Eleven Eleven - Paul Dowswell

Paul Dowswell is an author that isn't too well-known. But this is actually the second book I have read by him, the first being the simply brilliant Auslander (review) focusing on life in Nazi Germany during World War II.
ELEVEN ELEVEN is Dowswell's new offering to the YA historical fiction world centred around the last day of World War I - something that intrigued me enough to pick up this book as I don't think I've ever seen a book on this subject before.
I'd seen this at work and had wondered whether to buy it, never quite sure. So when I saw it in my local library, I was thrilled to have a chance to read it. This isn't an author you see frequently around the blogosphere so I went into this book blind, hoping for another amazing and shocking story like Auslander. I was hardly disappointed.

Synopsis: In the final 24 hours of World War I on the 11th November 1918, a German storm trooper, American airman and British Tommy are all on a battlefield in France fighting for their countries, oblivious that at 11am, fighting will cease. After a series of events, the three young boys find themselves depending on one another for survival as 11am strikes. A friendship forms and soon their place of birth doesn't matter. But who will survive the 11th November and who will live?

Review: This isn't a book I would normally go for. I like books with romance or an element of dystopian so combined with the intrigue about the topic, I was mostly starting this book because of absolutely loving Dowswell's other book, Auslander.

Some historical war fiction books normally focus on at least one of two things: it is set nearly always in World War II or set only in one country from one country's point of view which normally leaves Germany not looking that fantastic. Eleven, Eleven subverts the latter drastically with having protagonists from different countries and doing different jobs to help the war giving the novel a more rounded perspective of the day. There is Will, a British soldier who has been in France for months after being persuaded my his sweetheart's father to go to war (a farce to get him away from his daughter in the hope that Will would get killed). Eddie, an American pilot that has killed four Germans and needs his fifth to arrive home a war hero. And finally Axel, a young German foot soldier on his first day of fighting (and the last day at war). The protagonists neither had a great impact on me or annoy me but I left the story caring about what would happen to them, especially after a final revelation literally on the last line. I just liked that this was a book that was completely different to any other YA historical war fiction that I've had the fortune to read.

So I liked the protagonists, they were down to earth, realistic and more to the point, likeable, I felt for them. The development and pacing of the story however, was a little disappointing. From my recollection of Auslander, the story was constantly moving with event after event which is how you would expect in these type of books. However, in Eleven Eleven, I was not immediately grabbed and wanting desperately to find out what would happen. No, it took a while for me to get into the story and for the story really to start developing. And then when the story really got going, it was a few chapters from the end. The part where the three boys come together is rather short especially as that is essentially a pivotal moment to the narrative. They are together for a couple of chapters, help each other and then separate. As I saw suggested on one review on Goodreads, for me, the book could have been longer with more impact and drama from the moment that Will, Axel and Eddie meet.

I have to award Dowswell however for the writing. Sometimes book can make you feel smile, laugh, be uncomfortable and sad within a few pages and this is one of those said books. It is what I love about good literature where the author can manipulate your feelings within just a chapter. Dowswell makes you feel both hopeful for the characters until suddenly there's this destruction and death and it makes that hope seem completely impossibly unreachable. This mixture was just so heartbreaking to read about that shows the true stark reality of World War I. By the end, despite the pace, I was so intrigued to see who would be alive - would Eddie, Will AND Axel make it? Would their family die? You'll have to read it to find out!

World War I is a time that little of us I think know much about apart from the basic portrayals from dramas and comedies like Blackadder Goes Forth and first person accounts or biographies. It is a topic I think a lot of writers avoid because of the devastation of this war, the politics and the fact that World War II happened a shorter amount of time ago. Dowswell gives a realistic and brutal portrayal of the time aimed directly at young people that really resonates. This is an incredibly short read, but boy, does it pack a huge punch at the end. Brilliant.

I give it a 4 out of 5

Author's Website: www.pauldowswell.co.uk/
Pages: 224
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Challenges: Historical Fiction, BBC

Related Books: 
Auslander - Paul Dowswell
The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas - John Boyne
Chocolate Cake With Hitler - Emma Craigie
Once - Morris Gleitzman

A-Z Authors - D, E, F, G, H

I found out about this through Phanee from funny wool and is hosted by Heather at Proud Book Nerd. I thought it looked quite fun so this month, I shall be doing a post every day (except Sundays) where I shall tell you about amazing authors that have surnames beginning with that letter. I hope you enjoy and tell me if you know any more with that letter and I'll add it to the post! Thanks.

NOTE: As I am doing my exams at the moment, I may miss days so shall combine letter together, I'll say if I do in the title - Thanks.

Here we go....

SORRY FOR MY LACK OF DOING THIS IN THE PAST WEEK. I have been so busy with revision, exams, being out, getting food etc but here it is now!

D

Sarah Dessen

She is amazing. I am not kidding. She is the best or at least one of the best writers I have ever read and has remained a favourite for about 3/4 years. I am yet to see/meet someone who doesn't like her novels. There are ones less good than others but they are all better than some other novels that are out there. She is always consistent and although critised for having the same plot every time, they all seem different. You know what to expect from Sarah Dessen in the plot but they are always so original in characters, settings, other events. The characters are such unique people that you kinda wish were real and that you learn to love a lot.

Her Books: The Truth About Forever, Just Listen, Along for the Ride, What Happened to Goodbye, This Summer, Someone Like You, Last Chance (or Keeping the Moon), Dreamland, Lock and Key, This Lullaby.

Paul Dowswell

I have only read one book by this guy but Auslander was amazing. It has a boy as the voice and normally, I find they aren't as good with a guy voice but this was fantastic and really helped me with my History GCSE - it put it all into perspective for me and helped me understand it all while doing my favourite thing of reading. He is such a good author that not many people give credit or know about at all. 

Other Books: True Stories of WWII, Adventures of a Young Sailor, The First World War, Escape.

E

Eve Edwards

Wow. I love this woman. Sometimes books are just Historical or just Romance and sometimes having both of those together is hard to pull off without being too much of the other. However, The Other Countess series have been amazing. So interesting with this perfect fascinating mixture of genres with the most funny, enjoyable characters. I just love her books and make me love History so much more. She is a writer a lot of people should pick up. 

Her Books: The Other Countess series - The Other Countess, The Queen's Lady, The Rouge Princess

F

Gayle Forman

I have only so far read her first book in the If I Stay duo. I have the other but not yet read it. I thought the book was going to be boring. But I found it wasn't. It wasn't perfect for me but I really liked it and the way it was written and how different it was to other novels out there that are similar to this one. I really liked her overall and I REALLY NEED TO READ THE NEXT ONE.

Her Books: If I Stay, Where She Went, Sisters in Sanity

G

Anna Godbersen

She is again in my category of best Historical Romance authors. I love the fun, happy side to her books and then also, the serious side to them that changes suddenly and makes you think. They are a real type of YA book but not too heavy, yet not too silly and ridiculous. These are good books and I love the different characters that after The Luxe series with 4 books, you start to think as of family a little and really get to know them inside and out. All of hers are set in New York at different periods of time which is so interesting to compare from the historical side. She successfully has fun/serious books with a nice balance. 

Her Books: The Luxe Series - The Luxe, Rumours, Envy, Splendour, Bright Young Things

H

Mary Hooper

Not many people have heard of Mary Hooper and that may be because she's an English writer and more known over here but I love her writing. She also writes historical and you can tell from reading that there is so much detail put into it. She covers many periods of history with some characters that reflect what people were like then and now. There are bits of romance but I like them with and without. I don't know what it is about this one but I just love her writing - but I can't say why. She is also the one that got me into Historical fiction and when I met her at a book signing last year, she was so friendly and it was like I known her years!

Her books: The Remarkable Life and Times of Eliza Rose, Fallen Grace, Newes from the Dead, At the Sign of the Sugar Plum, At the House of the Magician, Megan, Amy, Holly

Cora Harrison

I fell in love with her writing when I read the first chapter. It wasn't the typical Regency language but I liked that. Made it easier and more enjoyable to read. I loved all her characters, the cover, the romance, the playful look on life and the way she can make a unique character seem like someone you know or a simple situation, one you can relate to. I love how she made Jane Austen a real and lively person, someone my age that I could learn more about and make her feel like a friend. 

I really do love her books. I think it's her first bit for YA looking on Goodreads but she should keep it up!

Her Books: I was Jane Austen's Best Friend, Jane Austen Stole My Boyfriend, My Lady Judge, The Montgomery Murder

Auslander - Paul Dowswell

It's been pretty busy since I got back on Sunday, so sorry anyone that has been waiting for this. I am now pretty happy too as I have 8 followers and when I was looking at the stats, I've had 584 visitors since May from 10 different countries. So thank you if you are apart of that. I appreciate it :)
ANYWAY. Onto I would say THE most amazing book I have read in a long time. I know I say that about every book mostly but I really loved this one.

When Peter becomes parent less, he is sent to an orphanage. But when the Nazis invade his home in Poland, his life changes completely. He maybe Polish but is Aryan (blonde hair, blue eyes) and of German blood. He is taken in by Professor Kaltenbach, a scientist looking at the purification of Jews, and his family and starts to be brought up in Nazi Germany. But as he joins the Hitler Youth and becomes a perfect 'German Youth', he is starting to form ideas of his own. He doesn't want to be a Nazi follower and believes in things that could have him killed. So he does the most dangerous thing he could do in Berlin in 1943 because his life depends on it...Is he really a perfect German or truly an Auslander (foreigner in German)?

Okay. I've said it before. If you saw me on the bus reading this and you knew me pretty well, you would think 'Rebecca wouldn't read that kind of thing!' And it's true, I probably wouldn't but it's history. Which I L.O.V.E. Yes, it needed the dots. When I loved about this book, is that it is like your perfect guide to History GCSE. Everything I've covered in the Rise of the Nazis was in this book. The book is great to show you the Rise of the Nazis. The Depression before Hitler is mentioned, Hitler Youth, the SS, the Gestapo and the terror of being caught by them; some opposers of Hitler, Swing Jazz, the treatment of the Jews...it's all in there if you like it or not.
It's a fast paced novel that will have you on the edge of your seat at times and smiling at others. I loved Anna, Peter's girlfriend. She is just such a nice character, I guess she makes it appeal more to girl AND boys too. She is a great free-willed character who, with all her innocence, made me gasp at what you eventually find out.
  What I found SO clever, like Sarah Dessen clever (Whoa guys. Big compliment), was that at first Peter was spelt Polish: Piotr. And there was me sitting there thinking 'What? Who on earth is he? It's spelt Peter, isn't it?' but then when he goes to Berlin and Kaltenbach changes his name so it's more German, it changes to Peter. It was so subtle that I didn't realise until a few chapters afterwards.
I would recommend this book to anyone that's interested in Nazi Germany or studing it or just history really. And that loves an action packed, surprised full book that has something different on every page. Seriously. Read it. Now. Just go....out the room, put on your jacket and go and buy it....Good. :)

Author's Website: http://www.pauldowswell.co.uk/

On My Bookshelf (1)

So this is my version of 'In My Mailbox' because honestly, I'm not known well enough to have publishers and authors to send me books - and I'm still working out how that can happen. So here is my lovely selection of books that I have required in the last week: 

Outside Beauty - Cynthia Kadohata (Library)

When her mother is involved in a terrible car crash, Shelby's world is torn apart. She and her three sisters are separated and sent to live with their fathers. The girls struggle to adjust to life without each other but Maddie, the youngest, is so terrifed of her father that she withdraws into herself and from her sisters. Shelby realises that something must be done - something drastic - to reclaim her family. 

The Summer I Turned Pretty - Jenny Han (Waterstones)

Every year, Isabel spends a perfect summer at her family friends' house. There's the swimming pool at night, the private stretch of beach - and the two boys. Conrad: unavailable, aloof and who she's been in love with forever. Jeremiah: friendly, relaxed, the only one whose ever really paid her any attention. But this year, something's different. They seem to have noticed her for the first time. It's going to be an amazing summer and one she'll never forget.  (Part of a series)

(Oh my god. I want to read this book. Even though it's a summer read and it's practically the end of summer. Who cares? I'll read it in the winter and pretend it's summer!)

The Other Countess - Eve Edwards (Waterstones)

England 1582. Lady Eleanor Rodriguez of San Jime is in possession of a worthless title and a feisty spirit that captivates the elite of the Queen's court and none more so than the handsome Earl of Dorset. William Lacey has inherited his father's title and his financial ruin. Now the earl must seek a wealthy heiress and restore his family's fortune. Will's head has been turned to Eleanor but their union can never be. Will is destined to marry a lady worthy of his status but who will it be? 

(Yep. Another historical romance. Oh I love it so much....)

The Sky Is Everywhere - Jandy Nelson (WH Smiths)

What kind of girl wants to kiss every boy at a funeral, wants to maul a guy in a tree after making out with her (dead) sister's boyfriend the previous night. Speaking of which, what kind of girl makes out with her sister's boyfriend at all? 

(Yes. It is in my hands. It is sitting next to me in pride and joy on my desk. I am so happy, it's unbelieveable. And I even got my friend, Joey to buy it when I got it. See this book brings happiness!)

Bog Child - Siobhan Dowd (Library)

Fergus finds something which makes his heart stop. Curled up deep in the bog is the body of a child. And it looks like she's been murdered. As Fergus tries to make sense of the mad world around him, a little voice comes to him in his dreams and the mystery of the bog child unfurls. 

(I've decided not to read this one because for 1. It sounds downright depressing and 2. Apparently it's not too amazing. But I took the picture already so...I had to include it or it would feel lonely.)

Auslander - Paul Downswell (Library)

When Peter's parents are killed, he is sent to an orphanage. But Peter is of German Blood. With his blond hair and blue eyes, he is a perfect Hitler Youth specimen, Someone important will want to adopt Peter. They do. Professor Kaltenbach and his wife are thrilled to welcome such a fine Aryan to their households. But Peter is not quite the specimen they think. He is forming his own ideas. Peter doesn't want to be a Nazi, so he takes a risk. They most dangerous risk he could possible take in Berlin in 1943. 

(I do History and we do about Nazi Germany and that so I am looking forward to this. Not my normal type of book. But who cares, sounds good!)

And to The Hunger Games: Mockingjay...while I was out, my friend brought it and thought we'd add it to the pile. I've heard to much praise for this series that she's making me read it when I'm done with my library books. So, yeah that could be fun. From her description, it sounds pretty good. So I'm all set bookwise. :)

Joey with her 'Hunger Game' book and 'The Sky is Everywhere' :)