About this title: Winner of the Whitbread Award for best novel and praised for her "style, ideas, and punch" (Jeanette Winterson), Smith has produced a novel at once profound, playful, and exhilaratingly inventive, as she transfixes readers with a portrait of a family unraveled by a mysterious visitor.
Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is described below.
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books, London
Date Published: 2007
ISBN-13:9780141035017ISBN:0141035013
Description: Fine. 8vo-over 7¾"-9¾" tall 0141035013 2007 re-issue in Penguin orange and white covers, no previous ownership marks. Winner of the 2005 Whitbread Novel Award. read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Hamish Hamilton Ltd
Date Published: 2005
ISBN-13:9780241141908ISBN:0241141907
Description: Very Good. HEAVY ITEM PLEASE EMAIL FOR POSTAGE QUOTES OUTSIDE THE UK VERY GOOD CONDITION-VERY FEW MINOR DEFECTS SECURE DAILY POSTING FROM UK. 30 DAY GUARANTEE. read more
Binding: PAPERBACK
Publisher: Penguin
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780141010397ISBN:0141010398
Description: VG. Paperback, very good condition. Cover image is a stock image and may vary. Your book will be securely packed and promptly dispatched from our UK warehouse. read more
Binding: PAPERBACK
Publisher: Penguin Books
Date Published: 2007
ISBN-13:9780141035017ISBN:0141035013
Description: Good. Paperback, good condition. Cover image is a stock image and may vary. Your book will be securely packed and promptly dispatched from our UK warehouse. read more
Binding: PAPERBACK
Publisher: Penguin
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780141010397ISBN:0141010398
Description: Fair. Paperback, larger format, a good reading copy. Cover image is a stock image and may vary. Your book will be securely packed and promptly dispatched from our UK warehouse. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780141010397ISBN:0141010398
Description: Good. PAPERBACK BOOK-GOOD OVERALL CONDITION-TRUSTED DEVON (UK) BASED SELLER-IN STOCK-SENT WITHIN 1 WORKING DAY-AVAILABLE BY EMAIL FOR QUERIES-NO QUIBBLE REFUND IF NOT COMPLETELY SATISFIED- read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780141010397ISBN:0141010398
Description: Very Good. VERY GOOD OVERALL CONDITION-TRUSTED DEVON (UK) BASED SELLER-IN STOCK-SENT WITHIN 1 WORKING DAY-AVAILABLE BY EMAIL FOR QUERIES-NO QUIBBLE REFUND IF NOT COMPLETELY SATISFIED- read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780141010397ISBN:0141010398
Description: Very Good. PAPERBACK BOOK-VERY GOOD OVERALL CONDITION-TRUSTED DEVON (UK) BASED SELLER-IN STOCK-SENT WITHIN 1 WORKING DAY-AVAILABLE BY EMAIL FOR QUERIES-NO QUIBBLE REFUND IF NOT COMPLETELY SATISFIED- read more
Binding: Hardcover
Publisher: Hamish Hamilton Ltd
Date Published: 2005
ISBN-13:9780241141908ISBN:0241141907
Description: Good in very good jacket. 7th printing; Hardback complete with dustcover, unclipped. Old label on front cover; else All in good condition; read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780141010397ISBN:0141010398
Description: Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Date Published: 2007
ISBN-13:9780141035017ISBN:0141035013
Description: Good. **SHIPPED FROM UK** We believe you will be completely satisfied with our quick and reliable service. All orders are dispatched as swiftly as possible! Buy with confidence! read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Date Published: 2006
ISBN-13:9780141010397ISBN:0141010398
Description: Good. This book is in GOOD overall condition. It shows signs of having been read and has general light wear to the cover, spine and pages. read more
Description: Good. Ships from the UK. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. Your purchase also supports literacy charities. read more
"I'm unsure what to think of this book. To be honest, though I read it in about 4/5 hours I don't even know if I enjoyed it. It was, to me, very vague, very garbled and it was just full of random ramblings.
At first, I was a bit sceptical about how it was written. Short sentences, all thoughts etc. But I did, around page 60, get into that style. Though I can't really say it's one I apreciated all that much. I did like the flow of it, the structure and the 'poetic-prettiness' of it. Sometimes through the method of writing Smith uses I got very clear pictures as to what was going on.
The characters, I felt, were very clear most of the time. They all had destinct personalities and it was very easy to differenciate between them. Though, saying that, sometimes I got a bit 'argh' with them as the way the book was written didn't do them all that much justice.
The story in my opinion, though good, was a bit here&there with no real structure. If the book had been written in a different style, maybe it would have worked, but I felt it was very vague and unclear in some parts.
I'd heard only good reviews about this book, and I can see why people enjoy it but for me I don't think it's one I can honestly, hand on heart say I really, really enjoyed. Yes - it was a good book and yes, I will probably read it again to give it the benifit of the doubt and maybe just see if I understand the hype what surrounds it... Personally, I'd say it's an easy read & one to snuggle up with a mug of hot chocolate or lay out in the sun with; very easy to make a few hours for rain or shine."
"I read reviews, I listen to others talk about books, I seek out books that others rave about, and nevertheless, many books disappoint.
The Accidental did not disappoint.
And how did I run across it? Well, (forgive me this) it was quite accidental. As many good things are.
The Accidental has everything I dream of finding in a good book. It's smarter than me (the most important quality I look for in a good book or a good friend). It has intriguing characters. It has a plot that both confirms and surprises. The writing is beautiful, lush, fun.
It is a book that I can see myself reading again, talking about, thinking about.
I know I'm gushing. But it is like trying to describe a new boyfriend to a friend at work, all the while worrying secretly that when the boyfriend and friend finally do meet, the friend will see nothing but the boyfriend's receding hairline and awkward social skills.
I'm sure there must be a receding hairline somewhere in The Accidental, but right now I'm too overcome with its beauty and cleverness to notice."
"Mengambil latar sebuah vila di Norfolk, The Accidental mengisahkan keluarga Smart yang justru tidak terlalu pintar dalam memahami emosinya masing-masing. Mereka terdiri dari dua anak: Astrid dan Magnus, Eve si ibu, dan Michael si ayah tiri. Jika Astrid adalah anak perempuan dua belas tahun yang terobsesi dengan handy-cam-nya, maka kakaknya Magnus merupakan bocah SMA suicidal yang tiba-tiba menjauhkan diri dari jangkauan keluarganya. Sementara itu Eve beprofesi sebagai penulis literatur sejarah populer yang sedang mengalami writer's block, sedangkan Michael adalah dosen literatur yang terjebak dalam serangkaian affair dangkal dengan para mahasiswinya. Sampai suatu hari keluarga Smart kedatangan Amber, seorang wanita misterius yang menuntun mereka keluar dari kegelapan.
Yang paling berkesan dari buku ini adalah penggunaan stream of consciousness oleh Ali Smith melalui sudut pandang orang ketiga. Stream of consciousness merupakan jenis penuturan yang melakukan karakterisasi melalui penjabaran proses berpikir si tokoh. Semua orang mengalami peristiwa yang sama, tetapi Astrid, Magnus, Eve, dan Michael mendapat kesempatan menjelaskan peristiwa tersebut dalam versi masing-masing. Di satu sisi, penuturan yang seperti ini memungkinkan si penulis menulis begitu banyak informasi dalam satu paragraf pendek. Namun di sisi lain, penuturan ini juga membuat pembaca mesti ekstra perhatian untuk bisa mengikuti jalan ceritanya.
Untungnya Ali Smith sering melakukan variasi dalam menjabarkan proses berpikir karakternya. Selain prosa, kadang-kadang ia menggunakan format tanya jawab dan soneta. Satu hal lagi yang membuat pembaca tidak mudah bosan: The Accidental memuat referensi pop tanpa menyebut judul buku atau film yang dimaksud, tetapi deskripsinya cukup membuat pembaca mengetahui hal apa yang dimaksudkan Smith.
Kebetulan Ali Smith adalah seorang lesbian, semua bukunya ia dedikasikan untuk pasangannya selama 22 tahun, Sarah Wood. The Accidental masuk dalam lima besar The Man Booker Prize 2005."
"Het verhaal beschrijft de zomervakantie van de familie Smart die zich hoofdzakelijk in hun zomerverblijf in Norfolk afspeelt. Elk van de vier gezinsleden leeft een beetje in zijn eigen wereldje. Eve, de moeder, is de auteur van een reeks boeken over personen die gestorven zijn tijdens de tweede wereldoorlog. Ze kampt met een writer's block en sluit zich elke dag op in het tuinhuis om te schrijven. Michael, de stiefvader, doceert literatuur aan een universiteit en schrikt er niet voor terug om op oneerbare voorstellen van studentes in te gaan. Magnus, de zoon uit Eve's vorige huwelijk, is 17, denkt in wiskundige termen en heeft iets verschrikkelijk gedaan op school. Het laatste gezinslid is Astrid. Astrid is de twaalfjarige dochter van Eve. Ze wordt gepest op school en heeft een videocamera waarmee ze de wereld filmt. Op een dag staat plots Amber voor de deur van hun vakantiewoning. Michael denkt dat ze komt voor Eve's nieuwe boek, Eve denkt dat het een studente van Michael is. Amber slaagt er in om van deze verwarring gebruik te maken en blijft enkele weken logeren. In die weken wordt iedereen verliefd op Amber, maar elk om een eigen reden.
Het boek bestaat uit 3 delen The Beginning, Middle en The end. Elk deel bevat een vijftal hoofdstukken die telkens het verhaal beschrijft vanuit het standpunt van een ander personage. Smith slaagt er in om op deze manier voor elk hoofdstuk een andere stijl te hanteren en het verhaal fris en boeiend te houden. Zo is het Michael hoofdstuk uit het middelste deel grotendeels in dichtvorm geschreven. De sterkste hoofdstukken zijn deze vanuit het standpunt van Astrid. Haar karakter is diep uitgewerkt en de gedachtekronkels werden volledig neergeschreven. Je krijgt dus echt het gevoel dat je in het hoofd van het twaalfjarige meisje zit en dat je de wereld door haar ogen ervaart. In het personage van Astrid is ook de grootste evolutie merkbaar, zo gebruikt ze in het begin van het boek tot vervelends toe het woord substandard, op het einde is dit preternaturally. Deze sterkte is meteen ook het grootste nadeel van het boek; je zou willen dat het volledige boek vanuit Astrid's standpunt geschreven is. Een ander minpunt vond ik het ietwat teleurstellende einde maar de frisse schrijfstijl maakt veel goed."
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