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peritract's review against another edition
2.0
Beck is the story of an eponymous mixed-race orphan in an uncaring world. After the death of his mother, Beck is shipped off to Canada, where he deals with abusive priests, abusive farmers, and violent mobsters (plus more) while he searches for a place to belong.
This is a book that desperately wants to have an important message. It’s just not clear what that message is. Every event drips with unused significance. He is neglected and abused as an orphan, but it ends there – any larger point about man’s inhumanity to man or poverty fizzle out as he pushed the memories behind him and wanders on. Instead of an exploration of society or identity or anything else, each plot point is simply another event in a series of them with no real purpose.
The plot is repetitive, running along the same basic cycle again and again. Beck meets new people – they generally give him food and new clothes – and he stays with him for a while before they do something that shows the innate awfulness of humanity. Then he leaves. Sometimes, to be fair, the characters don’t do anything bad directly – society itself is what sends Beck out into the world again.
Beck is a book of near-unrelenting misery. Everyone is awful, all of the time. By my count, there are five relatively significant characters who aren’t monsters, and all of those make (at best) extremely questionable decisions. Every other character is actively evil, exploiting Beck in countless ways. There’s very little in the book that suggests any kind of hope or positivity.
It’s fine to have miserable books. Anguish is an important component of art, and I can’t think of any story worth telling that doesn’t contain some sort of pain. But the pain has to serve a purpose – there has to be a reason to share it with the reader. Beck doesn’t have that. And that’s not because there aren’t any possible reasons; as above, it would be so easy to take his pain and make it significant. But the book doesn’t do that – it presents the misery, but doesn’t comment on it. Misery (and violence, and sex) without purpose is gratuitous. It doesn’t strengthen the book, it weakens it. From the first page, Beck hammers you over the head with how gritty and terrible everything is, and that’s only okay if a book justifies it. By the time you get to the slow and descriptive “child abuse in a bathtub” scene, it’s clear that no justification is coming.
The aforementioned scene was definitely a low point. Child abuse is a difficult topic to handle well – that much should be obvious. Authors who do tackle the issue tend to do so either extremely poorly, or extremely carefully. One thing you don’t do, pretty much ever, is linger on the actual event in what is supposed to be a children’s book. You don’t even do that in an adult book, because why would you? The specific mechanics don’t actually help or add anything; they just make your reader uncomfortable. Perhaps the worst thing about the handling of this scene in Beck is that the bathtub scene is the most lovingly described and detailed scene. Beck’s positive moments don’t get anything like this level of time and focus, and that’s a bizarre choice. I found myself deeply confused as to why the scene needed so much space on the page.
I could go on for a while about the flaws in Beck. It’s a book that’s at least partially about racism in which all the Native American characters are stereotypes. It’s a book that doesn’t mention the main character’s guiding philosophy until the final few chapters. It’s a book that doesn’t know what it is doing half the time, and shouldn’t be doing it the other half.
Perhaps these problems are too do with the unconventional authorship. Beck was started by Mal Peet – an author I’m unfamiliar with – but finished by Meg Rosoff, who I’ve always rather liked. Authors picking up other author’s books doesn’t always go well, and I think it’s a problem here. There are shifts in tone all over the place and plot hooks are dropped never to be picked up again. The final section of the book reads like it belongs in a completely different (and much better) novel. Suddenly, there’s a theme and a purpose and a focus on change, not just repeated horrors. And then, in the final big scene, all of that goes away again, and we’re back with stereotypes and needless confusion.
I think that the problem with Beck is that it tries too hard to be powerful and important – the sort of text people will study for years and talk about its unflinching honesty. But in the struggle to be that book, it ends up losing the plot and the themes and everything else that would actually make it important. It’s definitely unflinching and gritty – often too gritty – but it isn’t actually saying very much.
This is a book that desperately wants to have an important message. It’s just not clear what that message is. Every event drips with unused significance. He is neglected and abused as an orphan, but it ends there – any larger point about man’s inhumanity to man or poverty fizzle out as he pushed the memories behind him and wanders on. Instead of an exploration of society or identity or anything else, each plot point is simply another event in a series of them with no real purpose.
The plot is repetitive, running along the same basic cycle again and again. Beck meets new people – they generally give him food and new clothes – and he stays with him for a while before they do something that shows the innate awfulness of humanity. Then he leaves. Sometimes, to be fair, the characters don’t do anything bad directly – society itself is what sends Beck out into the world again.
Beck is a book of near-unrelenting misery. Everyone is awful, all of the time. By my count, there are five relatively significant characters who aren’t monsters, and all of those make (at best) extremely questionable decisions. Every other character is actively evil, exploiting Beck in countless ways. There’s very little in the book that suggests any kind of hope or positivity.
It’s fine to have miserable books. Anguish is an important component of art, and I can’t think of any story worth telling that doesn’t contain some sort of pain. But the pain has to serve a purpose – there has to be a reason to share it with the reader. Beck doesn’t have that. And that’s not because there aren’t any possible reasons; as above, it would be so easy to take his pain and make it significant. But the book doesn’t do that – it presents the misery, but doesn’t comment on it. Misery (and violence, and sex) without purpose is gratuitous. It doesn’t strengthen the book, it weakens it. From the first page, Beck hammers you over the head with how gritty and terrible everything is, and that’s only okay if a book justifies it. By the time you get to the slow and descriptive “child abuse in a bathtub” scene, it’s clear that no justification is coming.
The aforementioned scene was definitely a low point. Child abuse is a difficult topic to handle well – that much should be obvious. Authors who do tackle the issue tend to do so either extremely poorly, or extremely carefully. One thing you don’t do, pretty much ever, is linger on the actual event in what is supposed to be a children’s book. You don’t even do that in an adult book, because why would you? The specific mechanics don’t actually help or add anything; they just make your reader uncomfortable. Perhaps the worst thing about the handling of this scene in Beck is that the bathtub scene is the most lovingly described and detailed scene. Beck’s positive moments don’t get anything like this level of time and focus, and that’s a bizarre choice. I found myself deeply confused as to why the scene needed so much space on the page.
I could go on for a while about the flaws in Beck. It’s a book that’s at least partially about racism in which all the Native American characters are stereotypes. It’s a book that doesn’t mention the main character’s guiding philosophy until the final few chapters. It’s a book that doesn’t know what it is doing half the time, and shouldn’t be doing it the other half.
Perhaps these problems are too do with the unconventional authorship. Beck was started by Mal Peet – an author I’m unfamiliar with – but finished by Meg Rosoff, who I’ve always rather liked. Authors picking up other author’s books doesn’t always go well, and I think it’s a problem here. There are shifts in tone all over the place and plot hooks are dropped never to be picked up again. The final section of the book reads like it belongs in a completely different (and much better) novel. Suddenly, there’s a theme and a purpose and a focus on change, not just repeated horrors. And then, in the final big scene, all of that goes away again, and we’re back with stereotypes and needless confusion.
I think that the problem with Beck is that it tries too hard to be powerful and important – the sort of text people will study for years and talk about its unflinching honesty. But in the struggle to be that book, it ends up losing the plot and the themes and everything else that would actually make it important. It’s definitely unflinching and gritty – often too gritty – but it isn’t actually saying very much.
kricketa's review against another edition
3.0
Mal Peet's last novel, finished after his death by Meg Rosoff, about a black-skinned, green-eyed orphan named Beck searching for a place to call home.
Sidenote: I really enjoy Peet's writing but I've always felt that it was kind of arbitrarily assigned to "teen fiction. I especially feel that to be the case about "Beck" which is a rather sweeping coming-of-age story that includes some really mature topics. I know there are older teens who would enjoy this book, but I do feel that it's more likely to be enjoyed by adults, and teens at my library are more likely to dip into the adult section than the other way around.
Sidenote: I really enjoy Peet's writing but I've always felt that it was kind of arbitrarily assigned to "teen fiction. I especially feel that to be the case about "Beck" which is a rather sweeping coming-of-age story that includes some really mature topics. I know there are older teens who would enjoy this book, but I do feel that it's more likely to be enjoyed by adults, and teens at my library are more likely to dip into the adult section than the other way around.
kitty_kat21's review against another edition
2.0
Don't feel like reviewing this one. Left with a feeling of 'meh'.
ventenne's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Book of all time (or at least one of them). Plus it makes me cry, thus the five stars.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Grief, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Child abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, Vomit, Murder, and Alcohol
cathiestrover's review against another edition
5.0
What a privilege to read the final work by Mal Peet, beautifully finished by his friend Meg Rosoff.
This isn't an easy story; there's hardship, abuse and violence, but ultimately also survival and potential peace in a rough and alien landscape.
I've no idea how much of this belongs to Mal or Meg, and it doesn't really matter. His was a unique voice of dark humour and beautiful prose and I'm happy that some more was shared with us.
This isn't an easy story; there's hardship, abuse and violence, but ultimately also survival and potential peace in a rough and alien landscape.
I've no idea how much of this belongs to Mal or Meg, and it doesn't really matter. His was a unique voice of dark humour and beautiful prose and I'm happy that some more was shared with us.
ohnoflora's review against another edition
2.0
As far as suitability goes, I would be happy giving this to S3 (14/15 years old) and up - with a content warning. We teach The Color Purple to that age group and while parts of Beck are distressing, I don't think it is unsuitable with appropriate guidance.
Whether or not that age group would be interested in reading Beck is another thing - frankly, I don't think they would. The style is sparse, we get very little characterisation and vast chunks of time (whole years) are elided. I found it very hard to empathise with Beck and I wasn't very interested in what happened to him.
I find myself baffled by this book. Who, exactly is it for? Younger readers will be bored by the style and alienated by Beck's sexual relationship with an older woman. Older readers will be frustrated by the lack of character development and unsatisfyingly neat ending.
Frustrating: I'm looking forward to tackling the other books on the Carnegie shortlist instead.
Whether or not that age group would be interested in reading Beck is another thing - frankly, I don't think they would. The style is sparse, we get very little characterisation and vast chunks of time (whole years) are elided. I found it very hard to empathise with Beck and I wasn't very interested in what happened to him.
I find myself baffled by this book. Who, exactly is it for? Younger readers will be bored by the style and alienated by Beck's sexual relationship with an older woman. Older readers will be frustrated by the lack of character development and unsatisfyingly neat ending.
Frustrating: I'm looking forward to tackling the other books on the Carnegie shortlist instead.
themaxdog's review against another edition
3.0
Full review now up on the blog: http://www.thewritinggreyhound.co.uk/2018/02/book-review-beck-mal-peet.html
Beck is a sweeping story of grand proportions, following the life of a young orphan boy (the eponymous Beck) as he journeys from England, over the sea, and across the length and breadth of North America. With a story such as this, Beck is nothing short of an epic - a modern-day version of the typical types of grandiose tales that become timeless, read again and again over the years.
As always, Mal Peet doesn't shy away from discussing such difficult, contentious and painful topics - history and real life are shown in all their glory, good and bad, and this is one of the reasons why I admire him so much as an author. With this tale of a lost orphan boy heading through life, discovering the world and eventually finding his place and becoming a man, it's clear that this is the perfect final tale for such a talented, renowned author.
Beck is a sweeping story of grand proportions, following the life of a young orphan boy (the eponymous Beck) as he journeys from England, over the sea, and across the length and breadth of North America. With a story such as this, Beck is nothing short of an epic - a modern-day version of the typical types of grandiose tales that become timeless, read again and again over the years.
As always, Mal Peet doesn't shy away from discussing such difficult, contentious and painful topics - history and real life are shown in all their glory, good and bad, and this is one of the reasons why I admire him so much as an author. With this tale of a lost orphan boy heading through life, discovering the world and eventually finding his place and becoming a man, it's clear that this is the perfect final tale for such a talented, renowned author.
kba76's review against another edition
5.0
Going into this I really wasn't sure what to expect. Early reviews on the Carnegie Shadowing site seem to be focusing on the inappropriateness of this novel for teen readers, and the concerns over the graphic nature of the abuse experienced by the main character. Looking beyond these comments I learned that Peet had been inspired to write this after reading something about the historical abuse of children sent to Canada and Australia. Of course it's not going to be all sweetness and light!
With something of a heavy heart I set myself to read this. Oh, how I was doing this book a disservice.
The opening part gives us, very tersely, the background to Beck and immediately makes it clear that this is a boy who was not going to get a good deal in life. I read with a sense of detachment of his early years in the orphanage in Liverpool. Beck gives little comment on this, and the decision to not write this in first-person means we don't have to go too deep into the emotions/thoughts of the character though it's all too clear how he's feeling. I was disgusted by the way in which these boys were packed off to Canada and the lack of care and compassion shown to them.
As part one focuses on the historical element of Beck's story we cannot shy away from the time he spends with the Brothers. From early on there are hints of bad things happening, and the little details suggesting the abuse experienced by many of the boys indicates the scale of this horror. A number of reviews express concern at the graphic nature of the bath scene where Brother Robert attempts to seduce Beck. I confess to reading this feeling very uncomfortable, and my relief when Beck fought back was chillingly quashed moments later when we were categorically told the results of him not complying with events. An event that will linger long in the memory but, however uncomfortable it made me, it is fact and a truth that deserves to be told.
Watching Beck as he journeys through life was bleak. He is not treated well, and on the rare occasions he is shown love and compassion events conspire to make him feel that he cannot trust anyone. It was a sobering thought that the criminals he encounters are actually the people who treat him most kindly.
When Beck is finally discovered by Grace they appear to have little in common. Over time, they establish a close bond and this attempt to provide Beck with some redemption was welcomed by me. I certainly didn't read this section feeling that their intimacy was unwelcome. If anything, the fact that someone who had experienced such pain and misery could still find it within themself to love was inspiring.
Peet - and Rosoff who completed the novel after his death - are favourites to win this year's award. By the comments on the Shadowing site there'll be lots of students denied the chance to read this and form their own opinion of it. That is a shame. It's a tough read, without a doubt, but there's a lot to admire in this.
With something of a heavy heart I set myself to read this. Oh, how I was doing this book a disservice.
The opening part gives us, very tersely, the background to Beck and immediately makes it clear that this is a boy who was not going to get a good deal in life. I read with a sense of detachment of his early years in the orphanage in Liverpool. Beck gives little comment on this, and the decision to not write this in first-person means we don't have to go too deep into the emotions/thoughts of the character though it's all too clear how he's feeling. I was disgusted by the way in which these boys were packed off to Canada and the lack of care and compassion shown to them.
As part one focuses on the historical element of Beck's story we cannot shy away from the time he spends with the Brothers. From early on there are hints of bad things happening, and the little details suggesting the abuse experienced by many of the boys indicates the scale of this horror. A number of reviews express concern at the graphic nature of the bath scene where Brother Robert attempts to seduce Beck. I confess to reading this feeling very uncomfortable, and my relief when Beck fought back was chillingly quashed moments later when we were categorically told the results of him not complying with events. An event that will linger long in the memory but, however uncomfortable it made me, it is fact and a truth that deserves to be told.
Watching Beck as he journeys through life was bleak. He is not treated well, and on the rare occasions he is shown love and compassion events conspire to make him feel that he cannot trust anyone. It was a sobering thought that the criminals he encounters are actually the people who treat him most kindly.
When Beck is finally discovered by Grace they appear to have little in common. Over time, they establish a close bond and this attempt to provide Beck with some redemption was welcomed by me. I certainly didn't read this section feeling that their intimacy was unwelcome. If anything, the fact that someone who had experienced such pain and misery could still find it within themself to love was inspiring.
Peet - and Rosoff who completed the novel after his death - are favourites to win this year's award. By the comments on the Shadowing site there'll be lots of students denied the chance to read this and form their own opinion of it. That is a shame. It's a tough read, without a doubt, but there's a lot to admire in this.
nobodyatall's review
4.0
I love books about overcoming the influence of Catholics. It's also a very enjoyable and heartwarming read.
egrime's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.5