Comments on: REVIEW: Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

By: REVIEW: Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta | Dear Author: Romance Novel Reviews, Industry News, and Commentary

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:01:47 +0000

[...] Jellicoe Road, which I reviewed here, was one of my absolute favorite books read last year. When I heard you were about to publish [...]

By: Janine

Janine — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:52:37 +0000

@MaryK: I think I saw or heard that the original edition published in Australia was called On the Jellicoe Road. I also saw a post by the book's American editor somewhere, so I knew it had been edited for publication in the U.S. I have the impression, though, I may be wrong, that that's pretty standard, but I did not know that the Australian edition was longer. I have only read the American edition (which I loved) so I can't say which one is better.

By: MaryK

MaryK — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 04:36:07 +0000

One of the Amazon reviews says that Jellicoe Road is a “shortened version” of the original Australian edition. I can’t find any other mention of a revision though. Do you know anything about it?

By: Janine

Janine — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 03:53:02 +0000

@Cal & Kelly, I can't wait for Finnikin of the Rock also. @Collette: It sounds like you had a similar reading experience to mine! I'm so glad you enjoyed (though that word seems too mild for this book) Jellicoe Road also. It's easily one of the best books I've read this year.

By: Collette

Collette — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 02:50:35 +0000

Okay, I just started and finished Jellicoe Road this morning. I started it while my son took a nap and couldn’t stop reading even after he woke up. So, there I am, crying while he’s eating lunch.

This was an amazing, engrossing, heart-wrenching yet hopeful book that sucked me in from the very beginning. At the end, I had to stop reading a couple times because I was crying so hard. I can’t really believe that her writing was so affecting that I had to do that–let alone do it more than once. (My poor son–he’s 2 and he didn’t know quite what to think but we both lived through it.)

I had been putting off reading it for a couple of weeks because I was afraid it would be emotionally exhausting. It was, but in a really good way. And I wouldn’t have missed it for anything. It’s a library book but I think I’m going to have to purchase it, if only to loan it out.

ETA: I just checked Amazon and it’s bargain priced right now at less than $8.

By: Kelly

Kelly — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 16:59:45 +0000

Finnikin of the Rock doesn’t come out in the US until Feb 2010. Boo! I can’t WAIT though! :-)

By: Cal

Cal — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 12:02:25 +0000

There’s something about the friendships and the atmosphere that Melina Marchetta creates in her books which make them really great. She’s one of the few authors whose books always I hate finishing because it means the awesome ride is over. I definitely recommend her other books such as Finnikin of the Rock and Saving Francesca.

By: Book Recommendations & Impulse Buying | Monkey Bear Reviews

Book Recommendations & Impulse Buying | Monkey Bear Reviews — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 11:23:47 +0000

[...] Road (2006) by Melina Marchetta was reviewed by Janine at Dear Author. I went through a phase of reading Young Adult fiction last year but I’ve only read one so [...]

By: Janine

Janine — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:20:23 +0000

Bonnie, I’m so glad you loved the book. Thanks so much for letting me know!

By: Bonnie L.

Bonnie L. — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:25:17 +0000

As soon as I read your review I went out and put this book on hold at my library. Last night, at 1:30 a.m. I finished it, crying through the last 100 or so pages. It is now 8 a.m. and I am impatiently waiting for a reasonable hour so that I can call my mother or sister and gush about this book to them. Wow, just, wow. Ms. Marchetta is a consummate word smith.

By: Quick Review – Jellicoe Road – Melina Marchetta « Pennermag.com

Quick Review – Jellicoe Road – Melina Marchetta « Pennermag.com — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:18:53 +0000

[...] that I think about it, I got this from the library after a review at Dear Author and the buzz after numerous rewards. I wish I could say more, but it just doesn’t inspire [...]

By: handyhunter

handyhunter — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 19:10:39 +0000

Oh, I have such great love for this book. I love how everything ties together without seeming too pat or convenient, and how, ultimately, the story is about love and forgiveness. Because it starts out with what seems like kids taking a school rivalry too seriously and Taylor not wanting to connect with anyone, but unable not to because she can’t help herself, and then the reveal of what started the Territory Wars… so, so, so awesome.

Also happy to see Finnikin of the Rock will be published in the US next year!

By: Melina Marchetta

Melina Marchetta — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:45:29 +0000

I don’t know what I found more uplifting. The lovely review of my novel or the fact that Megan Whalen Turner’s novel comes out next year with Finnikin of Rock, a novel easily inspired by the Attolia books. Thank you.
Melina Marchetta

By: Janine

Janine — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:46:30 +0000

Erin, I’m so glad you loved it too. Thanks so much for letting me know, and thank you for the kind words! I don’t give straight A’s very often, but I felt that this book really deserved one. It’s not often that a book hits me so powerfully.

By: Erin

Erin — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:07:18 +0000

Just jumping back in here to say that I did indeed purchase the last copy of this book on Friday afternoon. I finished the book on Saturday morning at about 2 AM. Wow. I’m so unbelievably impressed by your review now that I’ve read the book myself. Words failed me. Thank you so much for putting it on my radar. It’s easily the best book I’ve read this year.

By: Janine

Janine — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 22:37:48 +0000

I hope you enjoy it, LauraJane, and as with everyone else, I would be interested in hearing what you think of it. @Delta White: I somehow missed your post before (I wonder if the spam filer ate it?) but a very warm thank you for the compliment and for subscribing to our feed!

By: LauraJane

LauraJane — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:12:53 +0000

Janine, Thanks for your review. I’ve had this on my to-buy list for way too long but never made the leap to actually buy it. I read your review Friday night and purchased it Saturday morning. I’m looking forward to reading it. Laura

By: Keishon

Keishon — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:27:39 +0000

Hey Trisha, you know you are a great book pimp! I bought this book because of your review as well. Also, Janine, I did try this book earlier and had put it down. I remember mentioning this to Trisha that the book had a confusing start. So thanks for the reminder. Hopefully I will read it soon. Thanks!

By: Janine

Janine — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 22:51:54 +0000

@Ana: That is good news about Finnikin of the Rock and Marchetta's other books. @Trisha: Thanks so much for writing that review. And I can't wait for next year either. It seems like there are a lot of great books lined up to be published in 2010.

By: Trisha

Trisha — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:44:06 +0000

Awesome, more people are going to read Jellicoe Road! I just love this book so much and agree with Kelly that if you enjoyed Jellicoe, you should give Broken Soup a try. (*cough* I reviewed the latter last week if anyone wants to know why I think the two are similar *cough*). Can I just say I cannot wait until next year, when Megan Whalen Turner's A Conspiracy of Kings AND the US edition of Finnikin of the Rock will be published? And thanks, Janine and Angie, for mentioning my review of Jellicoe.