The Black Book Of Secrets (2007) - Plot & Excerpts
This isn't horror, but has a sort of a Victorian Gothic feel. For a middle grade novel, it has kind of a dark, almost pessimistic tone. That is not to say that good has no chance of winning out in this book, but it has some unfortunately true insights on human nature that are far from uplifting. But what I did like about it was that the ability to choose for yourself the decisions you make, even though people like the main villain thrive on manipulating peoples' weaknesses. In the end, we can make the decision not to do wrong, even if it's harder on us in the end. At the same time, we see the effects of growing up in harsh circumstances, with parents who are cruel and amoral. How can you get an idea of right and wrong under those circumstances? Some might argue that you don't, but as Ludlow shows, most of us, except for true sociopaths, are born with a conscience, or what CS Lewis call natural law. Even if it was easier to do the wrong thing, Ludlow was troubled by his actions, as many are in the small township of Pagus Parvus, which makes Joe Zabbidou's work as the Secret Pawnbroker so much more important.Atmosphere is crucial, and the author sets it very well in this novel. Although I initially wondered where the sinister and horrific elements would be revisited after the very chilling beginning, when I realized it wasn't that kind of book, I settled in and enjoyed it for what it was. A story about human nature and the good and the bad inherent in our humanity. Even with a lousy human being like Jeremiah Ratchet, it's clear that he still has the same basic needs, although his soul seems corrupted by avarice and selfishness. But does that mean someone should take away his ability to make the choice to do right? Ludlow watches this dilemma take place as the townspeople in Pagus Parvus look to Joe as the divine avenger when that is not his role at all. Instead he urges them to be patient and let justice do its work in the end. Anyone will agree that is not a comfortable process, as justice sometimes seems very slow to come in many circumstances.This is an interesting book. A quick read that keeps you thinking. I wonder how a younger reader would see it, and if the lessons inherent in this book will have the same exact impact on that reader as it has on a reader of my age, who has seen a lot more of humanity in its varied humanness. In the end, The Black Book of Secrets is a thoughtful read for younger readers, that will make an older reader have something to ponder as well.Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.
Reseña ya disponible en el blog.Cuando recibí este libro, no esperé que me llegara a gustar tanto como lo hizo. Había leído muy buenas reseñas, pero otra cosa muy diferente es sentirlo en carne propia. Hay un detalle importante en los capítulos, y en el libro en sí. La autora nos escribe, en una nota antes del primer capítulo, que ella encontró dentro de una pata de palo y en hojas enrolladas, el Libro Negro de los Secretos y las memorias de Ludlow Fitch (nuestro personaje). Hay capítulos que tienen de título "Fragmento de las memorias de Ludlow Fitch" o "Extracto de el libro negro de los secretos", y son los textos legibles que la autora pudo transcribir de las hojas que encontró. Luego ella crea capítulos nombrados y escritos desde su propia pluma (la cual me encantó, simple pero a la vez minuciosa, excelente).Y ahora, después dicho esto, empecemos con el contenido del libro (jaja). Como dice la sinopsis, El libro negro de los secretos nos empieza a contar sobre Ludlow Fitch, un niño o joven adolescente (nunca se nos dice su edad) bastante peculiar. Él tiene unos padres alcohólicos que lo obligan, desde que tiene memoria, a robar y a traicionar a las personas que se encuentre. Como cereza del pastel, ellos lo tratan muy mal, le pegan y casi no le dan de comer.Así fue toda su vida hasta que un día, sus padres se sobrepasan: deciden llevarlo a un dentista para que le quite sus dientes a cambio de unos chelines (la historia está ambientada en el s. XIX o XIIX). En medio de toda la treta, él decide huir, y tras una persecución, monta una carretilla que lo lleva a un pueblecito llamado Pagus Parvus... leer más.
What do You think about The Black Book Of Secrets (2007)?
This was an intriguing little book that I quite enjoyed. Written for the younger end of the spectrum of young adult or even for those of us that are young at heart, most anyone will enjoy this one. There is much that even though set in the past is relevent to today. We see, as is true in life, that we all have done things that we aren't proud of. Everyone has things in their past that they don't want others to know about. And this doesn't make them bad people, only human. Even those people that are prominent citizens or little old ladies that own book shops are not perfect. This was a fun book full of all kinds of characters and their very own secrets that we learn along the way. Am hoping there is more to come from the Secret Pawnbrokers.
—Flora Bateman
I'm wavering between two and three stars on this one. I'd probably consider a solid it three stars if it weren't a book club choice for my Teachers as Readers group. Since it is--and since my last read for this group was the wonderfulThe Housekeeper and the Professor--my main reaction is "really? How are we supposed to talk about this book for an hour?"Premise: Ludlow is on the run from his horrible parents in the filthy and dangerous City, and he ends up in a small village under the thumb of a cruel and greedy landlord. He ends up working for a mysterious man who is a pawnbroker of secrets.It's fine. It's cute. But it's awfully predictable, and doesn't seem to do anything terribly interesting in terms of ideas or themes. The book has multiple narrators--Ludlow himself, a third person narrator, and all of the people who tell their terrible secrets in their own voices. Perhaps this is why I never felt like I got to know Ludlow, or really any of the characters. I'm pretty easy as a reader--I'll forgive bland characterization for a crackling plot, or a predictable or slow storyline if I can fall in love with the characters. This book--well, it wasn't bad. That's the best I can say for it.
—Liz B
It's not everyday that you find something as different as this book, the cover was a lure for me. I was expecting something a little more lighthearted than what I found, but in the end I fell in love with the darker style of writing and the darkness that seemed to be leaking from ever corner of this story. Of course what can we expect when we are reading a book about a character who not only holds a dark and terrible secret but works for a man who buys other peoples dark and often chilling secrets and records them in a book? Not the most plesant of jobs I'd assume, but evidentally well worth the effort, for who really doesn't have some form of secret they wished they could get off their chest?At the time it was clearly one of the better books I had read that year, the sad thing really was that I was the first to borrow it from the shelves of my local library and it had been there for a year according to the information in the back of the book when clearly it is one of those books that deserves to be out on loan almost permanently. The one's that are well worth the month-long wait. It's clear that at the end of the book the author has it set for a sequel, but having read The Bone Magician it is clear that is not what you'll be expecting when you read it. This book is certainly one of those dark, eye-openers and to me proves to be a breath of fresh air for all Young Adult novels. The writing style is quirky and informative, at times disturbing in an almost horror-style novel way but never really gets into the more grusome and intense details, which proved to be something I ended up enjoying more than disliking. This is truly a book that most people need to read, it will have you carefully considering what secrets you choose to keep and who you tell them to if you ever do!5 Stars.
—Ash
