"The book did not remember when it began to think, or when it began to feel. But it was watching. Always watching. Waiting for another reader."
People say that books come alive for them. What if this was true? What if there was such a book out there: alive, with thoughts, feelings and opinions, wishing for more than just sitting on shelves waiting to be read? What if that Book - in an attempt to understand the human condition - decided to intervene in its readers' lives and take away the sadness, anger and hurt that the humans it encountered felt? It soon learns, however, that humanity is not so easily changed for the better, and that interfering only brings despair and heartache for both the Book and its Readers.
'The Reader' is a narrative bursting with ideas and invention. The central notion of the 'the Book' is original and, in its clever way, rather heart-breaking. We journey through history with the Book as it changes hands, beginning in Viking times and leaping through the centuries to arrive at the present day. As it passes from one person to another through the ages, it seeks to help its reader achieve their desires; at times successfully, but at others with disastrous results. The Book's frustration and despair grows as it can't seem to change people for the better.
"I don't want this anymore. I can't help my readers or change them. People have had centuries to learn, to adjust, to improve. They improve everything around them, but they stay the same; greedy, cruel, weak, selfish. Why on earth did I think I alone would be able to show them what they are and make them better? It's ridiculous. Impossible."
What will become of the Book? Can it redeem its past mistakes and those of the people it has `helped'? What will happen when it decides to intercede in the life of teenage emo Ivy?
This is Book 1 in the The Reader Series. See all The Reader books here.
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K.S Aitken is the pen name for Keswick School Writers & Illustrators Club. K.S. stands for Keswick School and Aitken is in memory of Rosemary Aitken who was Head Girl of the school in 1932 and later served as a foundation governor for eleven years. When she died in 1990, Rosemary left money to the school's library, which is also named after her.
The Reader
