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megelizabeth's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
"The year didn’t just change, a quick click of digits, the world cracking apart. It was a slow bleeding. One thing into another."
This is such an impressive book. The writing style and the storytelling are incredibly clever and the atmosphere is ridiculously strong throughout. It's a truly immersive, captivating story that creeps up on you and then never quite lets you go. It's also the perfect combination of completely heartbreaking and yet also so full of heart.
This is a story that is quiet but devastating and that just packs such a perfect punch. I really appreciated both the predominant themes around family and identity and loss, and also the more subtle (only just) historical nods to the AIDS crisis and the Troubles.
The only criticism I really have isn't really the author's fault, which is that I found the blurb to be quite misleading. As a result slightly disappointed by some of the sections focusing on Matty's childhood and teenage years and time spent at Hampstead, as I expected there to be more of a 'found family' feel and this didn't really come through for me. Overall, though, I still had a great reading experience and got a lot out of this book, so I'd highly recommend if you're even remotely intrigued!
This is such an impressive book. The writing style and the storytelling are incredibly clever and the atmosphere is ridiculously strong throughout. It's a truly immersive, captivating story that creeps up on you and then never quite lets you go. It's also the perfect combination of completely heartbreaking and yet also so full of heart.
This is a story that is quiet but devastating and that just packs such a perfect punch. I really appreciated both the predominant themes around family and identity and loss, and also the more subtle (only just) historical nods to the AIDS crisis and the Troubles.
The only criticism I really have isn't really the author's fault, which is that I found the blurb to be quite misleading. As a result slightly disappointed by some of the sections focusing on Matty's childhood and teenage years and time spent at Hampstead, as I expected there to be more of a 'found family' feel and this didn't really come through for me. Overall, though, I still had a great reading experience and got a lot out of this book, so I'd highly recommend if you're even remotely intrigued!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, Blood, and Death of parent
Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Eating disorder, and Car accident
Minor: Racism
james1star's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I really enjoyed this book and desperately want to check out Andrew again as I believe they’re a potential 5 star author. This was great and I’d totally recommend giving it a read.
Skin is split into two parts (and an epilogue, not really three like the blurb suggests), the first in 1985 where we meet Matty, our mc, just after their (I will use this pronoun throughout) dad Joe has gone missing. They live in Golders Green and Joe was known to frequent the local swimming ponds in Hampstead Heath so Matty visits trying to find answers. It’s here they forge a love for the water and swimming which continues throughout the book - the beauty and freedom but also the danger and power of it. Matty also meets Nicks and they begin a kind of friendship, accompanied by other swimmers and they start to learn more about who/what Joe might’ve been, the world and what the future is set out to have in store as the summer ends and Matty will start secondary school. The relationship with their Italian mother is explored and the way she delves into a breakdown of sorts with lots of tensions at home. I really enjoyed this section for the fact I know many of the places mentioned and the geography so I could see where things were taking place easily in my mind.
The second section is in 1999 with Matty travelling through Ireland looking for new information in their father’s homeland. They go swimming in many lochs documenting them and the love of nature is very much apparent. Soon though a snap decision places them in a dire situation and the way this exploration of ‘wrong place, wrong time’ fallout is done was so great. It’s the quickness and how it all could’ve happened different I found Andrew portrayed amazingly. A little before, the (non direct given I read the audiobook but I think it’s kinda word-for-word) quote from Matty ‘they always want to talk’ made me instantly know something was going to happen. What ensues I won’t mention but it just involves the afterwords of this encounter.
I found the writing to be really nice, not only is it well written but there’s a craft too in the way nature and conservations are told that I loved. The book can be a little confusing at times too but as you go along, things click into place and you’re like ‘ohh I get it now’ which I found very clever. I also really liked how the exploration of Matty’s gender and sexuality are there but it’s in no way the focus. I did feel things could’ve been more cemented for the reader and the way some things fitted into place were a little questionable but on the whole a very decent read.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing and Hate crime
Minor: Bullying, Cancer, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Grief, and Death of parent
miles_books45's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
It was really good , the narator for the audio book definitely made it easier to get through it. The twist and turns , the little details with the mythology of water. Some twists I really didn't see coming but thought they were perfect for the type of book this is.
Only thing I would say is the first part of this book kinda jumps about quite alot with the present day and flashbacks and it made it a little confusin initially, but this might be different with a physical book
Only thing I would say is the first part of this book kinda jumps about quite alot with the present day and flashbacks and it made it a little confusin initially, but this might be different with a physical book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Suicide, Transphobia, Violence, and Vomit
tesslw's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.5
I was so so pleased to have had Skin sent to me by the wonderful Vintage books ahead of the paperback publication; so thank you so much!
When Matty’s father, Joe, disappears from London without trace in 1985, Matty spends the summer that follows seeking out answers and trying not to let the trail go cold. DIscovering that the last place Joe was seen was the ponds at Hampstead Heath, Matty goes looking for answers. His mother, Rosa, is content to let him believe that Joe is long dead; however Matty can’t reconcile this. Slipping quietly into the group of regular swimmers at the ponds, Matty gains perspective and understanding of a whole and diverse community that was entirely unbeknownst to him previously. Fourteen years later, still without answers and unable to move on, Matty sets out in search of his father; however the hurdles he encounters en route are enough to almost throw him off course forever.
I thought there was so much of this novel which spoke to my soul; it focuses heavily on identity, the trials of selecting and navigation of the spaces we occupy, and it also revolves around some truly beautiful and enigmatic nature writing; there is particular focus on water and wild swimming - first in the Hampstead ponds, and later in the freezing loughs of Ireland (a theme which I do believe is inspired by the author’s own love of wild and cold water swimming) .
For me, the best and weightiest part of this novel came in the first third of the book. I found Matty to be an intriguing protagonist; carrying an aloofness that remains endearing without edging into disinterest - the undercurrents of isolation and belonging take root early and continue to grow throughout the rest of the book - however, as we move to the later sections and the landscape opens, so does the focus of the novel, and this to me threw it off piste somehow. The plot itself is dynamic (there is a ‘twist’ towards the end of the first section, which I would probably call more of a clever slight of narrative but is very effective - but makes it very hard to write about the book as a whole without giving it away!) and in theory should flow well.. However I honestly found this losing steam around the halfway point and unfortunately never quite regaining it!
I am finding it very hard to pin down or articulate why I wasn’t in love with this book, but I think ultimately it comes down to it having tried to incorporate too many elements which never quite came together coherently enough to feel supported and satisfying. The ending, whilst undoubtedly answering a question which had been hanging in my mind for the previous 85% of the book felt too convenient and suddenly resolved; but then I know that might be a ‘me’ thing!
I have great respect for Andrew as a writer and I want to convey the joy I found in seeing such complex themes explored in such a nuanced and elegant way. I think Skin has a lot of elements that make a truly fantastic novel and there is no doubt that the author’s writing style is stunning - but it just didn’t hit the top spot for me. Whilst I wish I could absolutely rave about it, I still enjoyed, and would definitely still recommend.
When Matty’s father, Joe, disappears from London without trace in 1985, Matty spends the summer that follows seeking out answers and trying not to let the trail go cold. DIscovering that the last place Joe was seen was the ponds at Hampstead Heath, Matty goes looking for answers. His mother, Rosa, is content to let him believe that Joe is long dead; however Matty can’t reconcile this. Slipping quietly into the group of regular swimmers at the ponds, Matty gains perspective and understanding of a whole and diverse community that was entirely unbeknownst to him previously. Fourteen years later, still without answers and unable to move on, Matty sets out in search of his father; however the hurdles he encounters en route are enough to almost throw him off course forever.
I thought there was so much of this novel which spoke to my soul; it focuses heavily on identity, the trials of selecting and navigation of the spaces we occupy, and it also revolves around some truly beautiful and enigmatic nature writing; there is particular focus on water and wild swimming - first in the Hampstead ponds, and later in the freezing loughs of Ireland (a theme which I do believe is inspired by the author’s own love of wild and cold water swimming) .
For me, the best and weightiest part of this novel came in the first third of the book. I found Matty to be an intriguing protagonist; carrying an aloofness that remains endearing without edging into disinterest - the undercurrents of isolation and belonging take root early and continue to grow throughout the rest of the book - however, as we move to the later sections and the landscape opens, so does the focus of the novel, and this to me threw it off piste somehow. The plot itself is dynamic (there is a ‘twist’ towards the end of the first section, which I would probably call more of a clever slight of narrative but is very effective - but makes it very hard to write about the book as a whole without giving it away!) and in theory should flow well.. However I honestly found this losing steam around the halfway point and unfortunately never quite regaining it!
I am finding it very hard to pin down or articulate why I wasn’t in love with this book, but I think ultimately it comes down to it having tried to incorporate too many elements which never quite came together coherently enough to feel supported and satisfying. The ending, whilst undoubtedly answering a question which had been hanging in my mind for the previous 85% of the book felt too convenient and suddenly resolved; but then I know that might be a ‘me’ thing!
I have great respect for Andrew as a writer and I want to convey the joy I found in seeing such complex themes explored in such a nuanced and elegant way. I think Skin has a lot of elements that make a truly fantastic novel and there is no doubt that the author’s writing style is stunning - but it just didn’t hit the top spot for me. Whilst I wish I could absolutely rave about it, I still enjoyed, and would definitely still recommend.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Alcoholism and Transphobia
Minor: Domestic abuse and Rape