Today’s book review, of The Boy Who Kissed The Sky by David Haynes, is brought to you by novelist and short story author Jonathan Hill.
If you’d like your book reviewed or to send me a book review of another author’s book, see book-reviews for the guidelines. Other options listed on opportunities-on-this-blog.
The Boy Who Kissed The Sky
Synopsis: George Roberts believes that when he was nearly four years old he flew; not in an airplane, helicopter or other man made device and not exactly like a bird but he flew nonetheless. Join him sixteen years later as he takes a road trip across Europe to find the only person who can help him do it again… the only problem is, that person has been dead for three hundred years.
Humour, love and kismet gone mad throw him into an adventure where he learns the true meaning of his flight. Part road trip, part comedy and part coming of age. The story takes in Brittany and Paris before ending in Copertino, Southern Italy which just happens to be the birth place of St Joseph – the patron saint of flight!
- Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Boy-Who-Kissed-Sky-ebook/dp/B00AO58NBE
- Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Boy-Who-Kissed-Sky-ebook/dp/B00AO58NBE
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Review
Where, oh where, do I start with this review?! This book is unlike anything I have ever read before. It’s impossible to pin down by genre, but it is simply magical. While reading ‘The Boy Who Kissed The Sky’ I had that rare pleasure of not having even the slightest clue of what was round the corner for our leading character, George.
George Roberts appeared to fly when he was a very young boy. We follow George into adulthood as he goes on a journey across Europe in an attempt to find out how to fly again. In the back of George’s mind, his late father is there countering such notions with his scientific head. The plot does sound bizarre, and as a reader who sticks very closely to science, I was concerned the book might leave me a little cold. It most definitely didn’t!
George meets many memorable characters on this road trip like no other. Places are described such that you feel you are there and, along the way, we are presented with mouthwatering descriptions of local foods. George’s trip turns out to have far greater repercussions than he ever imagined and he impacts greatly on the people he meets.
The book does not always stay grounded in reality, but it is testament to the author’s skill that the story never seems ridiculous or silly. I was with George every step of the way and I loved his journey. Funny, touching, moving, quirky, sad, uplifting… All these words apply to the book and more. This is, quite simply, a story like no other.
Rating: 5 out of 5
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Thank you, Jonathan.
Jonathan Hill is an independent author from Manchester, UK.
In 2012, he published his first book of short stories, ‘ECLECTIC: Ten Very Different Tales’, which cover a wide range of genres.
In October 2012, Jonathan released ‘Maureen goes to Venice’, a comic novella for the Kindle. The book was named as one of the top three best short stories in The IBB Best Indie Books of 2012 Awards.
In December 2012, ‘A Letter for Maureen’ was released, the second in the Maureen series of Kindle books. The book can also be read as a stand-alone story.
In May 2013, Jonathan published his second collection of short stories, ‘Beyond Eclectic’.
When he’s not writing and working, Jonathan enjoys reading, photography and going to the theatre.
Jonathan’s website is www.jhillwriter.com and his books are:
- Maureen goes to Venice: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Maureen-goes-to-Venice-ebook/dp/B009RTE1CI
- A Letter for Maureen*: http://www.amazon.co.uk/A-Letter-for-Maureen-ebook/dp/B00AON8G54
- ECLECTIC: Ten Very Different Tales: http://www.amazon.co.uk/ECLECTIC-Very-Different-Tales-ebook/dp/B008GDT8JM
- Beyond Eclectic: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Beyond-Eclectic-ebook/dp/B00CQRUM62
- *You can read Jenny Worstall’s review of Jonathan’s book A Letter for Maureen here.
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