goodreads | So Much To Tell You - John Marsden (Reply)

Title: So Much to Tell You
Author: John Marsden
Genre: YA
Rating: 4/5
# pages: Audiobook ~4hrs
Date read: January, 2015

Scarred, literally, by her past, Marina has withdrawn into silence. Then, at her new boarding school, she is set the task of writing a diary by her English teacher, and finds a way of expressing her thoughts and feelings and of exploring the traumatic events that have caused her distress.

I didn't recognize the blurb about the book, but hadn't gotten very far into it before I discovered that I'd actually read this one ages go, and had just forgotten pretty much everything about it! Never mind, it was still as satisfying a read as I had expected, even though I have the same issue with it now, as when I first read it 20'ish years ago -- it's much too short! But if I recall correctly, that's my problem with many of John Marsden's books - I want to know what happens next, after the final line.

The book itself is pretty traditional YA, but I'd gotten hold of an audio version of it (from audible.co.uk) narrated by Kate Hosking, who has the most amazing Australian accent, and made the book a delight to listen to. Very fitting to have an Australian narrator for an Australian book, but it was an extra touch I hadn't expected, and which just added to the charm for me. In fact, I ended up finishing the book in just one day, breaking up the listening to just two sittings.

I had no idea it was the first in a series though, and will have to see if I can get hold of the others.