That rare, rare thing, a first novel with a sustained, magical and utterly faultless voice. After five pages, I knew she could persuade me to believe anything.”
— Mark Haddon
Daring, wise, and sensitive.”
— People magazine
Powerful and engaging …a likely future classic.”
— The Observer (UK)
A crunchily perfect knock-out of a debut novel.”
— The Guardian (UK)
Awards
- Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize 2004
- Branford Boase Award 2005
- Michael L. Printz Award 2005
- Der Luchs des Jahres Book Prize 2005
- Julia Ward Howe Prize (Boston Authors Club) 2005
This book is so beauitful and amazing and great. It’s absolutely one of the best books I have ever read. I love it. As soon as I started reading it I couldn’t put it down. Plz write a sequel to it.
Oooh. Not sure a sequel would work. Are you sure you want one?
Re: the comment about sequels – That’s the scary thing about sequels! We’re never sure if we want them. You write such good books without them needing sequels. I love books now that don’t have sequels. It seems like some authors these days just can’t tell a whole story in one go. Whether that’s because the story’s too big, or if they just can’t put it all together in one go, I don’t know.
All I’d want out of a sequel would be to know that Edmund was alright – well, as “alright” as he could have been after their ordeal!
I think he was going to be alright. Does that count?
LOL – of course, you made them! And thanks
Dear Meg,
In my very colourful 28 years I have eaten my way through a small library — but never before have I been so completely mesmerised, transported, or moved to tears as I was with ‘How I Live Now’. I became utterly undone. Thank you.
I’m quite undone by your praise. Thank you.
wow, this book brought me to tears, i love my friend for getting me this book. each year she buys be two books and this year i was lucky enough to get one of your books, How I Live Now. it is such an amazing story, i love it. as a budding writer myself i look up to you as someone who has done what i want to achive, thank you for writting your books rock!! i am currently reading Just In Case and it is also an amazing book, then again, your amazing yourself!!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxo once again thank you for the books you write!!
Thanks, Tara. Lovely to hear…..
Dear Meg, I have never enjoyed reading until I started reading your books. How I Live Now was given to me from a friend and when I started reading it i couldn’t stop! It was absolutely fantastic! Since then I have read Just In Case as well as What I Was and loved them both just as much! Your new and different ideas make you a wonderful writer. I cannot wait to read Vamoose and The Bride’s Farewell. Thank you for capturing my attention and keeping me reading! Keep them coming!
xo
That’s so great to hear, Courtney. You’ve really made my day. xmeg
I liked very much this book. “How I Live Now” became one of my favorite books. It has a very good story, and a good style. I felt like I was a part of the story.
My question is, about what war tells the book?
Ah, that’s the question….the book takes place in the near future. Does that help? xmeg
I dont read books alot, expecialy all thoughs vampire ones and stuff, I find them a little to happy I like were everything changes in a matter of secondes, but this is the first book that I read that was, well its never had a dull moment their was always somehting interesting happening just what I needed to keep me reading this book. It was simply amzing book. Great job on it.
How I live Now is a wonderful novel! I enjoyed reading it very much. I found this book because we had to read a English book in school, and I just took the first book I found. I was lucky that i got How I Live Now, it wasn’t hard to finish the book at all. It was rather difficult to lay it down:)
I am very impressed by your writing. How did you get inspiration to write this book?
I loved this book. I stumbled upon it one day in a book store and i’m so glad i did. I read it in 2 days it was so enthralling. I also adore your others books, especially ‘What I Was’.
I absolutely loved this book when I read it and as soon as I picked it up, it completely possessed my life! Likewise with ‘What I was’, though not in quite the same way. I was wondering when your next book will be out in stores anytime soon and whether you could let me know any details about it? Also, I was wondering why you’ve written each book from different points of view and each are very different in their own ways – are you ever going to go back to writing a book similar to ‘How I Live Now’?
Hi Meg it’s Erin from Mrs Needs class. Everyone thought it was amazing when you came in on Tuesday, I thought the day flew by a lot quicker than expected. I hope you had a good time, I know that we all did. Thank you for giving me your support in my ambition to audition for a part in the film of ‘How I Live Now’. I love the story and was especially moved by how Daisy finds herself throughout the book, particularly towards the end. I am keen to now read more of your books, perhaps starting with Vamoose.
Yours Erin
Hi Erin
Thanks for being in touch — you guys were amazing, and I loved meeting you as much as you liked meeting me. You’re a really wonderful class, and also very lucky to have such a good teacher. Keep in touch, and I promise I’ll blog about the film auditions when they’re ready.
xxxMeg
i read this book for an Engish book report (i’m from Belgium) and i’m glad that I’ve chosen your book and I am going to reads more books of you.
xXx Nele
Hey Meg!
I’m writing from Hong Kong and we would still really really love to have you come over here!
I’ve always wanted to ask you about Edmund’s mind reading ability, does he sense the emotions that others around him feel, can he actually hear thoughts or is he just highly intuitive and sensitive to his surroundings that caused him to connect so well with Daisy as well as being so ravaged by the war?
thank you!
Hi Pratishtha — I guess the answer is yes, yes, and yes. I always say I’m interested in the edges of experience, where slightly strange things start to happen. There’s a huge spectrum of communication between people, and when you throw in intense friendship or love, the experience sometimes gets a little bit psychic — wouldn’t you say? As for coming to Hong Kong, I’d LOVE to. Am waiting for someone to invite me! xMeg
Hi Meg. How are you? Are you busy writing another fabulous book? I would like to read another of your novels, which is your favorite? Is there any update on the auditions for How I Live Now?:)From Erin.x
No update — I think the director is still making a few changes on the script. I’m guessing casting won’t start till September….
xxmeg
Hi Meg,
I love this book so much; it’s a masterpiece in every way. Very moving, and I’m so glad I read it. I was wondering, though, why did you make Daisy semi anorexic? Was it from your personal experience, or simply an issue you wanted to comment on/explore, or just the way her character developed? I’d never seen it dealt with in the way that you did before.
Thanks
Brittany
Hi Brittany
I’ve been interested in women and how they view themselves and their bodies for most of my life — anorexia is usually seen as a desire to take control of your life, with perhaps a large element of self-hatred thrown in as well. I’ve dealt with a lot of those issues in my own life, as have most of the women I know. I guess in How I Live Now i wanted to look at what happens when you don’t have the luxury/curse of thinking about yourself so much — when life itself becomes a struggle to survive. Perhaps I just wanted to put the issue into some sort of different perspective?
In any case, it’s one that far too many women spend far too much time thinking about. This is obviously a much longer discussion than we have space for here, which I guess is why I wrote the book!
Thanks for writing, x Meg
Thanks for you reply Meg. Too many of my friends have serious eating disorders. It truly does put it all into perspective – so thank you it was beautifully done.
Wow, what a thought-provoking and absorbing read! As a teacher, this book paves the way for many interesting conversations and imaginings I can have with students. I appreciate the blog, too. What influenced your decision to make the relationship between cousins romantic?
Hi Laura
Although it’s the ultimate writer’s cover, the truth is that a.) I didn’t really set out to have Edmond and Daisy fall in love when I started writing, it just happened when I introduced them, and b.) it never really occurred to me that the whole cousin issue would turn out to be controversial. I thought I’d get lots of stick about the underage sex (i barely got any), but I think if I’d known how much people would panic about cousins falling in love, I’d probably have made them second cousins, which in a way would have been too bad, as I am really interested in love that’s slightly outside “the norm.” I had crushes on all my boy cousins as a child, and also among lots of cultures, marrying your cousin is not only acceptable, it’s necessary (particularly when a culture doesn’t marry out, and stays in one place for a very long time, see also, Ashkenazy Jews, among others). There are also quite interesting examples of brothers and sisters (and even fathers and daughters) who’ve been brought up separately falling in love when they meet as adults — it makes sense when you think about it. In any case, I like looking at the edges of emotion and morality, and getting my readers to think about it too. Hope this helps….
xMeg
Meg,
Thanks for your reply to my post–yes, it is helpful. There are so many shades of gray & the context you create in the book allows for them. I look forward to exploring your other books. This was my first. What fun to find a new author!
Laura
I love this book, have recommended it to many people (I work in a bookstore), but always have to follow my recommendation and the ensuing stare with “but it’s not gross! Just read it, trust me!” People certainly do seem to panic about the cousins thing! Their loss, I guess, because you’ve told the story beautifully.
Dear meg, ‘How I Live Now’ is amazing. i haven’t completed it yet, however I bought it literally 2 days ago and I’m already half way through, I just can’t put it down! Im a huge book lover and i have read many many books. However I have never read such a book so infusing, gripping and possessive. It is truly wonderful, maybe a sequel? You are a true talented woman who knows how to infuse magic into your books, and suck people in. Thank you x
I love this book, have recommended it to many people (I work in a bookstore), but always have to follow my recommendation and the ensuing stare with “but it’s not gross! Just read it, trust me!” People certainly do seem to panic about the cousins thing! Their loss, I guess, because you’ve told the story beautifully.
I loved this book…
I got this a few years ago and never really started to read it, I kept meaning to but never got round to it… I read it a couple of weeks ago and really enjoyed it.. I was hooked and it was the first book I’d completed in 2 years…. I think a sequel would be great! please do one!
I don’t really think a sequel would work…What is there left to tell? It’s always hard to let go of characters that you love – it’s exciting to read more of their life – but sometimes ‘more’ can ruin the end scene that we leave them in.
Just finished reading ‘How I Live Now’, couldn’t put it down, what a beautiful book, what a powerful narrator. I felt young again, and moved, and lost in Daisy’s existence. Thank you for such a gift.
I got this book for completing a summer reading program back in 2006 and I’m going to need a new copy soon. I read this book at least twice a year, if not more. It is definitely my favorite book of all time. No matter how many different books I read, I always come back to it. I don’t even really know what it is about it that keeps bringing me back, but I can’t give it up. Thank you for writing this story.
THE best book I have ever read ! This is the first book of yours I have ever read, and this made me want to read all of your books. I couldn’t put this book down, and managed to read the whole book in a few days. I love the storyline, the characters, and everything about this book. Thankyou so much for writing such an amazing book x
Thank you, Sarah! xmeg
Hi Meg, how are you? Have you been busy writing any new books lately? I have just finished reading The Last Song recently which has pushed me into reading more often. I’ll look for one of yours next. I’ve been busy at school and i’m doing a theatre preformance with my acting class next saturday. I am really excited! How’s the film coming on, i bet everyone in Mrs Need’s class will want to see it straight away.
x
Hi Erin. I’m in California now, but I got a text from the film producer this morning at 5am and will meet with the director when I’m home, so will keep everyone posted about what happens next. Good luck with your performance! xmeg