Synopsis:
A lyrical teenage love story inspired by the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Set in the urban landscape and coastal headlands of the North East of England, David Almond brings his legendary storytelling to this heart-breaking tale, giving it the intoxicating urgency and absolute beauty he is so admired for.
"I'm the one who's left behind. I'm the one to tell the tale. I knew them both... knew how they lived and how they died."
Claire is Ella Grey's best friend. She's there when the whirlwind arrives on the scene: catapulted into a North East landscape of gutted shipyards; of high arched bridges and ancient collapsed mines. She witnesses a love so dramatic it is as if her best friend has been captured and taken from her. But the loss of her friend to the arms of Orpheus is nothing compared to the loss she feels when Ella is taken from the world. This is her story - as she bears witness to a love so complete; so sure, that not even death can prove final.
Review:
I got this ebook from Netgalley in return of an honest review.
I went into this book not knowing what to expect, at all. I had never heard of the author or one of his books, so I really went into it blind. For that reason, I was so pleasantly surprised with what I encountered. As soon as I started reading it, I couldn't put it down...
While I was reading it, I didn't know where I was, who I was and what people around me were saying. I felt only what the characters felt, particularly what Claire felt, and I was where they were, did what they did.
Most of the characters were so likable and it was very easy to connect with Claire and Ella and feel empathy for them. Ella and Orpheus, especially were so interesting to read about, such fascinating characters. You can't help but love them and wish you understood what they were expressing. Then, on the other side, was Claire. Her affection for Ella is almost palpable and it brought tears to my eyes how she talked about her best friend and when we could see her relationship with her evolve.
I still have so much to say about this book, and yet I feel like I can't say enough. I think the best way I can find to describe the experience of reading this book is what I think being in a dream must feel like. Nothing was real, yet everything felt as if I'd been there myself. It was youth in a book, I think. I felt young, I felt alive and, at the same time, I felt dead, paralysed at the beautiful, incredible writing still. I was wraped by the arms of David Almond's magnificent, profound words and the hidden depths of the story.
In fact, throughout the book I found a lot of quotes that I thought explained this book to perfection, but this was, I believe, the one that stuck with me the most, and completely summarizes this review: «He sang for us and played for us and made us feel... But there's no words for what he made us feel.»
I really can't get over how much I loved 'A Song for Ella Grey' and I don't think I ever will, and I really don't mind. It was exactly the book I needed and it has become one of my favourites. I honestly changed my life and my view on so many things. I will definitely be getting a physical copy of this book, so I can have it and hold it and love it and read it over and over and over.
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