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28th out of 56 books
—
175 voters
Being Here
by
Barry Jonsberg (Goodreads Author)
The boy sat in the branches of the fifth tree on the left, his scuffed boots dangling. Leah turned her eyes up. His face was heavily freckled, his eyes large, brown and almond-shaped. His hair stuck out at wild angles. 'Hello,' she said.
Sixteen-year-old Carly is interviewing Leah Cartwright for her local history project. But Leah resists, determined instead to tell her own...more
Sixteen-year-old Carly is interviewing Leah Cartwright for her local history project. But Leah resists, determined instead to tell her own...more
Paperback, 264 pages
Published
February 2011
by Allen and Unwin
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4/5
[insert self-synopsis]
Has a lot of charm to it. This is the first book of Jonsberg's I have read, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I enjoyed reading this book. The writing in particular, was both impressive and refreshing. (example to be added) I appreciated the whole story within a story kind of approach that I believe Jonsberg took with this novel.
+ Characters of Leah Cartwright and Carly were both endearing, and I loved that the perspective was of Leah, at age 70+. Her words are ful...more
[insert self-synopsis]
Has a lot of charm to it. This is the first book of Jonsberg's I have read, so I have nothing to compare it to, but I enjoyed reading this book. The writing in particular, was both impressive and refreshing. (example to be added) I appreciated the whole story within a story kind of approach that I believe Jonsberg took with this novel.
+ Characters of Leah Cartwright and Carly were both endearing, and I loved that the perspective was of Leah, at age 70+. Her words are ful...more
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i've just remembered why i love Barry Jonsberg so much. it's been a long time since i last read his work, and i honestly believe that this is his best one yet.
this won't be a very coherent review, because my eyes got a little watery, haha. which is incredibly rare because i'm usually a cold-hearted bastard. thanks a lot, Mr Jonsberg.
Being Here is a stunning novel for so many different reasons. It is told in the point of view of an old woman in a nursing home. that never happens in young adult...more
this won't be a very coherent review, because my eyes got a little watery, haha. which is incredibly rare because i'm usually a cold-hearted bastard. thanks a lot, Mr Jonsberg.
Being Here is a stunning novel for so many different reasons. It is told in the point of view of an old woman in a nursing home. that never happens in young adult...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
I thought Being Here was a beautiful novel, and I absolutely loved reading it.
Barry Jonsberg writes exquisite descriptions, which held my attention right from the beginning. I enjoyed reading the book from Leah’s perspective, as she provides witty thoughts and intelligent observations.
Throughout the novel, I found myself wanting to turn the pages to not only continue the plot, but also read more of the wonderful description. I also wanted to decide whether Adam was real or imaginary.
Being Her...more
Barry Jonsberg writes exquisite descriptions, which held my attention right from the beginning. I enjoyed reading the book from Leah’s perspective, as she provides witty thoughts and intelligent observations.
Throughout the novel, I found myself wanting to turn the pages to not only continue the plot, but also read more of the wonderful description. I also wanted to decide whether Adam was real or imaginary.
Being Her...more
Lovely writing - I really enjoyed the wording. Every sentence was beautiful and made me want to read it out loud to someone.
As for other elements... I couldn't quite sink my teeth into the storyline. I was interested, definitely, but I didn't really understand any of it. The protagonist's thoughts and feelings are laid out rather well. By the end, I felt that I knew her better, but not completely.
At many points, I found myself realising a fear I had never felt before - the fear of growing old....more
As for other elements... I couldn't quite sink my teeth into the storyline. I was interested, definitely, but I didn't really understand any of it. The protagonist's thoughts and feelings are laid out rather well. By the end, I felt that I knew her better, but not completely.
At many points, I found myself realising a fear I had never felt before - the fear of growing old....more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Being Here stunned me.
By looking at the pitch, I assumed both Carly and Leah were teenagers. Boy was I surprised to find Leah was an elderly woman, just hanging onto her life because she has a story to tell. I guess that’s just the beginning of the originality of this story.
I love, mostly, how nobody’s portrayed as completely good or complete bad –nobody in this story at all. Not even Jane, who is an extremely minor character in the book. There are always quirks and faults in each of the charact...more
By looking at the pitch, I assumed both Carly and Leah were teenagers. Boy was I surprised to find Leah was an elderly woman, just hanging onto her life because she has a story to tell. I guess that’s just the beginning of the originality of this story.
I love, mostly, how nobody’s portrayed as completely good or complete bad –nobody in this story at all. Not even Jane, who is an extremely minor character in the book. There are always quirks and faults in each of the charact...more
Being Here is an incredibly captivating novel. Leah is an elderly lady who just wants her past to be told before she dies, which is hard when she feels nobody will be willing to listen, that is, until, she meets Carly, who comes to interview her for her school project. Leah begins to tell of her amazing past, and Carly can’t help but show interest and, as Leah’s tells Carly of her past, the two form a unbreakable bond of friendship and understanding.
absolutely loved it! having read many of Jonsberg's other books, I decided to give this one a go. A high schooler, Carly, has a social history assignment to research and decides to interview an elderly resident of a retirement home, Leah. Leah wants her story told and remembered so is happy have her memories recorded. The dialogue, the relationship between Carly and Leah, the secrets from the past all make for a great read.
So far, and I've only just started, this book is amazing.
The language is so detailed and descriptive, my heart was filled with joy!
It could take me out of my stressful world and put me something different.
For me to say that means that the book is amazing... this will go on my 'favourites' shelf!
More to come later once I've finished!
The language is so detailed and descriptive, my heart was filled with joy!
It could take me out of my stressful world and put me something different.
For me to say that means that the book is amazing... this will go on my 'favourites' shelf!
More to come later once I've finished!
** Spoiler Alert **
Being Here is a beautiful story about an elder woman, Leah Cartwright, who is losing her memory with her old age, and Carly, a young student who is doing a project on the history of the town. When Carly meets Leah she is taken on a wonderful journey hearing everything about Leah’s past and her friend Adam. Leah tells her everything because she knows that soon she will no longer be able to share her life story and she wanted it to live a little longer than she will. The languag...more
Being Here is a beautiful story about an elder woman, Leah Cartwright, who is losing her memory with her old age, and Carly, a young student who is doing a project on the history of the town. When Carly meets Leah she is taken on a wonderful journey hearing everything about Leah’s past and her friend Adam. Leah tells her everything because she knows that soon she will no longer be able to share her life story and she wanted it to live a little longer than she will. The languag...more
I've been wanting to read some Barry Jonsberg for a while. He is a local secondary school teacher here in Darwin and is quite a prolific write of Young Adult fiction. I loved this book. He covers some very sensitive issues about parent child relationships, young and old lives, and real and imaginary friendships. It's written quite sensitively without shying away from some real conflict. Highly recommended.
This book strikes me as very similar to another Australian book I've read this year, The Ghost's Child by Sonya Hartnett. And like I loved that book, I loved this one too. It was so hauntingly beautiful, and so sad, it made me finish the book with a sad smile. I never really understood, though, if (spoiler) The boy (I've forgotten his name) was imaginary or not. (spoiler end) It was still a beautiful masterpiece, well done, Mr Jonsberg.
Apr 16, 2012
Rachel Froude
added it
I really liked this book. I thought the concept of looking at old age, alongside youth was a interesting and healthy journey.
If you loved The Notebook, this one is definitely worth a try. Very touching, confronting, beautifully written.
I loved it, and it was so sad, even slightly gruesome in parts. Amazing, 10 out of 10 for sure
Sep 21, 2012
Ms. Kahn
added it
I read this to review for School Library Journal.
I would vote for this one.
Mar 29, 2012
Elizabeth
marked it as abandoned
Giving up on this one. I'm sure it's excellent, but it hasn't really grabbed me despite a really grabby beginning... I think it requires a huge emotional investment that I can't really afford right now.
A bit unusual, and different from how I imagined the book would be like. I did, though, enjoy reading about a narrator who wasn't the standard age of 16.
Working in aged care gave this story extra pull. Reminds me of why I love older people. A lovely story.
An award-winning novel from Australia about the secrets of life - and time.
May 15, 2013
Lola
marked it as to-read
May 12, 2013
Aubrie
marked it as to-read
May 06, 2013
Angela Turrentine
marked it as to-read
May 06, 2013
Savannah Miller
marked it as to-read
May 06, 2013
Anna Lei
marked it as to-read
May 02, 2013
Lois
marked it as to-read
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