gripping imaginative tale from Noughts and Crosses author Malorie Blackman.
Kyle has a history, a deep history involving dark secrets and repressive memories about his parents. He runs to escape his reality. But when he is involved in a train crash with school he tries to escape reality by escaping into his classmates dreams.
This is a hugely engrossing novel, full of dramatic sub stories whilst never losing sight of the main drama of Kyle’s life.
Told from the first pe...more
Kyle has a history, a deep history involving dark secrets and repressive memories about his parents. He runs to escape his reality. But when he is involved in a train crash with school he tries to escape reality by escaping into his classmates dreams.
This is a hugely engrossing novel, full of dramatic sub stories whilst never losing sight of the main drama of Kyle’s life.
Told from the first pe...more
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Rating clarification: 4.5 stars
Favourite book of the month. Great premise, full review in a few days
FULL REVIEW:
For my pre read thoughts and reasons for reviewing please visit From the Shadows I Review
This is my favourite Malorie Blackman book of the month without a shadow of a doubt. While I didn’t find it scary I did find myself getting drawn into the story and losing hours of my life by just becoming enthralled by the stories. Each nightmare has an individual voice to it but still feels l...more
Favourite book of the month. Great premise, full review in a few days
FULL REVIEW:
For my pre read thoughts and reasons for reviewing please visit From the Shadows I Review
This is my favourite Malorie Blackman book of the month without a shadow of a doubt. While I didn’t find it scary I did find myself getting drawn into the story and losing hours of my life by just becoming enthralled by the stories. Each nightmare has an individual voice to it but still feels l...more
Athough it's aimed at the young adult market this is still a very terrifying book. Most of the stories are inspired by nightmares Mallorie Blackman herself has had, I think she needs counselling....
It's fantastically written and wonderfully fast paced. I found the ending a slight let down, but that really didn't mar my enjoyment. If you are reading this at night I would suggest making sure you have time to get to the end of a chapter, some very scary tales in here.
It's fantastically written and wonderfully fast paced. I found the ending a slight let down, but that really didn't mar my enjoyment. If you are reading this at night I would suggest making sure you have time to get to the end of a chapter, some very scary tales in here.
This was such an amazing book!
I am never gonna forget this. I loved each and every word of it.
Malorie Blackman's writing style was so wonderful, the first person-thing throughout the story made me feel what the character was feeling, what the people were feeling, the fear, the emotion, everything. There was so much raw emotion in this book. Amazing! No one writes like Malorie Blackman does. And the plot was just awesome! Loved every bit!
I am never gonna forget this. I loved each and every word of it.
Malorie Blackman's writing style was so wonderful, the first person-thing throughout the story made me feel what the character was feeling, what the people were feeling, the fear, the emotion, everything. There was so much raw emotion in this book. Amazing! No one writes like Malorie Blackman does. And the plot was just awesome! Loved every bit!
I really enjoyed this book however terrifying and disturbing it was it was amazing! I don't usually like books like this but it was so captivating. The chapter that sticks in my mind is the son who is a soldier in the army and commits suicide because he doesn't think his dad will look after him, moving and yet rather disturbing. Love Malorie Blackman and loved this book.
I remember when I bought this, I was looking for a horror book. This is what I walked out of the shop with, and although it is a good thriller book, it didn't satiate my first for horror, or thriller to be perfectly honest. I'd say it was more a thriller for young adults, whereas I was looking for adult genres. A good book, but for a younger audience.
Love it! Love it! Love it!
Malorie Backman is my favourite author ever and this is one of her best books yet. I couldn't stop reading, so altogether I read it about 3 times... each story is very scary and impressive so make sure you pick up this book next time you see it and give it a try. You won't regret it!
Malorie Backman is my favourite author ever and this is one of her best books yet. I couldn't stop reading, so altogether I read it about 3 times... each story is very scary and impressive so make sure you pick up this book next time you see it and give it a try. You won't regret it!
Most think they know their friends down to their dreams. But what about their nightmares? Few of us can imagine the horrible, terrifying things that lurk in the recesses of our mind. One young man named Kyle will be forced to witness his friends' and even strangers' deepest secrets against his will. But what about his own nightmare?
Written as a series of short stories all relating to the same incident. More books should be written like this. I'd call it horror/sci fi and think it would make a great tv series. Loved the concept, the characters and the story.
I love the auther for her Noughts & Crosses series, so I thought I'd try some of her other work.
I didn't enjoy this book half as much as the other series, but it was still a nice read. Again, differant and interesting.
I didn't enjoy this book half as much as the other series, but it was still a nice read. Again, differant and interesting.
Parts of this book had me gripped, but other parts made me lose interest. The idea of this book was good and some of the nightmares really did creep me out, especially, drip...drip...drip. Also, Steve's nightmare really shocked me, I'll remember that one for a long time. The thing that let this book down was the story surrounding the nightmares, the end of the book completely lost me it could have ended so much better. I was waiting for something shocking/creepy at the end to go along with the r...more
To begin with, the book completely freaked me out but after a while it got better. It was great watching Kyle grow and mature. The timing confused me a bit because of how many nightmares there were but good overall.
This book had some amazing ideas in it, it wasn't scary exactly, but it was thoroughly disturbing and kind of cool becuase of that.
this book was a great book to read as it was describing different nightmares people had in school.i found it quite boring at most times though
This is actually one of my favourite book, i would recommend reading this as there are LOTS of interesting parts to it
I liked the plot a lot, but there was something missing in the writing so sadly it's only a 3.
I've read a few Malorie Blackman books before, and I love the Noughts and Crosses series. This book simply isn't as good.
O. M. G. This is definitely one of my favourite books :O Ahhhh! I love this book sooo much! It really deserves the 5 star rating ;DD Most of the 'mini-stories' leave you in total shock because it's such a brillant book. A very enjoyable read ;D
This is an amazing book; depicting how very real nightmares can be, and how hope is never lost and that you will only see what you believe in. You should open your eyes, or youll be blind for ever.
This book lived up to be fantastic! I was scared for some of the characters, it was so realistic. :)
This book lived up to be fantastic! I was scared for some of the characters, it was so realistic. :)
one of my most favourite books! i will never forget it, i love the short stories
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An award-winning children's author, Malorie Blackman was honoured with an OBE in 2008. Her work has been adapted for TV and stage.
More information available at:
Myspace
British Council: Contemporary Authors
British Council: Encompass Culture
Channel 4 Learning: Book Box
More about Malorie Blackman...
More information available at:
Myspace
British Council: Contemporary Authors
British Council: Encompass Culture
Channel 4 Learning: Book Box
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