Melina Marchetta is my all time favourite author. Hands down.
She is, for me, the mother of all books, the person without whom I don’t think the reading world could possibly exist. In fact, if you don’t go and read one of her stories right now, I worry that the whole world might implode or something.
You really shouldn’t take that risk!
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But for everyone else, Melina Marchetta is an Australian writer and teacher. Her first novel, Looking For Alibrandi was awarded the Children’s Book Council of Australia award in 1993 for Older Readers and her second novel, Saving Francesca won the same award in 2004. Looking For Alibrandi was made into a major film in 2000 and won the Australian Film Institute Award for best Film and best adapted screen play, also written by the author.
On the Jellicoe Road was released in 2006 and won the WAYRBA voted by teenagers in Western Australia in 2008. It also won the US Printz Medal in 2009 for excellence in YA literature. You should also know that it is my favorite book and it is being made into a movie.. You can’t imagine how I am waiting for it. Hyperventilating and all.
Her latest novel, Finnikin of the Rock was released in October 2008 and won the Aurealis Award for YA fantasy. It will be published by Candlewick in the US in 2010.
Melina Marchetta currently resides in Sydney, Australia. Marchetta makes frequent visits to schools to talk about her books. She also attends interviews, book signings, book club meetings at libraries and bookshops and gives talks to students about her novels. Marchetta has a blog on which she announces book updates, interviews and thoughts and anything in relation to writing and her novels.
This story seems to sing to me – a song of a magical time and a magical land, a song of both love and despair, a song so sad and beautiful that could cut one’s heart in two. The Lumatere chronicles is one of the most wonderful stories you can find, with gorgeous prose and … Read more
A moment of truth: I’ve felt depressed – on and off, in a way or another – my entire life. Not like Mia, but I had my share of sad moments, my ‘down’ moments, some kind of sorrow that seemed to linger at the edges of my consciousness. I don’t remember myself “before” (maybe I … Read more
You don’t measure a Marchetta book in number of stars. Maybe in entire constellations, if you really feel like counting. I’ve been staring at my laptop for a long time, trying to catch my breath, hoping to be able to put into words my love for this book and this author. But when she writes … Read more
Reading (at least one of) Marchetta’s stories should be one of the “10 things to do in your lifetime”.
Seriously, this woman is one of the most creative people alive, one of the most amazing writers I came across and I wish I could put into words the actual awesomeness of this book, but I feel a bit at a loss for words – well, once again.
This story took my breath away! If there is a book that I can read with my eyes filled with tears and my heart full of happiness, it is one of Marchetta’s stories.. Her words ‘sing’ to us […] – it’s a symphony of joy, sorrow, fear, hate, love.. and hope.
Dear Melina, Keep breaking my heart, because you definitely know the best way to do it. The first story I’ve been told was a fairytale. I don’t remember which one was it, but that shouldn’t be a problem, as they all begin with “once upon a time”, get to the point where the handsome white-horse-riding … Read more
“Maybe she’d always been there. Maybe strangers enter your heart first and then you spent the rest of your life searching for them. “ This was such a beautiful story (as usual). I am a Marchetta fan – she is simply amazing, she knows how to rip your heart out and then to put it … Read more
[spacer] Wonderful, amazing, beautiful, absolutely brilliant… [spacer] I need more stars! ★★★★★★★★★★ This was such a powerful story that got straight to my heart. After finishing it I was left speechless – Melina Marchetta has this effect on people. The characters are so well defined, the story is so complex… All that I’ve felt while … Read more
I don’t know what to think about this book, maybe the problem is that I read “On the Jellicoe Road” just before this one and that’s the reason I didn’t enjoy it that much. (when your mind is blown by a story, it is hard to jump right into another one) I can’t believe I … Read more
Oh, this is a hard book to review and I know that I won’t make it justice so I won’t even try that much. One word: awesome! Why? Because it is so complex and beautiful, and the characters are amazing and smart and funny, and the drama is not overwhelming (oh, well… it is, but in … Read more