My Sister Lives on the Mantelpiece

The narrator brought characters to life beautifully, and added to the richness of the story. I also appreciated the musical interludes between chapters; it allowed for breathing space, giving the listener a break from the tension of the story.

This well written book took me to the rural English countryside, back to elementary school and back to the planet through the remarkable eyes of a wonderful ten year old boy. David Tennant honored that boy with the best character reading I think I've ever heard on any audible book recording. I laughed and cried and was strengthened by this tale. It's so funny, and so sad and so very uplifting.

I think Sonia (sp?) was my favorite. What an amazing, tenacious character. She is brave and strong and wise way beyond her years, but Pitchard still managed to create her as a ten year old girl.

This is another tough question. There were so many wonderful scenes. I love how Pitchard described the sun coming into the car on the way to the contest as 'inside of an egg yolk'. My favorite has to be the saddest scene though, where Jamie finds his cat and understands what his father is dealing with. What a beautiful and poignant was to describe a boy growing into an empathetic young man.

Yes

I'll listen to anything that David Tennent reads (except Doctor Who books. I think that's beneath him.)

I LOVED this book! I expected a soppy story about people coping and moving on with their lives and learning how to love each other and to make there lives similar to the way they used to be. What I found was the heart wrenching tale of a boy that was smarter than people realized and learning lessons that most adults refuse to face. We are given a very blunt and simple view of complicated matters ranging from divorce and abandonment to responsibility and true evil. He questions everything from God to the honesty of his parents. Racism, prejudice, bullying, arrogance, ignorance, death, terrorism, faith, and depression this book has it all. Pitcher is a new author and it is reasonable to say that this book has it's flaws, but I could easily recommend it to others. This recommendation is strongly reinforced by the beautiful and intimate job Tennant does in it's portrayal.

The narrator's Scottish accent is extremely clear and understandable and he has a boyish charm that brings young Jamie to life in such a wonderfully believable and honest way. He tells the story with such inflection and feeling that you really feel every comic and heartrending note.

The story itself was very good and has enough truth and surprises in it to feel very real and yet remain entertaining. Some of the villains were a bit one dimensional but since it is told from the point of view of a boy that is 10 I thought that made sense. When you are that age things are often seen in a simpler way.