I am someone who tends to ravish books from cover to cover in a gluttenous devouring orgy of literary hunger.

Every book in front of me is a meal. Every meal time feels like it is the first after a famine that lasted an eternity.

Which is why I wanted to change my "eating" habits when I recieved a copy of Justine's book.

Actually, that's not true.

I read the first eight chapters before UK postage stamp on the packaging hit the floor.

I stopped. I realised that this was an amazing book.

It was a literary dessert.

So, I started again.

I would only allow myself one chapter at a time.

I would only read one chapter after I completed my other tasks and duties.

I even employed a greasemonkey script to block out any mention of the book (especially reviews!) until I was done just so I can savour it without any influence!

So, it is has taken a while and I enjoyed every delicous word that tugged at my fierce heart.

The first chapter, the very first page struck struck me with an immediate impact. The words entered my mind and entwinded themselves around the strings of my heart and the loose ends of my mind.

Not since reading The Bell Jar, has an author grabbed my mind and had it walking around in a new skull. The strength of the words were immediate. Vice like in their hold. However, instead of crushing or restraining, there was a gentleness. It was a firm hug. It that stroked the nuerons to remind them that this was a journey they wanted to take. Take they did.

Each chapter was a short story in and of itself. Each was engrossing and filled me with mixed emotions. So difficult to explain the intertwining of sadness, festivity, loss, happiness, dreary reality, fairytale magic, dark fears and mesmerising hope.

There are so many subtexts that ride throughout each chapter and across the book. Whether it is the constant fear of loss - of her father, the family ties, the grip on reality, even her friendship - to the unspoken fear and facing the possibility of her own beautiful mind being afflicted with the same disease, the stories within stories, the unwritten words that sit between those that were already lovingly crafted, are just as powerful and delicious.

The words are amazing. There is a true depth of emotion that shines through like a tolling bell. A kurt-ness and style that I am convinced Vonnegut would approve of. A love for the magical and the hidden that the likes of Pratchett and Gaiman would appreciate. Finally, the twist of phrase and shining eye of absurdity that those of us who have had the pleasure to interact with her have come to appreciate is one of the most shining aspects of her being.

Justine has written a book that will forever be one of my top ten books to read and recommend.

Thank you for doing so. ( )

I'm not sure I can accurately put into words how much I adored this book! The author's way with words created a novel that is poetic yet simplistic at the same time. It was refreshing to read something so well-written by a first time author and I'm a sucker for unique plots which this one definitely had. ( )

I had to read it slowly because it made me feel too many things to read quickly. ( )

Will probably try to review this at a later date. I was torn between two and three stars, because I was very into this book up until the end. It kind of lost me a bit, and I was very unhappy when I finished it. ( )

i really didn't expect this to break my heart. ( )