Chasing Charlie Duskin

Mar 30, 2012 Emily May rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-na, 2011, contemporary

"I've got stars in my blood, burning bright under my skin."

I really liked it, let me just say that first. The whole story was bittersweet and moving and captured that sense of wanting that the book was essentially all about.

We are told the tale of a summer in a small town from two points of views: Charlie, an outcast who longs for friendship and to be included in the world that seems to be happening around her, so close and yet just out of reach; and Rose, a girl who dreams of bigger things out...more

"I've got stars in my blood, burning bright under my skin."

I really liked it, let me just say that first. The whole story was bittersweet and moving and captured that sense of wanting that the book was essentially all about.

We are told the tale of a summer in a small town from two points of views: Charlie, an outcast who longs for friendship and to be included in the world that seems to be happening around her, so close and yet just out of reach; and Rose, a girl who dreams of bigger things outside of the small town in which she grew up, desperate not to follow in her mother's footsteps. Both stories are very touching and 'real' in a way that makes me understand the comparisons to Melina Marchetta.

Like Melina Marchetta's novels, there is an intricate exploration of each character, not just the two protagonists, that takes you deep within their minds and makes them instantly unforgettable. The book's focus is on a group of angsty teenagers, unsure of their place in the world and trying to figure themselves and their life paths out... and it's handled very well. All the characters are realistically imperfect, they lie and they manipulate and they steal, but ultimately you can't help but remain on their side throughout.

Nothing's so simple as "she's a bitch" and "he's a jerk", Crowley doesn't waste characters and no one is a simple throwaway addition to the group.

The writing is similarly well-crafted and beautiful, though not as flawless as Melina Marchetta usually is. I found sometimes it lacked smoothness and the author seems a bit too big a fan of similes, most of the time I liked reading the descriptions of the imagery but using multiple similes in one sentence can make it read awkwardly. But, on the whole, the writing really impressed me, especially when it came to some of the breath-taking songs Charlie had written.

I didn't give it five stars because sometimes it was difficult to differentiate between Charlie and Rose, I would occasionally get lost in the writing and forget who's point of view we were on and I would have to go back to the start of the chapter to check. I'm sure some people will disagree but I thought that, even though the protagonists' circumstances differed, their voices in the alternating POVs were often too similar.

Thanks Jasprit for being kind enough to lend me your copy of this :)(less)

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Aug 05, 2011 Lisa O. rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Lisa O. by: Catie

Shelves: ebook, australian, ya-lit, favorites, hot-musicians, swoooooon

I'm kind of tired of repeating myself and say that these Aussie YA authors write well..... but anyway, THIS Aussie writes well.
This is the second book by Cath Crowley I've picked up, the first being Graffiti Moon, but A Little Wanting Song was actually published before with the original title Chasing Charlie Duskin.
While I loved Graffiti Moon I can safely say I loved this one even more. Because this book is MORE. More of everything. There is more drama, more angst, more reality, and especially...more

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Nov 16, 2011 Aly (Fantasy4eva) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Aly (Fantasy4eva) by: Audrey (holes In My brain)

Shelves: crushing-on-the-cover, fast-paced-and-engrossing, hilarious

“Her eyes always bothered me when we were kids. They still do. They make mine ache trying to see where they end.”

A LITTLE WANTING SONG features grief, but it's not 'punch you in the gut' kind of grief. There are family relationships with an underline of neglect that are explored, but again, it's not heavy handed. There's betrayal and wanting but it doesn't have your heart racing. I guess what I'm trying to say is that all these things are explored in the novel, but in a more quiet, subtle way. T...more “Her eyes always bothered me when we were kids. They still do. They make mine ache trying to see where they end.”

A LITTLE WANTING SONG features grief, but it's not 'punch you in the gut' kind of grief. There are family relationships with an underline of neglect that are explored, but again, it's not heavy handed. There's betrayal and wanting but it doesn't have your heart racing. I guess what I'm trying to say is that all these things are explored in the novel, but in a more quiet, subtle way. This is more of a personal preference though. I like to feel that punch in the gut, that fury and unbearable wanting. I think Jellicoe Road is always going to make me have these expectations. And that's not this books fault at all. It beautifully handles these topics, it does. It's pretty much a case of: It's me, not you.

A part of me wants to dig right into the premise, but I think I'll hold up on that front because I think it's best if you explore their journey for yourself. I have to say, it was a very smooth read for me. Once it was apparent that I was pretty much devouring the book, I decided to read the second half outside. I've only ever done that with Jellicoe Road, so I have a feeling whenever this urge takes over, it means something very very good ;)

A part of me wants to shout. "It's not real! Things don't work that way." Because bad boys like Luke don't love and stay loyal to a girl, they don't shrug away sex because she means that much to him. Girls like Rose don't suddenly find themselves liking a person after hating everything she stands for, for so long. And nobody can be as beautiful and talented as Charlie and be so self- conscious. And hey, You can't love a girl as much as Dan has always loved Charlie and sit back and watch your two best friends make her miserable. But this book made me believe those things. I think I wanted to believe them.

It's important to remember that there are things that made this book special and memorable for me. Those lovely lyrics that Charlie writes were definite highlights and stuck with me for a while, the way her 'butt' jokes made me laugh. The moments where Charlie wants so much for her father to look at her and not see right through her, the times when Rose feels so suffocated by the place she lives in that it terrifies you to imagine ever feeling the same. Her ambition and fierceness. How Dan is just so damn sweet and honest, how he takes the blame for each of his friends time and time again despite the consequences, and the way Luke is so hopelessly in love with Rose. I could forgive that boy time and time for his careless mistakes for dealing with Rose' harsh words, for truly getting her and always being there for her. There's something so good about that boy - no matter what people from the outside may think.

It is hopeful and funny and completely charming. Guys, I think I have a new favourite author ;) This book may be more subtle in some aspects, but there's definitely something there that reminds me of the magic in Melina Marchetta' work. So I don't even have to think twice when I say Grafitti Moon is next on my 'must read' list. Give this one a go guys, I have a feeling you will adore it <3

Of course, I had to include some of my favourite bookmarked moments :)

"Who's this?" Dad asks when a catchy tune comes on my CD. We pass the skeleton tree that never has leaves, no matter what the time of the year. Bare gray branches wave us on. "No one you know, Dad," I say. It's me.

Mum's the one who understands what I really mean when I say things like that. I cried with her when I got the news about Gran. She was the one who told me to sing "Smashed-Up World" and sing it loud. I did. I punched it at the air before Dad got home. Punched it at the world. Cracked it out till there was no sound left, just an ache in my throat. Mum wouldn't tell. She's good at keeping secrets. She should be.
She's been dead for seven years.

She was two years away from knowing me. Eleven years away from dead. She was beautiful. A hundred times more beautiful than me.

Dave: "You think she'd go out with anyone because she's not like you. She's gorgeous. Fucking gorgeous. You've spent too long in this place to see."

"Un-heard of," Luke said when a little space cleared for him and Dave. "You see that, Rosie? Girls love us." "It's not you. It's Dave." "Dave?" Dave Asked. "Yeah, dickhead," I said. "You."

Dave's got his face to the wall when I sit next to him. He's half crying, half holding it in. "I said go home, Charlie. I don't want to talk about it." "So don't talk," I say. And I hold his hand while he washes the last sixteen years out.

"You notice how the moon's been coming out earlier and earlier lately? Like it's saying, 'Fuck the rules. I'm here.'"

I take a last look back. The sky opens its arms and throws out the storm like old soapy water it's used and finished with. She's soaked and alone. I leave her huddled there. Some people aren't worth crying over.

"You better hope she starts," he says. "because if she doesn't, I'm going out there and you're backup." Dave knows two songs all the way through. "J-Lo?" I ask. "Beyonce." "Shit."

Charlie's screaming under the falls and Dave's yelling and I can't hear a word they're saying and it doesn't matter. All that matters here is letting go. Fuck boredom. Fuck being stuck in the middle of nowhere. Fuck being born with Made In The Back Of A Holden stamped on you back. Fuck paddocks and plastic chairs.

(less)

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Apr 10, 2011 Catie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011, ya

While I hate it when people make obnoxious claims like, “This is the next Hunger Games!!!!”, I must say that if you are one of us unfortunates looking desperately for something to fill the Melina Marchetta sized hole in your life, this book might help with that. For me, it wasn’t nearly as emotionally draining as Ms. M’s latest (for example, my guts are not sitting on the floor next to me right now in a sticky puddle), but all the same honesty and bittersweet grief is there in this book.

One of t...more While I hate it when people make obnoxious claims like, “This is the next Hunger Games!!!!”, I must say that if you are one of us unfortunates looking desperately for something to fill the Melina Marchetta sized hole in your life, this book might help with that. For me, it wasn’t nearly as emotionally draining as Ms. M’s latest (for example, my guts are not sitting on the floor next to me right now in a sticky puddle), but all the same honesty and bittersweet grief is there in this book.

One of the reasons I am so affected by this book is probably that I majorly over-identify with both main characters. Both of these girls are trapped. Rose is trapped in her small town life, where she watches her parents eke out a living and hopes for a different future for herself. Her boyfriend Luke is getting more and more reckless, just for the novelty of it, and she and her best friend Dave feel compelled to follow him. When she sneaks off to the city and wins a science scholarship to a better school, she doesn’t tell anyone, knowing that her parents, Luke, and Dave will not let her go. Rose’s one hope of convincing her parents to let her go is Charlie, a painfully quiet girl who visits the small town once a year to work in her grandfather’s store. Rose has ignored or even ridiculed Charlie for years, but now she hopes to win her friendship so that Charlie will give her a place to live in the city, and her parents will trust her to leave. Charlie is trapped by her own grief and insecurity. Inside she is vibrant and wanting, but she can’t figure out how to break down her own barriers and live. Her father is distant and sealed off, and she has lost the two people in her life that understood her the most. After an embarrassing incident at a pool party, she realizes that she has also lost her best friend.

There is a very authentically “teenage” feeling about this book: there’s drama and angst and desire; however, it’s all so honestly bare that I never felt manipulated. This book is very poetically written, with song lyrics sprinkled in between the chapters. Rose is very fond of the science/nature metaphors and Charlie is big into the musical metaphors. Sometimes this kind of writing can seem overdone or cheesy to me, but it’s a testament to this book that even my snark barriers were breached. My eyes did not roll; they stayed securely in place.* And, did I mention that this book is funny?

More than anything, I loved the relationship between Rose and Luke. The author so exactly captures the truth about striving and reaching for something above your life: there’s a price to be paid, and it requires selfishness and greed. It sometimes requires that you to leave behind the ones you love. That’s the kind of angst I can really get behind!

*Okay, full disclosure: I did roll my eyes a couple of times. I can't help it; it's like a reflex at this point. It was affectionate eye-rolling though - like when I see my daughter throw a tantrum because she can't wear her ruby slippers to school. Her feelings are strong and honest, but I can't help finding it ridiculous because I have perspective.(less)

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Sep 28, 2011 Tatiana rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Tatiana by: Catie

Shelves: aus-nz, 2011, ala-ya-2011, ya

3.5 stars

A Little Wanting Song is a tender, at times poignant story of friendship, first love and yearning for more.

Did I like it? Yes. Did I like it as much as I thought I would? Not quite.

I love to read novels about girl friendships. It is too popular now to explore "mean girls" scenarios - back stabbing, cheating and cattiness. Although this story starts with one girl planning to take advantage of another, it soon becomes a tale of real friendship, a relationship that transforms and empowers...more

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Dec 19, 2011 Watermelon Daisy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I love this book so much. I love it, I love it, I love it. It didn’t take me long to read this at all, and believe me, it has nothing to do with the number of pages. Where do I start? This was one of the most original books I’ve ever read.

We have the main character who has always been misunderstood, but Charlie doesn’t have that “cliché” feeling attached to her. The reason people tend to overlook her is actually quite reasonable –she’s never able to speak out what she’s actually feeling. She mus...more

I love this book so much. I love it, I love it, I love it. It didn’t take me long to read this at all, and believe me, it has nothing to do with the number of pages. Where do I start? This was one of the most original books I’ve ever read.

We have the main character who has always been misunderstood, but Charlie doesn’t have that “cliché” feeling attached to her. The reason people tend to overlook her is actually quite reasonable –she’s never able to speak out what she’s actually feeling. She must be an amazing singer, probably better than most others, because she keeps her feeling locked up. It’s obvious that when she sings, she’s pretty much letting all her true feelings. Releasing them.

None of the book felt sappy and unrealistic. Nothing. The author does a splendid job on making me feel sorry for Charlie, and yet, I’m not irritated at her for not speaking aloud. If it was any other character I would’ve probably felt extremely hot-headed –but Charlie’s different. There’s something about the way she is portrayed in this book.

This book doesn’t really tie up all loose ends with Rose’s point of the story. I don’t really know if she and Luke ever got back together, but something tells me they’re back to the way they were –best friends. Ah, this book isn’t talking about just Charlie but it also explains a little more about Rose. I have to admit, if I wasn’t able to see the story from Rose’s point of view, I would’ve labelled her as that stereotypical “pretty” girl who’s mean without reason.

But I didn’t have to do that. Despite having two points of views, Charlie continues to be the main character. Heck, I think the only reason Rose’s point of view was included, was so we could get more depth is both herself and Charlie. She’s one of the many challenges Charlie faces in this book, but Rose is kind at heart. I like that.

Dave is definitely one of my favourite characters. He’s a little weird, and it really refreshes me to know that he turned down the “hottest” girl in school (not being Rose. This other girl, Justine, I think). He, Rose and Luke are always together, getting into trouble. But in reality, it doesn’t’ suit Roses’ nerdy personality at all. Rose is smart. Really smart. That’s why I admire her and the way her goal changes throughout the book from pretending to like Charlie to needing her.

Everything in the book was heartbreakingly gorgeous. The way Charlie’s emotions are shown, and the way her mother died. It’s just… amazing. This could’ve easily been one of those cliché-feeling books, but it wasn’t. It was realistic. Heck, I don’t think I’ve read anything more realistic in the “death” department.

The author’s writing is beautiful. Literally. She uses so many similes and metaphors that I know every feeling and description in the book.

Overall, this is a book I’m happy to read over and over again and still wouldn’t get bored of it. One of my official favourites.

Remy xx(less)

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Jul 08, 2011 Arlene rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Arlene by: TBR Reduction Challenge - #9 Nic

Shelves: read-2011, ya-contemporary, aussie-books, young-adult

See, the water molecules are attracted to each other so much that they hold on for as long as they can. They grip to each other till they’re too heavy and then they break. It’s why water falls in tears.

Spending a quiet afternoon reading A Little Wanting Song is like watching the stars go harmonic. It’s really beautiful and I loved it! This book is sad, hopeful, funny, heartbreaking, happy all mixed in one from beginning to end. As you read this story, these myriad of emotions just keep crashing...more

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Jun 06, 2010 Misty rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: fans of contemporary teen lit, coming of age stories, humorous characters, music lovers

Shelves: arc-or-galley, award-winner-or-nominee, juvenile-ya, review-copy-solicited, ya-challenge-4, read-in-2010, international-multicultural, own, favorites, contemporary

I generally don't read a lot of contemporary, for whatever reason. I think I'm always afraid that it's going to be very soapy and melodramatic and whiny -- something, I don't know, just a little too much and not really my thing. But like every genre, there's the good and the bad, and I need to realize that I can't be afraid of sampling it from time to time in order to find the good. Because when it's good, it's good. This is good.

In A Little Wanting Song, Cath Crowley was able to really captur...more

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Oct 17, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Sarah by: Dija

Shelves: dark-side-group-read, books-i-own-print, read-in-2012

Dark Side Group Read: Dee's birthday book

When I read Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley earlier this year I loved her descriptive writing style and the way she was able to bring the paintings in the story to life. In A Little Wanting Song she does the same again but this time with music, I love the poetic feel to her writing and the way she pulls you into the story and makes you feel emotionally connected to the characters.

A Little Wanting Song is told from two different perspectives. First you have...more Dark Side Group Read: Dee's birthday book

When I read Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley earlier this year I loved her descriptive writing style and the way she was able to bring the paintings in the story to life. In A Little Wanting Song she does the same again but this time with music, I love the poetic feel to her writing and the way she pulls you into the story and makes you feel emotionally connected to the characters.

A Little Wanting Song is told from two different perspectives. First you have Charlie, a lonely young girl who is trying to cope with the loss of both her mother and grandmother. Her father has become withdrawn since her mother's death and her best friend is spending all her time with someone else so Charlie has become very isolated. She always goes with her father to stay with her grandparents in the country for the summer but since the death of her grandmother nothing feels the same and she is even more lost than ever. I felt so badly for Charlie, her pain and her loneliness were heartbreaking and I was desperate for her to find a way to reconnect with her father and make some new friends. To cope with her loss Charlie loses herself in her music, she works in a record shop and has an impressive collection of Cd's but she also plays the guitar and sings although only when nobody is around to hear her.

Our other main character is Rose who lives next door to Charlie's grandfather. Rose has a pretty good life, she has a boyfriend, Luke, who she loves and they spend most of their time with their good friend Dave. The boys are happy to follow Rose and go along with anything she wants and she enjoys making fun of Charlie whenever she is visiting. Rose has big ambitions though, she doesn't want to spend her whole life stuck in a small town, she wants to make something of herself and earning a scholarship to a school in the city is the first step towards achieving her goal. She knows that her parents will never let her go to the city alone though so she decides that her best option is to befriend Charlie so that she can return to the city with her and her dad.

I have to admit that I didn't like Rose at all to start with, she is the kind of character I love to hate and I was so angry at the way she had treated Charlie in the past. The fact that she befriended Charlie just because she saw her as a ticket to the city just made me even more annoyed with her. In spite of that I found myself warming to her almost against my will as I got to know her better. She puts on a tough face to the world but deep down she can be quite nice and caring and she did genuinely come to like Charlie once she got talking to her. I really enjoyed watching their friendship develop and I loved the way Charlie's confidence grew thanks to both Rose and Dave. I don't want to say too much about Dave but I think he was one of my favourite characters and I really liked the way he supported his friends and how he eventually came to stand up for himself.

A Little Wanting Song is a beautifully written coming of age story, a story about friendships, first love and learning who you are. It's a journey of loss, grief and betrayal but also about getting past those issues and starting to live your life. I enjoyed this book even more than Graffiti Moon and I can't wait to read more from Cath Crowley in the future.(less)

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Sep 15, 2011 Eric rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Aussies, Euros, Americans, eh pretty much anyone who can read and if they can't - read it to them!

Shelves: down-under, i-should-be-sleeping-really-i-shoul, young-adult-fiction, music-music-music, poems, alternating-pov

I loved this book. Suffice to say that there wasn't much I needed to get me to pick this one up, two words really - Australian + YA. I've heard the arguments as to why but I'm just going to go with whatever is going on with the water down under, damn I wish I had me some. This book is perfect.

Did you really think I was going to gather all my thoughts and type up a real review? Nah. Everyone else has already done that for me. They're all right. Seriously. I am trying not to quote the crap out of...more

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Jul 31, 2010 H.I. Al-Muhairi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: realistic-fiction, ya, teenfic, 2010, music

"At six o'clock the sun rises and lights the car from the out-side. Blinds us almost. Dad squints through his glasses at the road, but me? I close my eyes. I like things better when I listen. Everything in this world's got a voice; most people don't hear hard enough is all. Sunrise sounds like slow chords dripping from my guitar this morning. Sad chords, in B-flat"

Meet Charlie Duskin: has a great voice that she mostly uses in the shower, plays the guitar, has an amazing and funny personality whi...more

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Mar 02, 2011 Flannery rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: All YA luvvahs

Recommended to Flannery by: Nic, SCB TBR 2011 - Pick Two; Jess

Shelves: aussie-ya-is-the-cats-meow, kcls, tbr-scb-2011, young-adult-teen, read-in-2011, reviewed-2011, wishlist-for-books-to-keep

“We were the only three people awake in a world half asleep and the air felt heavy with maybe.”

The Aussies hit it out of the park again. Seriously, I’m beginning to wonder if there is something in the water down under that allows them to produce amazing YA lit. (or maybe all of it is put through a strainer and only the best of the best is published in the US—either way, I haven’t read a bad Aussie YA book yet) And I can’t wait to get my grubby hands on Graffiti Moon.

Charlotte (Charlie) Duskin h...more “We were the only three people awake in a world half asleep and the air felt heavy with maybe.”

The Aussies hit it out of the park again. Seriously, I’m beginning to wonder if there is something in the water down under that allows them to produce amazing YA lit. (or maybe all of it is put through a strainer and only the best of the best is published in the US—either way, I haven’t read a bad Aussie YA book yet) And I can’t wait to get my grubby hands on Graffiti Moon.

Charlotte (Charlie) Duskin has been going to stay in her grandparents’ town every summer since she was young. Though she lost her mother several years earlier, her grandmother recently passed away and her father and grandfather are still mourning their losses. Charlie always saw Rose, Dave, and Luke playing around town but was never a part of their fun. Before she left the city for the summer, she had a huge fight with her best friend and was embarrassed in front of tons of her peers. She’s looking for an escape.

Rose Butler feels stuck. She’s lived in the same small town forever and, though she loves her family and her two best friends, she wants to go to school in the city. After taking an entry exam and winning a scholarship, her summer plan is to befriend Charlie Duskin and then return to stay with her family so she can attend the school. Only no one knows about Rose’s plan…and there’s that lovely hump of an entire childhood of being a total jerk to get over.

This author takes several of my pet peeves and then serves them back to me on a silver platter. And they tasted like enchiladas….mmm, enchiladas. We’ve got shifting narrators—usually, this is a major buzzkill for me but I smiled over and over when the author replayed the same conversation from the other side. And a musical theme—I usually tire of that after a chapter or two. I get it, you like the GD guitar. Here, it was endearing. Charlie’s personality and the song lyrics (which are interspersed in the text) are just lovely. I especially loved her snark—“tell anyone who doesn’t like it to shove it up their arse.”

When it comes down to it, this book is between 4 and 5 stars for me but I'm feeling especially happy after reading it so BAM! 5 stars it is.

Thanks to Nic for running the Aussie YA Challenge and introducing me to all kinds of awesomeness. And thanks to Jess, for picking it as my TBR Challenge read!
(less)

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Sep 07, 2012 ♥Rachel♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-aussie-ya-reading-challenge, aussie-books, books-i-own

A Little Wanting Song is quite literally about wanting, and so much more.

Charlie is spending her Christmas holiday with her father at her grandfather’s home in the country. Charlie, like any teenage girl, wants so many things. She wants her Dad to notice her but he’s too crippled by grief. She lost her mother in a tragic accident, but her father might as well have died then too. Charlie wants to be noticed and fit in with friends. She wants to have the courage to play her songs and show her tal...more

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Oct 19, 2012 Anzu The Great Destroyer rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: teenage girls

Shelves: contemporary, ya-is-dead, buddy-or-group-read, d-oh, dropped-in-the-toilet, facepalm, kill-it-with-fire, masters-of-snoozeville, zzzzzzz, whiny-bitches, me-no-like-at-all, not-my-cup, reviewed-2012

My thoughts before reading A Little Wanting Song
- The Dark Side (a super secret group I’m a member of) birthday read. Mandatory. Not so happy about mandatory books;

- [after reading the summary] Ugh, that doesn’t sound too good;

- [after checking out friends' ratings] Lots of five stars. I wonder why;

- [175 pages on my Kindle] Short book, so if it sucks I won't have to put up with 400 pages of misery. :happy dance:

- [after staring at the book’s table of contents for more than 10 minutes] I will so...more

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Oct 07, 2012 JennyJen rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: No comment, because I don't know.

Recommended to JennyJen by: Dija

Shelves: dark-side-bday-read, dee-s-bday-pick, dafuq-did-i-just-read, dnf, purple-overload, booooring, not-my-cup-of-tea, abandoned, young-adult, read-2012

Ok. That's that. Too purple for my tastes. I read 25% and I just don't give a shit about the story or characters. The purple is too distracting. I see how this would appeal to many, but it's just not my kind of book.

Sowwy, Dee! I gave it my best shot. <3 =D

As I'm super lazy ready to move on ASAP, I'm just going to copy & paste all my status updates here. They're pretty self-explanatory. -_-

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It’s so early he’s wiping hills of sand piled in the corners of his...more

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Aug 16, 2011 Skye rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: aussie-ya

This review is also posted on my blog, In The Good Books.

This book may be better known by the title it was published under in the US, A Little Wanting Song. It tells us the story of Charlie, a sweet muffled melody to everyone else's boisterous song, finding her voice.

Narrated in the dual perspectives of Charlie and Rose, the different outlooks on the characters and events give us added depth. We understand how things that happened or were said affected people in different ways, we can see our ch...more

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Feb 04, 2013 Ruth rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bought-jan-2013, ya-contemporary, read-in-2013, 2013-contemp-chick-lit-challenge, 2013-a-z-challenge, 2013-aussie-ya-challenge

A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley is a little gem of a book. In many respects it is a pretty typical coming-of-age tale but the characters elevate this story beyond the usual. They are very realistic and relatable, even if you don't particularly like them at times.

The story is told in dual narrative, from the perspective of Charlie Duskin and Rose Butler, two teenage girls from different backgrounds. Charlie is from the city, Rose is a country girl. Both have difficulty fitting into their li...more A Little Wanting Song by Cath Crowley is a little gem of a book. In many respects it is a pretty typical coming-of-age tale but the characters elevate this story beyond the usual. They are very realistic and relatable, even if you don't particularly like them at times.

The story is told in dual narrative, from the perspective of Charlie Duskin and Rose Butler, two teenage girls from different backgrounds. Charlie is from the city, Rose is a country girl. Both have difficulty fitting into their lives for very different reasons. Charlie comes every summer with her father to spend time with her grandparents in their small country town. This summer is particularly hard for Charlie after the death of her grandmother. Charlie also lost her mother at a young age and her father doesn't pay very much attention to her. As a result, Charlie has grown up still very shy and awkward. Although back home she has one very close friend, she has difficulty connecting with people and never really lets anybody get close to her. She is secretly a very talented singer/songwriter and some of the chapters are the songs she has written.

Rose is the polar opposite of Charlie. Very outgoing and outspoken, she spends most of her time with her two best friends Luke (who is also her boyfriend) and Dave. Rose is desperate to leave small town life behind. She feels claustrophobic and longs to get out there and see the world. A scholarship to a city school may just be her ticket out. Rose has never had any time at all for Charlie, who has always longed to be a part of their little group.

Charlie has watched them from afar every summer but has always been to shy to try and integrate herself into their group. It doesn't help that Rose (and Luke to an extent) have always been very antagonistic towards her, calling her names like 'Charlie Dorkin' behind her back. However, Rose decides this summer to try and befriend Charlie for reasons of her own. This confuses Luke who can't believe Rose has so changed her opinion about the weird city girl. Dave on the other hand is suspicious of Rose's change of heart but also pleased. He has always seen something in Charlie and is glad of the opportunity to get to know her better.

I instantly connected with Charlie, but initially Rose was very off-putting. She seemed overly critical and harsh, especially with Charlie but also with regards to her parents. However, as the story progressed and you got to see inside her head a bit more, you can fully understand why she is like this. By the end of the novel I was rooting for Rose almost as much as Charlie. Dave was another character I liked though I wish he had stood up for himself a bit more. Luke was a typical lad really. Always in trouble but he also showed a more sympathetic and caring side towards the end of the book.

Overall, a very well written and engaging book. I didn't enjoy it quite as much as Graffiti Moon but it was still a great character-driven story.

Four stars ****(less)

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Jul 20, 2012 Maria rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Maria by: Isamlq

Shelves: e-book, contemporary, ya, recommended, books-i-own

I recommend A Little Wanting Song.

*****

First, there's Graffiti Moon (which i loved). Then there's A Little Wanting Song. What is it with Crowley's writing? It is so darn good! Reading her work is like a caress to my eyes. Inviting. Enticing. Soul-baring.

“It's a different kind of missing. You're trying to remember, and he's trying to forget.”

Charlie's dad is so far away from her (emotionally speaking) because of grief. Charlie's mom died years ago, and her dad still mourns on his own, neglecting...more I recommend A Little Wanting Song.

*****

First, there's Graffiti Moon (which i loved). Then there's A Little Wanting Song. What is it with Crowley's writing? It is so darn good! Reading her work is like a caress to my eyes. Inviting. Enticing. Soul-baring.

“It's a different kind of missing. You're trying to remember, and he's trying to forget.”

Charlie's dad is so far away from her (emotionally speaking) because of grief. Charlie's mom died years ago, and her dad still mourns on his own, neglecting Charlie. What's she to do, besides not standing up for herself against the Louises of the world? write songs. play guitars. steal cigarettes out of her Grandpa's store in little hopes that her dad will notice her. pine over Dave Robbie.

"I looked up from that other place and saw Dave staring through the glass. I thought: That guy is a little gratitude, world peace, a new acoustic guitar, a bass guitar and hands that play like Flea, and the single "Break Your Heart" all at once. He smiled and waved. I'm sick of staring at what I want, I thought. I'd do anything to hold it in my hands."

Rose wants to get away from her town, to banish the possibility that she'll end up like her mom. mother at a young age who chose to stay and live a simple life as a caravan manager. She wants to experience the world with her intelligent eyes. She doesn't want an overbearing mother who keeps her from going into the city. She doesn't want to do it with Luke and get pregnant at the backseat of a car. She just wants out. Charlie's her only hope.

Despite the striking differences in their personalities, i both liked their POVs. Charlie's more on sarcasm. Rose's more on angst. Similar strengths but different approaches. separate lives but same sufferings. I just love how their POVs collided and softly blended into this one beautiful story. I found hope, warmth, forgiveness all throughout the book. such wonderful feelings!

I have a soft spot for Charlie's dad and her Grandpa. Both are trying to live and move on even without their better halves. :(

A Little Wanting Song is a sweet, aching read. Two girls on the cusp of realizing their dreams found friendship in the unlikeliest people and drew unexpected strength... from themselves.(less)

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Nov 08, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

Charlie lives in the city and journeys into the country every holiday to help her father run his parents' store to give them a break. Rose lives in the small town and wants anything to get away. But the two have never been friends, though both families have tried to bring the two girls together.

This holiday will prove different for both girls. Rose has been accepted into a school in the city. She knows her family won't let her go. But if she can befriend Ch...more

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Oct 26, 2011 Noelle rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: yay-for-ya, reviewed

Maybe closer to 3.5 but only when I directly compare it to Graffiti Moon. Ahh, I know! But I can't help it--I just read and re-read that book and it may as well be spray-painted on my heart now. But I still really enjoyed Wanting Song. Love the title. Love the Dave. Love the intricate mixtape production process. It's just that many things that happened so naturally in Graffiti show their effort here. I found myself thinking the two narrators were the same voice talking about different things and...more

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Nov 28, 2012 Erin rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I read A Little Wanting Song as part of the AWW2012 Challenge. I was drawn to Cath Crowley's writing in her book Graffiti Moon, which I reviewed back in August, and I wanted to read more of her work.

A Little Wanting Song was actually written prior to Graffiti Moon and first released as Chasing Charlie Duskin. Having already read Graffiti Moon, it was obvious to me that this novel came before because it seems as though Cath is stretching her legs and her writing fingers. She has the idea to writ...more I read A Little Wanting Song as part of the AWW2012 Challenge. I was drawn to Cath Crowley's writing in her book Graffiti Moon, which I reviewed back in August, and I wanted to read more of her work.

A Little Wanting Song was actually written prior to Graffiti Moon and first released as Chasing Charlie Duskin. Having already read Graffiti Moon, it was obvious to me that this novel came before because it seems as though Cath is stretching her legs and her writing fingers. She has the idea to write from an artist's perspective (Charlie is an accomplished musician, songwriter and singer) but I don't feel Cath does it as well, or as powerfully poignant, in this novel as she did in Graffiti.

What's so prevalent in this book is a sense of longing. Everyone is longing for something, which is a great insight into teenage-hood! That's why Cath Crowley is such a wonderful YA writer - she is brilliant at showing life through a teen's eyes. The characters in this novel deal with a typical teen anxiety - they're desperate to be something they're not, but they are slowly realising that they need to just be themselves. Charlie and Rose both long for their own version of freedom, but seem unable to make it a reality.

This intense idea of longing also incorporates the characters' inability to let go - that's why there is the element of ghosts in the story because Charlie, her dad and her grandpa are each unable to let go of the dead. I see the evolution of their grief in the story - Charlie learns that she's been holding back just like her father has been. It is the sorrow that keeps her from loosening up and letting go in more ways than one. She needs to let go of her mum and gran, but also let go of her fear and allow herself to realise her potential.

A Little Wanting Song is a touching teen story and well worth a read. I liked this novel. It was very well-written and I could empathise with all of the characters, but the language wasn't as poetic as I was expecting after reading the beautifully lyrical Graffiti Moon. (less)

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Nov 11, 2012 Zoe rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, ya, romance, squeaky-clean

Sometimes the simplest books are the best.

Rosie - “Luke said sorry?”
Dave - “He bought me a car magazine. Same thing.”

The characters in this book are such children, I forget that they're 16, and that's not necessarily a bad thing because it's delightfully simple. They behave with no finesse and no drama, and an honesty that's refreshing. The story unfolds slowly but its beautifully done with gentle subtleties that made me sigh and made me laugh.

Charlie has her guitar and that's about it. She wri...more

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Nov 10, 2012 Louisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-favourites

“Everything in the world's got a voice; most people don't hear hard enough is all. Sunrise sounds like slow chords dripping from my guitar this morning. Sad chords, in B-flat.”

Once in a blue moon, a certain book comes along that you could write sonnets about and shove in everyone's faces and basically feel like it was written specifically for you. A Little Wanting Song is that book to me. Cath Crowley writes like poetry dipped in chocolate mousse prose--lingering, delicious, breathtaking when d...more

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Nov 17, 2011 Alanna rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own, books-i-ve-read

I love to read. I know, I know, I'm totally stating the obvious there but I have a point: I love to read, and books like this are a big reason why.

When you read a lot, you come across so many different books; good books and bad books, books you love or like or hate, books that make you laugh or think or cry or just...make you feel. Some books get under your skin, while others just entertain you for a little while. Every so often though, you stumble across a rare gem of a book that just -- clicks...more I love to read. I know, I know, I'm totally stating the obvious there but I have a point: I love to read, and books like this are a big reason why.

When you read a lot, you come across so many different books; good books and bad books, books you love or like or hate, books that make you laugh or think or cry or just...make you feel. Some books get under your skin, while others just entertain you for a little while. Every so often though, you stumble across a rare gem of a book that just -- clicks. Something about it just gets to you in away that makes you feel alive and inspired in a way that other books can't quite manage and when you finish the last page, you just want to keep reading more and more books to find that feeling again.

Or maybe I'm the only person this happens to. But either way, this book was one of those books for me -- I love a lot of books, but there aren't many that trigger that feeling in me but this one did. It's right up there with books like Jellicoe Road, The Pipers Son, Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Sky is Everywhere and books by John Green

I guess I'm just trying to explain that because it's easier than trying to explain what it is that makes this book so brilliant to me, because all I can come up with is a generic list that doesn't even begin to do the book justice; amazing characters who screwed up in ways that made them real and they were unique, the book had amazing writing that made me ache at times or laugh and stick so many scraps of paper in the book to mark the pages of quotes I loved and the story...I don't know why, but I just loved it. Music being woven throughout the story? Adored that so much, too.

The book was like a song, one of the great ones that you read and feel and know you won't forget and that years down the line it will still be one of your favourites. I don't know if other people would feel this way about this book -- I guess that's one of the great things about reading, the way people can interpret the same story in different ways, it's so subjective -- but I loved it and Cath Crowley is on my instant read list now...the only bad thing is that finding her books is difficult seeing as this is the only one published outside of Australia (that I can find at least*).

p.s. If this review doesn't make sense, please note that I stayed up all night reading this book and it's 2:30pm as I'm writing this and I still haven't slept yet, I get more rambly and incoherent when I'm sleepy. :)

*I wrote this review ages ago, but Graffiti Moon is being published outside Australia in 2012 and I've read it and it's awesome and this one pales in comparison. =P(less)

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Nov 10, 2011 Peisee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I liked the story, it was beautiful, touching. the friendship between the two girls, rosie and charlie it didn't start off well. Rosie was only trying to make use of charlie to get what she wanted but in the end the friendship between them became real and the process was what was beautiful in the book.
however for me, i prefered the story from rosie's point of view, the wanting to get to something bigger wanting more than to be a nobody, ithink it was portrayed very nicely in the book and it remi...more

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Nov 03, 2011 Devyani rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie-treasure

this is the second one i read by Cath crowley :)
and even though i expected and sort of knew that i would have a wonderful time reading this book , the 'bitter-sweet moments' , 'the strong bond of friendship' and 'heart-fluttering-stomach-tickling words' didn't fail to surprise me ( yet again ) and steal my heart away ! :)

the book is a pure work of beauty . i loved this book !
after reading Graffiti moon , i really had my hopes up and since i really really and REALLY like Cath crowley i wouldnt...more

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Oct 10, 2011 ALPHAreader rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Rose Butler and Charlie Duskin couldn’t be more different.

Charlie lives in the city, with her dad. Her mum died when she was nine, and her dad has been mourning her ever since … and ignoring Charlie in the process. At school, Charlie is a gutless wonder. She’s always a step out of beat, uncoordinated and all too willing to let people walk all over her. Her best friend, Dahlia, is just starting to figure this out – and, as a result, her and Charlie’s friendship is crashing and burning over the su...more

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Jun 09, 2011 Peep (Pop! Pop!) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011, really-liked, addicted-to-ya

So I've come to a decision, if anyone cares to hear it. Growing up in Australia can either be really fun or really sad. And it's the sad part that scares me more than anything. I think about how some kids grow up with tough lives and then I read a book with an Aussie character that's struggling and man, it's enough to make you cry for the rest of your life. Unless someone can prove otherwise, I think being a teen in Australia can be pretty pretty depressing. Beautiful and strong, yet depressing....more So I've come to a decision, if anyone cares to hear it. Growing up in Australia can either be really fun or really sad. And it's the sad part that scares me more than anything. I think about how some kids grow up with tough lives and then I read a book with an Aussie character that's struggling and man, it's enough to make you cry for the rest of your life. Unless someone can prove otherwise, I think being a teen in Australia can be pretty pretty depressing. Beautiful and strong, yet depressing. Please tell me it's not so! Makes me just want to hug one of them and tell them it gets so much better.

About the book, this was one of the few books where I liked all the characters. Charlie did come off as a little strange, what with her staring and not talking. Whenever she spoke up, it kind of reminded me of an alien learning our ways. Maybe because she put too much thought into it?? I'm sure it was the staring that threw me off. I don't know if I would have been as inviting either. Maybe... oh I don't know! I still liked her though. And it was nice to see her grow and become more sure of herself. Her shyness did remind me of myself at times. I did like when she stood up for herself.

Rose was so realistic as well. Her anger, her reasons, just all so believable. She pretty much hates being stuck in her town and the fact that she'll likely stay in that town. That's understandable. Especially when you feel like you don't have anyone there that wants to see you succeed. She definitely came off as someone you'd rather has a friend, than an enemy.

I liked Dave and Luke. Dave was a sweetie pie and a good friend to have. I thought they all made good friends, even if some of them weren't always the best influence. Terrible influence!

I did get annoyed at the one kid, the horrible influence, who convinced Charlie to do something for him. I returned the book, so I can't remember his name. He is the one who hung out with Luke the one time. I was mad at him and I was mad at Charlie because peer pressure is lame. What's the point of bowing to peer pressure when people are going to judge you any way?

I wanted to hug her dad... :(

My only beef is that I am what some people may call tone deaf. How they come up with that, I have no idea. Whenever there is poetry or songs in a book, I never get it. Ever. Unless it rhymes. Does that even have anything to do with being tone deaf? Because that's what I'm claiming. Wait, maybe I'm not tone deaf but I can truthfully say I have no rhythm. That's it! And for some reason I kept reading her “eff” song to the beat of the Red Cross CPR chest compression count. Is anyone familiar with that video?

I liked the end and would've liked a little more to it. I was invested in their story, I wanted to know what else would happen!(less)

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Apr 25, 2011 Jess - The Tales Compendium rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: aussie, contemporary, favourites, swoon-worthy-guys, awwww

What can I say except WOW. I was completely absorbed from the first page (well actually the quotes on the back got me first) and read it in one sitting. Cath Crowleys' words flow so well, they are like a warm blanket wrapped around you in the middle of winter. They are comfort. This is a funny, beautifully written novel that will leave you desperate for anything else this fantastic author has written.

"There was this beat under my skin, a little disco weaving through me. That's how it is when I'm...more What can I say except WOW. I was completely absorbed from the first page (well actually the quotes on the back got me first) and read it in one sitting. Cath Crowleys' words flow so well, they are like a warm blanket wrapped around you in the middle of winter. They are comfort. This is a funny, beautifully written novel that will leave you desperate for anything else this fantastic author has written.

"There was this beat under my skin, a little disco weaving through me. That's how it is when I'm alone and playing the guitar, but that's never how it is in a crowd."

Rose and Charlie are both wonderful, real characters. They have hopes, fears and big hearts but their personalities are very different. Rose is trying not to suffocate in the small town she has grown up in and she will do anything to escape. Half the time she is rebelling, the other half she is the perfect student.

Charlie is a quiet, music-loving girl who is yet to come out of her shell. All she needs is a little confidence and friends who won't laugh at and ignore her. Her father no longer notices her and is a shadow of his former self. She talks to both her mother and grandmother in her head, taking advice from those she knows loved her. She spends her time writing songs and playing her guitar for no one but herself, scared of the rejection that she is sure will follow. As an added bonus for us readers, Crowley includes the lyrics that Charlie writes throughout the book.

Charlie and Rose's friendship develops slowly but is one where each girl realises the other is not how they always perceived them and they find they have someone they can really talk to.

Charlie's relationship with Dave should also be mentioned. For years, both watched the other from afar. Dave is caring and loyal and he never shared the same views towards Charlie that Rose and Luke had. This summer, they actually make small, embarrassed efforts towards asking the other out and they really are so sweet together. It's really cute watching them dance around each other until one of them actually finds some courage.

Go and find this book. Now.
(less)

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Aug 23, 2010 K rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library

A sweet story about friendship.

Charlie and Rose are enemies for no particular reason. Charlie spends every Christmas holiday at her Grandfather’s house, helping in the corner store he owns in the town where Rose lives. Rose decided years ago that Charlie was weird and her two best friends followed suit. This year however, Charlie is especially desperate for a friend and Rose is equally desperate for a ticket out of her small town.

Charlie is the extraordinary character that, due to lack of friend...more

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Quotes from Chasing Charlie Duskin