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Blueeyedboy
By Joanne Harris
RRP: $32.95
IN 1999 the movie The Sixth Sense thrilled move-goers with its dramatic twist and in the form of Joanne Harris latest effort, Blueeyedboy, readers are given the same type of slap-in-the-face revelation.
The same author who penned Chocolat, Harris demonstrates at times sublime writing skill as she tells the story of Blueeyedboy, a 42-year-old who lives with his mother in the unspectacular Yorkshire town of Malbry.
Blueeyedboy or BB, is desperate to escape his dull life, his controlling mother, her vile vitamin drinks and her collection of china dogs.
Ignored in the main by the real world, BB comes to life through the internet, a website he has created called badguysrock.
Harris tells her story through the unique format of internet posts from both BB and one of his acquaintances Albertine.
The lines between fiction and real-life become blurred as it is revealed Albertine and BB share a troubled history, Harris stimulating the reader with her references to colours, tastes and smells.
She also provides her novel with a sound track as BB’s posts are accompanied by his personal playlist, but it becomes mere background music as the plot grips the reader and gives them a violent shake.
Unlike The Sixth Sense where one felt for the little boy who could see dead people, it is hard to find any characters in Blueeyedboy truly likeable.
Perhaps it’s because one is never quite sure about BB, Albertine or the mysterious Jennytricks who has had all her posts deleted, but it is quality which draws the reader in.
The story of a blind child prodigy who can see music, a series of murders (or accidents?), a little girl who disappears and three boys – one who dresses in black, one brown and the other blue – is slowly revealed through the posts.
Just don’t be fooled into thinking you have the answers to the questions which arise - Harris will prove you very wrong and she will do it more than once before you reach the shocking conclusion.