For a person who loves to read as much as I do, I own few books. I'm mostly interested in the reading, not the having. So if I have a copy of a book, it is usually a favorite.
I discovered my copy of this old favorite while unpacking, and gave it another read. I'm so glad I did!
The story opens with our narrator, Matt rolling into a quaint northern England village for a holiday with an old family friend, Dockhurst. Dock is an eccentric painter who is like an uncle to 15-year-old Matt and has invited him down from London for some drawing lessons.
Matt is met at the bus stop by a fire-haired beauty named Chloe who leads him out to Dock's studio/barn on the edge of town. Matt is instantly attracted to Chloe, who isn't all that she seems. In learning what it means to be "otherwise," Matt helps Chloe find what she has been looking for, and learns that sometimes love means letting go.
Honestly, I can't tell you much more without giving away important plot points.
I would absolutely recommend this book for an older middle-school/high school aged girl. I've always been an Anglophile, even as a kid, and Claire weaves in enough details of village life to make me want to go the Elverly on vacation. Although originally published in 1976, the story is in no way dated as it doesn't mention technology or anything that would sound clunky to modern teen ears.
Claire also does an especially good job with the awkwardness of being a teen--when you feel all elbows and knees, words don't come out like you think they should, and you are filled with longings you don't understand. While "otherwise" has a very concrete meaning in the story, there is a deeper level here--growing up is becoming otherwise, with the childhood you left behind only a shadowy memory.
I absolutely adored this book as a teenager, and again as an adult. This is the sort of book that stays with you and I have often thought about it through the years. My copy is beyond tattered and torn, so I'm going to order a new copy from Amazon. You can get one for a penny (plus shipping and handling, so about $3.50 total) well worth it in my mind.
Just in case my glowing praise didn't convince you, Google "the otherwise girl" (don't omit the quotes) and see how many people mention this as a fave book.
I also learned from doing this that a British company is trying to make a film version, as well as this terrific picture on Flickr.
7 comments:
Oh, I love the artwork and cover. And since most of my great fiction reading lately has been YA reading, I'll have to check this one out. By any chance, have you read the new book "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist"? I loved it and want other people to read it and tell me if I'm way off, or if it's really quite spectacular. I think you might like it?
I read this book and o my God its the best thing i have read on paper, i am saving the book my generational daughters to read.
I read this when I was 12 years old and I really liked it and I actually named my niece after Chloe...Now the book is gone I don't know where my mom kept it (or maybe she threw it away) I'd love to read it all over again :)
i read this in high school in 1994. i couldn't remember the name so i spent some serious time on amazon looking from 1960 upwards with the keyword girl. before that i was looking in images for seventy's blue paperbacks. d-e-s-p-e-r-a-t-e. but i'm glad i'm a persistant person. this book was the reason i wanted to name my daughter chloe. makes me warm inside that there are others it stayed with.
I read this book in grade school in the 70's. It has never left my mind. I can't think of another character in any other book besides Chloe whom I have felt as though I've met and known.
Help me track down Keith Claire and share your feelings on this beautiful book
www.theotherwisegirl.webs.com
I loved this book too, as a teenager. I grew up on the North coast of England and this book was atmospherically perfect. I remember it as beautifully written. Amazon finally has a second hand copy, so I'm ordering it for a reread.
Good luck with tracking down Keith Claire. I read once he was a pseudonym for a two person team of writers but am not sure if that was true.
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