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125th out of 564 books
—
751 voters
Somebody's Crying
A murder in a country town is the backdrop for the story of three young people, Alice, Tom and Jonty, who are bound together because Alice's mother was murdered and Jonty is the suspect. This is a compulsive read from master storyteller Maureen McCarthy.
Paperback - C Format, 371 pages
Published
November 7th 2008
by Allen & Unwin
(first published November 1st 2008)
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It’s highly unusual and at times too slow. But it’s got me thinking. And feeling…
The emotions ranged from the intense then soft and all else in between. Most their relationships are unconventional, complicated, should not work but still do. The lot of them are complicated interesting people. Initial descriptions of Jonty are of a boy with a bright future ahead of him, smart and good. Tom, too had everything going for him, solid family, good school and all that. But when 40 something Lillian ente...more
The emotions ranged from the intense then soft and all else in between. Most their relationships are unconventional, complicated, should not work but still do. The lot of them are complicated interesting people. Initial descriptions of Jonty are of a boy with a bright future ahead of him, smart and good. Tom, too had everything going for him, solid family, good school and all that. But when 40 something Lillian ente...more
Dull, boring and slow? Yes that just about covers the entire context of the novel and the very fact that it was a predicatable story line that just was not much of a storyline in the first place. I could see where the idea of the story was coming from, but in more ways than one there was just this idealistic wrongess and tabooness to it that just didnt make it any more exciting. Most of the book I think I actually ended up skimming merely for the sake that it was just moving that slowly througho...more
YA fiction. Three years ago, Alice's mother was murdered. The police arrested Alice's cousin Jonty, the charismatic boy with the wide grin and the wild streak, but the evidence fell apart. Jonty doesn't remember anything about that night. He was released after a short stint inside, and nobody was ever brought to trial. Tom, Jonty's best friend, has been ignoring what happened ever since, and ignoring Jonty too. He barely remembers Alice, a shy girl next to her more vibrant mother. But now they'r...more
I fell in love with Maureen McCarthy’s ‘Chain of Hearts’ ages ago unfortunately none of her other works have come to close to it. ‘Somebody’s Crying’ is a young adult novel following the lives of three teenagers coming to terms with the mysterious death of a local woman, a mother, aunt and friend to the respective characters.
Tom and Jonty used to be best mates but have grown apart after Jonty was accused of murdering a local woman called Lillian. The novel begins several years after the murder w...more
Tom and Jonty used to be best mates but have grown apart after Jonty was accused of murdering a local woman called Lillian. The novel begins several years after the murder w...more
So what can I say about “somebody’s crying”? Well I must say it was a beautiful book about passion, friendship and love.
Alright so this book took me a long time to read, I would like to say that the only reason for this was because I read so many books in between but it’s not the only reason. I didn’t feel like I was a part of this book like I usually do when I am reading a book I love such as this one, I felt like someone was telling me about the story not like I was reading it. I don’t know w...more
Alright so this book took me a long time to read, I would like to say that the only reason for this was because I read so many books in between but it’s not the only reason. I didn’t feel like I was a part of this book like I usually do when I am reading a book I love such as this one, I felt like someone was telling me about the story not like I was reading it. I don’t know w...more
I have to confess that, when I read the blurb, I was a little wary. After all, a YA novel, set in country Australia, with teens dealing with a death in the family... it gets done a bit in the industry.
However, my fears were allayed very quickly, as I started reading. Whilst, on the surface, this is a bit of a whodunit, this only serves as the setting for exploring the three central characters, all deeply disturbed in their own way, as they attempt to escape their past by understanding it and fin...more
However, my fears were allayed very quickly, as I started reading. Whilst, on the surface, this is a bit of a whodunit, this only serves as the setting for exploring the three central characters, all deeply disturbed in their own way, as they attempt to escape their past by understanding it and fin...more
Jul 17, 2012
Alison Smith
marked it as gave-up-on-it
I gave up on this book 19% of the way through it.
Why?
The writing style.
I hated it. Hated it. Third person present tense? Really? REALLY??
The writing style made it extremely hard to read. Sure, the plot was interesting, but I had a hard time remembering how old each character was. Tom acted like a 40 year old man. (Not that that's a bad thing; his behavior was just a little too old for the age he was actually supposed to be.) I kept thinking his dad was, like, 70 or something. Jonty and Alice wer...more
Why?
The writing style.
I hated it. Hated it. Third person present tense? Really? REALLY??
The writing style made it extremely hard to read. Sure, the plot was interesting, but I had a hard time remembering how old each character was. Tom acted like a 40 year old man. (Not that that's a bad thing; his behavior was just a little too old for the age he was actually supposed to be.) I kept thinking his dad was, like, 70 or something. Jonty and Alice wer...more
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I love Maureen McCarthy's work and this book again did not disappoint. Relationships, character and plot development are her strengths and this book continued along these strengths. It was a great read into relationships, family, and friendships told in a believable and soft way.
Great for people who enjoy books about young people and their relationships, with a murder thrown in for good measure.
Great for people who enjoy books about young people and their relationships, with a murder thrown in for good measure.
Somebody’s Crying is a breathtaking book of murder and mystery. Alice is still finding life difficult after her mothers murder three years ago, when she meets up wit Tom, they join together to catch the killer, who may or may not be Alice’s cousin, and Tom’s ex best friend Jonty. As they are pulled deeper into the mystery, they also learn how to heal, be happy and maybe even be friends.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
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I LOVE Maureen McCarthy's "Chain of Hearts", and so read this book, in the hope that it would be as good.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. As usual, the author is very good at writing about feelings and describing circumstances, but the actual plot of this book really drags it down - there is just not enough substance to it :(
Unfortunately, this is not the case. As usual, the author is very good at writing about feelings and describing circumstances, but the actual plot of this book really drags it down - there is just not enough substance to it :(
A murder in a country town. The accused murderer (Jonty) got off scott free and is back in town trying to make his best friend (Tom) see that it wasn't him. Whilst his cousin (Alice), the daughter of the women killed doesn't accept that fact.
Told from the perspective of the these three young adults, Maureen McCarthy captures the heart and mind of those affected by this crime with such familiar characteristics that we can't help but feel we too are apart of this story at times.
Told from the perspective of the these three young adults, Maureen McCarthy captures the heart and mind of those affected by this crime with such familiar characteristics that we can't help but feel we too are apart of this story at times.
I really love the way Maureen McCarthy writes. Her characters are so realistic and layered and interesting, probably because they are NOT too busy being whipped through scenes of break-neck action to think or feel anything. I found this really gripping and fascinating, and stayed up till 4 finishing it!
This is definitely one of McCarthy's strongest works. I'm saying this as a frequent reader.
The characters are believable and likeable, and the ending is unpredictable. It makes me feel as if I'm in their world -a world mixed with mystery, crime and romance.
The main character, Alice, is one of my favourite female characters of all time because, although she's overweight, she doesn't take notice of it. Also, she is confident in herself. And her feelings are clearly projected through the third per...more
The characters are believable and likeable, and the ending is unpredictable. It makes me feel as if I'm in their world -a world mixed with mystery, crime and romance.
The main character, Alice, is one of my favourite female characters of all time because, although she's overweight, she doesn't take notice of it. Also, she is confident in herself. And her feelings are clearly projected through the third per...more
Oct 28, 2011
Foster Buckman
marked it as to-read
well well, iv actually put this book of for a while now! reason i got this book was because the author has the same last name of a friend on mine, but i am sure to read this sooooon !!!
I just couldn't get into this novel at all. Embarrassed to admit that I didn't get more than 30% through as I thought the voice was a little desperate.
When Alice looks up and see Tom staring up at her, everything comes down around her and becomes very around them and becomes very still.
I started to read this book though I just couldnt seem to get into it. I found keeping up with the story line quite hard to follow.
From the description on the back of the book, it sounded very cool, but I just couldn't get into it, sadly.
It’s been three years since the horrific event that devastated an entire community and changed the lives of Tom, Alice and Jonty. Each have tried to move on since the unsolved murder of Lillian Wishart, but this summer the three characters will reconnect, revisit their pasts and attempt to deal with chilling crime that tore them apart.
To be honest, I didn’t love Somebody’s Crying as much as Queen Kat, Carmen and St. Jude or Chain of Hearts, but this is still an intriguing story (I love a good m...more
To be honest, I didn’t love Somebody’s Crying as much as Queen Kat, Carmen and St. Jude or Chain of Hearts, but this is still an intriguing story (I love a good m...more
Its a pretty good story, and i liked it but i didnt love it.
Too long, too dull, too much perspective from boys.
Great book, full of suspense, anger and sadness.
4/5
4/5
I read 6 pages and I felt no spark. So yeah, maybe later.
McCarthy does teen drama very well. Though not as good as most of her other work, it's still miles ahead of most other attempts at teen fiction.
Spoilt a little by the 'epilogue'. It seemed too much like it was trying to make a happy ending instead of a realistic one.
Spoilt a little by the 'epilogue'. It seemed too much like it was trying to make a happy ending instead of a realistic one.
I posted a review of this book on my site:
http://australianbookshelf.wordpress....
http://australianbookshelf.wordpress....
wow! that book is sad:( im not usually upset by books but it is sad! i still recomend it to everyone!!! especially if u like murder
A mystery that had me wondering more and kept me turning the pages.
WAAAAAY BETTER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE !
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Maureen McCarthy, the ninth of ten children, was born in country Victoria. An Australian author and scriptwriter, her novels concern the lives of emerging adults, from ages sixteen to early twenties. She has worked as a teacher in Victorian Secondary Schools and has also written scripts for television and educational films. McCarthy has three sons and lives in Melbourne.
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