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Mira Chambers #1
Diamond Eyes
Mira Chambers may be blind now, but she's about to learn how to see all of our secrets ... a great new series by a talented author
Mira Chambers has an unusual gift for solving mysteries ... 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 adventure of self-discovery that leads them to a killer - and exposed to a manipulative sociopath whose own unique talent is more than a match for Mira's. Layers of secrets are about to be peeled away ... and no one will be safe from what is revealed.
Mira Chambers has an unusual gift for solving mysteries ... 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 adventure of self-discovery that leads them to a killer - and exposed to a manipulative sociopath whose own unique talent is more than a match for Mira's. Layers of secrets are about to be peeled away ... and no one will be safe from what is revealed.
544 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2010
9 people are currently reading
2454 people want to read
About the author
A.A. Bell
3 books159 followersWINNER 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An earlier draft of DIAMOND EYES also won HIGHLY COMMENDED in the 2009 FAW Jim Hamilton Awards for an unpublished manuscript in any genre.
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An earlier draft of DIAMOND EYES also won HIGHLY COMMENDED in the 2009 FAW Jim Hamilton Awards for an unpublished manuscript in any genre.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
December 5, 2010
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 see in books nowadays.
Another thing I loved about Diamond Eyes was how easy it was to read. I’d sit down and in no time had read through 200 pages. It’s just that interesting and left me wanting to know more as I turned each page. Even though the main plotline didn’t appear until quite far in the book I still enjoyed every minute of this book.
I loved how Diamond Eyes kept you guessing at what was going on, and when you thought you knew what was going to happen something would turn around and twist what you thought was going to happen which I thought was fantastic. All through Diamond Eyes A.A Bell just kept pulling out more surprises and I loved it so much.
I think that A.A Bell is a very talented writer and I look forward to reading more books by her in the future.
Diamond Eyes, is a fantastic book and while it is science fiction, I don’t think it’s that heavy on the science fiction elements that anyone who doesn’t enjoy science fiction so much will enjoy. If you enjoy books that are suspenseful and really well written then I’m sure you will love Diamond Eyes.
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 see in books nowadays.
Another thing I loved about Diamond Eyes was how easy it was to read. I’d sit down and in no time had read through 200 pages. It’s just that interesting and left me wanting to know more as I turned each page. Even though the main plotline didn’t appear until quite far in the book I still enjoyed every minute of this book.
I loved how Diamond Eyes kept you guessing at what was going on, and when you thought you knew what was going to happen something would turn around and twist what you thought was going to happen which I thought was fantastic. All through Diamond Eyes A.A Bell just kept pulling out more surprises and I loved it so much.
I think that A.A Bell is a very talented writer and I look forward to reading more books by her in the future.
Diamond Eyes, is a fantastic book and while it is science fiction, I don’t think it’s that heavy on the science fiction elements that anyone who doesn’t enjoy science fiction so much will enjoy. If you enjoy books that are suspenseful and really well written then I’m sure you will love Diamond Eyes.
December 22, 2019
Actually LOVED this story, though it's about due for a re-read, since I have the third book still waiting on my shelf.
I liked that Mira's weakness is actually her strength, but also that question of madness - is she actually crazy? How many of her thoughts and insights are real?
And I also loved the way the relationship developed between her and Ben. That protective kinda vibe but also she's still pretty badass herself, when she's not doubting herself.
Really enjoyed it, and keen to read it again so I can properly finish the series, though from what I remember this book works equally well as a standalone.
I liked that Mira's weakness is actually her strength, but also that question of madness - is she actually crazy? How many of her thoughts and insights are real?
And I also loved the way the relationship developed between her and Ben. That protective kinda vibe but also she's still pretty badass herself, when she's not doubting herself.
Really enjoyed it, and keen to read it again so I can properly finish the series, though from what I remember this book works equally well as a standalone.
October 11, 2011
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 like no other with her beautiful eyes. Diamond Eyes has a lot of great suspense during moments where we begin to see of Mira's unique condition.
A new fascinating Science fiction concept I am now forever in love with.
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 like no other with her beautiful eyes. Diamond Eyes has a lot of great suspense during moments where we begin to see of Mira's unique condition.
A new fascinating Science fiction concept I am now forever in love with.
February 15, 2011
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 spend their life with whom they want
the crazy split into many and predict the future ... almost too late
and unfortunately the poet trees are lost forever
but real poetry lives on inside all of us
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 spend their life with whom they want
the crazy split into many and predict the future ... almost too late
and unfortunately the poet trees are lost forever
but real poetry lives on inside all of us
September 23, 2011
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 difficult, disjointed writing style had me knitting my brows much of the time, and sent me off to sleep quite early on a number of occasions.
It's difficult to work out why the narrative lacked so much momentum for me. I felt the plot was convoluted in some parts, and predictable in others, and in general pretty unbelievable, and the introduction of characters was particularly poorly executed, hence the difficulty in starting the book. Once the characters were mostly known and the plot was just developing things got a bit easier, but I tended to be overly suspicious of new characters because I didn't feel I had a good enough of a handle on them, or why they acted in the way they did. Bell is not big on explanations of motivations. I wouldn't call her an articulate author, really.
Well, I guess that's just me, given all those recommendations and awards, but I certainly don't feel like recommending it to anyone, particularly the YA readers in my school library.
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 difficult, disjointed writing style had me knitting my brows much of the time, and sent me off to sleep quite early on a number of occasions.
It's difficult to work out why the narrative lacked so much momentum for me. I felt the plot was convoluted in some parts, and predictable in others, and in general pretty unbelievable, and the introduction of characters was particularly poorly executed, hence the difficulty in starting the book. Once the characters were mostly known and the plot was just developing things got a bit easier, but I tended to be overly suspicious of new characters because I didn't feel I had a good enough of a handle on them, or why they acted in the way they did. Bell is not big on explanations of motivations. I wouldn't call her an articulate author, really.
Well, I guess that's just me, given all those recommendations and awards, but I certainly don't feel like recommending it to anyone, particularly the YA readers in my school library.
June 30, 2011
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!
March 28, 2011
This is an AWESOME book. I loved it. So happy right now.
November 28, 2012
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, and it was a lot of fun to read.
Mira Chambers is blind, or more accurately has been diagnosed with blindsight - a condition where all the extremities are still working, but the brain is not able to process the images being sent to it. A traumatic childhood and the visions caused by her blind sight lead to the institutionalisation of Mira, where, despite being blind, she is one of the most violent and conniving patients on site. When her new case worker Bennet Chiron discovers that she is not as crazy as the reports would lead him to believe, and that there may just be some truth to her visions, they both get caught up in a government conspiracy. Only by understanding Mira's special talent can they hope to get out of this in one piece.
This is a story that starts off slow and deliberate, introducing you to everything and everyone you need to know, before kicking into overdrive for a blistering climb to the finish. It made the story a bit hard for me to get into at first, and it took me a couple of sessions to really get going, but once the ground work was established and the real story began I found it harder and harder to put the book down. The early story is not bad at all, not by a long shot, and found the exploration of a mental institution through the eyes of a blind patient to be absolutely fascinating - it was just not what I was expecting. What I really loved about this story was Bell's take on time and the ability to see echoes of the past. I wouldn't call it "hard sci-fi", but it is obvious that Bell did a lot of research making sure she got the basic science right before proposing her take on time. If I had one criticism it's that the book tries to be too smart at times, as if it has a big ego and likes to brag, but there arent many scenes like this, and the complaint is quite minor compared with how good the rest of the book is.
The characters of Mira Chambers and Bennet Chiron, and even the supporting cast of Freddie Leopard, the defence scientists, and the mental institution staff, are some of the best I have read this year. Especially Mira. Bell provides such an authentic voice for Mira, and managed to build so much empathy for her. It is the job of Bennet to slowly peel away the layers and layers of defence that Mira has built up throughout her life, and as each layer falls away you get to see more and more of the real Mira, and you start to see just how much pain she has been put through. The relationship that develops between Mira and Ben is heartwarming, built on positivity, and just makes you feel good from start to finish as you see these two become closer and closer.
Diamond Eyes is a fantastic read, one that I think will appeal to a lot of sci-fi and fantasy readers. It is a book that has a bit of everything, and at times it tries a little too hard, but I have to applaud it for taking a risk and trying to push boundaries. This is a great start, and I have high expectations for the rest of the trilogy.
Mira Chambers is blind, or more accurately has been diagnosed with blindsight - a condition where all the extremities are still working, but the brain is not able to process the images being sent to it. A traumatic childhood and the visions caused by her blind sight lead to the institutionalisation of Mira, where, despite being blind, she is one of the most violent and conniving patients on site. When her new case worker Bennet Chiron discovers that she is not as crazy as the reports would lead him to believe, and that there may just be some truth to her visions, they both get caught up in a government conspiracy. Only by understanding Mira's special talent can they hope to get out of this in one piece.
This is a story that starts off slow and deliberate, introducing you to everything and everyone you need to know, before kicking into overdrive for a blistering climb to the finish. It made the story a bit hard for me to get into at first, and it took me a couple of sessions to really get going, but once the ground work was established and the real story began I found it harder and harder to put the book down. The early story is not bad at all, not by a long shot, and found the exploration of a mental institution through the eyes of a blind patient to be absolutely fascinating - it was just not what I was expecting. What I really loved about this story was Bell's take on time and the ability to see echoes of the past. I wouldn't call it "hard sci-fi", but it is obvious that Bell did a lot of research making sure she got the basic science right before proposing her take on time. If I had one criticism it's that the book tries to be too smart at times, as if it has a big ego and likes to brag, but there arent many scenes like this, and the complaint is quite minor compared with how good the rest of the book is.
The characters of Mira Chambers and Bennet Chiron, and even the supporting cast of Freddie Leopard, the defence scientists, and the mental institution staff, are some of the best I have read this year. Especially Mira. Bell provides such an authentic voice for Mira, and managed to build so much empathy for her. It is the job of Bennet to slowly peel away the layers and layers of defence that Mira has built up throughout her life, and as each layer falls away you get to see more and more of the real Mira, and you start to see just how much pain she has been put through. The relationship that develops between Mira and Ben is heartwarming, built on positivity, and just makes you feel good from start to finish as you see these two become closer and closer.
Diamond Eyes is a fantastic read, one that I think will appeal to a lot of sci-fi and fantasy readers. It is a book that has a bit of everything, and at times it tries a little too hard, but I have to applaud it for taking a risk and trying to push boundaries. This is a great start, and I have high expectations for the rest of the trilogy.
October 3, 2011
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 not be as easily absorbed, and without the theory, the story also would lose legs so the blend is very much necessary and well executed.
At times it was hard to keep up with Mira's position on her emotional scale. Sometimes she was childlike and raging, other times she was sophisticated and poised. On retrospect it seems she could not have matured as fast as she did in one week but the story is so well crafted that when in it, there is not doubt.
A winner of the 2010 Norma K Hemming Award. Not hard to see why.
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 not be as easily absorbed, and without the theory, the story also would lose legs so the blend is very much necessary and well executed.
At times it was hard to keep up with Mira's position on her emotional scale. Sometimes she was childlike and raging, other times she was sophisticated and poised. On retrospect it seems she could not have matured as fast as she did in one week but the story is so well crafted that when in it, there is not doubt.
A winner of the 2010 Norma K Hemming Award. Not hard to see why.
April 7, 2011
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)
December 5, 2010
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!
:))
:))
November 4, 2011
A mind-blowing story that has consumed every spare moment for the past couple of days. Review/thoughts to follow.
May 17, 2012
I liked it! They didn't end it in a sappy way which I was plesantly surprised about :) A really interesting read!! Fun too :)
January 13, 2014
This review was written by Nalini Haynes for Dark Matter Zine. This and more reviews, interviews etc are on Dark Matter Zine, an online magazine. http://www.darkmatterzine.com.
Mira Chambers, a young woman, has been institutionalised for the past ten years ever since authorities tackled her in a tree causing her to fall and breaking just about every bone in her body.
This inauspicious beginning to her internment coupled with her strange eyesight leads to consecutive misdiagnoses, while abusive tactics by health workers alienates Mira further, creating a vicious downward spiral. Freddie Leopard, an insane inmate, sews Mira’s eyes shut after Mira asks him to cut her eyes out. Ben arrives at Serenity, the secure care facility that is the site of Mira’s latest internment.
Ben tries a fresh approach: kindness and listening to Mira. Ben’s wrongful conviction and imprisonment for six years gives him insight and empathy for Mira. Two doctors developing a new form of polygraph with military funding discover that Mira may have been misdiagnosed, revealing that Mira may herself have military potential, due to her Diamond Eyes.
Diamond Eyes is a riveting read although sometimes it’s frighteningly realistic. The science fiction element is Mira’s ability to see through time and Freddie’s ability to hear through time, while the realism comes from Bell’s experience working in a mental health facility and living in a family with experience of vision loss.
Mira’s experience of living in mental health care facilities is appalling, with staff using violent means including tasers and drugs to subdue her against her will, however Mira’s experiences are not as bad as some mental health facilities.
The Royal Derwent Hospital in New Norfolk, Tasmania, used to house criminally insane people alongside people with disabilities whose families did not want them or could not cope with their care. I have talked with staff at the Royal Derwent who passionately hated the inmates, vilifying them for misbehaviour when imprisoned in their beds 24/7 with absolutely nothing – not even television or occupational therapy – to occupy their days. I’ve heard some appalling stories* emphasising that the staff’s treatment of Mira is believable.
*I believe that conditions in the Royal Derwent have improved over the past 20 years
Without a doubt the most irritating, frustrating dialogue in Diamond Eyes is the realistic depiction of health specialists talking to Mira; this dialogue is patronising and repetitive whilst potentially creating a wall between the health specialist and the client (Mira) was well as the reader.
This dialogue is so realistic that Ms Bell could easily have recorded and transcribed conversations, merely changing the details, except that the real conversations would have been WORSE. Bell gives a little insight to readers who have not experienced disadvantage and have not had to deal with disability or medical professionals in this kind of relationship.
Mira’s affliction/ability is science fiction in origin, however Bell incorporates reality of eye conditions, diagnosis and consequences into Diamond Eyes. There are eye conditions that are not treatable even with current medical advances, particularly disadvantaging people who are misdiagnosed or even treated as suspect (falsely claiming disability). Bell’s descriptions of equipment used to diagnose eye conditions is limited to the futuristic polygraph (lie detector) but is obviously based on existing ophthalmological (eye doctor) equipment.
Many consequences of a disabling eye condition are mentioned through the course of Diamond Eyes. Migraines as a consequence for blurry vision causing eyestrain are common; headaches are something I experience on a daily basis due to eyestrain, worsening with severe eyestrain due to lack of disability access. Misunderstandings are common when a visually oriented person and vision impaired person try to communicate.
There are the visual words used, something Mira notes when she is a point of view person in Diamond Eyes. There are miscues and misunderstandings because the person with good eyesight assumes too much, as is normal in a situation when someone assumes their privileged point of view as the dominant – mandatory – perspective.
I’d like to discuss developments later in the book but in the interests of not putting in spoilers, I’ll save those issues for discussion in the review of Hindsight, the next book in this trilogy. The character development is good, even surprising at a key juncture, but no magical wand-waving removes the consequences of earlier interactions. The plot is well-paced, building to a satisfying climax. The entire trilogy is available now so waiting for the next instalment is not an issue.
In summary, Diamond Eyes is a great psychological thriller with well-developed science fiction features. The exploration of disability issues, including mental health care and vision impairment, are insightful. The only other book that ranks as high with regards to disability issues is Bareback by Kit Whitfield, but Bareback only focuses on disability generally, never touching on vision impairment. Diamond Eyes is a must read, recognised for its depth and discussion of disability issues by the Australian science fiction community.
Norma K Hemming Award for Diamond Eyes
A.A. Bell won the Norma K Hemming Award for Diamond Eyes. The Norma K Hemming Award is for excellence in the exploration of race, gender, sexuality, class and disability given by the Australian Science Fiction Foundation. The Norma K Hemming website says:
Ms Bell from the Lockyer Valley says it has taken 10 years to write Diamond Eyes, which is based on a young blind woman who can see back in history. She says the story was inspired by her work at a mental health facility and her family’s own experience with vision loss.
“It’s set in and around south-east Queensland and Moreton Bay on a fictional island but based on a number of real islands in Moreton Bay, as well as the health sanctuary where I worked for 10 years,” she said.
Mira Chambers, a young woman, has been institutionalised for the past ten years ever since authorities tackled her in a tree causing her to fall and breaking just about every bone in her body.
This inauspicious beginning to her internment coupled with her strange eyesight leads to consecutive misdiagnoses, while abusive tactics by health workers alienates Mira further, creating a vicious downward spiral. Freddie Leopard, an insane inmate, sews Mira’s eyes shut after Mira asks him to cut her eyes out. Ben arrives at Serenity, the secure care facility that is the site of Mira’s latest internment.
Ben tries a fresh approach: kindness and listening to Mira. Ben’s wrongful conviction and imprisonment for six years gives him insight and empathy for Mira. Two doctors developing a new form of polygraph with military funding discover that Mira may have been misdiagnosed, revealing that Mira may herself have military potential, due to her Diamond Eyes.
Diamond Eyes is a riveting read although sometimes it’s frighteningly realistic. The science fiction element is Mira’s ability to see through time and Freddie’s ability to hear through time, while the realism comes from Bell’s experience working in a mental health facility and living in a family with experience of vision loss.
Mira’s experience of living in mental health care facilities is appalling, with staff using violent means including tasers and drugs to subdue her against her will, however Mira’s experiences are not as bad as some mental health facilities.
The Royal Derwent Hospital in New Norfolk, Tasmania, used to house criminally insane people alongside people with disabilities whose families did not want them or could not cope with their care. I have talked with staff at the Royal Derwent who passionately hated the inmates, vilifying them for misbehaviour when imprisoned in their beds 24/7 with absolutely nothing – not even television or occupational therapy – to occupy their days. I’ve heard some appalling stories* emphasising that the staff’s treatment of Mira is believable.
*I believe that conditions in the Royal Derwent have improved over the past 20 years
Without a doubt the most irritating, frustrating dialogue in Diamond Eyes is the realistic depiction of health specialists talking to Mira; this dialogue is patronising and repetitive whilst potentially creating a wall between the health specialist and the client (Mira) was well as the reader.
This dialogue is so realistic that Ms Bell could easily have recorded and transcribed conversations, merely changing the details, except that the real conversations would have been WORSE. Bell gives a little insight to readers who have not experienced disadvantage and have not had to deal with disability or medical professionals in this kind of relationship.
Mira’s affliction/ability is science fiction in origin, however Bell incorporates reality of eye conditions, diagnosis and consequences into Diamond Eyes. There are eye conditions that are not treatable even with current medical advances, particularly disadvantaging people who are misdiagnosed or even treated as suspect (falsely claiming disability). Bell’s descriptions of equipment used to diagnose eye conditions is limited to the futuristic polygraph (lie detector) but is obviously based on existing ophthalmological (eye doctor) equipment.
Many consequences of a disabling eye condition are mentioned through the course of Diamond Eyes. Migraines as a consequence for blurry vision causing eyestrain are common; headaches are something I experience on a daily basis due to eyestrain, worsening with severe eyestrain due to lack of disability access. Misunderstandings are common when a visually oriented person and vision impaired person try to communicate.
There are the visual words used, something Mira notes when she is a point of view person in Diamond Eyes. There are miscues and misunderstandings because the person with good eyesight assumes too much, as is normal in a situation when someone assumes their privileged point of view as the dominant – mandatory – perspective.
I’d like to discuss developments later in the book but in the interests of not putting in spoilers, I’ll save those issues for discussion in the review of Hindsight, the next book in this trilogy. The character development is good, even surprising at a key juncture, but no magical wand-waving removes the consequences of earlier interactions. The plot is well-paced, building to a satisfying climax. The entire trilogy is available now so waiting for the next instalment is not an issue.
In summary, Diamond Eyes is a great psychological thriller with well-developed science fiction features. The exploration of disability issues, including mental health care and vision impairment, are insightful. The only other book that ranks as high with regards to disability issues is Bareback by Kit Whitfield, but Bareback only focuses on disability generally, never touching on vision impairment. Diamond Eyes is a must read, recognised for its depth and discussion of disability issues by the Australian science fiction community.
Norma K Hemming Award for Diamond Eyes
A.A. Bell won the Norma K Hemming Award for Diamond Eyes. The Norma K Hemming Award is for excellence in the exploration of race, gender, sexuality, class and disability given by the Australian Science Fiction Foundation. The Norma K Hemming website says:
Ms Bell from the Lockyer Valley says it has taken 10 years to write Diamond Eyes, which is based on a young blind woman who can see back in history. She says the story was inspired by her work at a mental health facility and her family’s own experience with vision loss.
“It’s set in and around south-east Queensland and Moreton Bay on a fictional island but based on a number of real islands in Moreton Bay, as well as the health sanctuary where I worked for 10 years,” she said.
March 6, 2011
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 way, just wasnt where i thought it was going to go when i started the book...
the book itself reads very well, never a boring moment, though its not thrill a minute either...it has been one of the easier books to read in my reasonably recent TBR, it flowed very well and felt like i got through a lot of pages in a sitting.
ultimately i would certainly recommend this, and look forward to seeing more by the author..
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 way, just wasnt where i thought it was going to go when i started the book...
the book itself reads very well, never a boring moment, though its not thrill a minute either...it has been one of the easier books to read in my reasonably recent TBR, it flowed very well and felt like i got through a lot of pages in a sitting.
ultimately i would certainly recommend this, and look forward to seeing more by the author..
May 17, 2012
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 a unique story, with a heroine so differently abled it makes me want to start googling to see if her condition is actually real :-) I also didn't realize it was set in the northern islands of Queensland until quite a few pages in.
June 11, 2012
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, I love Mira and Ben as characters and I'm really interested to see where her talent takes her. I also hope to see more of Freddie/Frederick.
August 5, 2011
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.
Want to read
October 6, 2012This book is not available for Nook, will it ever be?
September 14, 2012
Couldn't get into this one. It was good writing,just not my type of book I guess...
May 17, 2019
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 read at least ten or more pages when possible. And I will say this-about Diamond Eyes- read those pages and then try to act like you're not interested in reading the rest of the book.
I was immediately drawn into the book by the engaging narrative. This is not one of the usual action packed, heart pumping, seat of your pants hooks. This is more a carefully crafted lure that is placed gently and casually entices the reader into the world of Mira Chambers and her heart rending story.
Ben-recently released from prison for something he had nothing to do with- thought that he'd just been through the worst he could ever see and was looking forward to getting back into the life he had to so abruptly leave behind. He's just taken a job with Serenity-better known as Libica Isle Benevolent Asylum for the Criminally Insane. Not the best assignment but he's now an ex-con. He'll be working with youths and young adults, but is primarily here to help with Mira's case. If he thought he had it bad he's about to discover a whole new meaning of bad. Not the way that the story initially misleads the reader, though. He's about to see how much of a hell that Mira has had to confront and slowly he begins to realize that it may all be even more of an injustice than his own incarceration.
Mira is blind- that's the least of her problems. She's not much hindered by her blindness and she is in no way to be considered helpless. Her real problem is that because her hold on reality seems so tenuous and her nature is to strike out at everyone, she is kept mollified through heavy medication. She has no friends in the staff and the one friend she has among the patients has recently sewn here eye lid shut.
There's a lot of mystery just in this first bit of getting acquainted with these characters. And sometimes this reads like a paranormal story and for some it might not get to the action as quick as they desire. This is a suspense thriller that build slowly one brick at a time and it kept me interested all the way through. There may have been some predictable elements in the narrative but I think that helped the pacing of the story if anything.
There are often novels, which I've read, that resonate with me in such a way that they really touch me and this novel had several moments. There were times when the struggles and decisions of Mira seemed so real that I could cheer when it appears that Ben has somehow connected and goes way above and beyond to help her. In the same token when Ben suffers for both his past and those decisions to help that put him a odds with the system I found myself sympathizing and trying to figure out how things were ever going to work out for him.
It seem for every breakthrough in Mira's condition they run into another setback for which either one of them might be responsible and until the two researchers come into the story there seems to be little hope in a total understanding of what is going on. But, with the possibility of answers for both Mira and Ben there comes a new set of risks and dangers that begin to make everything else they have experienced so far look like a walk in the park.
I'm not sure how anyone could put this book down after starting. I want the answers to the burning questions about Mira's condition.
There were several times that I had to look up some of the stuff mentioned in Diamond Eyes and I'd say the A.A. Bell did the research necessary to bring as much realism into this novel as possible.
If you like psychological thrillers, a bit of the paranormal, and some weird time travel like stuff you'll love this book. All this, and it could very well be considered a literary masterpiece. It's well told, clear and understandable as the author builds- each step of the way- the explanation of what the Diamond Eyes mean to Mira.(To say nothing of the Poet Trees.)
Well Woven Psychological Suspense Mystery Thriller
J.L. Dobias
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 read at least ten or more pages when possible. And I will say this-about Diamond Eyes- read those pages and then try to act like you're not interested in reading the rest of the book.
I was immediately drawn into the book by the engaging narrative. This is not one of the usual action packed, heart pumping, seat of your pants hooks. This is more a carefully crafted lure that is placed gently and casually entices the reader into the world of Mira Chambers and her heart rending story.
Ben-recently released from prison for something he had nothing to do with- thought that he'd just been through the worst he could ever see and was looking forward to getting back into the life he had to so abruptly leave behind. He's just taken a job with Serenity-better known as Libica Isle Benevolent Asylum for the Criminally Insane. Not the best assignment but he's now an ex-con. He'll be working with youths and young adults, but is primarily here to help with Mira's case. If he thought he had it bad he's about to discover a whole new meaning of bad. Not the way that the story initially misleads the reader, though. He's about to see how much of a hell that Mira has had to confront and slowly he begins to realize that it may all be even more of an injustice than his own incarceration.
Mira is blind- that's the least of her problems. She's not much hindered by her blindness and she is in no way to be considered helpless. Her real problem is that because her hold on reality seems so tenuous and her nature is to strike out at everyone, she is kept mollified through heavy medication. She has no friends in the staff and the one friend she has among the patients has recently sewn here eye lid shut.
There's a lot of mystery just in this first bit of getting acquainted with these characters. And sometimes this reads like a paranormal story and for some it might not get to the action as quick as they desire. This is a suspense thriller that build slowly one brick at a time and it kept me interested all the way through. There may have been some predictable elements in the narrative but I think that helped the pacing of the story if anything.
There are often novels, which I've read, that resonate with me in such a way that they really touch me and this novel had several moments. There were times when the struggles and decisions of Mira seemed so real that I could cheer when it appears that Ben has somehow connected and goes way above and beyond to help her. In the same token when Ben suffers for both his past and those decisions to help that put him a odds with the system I found myself sympathizing and trying to figure out how things were ever going to work out for him.
It seem for every breakthrough in Mira's condition they run into another setback for which either one of them might be responsible and until the two researchers come into the story there seems to be little hope in a total understanding of what is going on. But, with the possibility of answers for both Mira and Ben there comes a new set of risks and dangers that begin to make everything else they have experienced so far look like a walk in the park.
I'm not sure how anyone could put this book down after starting. I want the answers to the burning questions about Mira's condition.
There were several times that I had to look up some of the stuff mentioned in Diamond Eyes and I'd say the A.A. Bell did the research necessary to bring as much realism into this novel as possible.
If you like psychological thrillers, a bit of the paranormal, and some weird time travel like stuff you'll love this book. All this, and it could very well be considered a literary masterpiece. It's well told, clear and understandable as the author builds- each step of the way- the explanation of what the Diamond Eyes mean to Mira.(To say nothing of the Poet Trees.)
Well Woven Psychological Suspense Mystery Thriller
J.L. Dobias
December 16, 2015
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 only read it last week, it didn't zoom to the top of my TBR - but after the sequel, Hindsight, also won the Norma, I thought I ought to get on to it. Despite the fact that I had heard a number of less-than-positive comments about it.
First up, I'll say that it's readable. I know that sounds like very faint praise, but a few people had suggested that it wasn't - readable, that is - and I disagree. The sentences make sense, the world building and general plot make sense, I wasn't confused about who was who and doing what. So, there's that.
The plot
Mira Chambers is in an institution, although for much of the book it wasn't entirely clear why. Yes, she seems to be blind, but that doesn't get you made a ward of the state. I figured out eventually that it's because she's an orphan... Anyway, back to the plot. Mira is nasty to the people who are meant to be looking after her, although as the novel opens she's introduced to a new nurse, Ben, and there seems to be some hope that maybe he'll be nicer and so will she. Their burgeoning friendship takes up a significant part of the novel. The plot also revolves around the revelation/investigation into the nature of Mira's blindness (hint: she's not really blind, in the can't-see-anything sense... she just sees differently). Also, there's a military conspiracy.
The characters
I didn't like Mira much. Partly this is because she's not very likeable for the first third or so, even when we get an insight into her reasoning and what she's experienced in life; partly it's because I didn't feel like I ever got to understand her very well at all. And she wasn't interestingly mysterious, either. For maybe the first half of the novel I couldn't even figure out how old she was, and that bugged me because I couldn't figure out whether the relationships around her - with nurses and fellow inmates - made sense or not.
I also didn't like Ben much. At times too saccharine and at others too morose, he wasn't consistent enough as a character for me to develop a rapport.
Most of the military characters were a bit silly, as were the science-types. The Matron was almost as inconsistent as Ben, when she could have been awesome because she is trying to change the system from the inside, and that takes guts and determination.
The best character, by far, was Freddy. Probably suffering (is that still the right way to describe it? I sought another word and came up blank... could be holiday brain) from multiple personalities, he is paradoxically quite a consistent character. I really enjoyed the way Bell wrote him, and the way she used him and his... gifts.
The world
It was unclear to me for much of the story where this was taking place. That's not a problem in itself: I am very happy for novels to take place in an Everywhere (like the Portland of the Troubletwisters stories). However, it became a problem when all of a sudden maybe halfway through, real Australian places were being named and described like it was meant to make sense to the reader. And it didn't. It's also not clear when these things are taking place. I initially thought this was a near-future novel, but it increasingly became clear that it was meant to be today. Which is fine, it just confused me.
Overall...
I am conflicted. I must be honest and say that while I read the first 100 pages properly, I did skim the rest (about another 400 pages). That is, I read most of the dialogue, and I read some chapters completely, but there were significant sections where I let my eye scan down the page to see if anything interesting was going on. And much of the time, there wasn't. However, I think that Bell has created an interesting gift/power/whatever for Mira (which I won't spoil here), and I am actually tempted to read the sequel just to see where she goes with it.
The Norma
Having read the novel, I profess myself surprised that it won the Norma. Does it deal with gender? Well, the main character is a woman... please don't lets pretend that's enough. Race? Ben isn't white, but that's not central in the slightest nor dealt with except for an 'oh really?'. Sexuality? No. Class? No. Disability? ... ah. Mira is blind - or everyone thinks she is. But she can see, just differently. Someone suggested to me that actually she's not disabled; she has a superpower instead. I'm not entirely convinced by that argument, since she is definitely hampered in living her normal life, which suggests that even if it is a power it's a problematic one at best. Another way this possibly covers disability is the fact that Mira is considered psychologically disturbed by a number of the other characters, and so is Freddy and many of the other people at the institution. But just because that's how they're regarded, and even if that's what they are, doesn't necessarily make the story a good exploration of those issues. Woman on the Edge of Time does a good job of exploring what it means to be regarded as mad, and how society deals with that. I do not think Diamond Eyes does - and maybe Bell wasn't setting out to deal with it. I am therefore left wondering whether there was so little published in Australia in 2010 that dealt with the issues the Norma wants to recognise, that this was the best there was? It's an ok novel, but I don't think it's groundbreaking in the issues it wants to address.
First up, I'll say that it's readable. I know that sounds like very faint praise, but a few people had suggested that it wasn't - readable, that is - and I disagree. The sentences make sense, the world building and general plot make sense, I wasn't confused about who was who and doing what. So, there's that.
The plot
Mira Chambers is in an institution, although for much of the book it wasn't entirely clear why. Yes, she seems to be blind, but that doesn't get you made a ward of the state. I figured out eventually that it's because she's an orphan... Anyway, back to the plot. Mira is nasty to the people who are meant to be looking after her, although as the novel opens she's introduced to a new nurse, Ben, and there seems to be some hope that maybe he'll be nicer and so will she. Their burgeoning friendship takes up a significant part of the novel. The plot also revolves around the revelation/investigation into the nature of Mira's blindness (hint: she's not really blind, in the can't-see-anything sense... she just sees differently). Also, there's a military conspiracy.
The characters
I didn't like Mira much. Partly this is because she's not very likeable for the first third or so, even when we get an insight into her reasoning and what she's experienced in life; partly it's because I didn't feel like I ever got to understand her very well at all. And she wasn't interestingly mysterious, either. For maybe the first half of the novel I couldn't even figure out how old she was, and that bugged me because I couldn't figure out whether the relationships around her - with nurses and fellow inmates - made sense or not.
I also didn't like Ben much. At times too saccharine and at others too morose, he wasn't consistent enough as a character for me to develop a rapport.
Most of the military characters were a bit silly, as were the science-types. The Matron was almost as inconsistent as Ben, when she could have been awesome because she is trying to change the system from the inside, and that takes guts and determination.
The best character, by far, was Freddy. Probably suffering (is that still the right way to describe it? I sought another word and came up blank... could be holiday brain) from multiple personalities, he is paradoxically quite a consistent character. I really enjoyed the way Bell wrote him, and the way she used him and his... gifts.
The world
It was unclear to me for much of the story where this was taking place. That's not a problem in itself: I am very happy for novels to take place in an Everywhere (like the Portland of the Troubletwisters stories). However, it became a problem when all of a sudden maybe halfway through, real Australian places were being named and described like it was meant to make sense to the reader. And it didn't. It's also not clear when these things are taking place. I initially thought this was a near-future novel, but it increasingly became clear that it was meant to be today. Which is fine, it just confused me.
Overall...
I am conflicted. I must be honest and say that while I read the first 100 pages properly, I did skim the rest (about another 400 pages). That is, I read most of the dialogue, and I read some chapters completely, but there were significant sections where I let my eye scan down the page to see if anything interesting was going on. And much of the time, there wasn't. However, I think that Bell has created an interesting gift/power/whatever for Mira (which I won't spoil here), and I am actually tempted to read the sequel just to see where she goes with it.
The Norma
Having read the novel, I profess myself surprised that it won the Norma. Does it deal with gender? Well, the main character is a woman... please don't lets pretend that's enough. Race? Ben isn't white, but that's not central in the slightest nor dealt with except for an 'oh really?'. Sexuality? No. Class? No. Disability? ... ah. Mira is blind - or everyone thinks she is. But she can see, just differently. Someone suggested to me that actually she's not disabled; she has a superpower instead. I'm not entirely convinced by that argument, since she is definitely hampered in living her normal life, which suggests that even if it is a power it's a problematic one at best. Another way this possibly covers disability is the fact that Mira is considered psychologically disturbed by a number of the other characters, and so is Freddy and many of the other people at the institution. But just because that's how they're regarded, and even if that's what they are, doesn't necessarily make the story a good exploration of those issues. Woman on the Edge of Time does a good job of exploring what it means to be regarded as mad, and how society deals with that. I do not think Diamond Eyes does - and maybe Bell wasn't setting out to deal with it. I am therefore left wondering whether there was so little published in Australia in 2010 that dealt with the issues the Norma wants to recognise, that this was the best there was? It's an ok novel, but I don't think it's groundbreaking in the issues it wants to address.
December 3, 2019
Wow, I've been really behind on actually reviewing stuff!
I admit, I had high hopes for "Diamond Eyes", I've wanted to read it for several years now. When I finally (finally) found it used for a few bucks, I went ahead and just bought it...but truth be told, I'm a bit disappointed in it. This book is very long, with a lot of characters and it doesn't seem to get off the ground until late in the game. The action does pick up toward the end but all in all, I found "DE" to just be, not as it seems, I guess. It's trying to be more sci-fi than thriller, when I thought it was simply meant to be suspenseful and action-oriented. But when it takes hundreds of pages to get there, I do get a little bored, I gotta say.
2.5 stars, rounded to 3 for the exotic Australian setting!
I admit, I had high hopes for "Diamond Eyes", I've wanted to read it for several years now. When I finally (finally) found it used for a few bucks, I went ahead and just bought it...but truth be told, I'm a bit disappointed in it. This book is very long, with a lot of characters and it doesn't seem to get off the ground until late in the game. The action does pick up toward the end but all in all, I found "DE" to just be, not as it seems, I guess. It's trying to be more sci-fi than thriller, when I thought it was simply meant to be suspenseful and action-oriented. But when it takes hundreds of pages to get there, I do get a little bored, I gotta say.
2.5 stars, rounded to 3 for the exotic Australian setting!
August 2, 2022
Reading this book was like watching a train wreck happen. You know it's coming, you know you can't do anything about it, you know it's going to be bad, but you just can't help watching.
I would pick this book up, read a few pages, put it down, do something else. Repeat. At 81%, I just couldn't pick it up again.
You need a score card to read this book: Who was the bad guy who turned out to be a good guy? Who was the good guy who turned out to be a bad guy?
Eventually, I just stopped caring.
I would pick this book up, read a few pages, put it down, do something else. Repeat. At 81%, I just couldn't pick it up again.
You need a score card to read this book: Who was the bad guy who turned out to be a good guy? Who was the good guy who turned out to be a bad guy?
Eventually, I just stopped caring.
November 13, 2017
Had the pleasure of meeting the author, whom signed & gave me this book for free. The book was a little slow in the beginning for me, but I enjoyed the plot and uniqueness.
April 22, 2018
barely forced my way through this snoozefest... it's a cool premise but poorly executed. sigh.
January 10, 2023
Wonderful!!
March 8, 2013
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 get to the point where Mira is really using her power to solve mystery crimes.
The problem is that the author didn't deliver what she sets out to do. The characters are not unlikeable, but the story was slow in development.. some of the writing and description of Mira's super power doesn't seem that powerful..
I'm still deciding whether I want to rate it as 2 stars intstead of 3.. maybe wait till I finish it..
The problem is that the author didn't deliver what she sets out to do. The characters are not unlikeable, but the story was slow in development.. some of the writing and description of Mira's super power doesn't seem that powerful..
I'm still deciding whether I want to rate it as 2 stars intstead of 3.. maybe wait till I finish it..
August 29, 2011
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.
A really good idea and great character development. There are some strong action parts, but on the whole it's more exploration - of Mira and her sight. And that's fine - Mira is an amazing character. The details of her sight abilities are fascinating. Looking forward to the follow up title.
A really good idea and great character development. There are some strong action parts, but on the whole it's more exploration - of Mira and her sight. And that's fine - Mira is an amazing character. The details of her sight abilities are fascinating. Looking forward to the follow up title.
August 26, 2016
I very much disliked this book. The protagonist starts out as an inmate of a mental institution where I get the impression that she is beaten by the nurses pretty much daily and as a result trusts no-one. Except the new guy, which she trusts implicitly FOR NO REASON and who then kidnaps her from the institution so he can bring her back to where she was living before she was institutionalized so she can show him how idyllic her life was before her parents died. And of course find out that it has been sold while she was away.
I had a few problems with this. I didn't find any of the characters likable enough to care about and the mystery that the author hinted at still wasn't enough to keep my interest. So I put it away.
I had a few problems with this. I didn't find any of the characters likable enough to care about and the mystery that the author hinted at still wasn't enough to keep my interest. So I put it away.
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