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12th out of 409 books
—
160 voters
Diamond Eyes (Mira Chambers #1)
by
A.A. Bell (Goodreads Author)
Blind, institutionalised and frustrated by her loss of independence, Mira has been driven to the brink of insanity by medications that make her life unbearable. When she astounds two medical scientists by “seeing” the impossible, they begin an exploration of Mira′s strange perspectives.
Together with Bennet Chiron, an enigmatic ex-con, Mira becomes entangled in a dangerous...more
Together with Bennet Chiron, an enigmatic ex-con, Mira becomes entangled in a dangerous...more
Paperback, 534 pages
Published
November 1st 2010
by Voyager
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Full, non-spoiler review courtesy at
Book & Movie Dimension a Blog
Mira Chambers is classed as a blind and insane inmate at an asylum. She wrestles against the asylum clinic's staff and wont allow anyone to get past her barriers to get to know her. Then, Ben a new staff helper sees in her something that can open up and be good. Mira Chambers can be more than that, but nobody besides Ben truly sees that she may just be different than the rest of us. In a way that lets her understand things lik...more
Book & Movie Dimension a Blog
Mira Chambers is classed as a blind and insane inmate at an asylum. She wrestles against the asylum clinic's staff and wont allow anyone to get past her barriers to get to know her. Then, Ben a new staff helper sees in her something that can open up and be good. Mira Chambers can be more than that, but nobody besides Ben truly sees that she may just be different than the rest of us. In a way that lets her understand things lik...more
This is my first non paranormal novel in a long time
this book was hard define
it is part thriller
it is part fantasy because no-one could see the past in real life
it is like watching a Bones episode...
something bad happens
someone who is a good guy comes in to help
some bad people get greedy and cause problems
some good guys get hurt
some good guys are pretending to be bad guys and help whose who need it
and the blind get to see
see what I mean?
hard to catagorise.....
But in the end the blind go free and...more
this book was hard define
it is part thriller
it is part fantasy because no-one could see the past in real life
it is like watching a Bones episode...
something bad happens
someone who is a good guy comes in to help
some bad people get greedy and cause problems
some good guys get hurt
some good guys are pretending to be bad guys and help whose who need it
and the blind get to see
see what I mean?
hard to catagorise.....
But in the end the blind go free and...more
What a different, compelling book! When a story starts off with a blind heroine locked up in an asylum, you know the author is going somewhere different. And yes, she did. This book is long, and sometimes I wasn't sure I wanted to keep reading because it was slow in places. Some of the characters felt a little undeveloped and I would've liked to know more about them, especially the villain. But I'm glad I did keep reading until the end (even though I thought it wouldn't end well!). It really is...more
Mar 17, 2013
J.L. Dobias
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who enjoyes SFF- paranormal- thrillers and mysteries
Recommended to J.L. by:
some twit on twitter
Shelves:
book-shelf-10
Diamond Eyes By A A Bell
I honestly didn't know what to expect from this novel. I had made it to the author's web page and looked at the covers, which were intriguing. I really did not read the blurbs. I was, in fact, taking a break from another tedious novel that I felt lacked some bit of style to keep me interested. So I decided to go ahead and try the bit of sample the author is offering. It's about one hundred pages. I usually don't put a lot of stock in the cover or the blurb, but prefer to...more
I honestly didn't know what to expect from this novel. I had made it to the author's web page and looked at the covers, which were intriguing. I really did not read the blurbs. I was, in fact, taking a break from another tedious novel that I felt lacked some bit of style to keep me interested. So I decided to go ahead and try the bit of sample the author is offering. It's about one hundred pages. I usually don't put a lot of stock in the cover or the blurb, but prefer to...more
I picked up this book because it was written by a SE Queensland author, has won awards, and was rated so highly on Goodreads. But I have to tell you that reading it was not a very enjoyable experience for me. The narrative is somehow dense to read and I really felt I was wading through treacle quite a lot as I was reading.
The first couple of times I picked it up it was late at night and I found that it seemed to make no sense at all to me. Perhaps I was tired. Still, even when awake, the difficu...more
The first couple of times I picked it up it was late at night and I found that it seemed to make no sense at all to me. Perhaps I was tired. Still, even when awake, the difficu...more
Slow and gentle for 3/4 of the book, getting to know Mira and Ben, and learning to really like them a lot, building up to a very satisfying ending. I can understand some readers' frustration at the lack of action throughout the majority of the book, but I think there were enough tantalising hints of what was to come to sustain engagement with the very likeable protagonists and their poignant connection.
The first thing that drew me to Diamond Eyes was the cover. There’s just something slightly creepy about the cover that makes me love it. I’m glad to say that judging this book by its cover and description was not a bad idea as it was a very good book.
I loved the two main characters Ben and Mira, I thought that Mira was really interesting and I loved seeing her develop with the help of Ben. I think their connection to each other as friends was more believable then some of the relationships you s...more
I loved the two main characters Ben and Mira, I thought that Mira was really interesting and I loved seeing her develop with the help of Ben. I think their connection to each other as friends was more believable then some of the relationships you s...more
Oh my dog!! What a suck-in! I totally agree with Rebecca. I sat down to read a few pages and seemed no time before I was well past 200 pages!!.. and that's when the plot really started to rock! It's got style, action and some really colourful characters... especially the stalker. What a strange one! And sooo believable!
:))
:))
Mira is being held in an institution for people with disabilities. she is legally blind and frustrated by her lack of independence. Mira knows she can function independently and did so for a long time in her home. But Mira's sight impairment isn't straightforward. (view spoiler)...more
I had no idea what to expect with this novel but I really loved it! I loved that we experienced the story point of view through Mira, and that as a result, her experience of what was ordinary and sensical reigned, rather than her disability being used as a lens from the outside in. I love the way in which those in positions of power come to understand how wrong they've been and are forced to recognise Mira's personal power and unique skills. I'm really looking forward to the subsequent stories,...more
A. A. Bell is an Australian author that I hadn't heard much of before, and I'm not quite sure why. Her non-fiction is some of the highest selling in the Australia, and her fantasy / sci-fi has been recognised with some rather prestigious awards. Diamond Eyes is the first book in her Mira Chambers trilogy, and it tells the story of a blind girl in a mental institution who can see visions of the past. This is a book that starts out as a medical mystery and develops into a murder mystery / thriller...more
This is an AWESOME book. I loved it. So happy right now.
Just starting the book and WOW. I see already why AA Bell won the Norma K. Hemming Award. It's feeling more SF/horror than fantasy, not my usual read by loving the style and her voice. Really drawn in.
Finished! Bell handled some very interesting concepts of perception, vision, time and space. This is a SF novel with a strong element of romance, not a combination I've read a lot of. I liked it. Without the building relationship between the main characters, the theoretical line of the story would...more
Finished! Bell handled some very interesting concepts of perception, vision, time and space. This is a SF novel with a strong element of romance, not a combination I've read a lot of. I liked it. Without the building relationship between the main characters, the theoretical line of the story would...more
I received this as a freebie at last year's NatCon, and kept it to read because it was the second winner of the Norma K Hemming Award ("the Norma"). As an Australian award that seeks to recognise specfic literature that deals with gender, race, sexuality, class, and disability, it sounds like an award I would like to stay on top of. That said, I still haven't managed to get hold of the first winner, Maria Quinn's Gene Thieves... but I will, honest. Obviously, since the book won last year and I...more
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This is my first paranormal novel.. I was very excited about this at first, but now I"m in the middle of the book and I can't wait to finish it. Mira is a special creature with supernatural power and diamond-like eyes.. I read the synopsis which says that Mira is going to use her supernatural power to solve mystery.. but i'm in the middle of the book and it is still describing her supernatural power and everyone is trying to figure out what that power is. It's very frustrating because I want to...more
Ive been wanting to read this book for some time, the cover and idea of the gift the lead character Mira has was very intriguing, and on one of my many scouting trips into the store, i relented and bought it as a present to myself for moving house...
As another reviewer points out this is a hard book to categorise, part thriller, part romance, part sci fi...i was expecting something more mystical to be honest, but it had a lot of very scientific approaches to the story...not a detriment in any w...more
As another reviewer points out this is a hard book to categorise, part thriller, part romance, part sci fi...i was expecting something more mystical to be honest, but it had a lot of very scientific approaches to the story...not a detriment in any w...more
BEST BOOK EVER!! First time I've ever awarded 5 stars!
Amazing new concept that really made me think about how I see the world every day.
Life and death has a whole new meaning now too.
This novel is life changing. No wonder it won such a prestigious award for excellence!!
Would be FABULOUS as a movie!
Amazing new concept that really made me think about how I see the world every day.
Life and death has a whole new meaning now too.
This novel is life changing. No wonder it won such a prestigious award for excellence!!
Would be FABULOUS as a movie!
This book is astounding, amazing, totally awesome, fabulous. Truely the best, most unusal, most well written, intriguing, thought-provoking book I've read in ages.
Mira is a stunning delightful character and Ben has a beautiful heart. All the characters are well-rounded and totally believable. The plot is unpredicable and skilful.
I recommend it to everyone. It's a very sophisticated book but my 17 yr old daughter loved it too. (She is a very intelligent Extension English Student though)
Mira is a stunning delightful character and Ben has a beautiful heart. All the characters are well-rounded and totally believable. The plot is unpredicable and skilful.
I recommend it to everyone. It's a very sophisticated book but my 17 yr old daughter loved it too. (She is a very intelligent Extension English Student though)
It was entertaining - One thread reappearing in the story was that realities and appearances are often at odds.
Mira Chambers was so much more than an institutionalized schizophrenic blind person with very odd eyes. She possessed
a very special gift unbeknown at first even to her. A new care worker, Ben Chiron and several doctors are very intrigued by her gift
Cast includes several military officers hoping to cash in on her gift.
Mira Chambers was so much more than an institutionalized schizophrenic blind person with very odd eyes. She possessed
a very special gift unbeknown at first even to her. A new care worker, Ben Chiron and several doctors are very intrigued by her gift
Cast includes several military officers hoping to cash in on her gift.
My review is here http://www.darkmatterfanzine.com/dmf/...
Jun 07, 2011
Leeana Dev
added it
Just read this book .. nice book
This book, quite simply, is amazing. I was lucky enough to win a copy from a goodreads giveaway and I am so grateful to Ms Bell.
The story is fabulous and in some ways, it reminded me of the Time Travelers Wife, with the different time periods etc.
I adored the relationship between Ben and Mira and how it developed through the book. I was hooked and finished the book around 2am this morning because I just could not put it down. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone.
The story is fabulous and in some ways, it reminded me of the Time Travelers Wife, with the different time periods etc.
I adored the relationship between Ben and Mira and how it developed through the book. I was hooked and finished the book around 2am this morning because I just could not put it down. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone.
May 09, 2012
Maggie
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommended to Maggie by:
Michael
Shelves:
aussie-authors,
books-for-challenges
3.5 stars. I think this book is much better than I found it. Didn't read the first half consistently and consequently totally lost the plot at times. Having read the second half more rapidly (in an effort to be finished with this book once and for all) I found it to be a much better read than I gave it credit for. So, 2 stars for the first half (too confusing for me atm) and 4 stars for the second half. Certainly an original idea even if I did get confused.
Complex and well-researched with developed characters. The plot was thrilling in the first-half of the book but went down-hill for me as the author grows soft for her characters. Some dialogues are a bit cliched, but coming from a new author it's excusable. I would recommend reading it for its unique subject matter.
Wow, a new definition has to be made to categorize this book, that's how great it is! Excellent for all age groups, even young guys like myself.
I liked it! They didn't end it in a sappy way which I was plesantly surprised about :) A really interesting read!! Fun too :)
A mind-blowing story that has consumed every spare moment for the past couple of days. Review/thoughts to follow.
Fast paced.
Couldn't get into this one. It was good writing,just not my type of book I guess...
Sublime reading from start to finish and one of the finest books ive read in a long time.
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WINNER of the Prestigious 2011 Norma K Hemming Award for Excellence in Science Fiction and Fantasy Themes (of race, gender, class, sexuality, disability etc) for DIAMOND EYES.
FIRST Writer to Win the Award TWICE! (Second time for Hindsight, in 2012)
An earlier draft of DIAMOND EYES also won HIGHLY COMMENDED in the 2009 FAW Jim Hamilton Awards for an unpublished manuscript in any genre.
More about A.A. Bell...
FIRST Writer to Win the Award TWICE! (Second time for Hindsight, in 2012)
An earlier draft of DIAMOND EYES also won HIGHLY COMMENDED in the 2009 FAW Jim Hamilton Awards for an unpublished manuscript in any genre.
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“I'm not afraid of dying. I'm afraid I'll never get a chance to live!”
—
36 people liked it
“I don't need to travel back in time to cause trouble. Seeing back through time finds me trouble enough!”
—
6 people liked it
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