Post by Minuit on Jun 26, 2010 22:11:56 GMT 10
Book Review- 'Obernewtyn' by Isobelle Carmody
by Lilacmage
by Lilacmage
Obernewtyn is about an orphaned girl named Elspeth who has been named misfit and mutant because of her odd telepathic powers. Captured, she is sent to the remote mountain institution called Obernewtyn where misfits are supposedly 'treated' for their mental powers. She shortly realizes that the misfit children are not being healed by some miraculous machine as the keepers have told, but are merely used as slaves.
Elspeth soon discovers there is something more sinister going on behind locked doors. Within this strange institution there are odd disappearances which the keepers know more about than they are telling; the mystery of the reclusive Master of Obernewtyn whom nobody has ever seen and the odd Doctor who claims to be healing misfits, yet is feared by everyone. Above all, Elspeth knows she must never let anyone guess that her misfit powers are far greater than any of the others', for those whose powers are stronger seem to have the unfortunate trait to go missing for long periods of time before returning either mad or simple.
Obernewtyn was a beautiful book to read, and Isobelle's use of descriptive language really added to the novel. It's setting in a post-holocaustic world was really interesting to read about, and Isobelle's interpretation about what life would be like in such a world was fascinating. The book was a little slow at the start and a bit difficult to understand, but by the end it was almost impossible to put down. Obernewtyn was the first book in a series, but could easily be read as a stand-alone novel. I would give it an 8.5 out of 10.
Maybe once we'd have seen it during Smackdown!