Carnegie winner Meg Rosoff’s What I Was will surely find a place on the shortlists for major prizes”
— Publishing News
Meg Rosoff is one of a handful of gifted writers to have seized adolescence as a territory worthy of respect. (Her books) are mordantly funny and searingly well written, they read like Samuel Beckett on Ecstasy.”
— The Times
Readers of Rosoff’s previous books, How I Live Now and Just In Case will know what a disturbing writer she is, and how disconcertingly she shifts the perspectives of time, place, reality and human relationships from those we are used to. What I Was maintains her remarkable gift for turning human life into an unfamiliar event. It’s a highly original study of intense self-love, in all its solitude. Yet as before with Rosoff, this story of bleak and unstable existence ends on a surprising note of thanksgiving.”
— Books for Keeps
Every bit as compelling and all-encompassing as the multi-award-winning ‘How I Live Now’ and ‘Just In Case’ (for which she picked up this year’s Carnegie Medal), What I Was is another coming-of-age novel which sucks the reader whole into its universe.”
— Five star review, Time Out
The narrator of Carnegie Medal winner Rosoff’s latest and perhaps most perfect novel is a 16-year-old boy who has been expelled from two boarding schools and finds himself dumped in a third, near the Suffolk coast. The school is all arbitrary rules, pretentious tradition and routine bullying. But on the beach nearby the boy finds a fisherman’s hut occupied by beautiful, competent Finn, who is everything he wishes he could be himself: athletic, self-sufficient, able, free. The relationship that follows becomes an escape and an obsession, pure and transporting, and a turning point in a life remembered by the narrator at the age of 100. It makes us fall in love not only with Finn but also with the Suffolk coast, the land, the sky and the sea passionately described in airy and crystalline prose. It’s already a classic.”
— Sunday Times
One of the best and saddest books I have ever read.
Impossible to put down yet impossible to rush through.
I became Hilary, I became Flinn. I stayed up until 5 in the morning!
Like no other.
Thank you both….lovely to hear both comments…. xmeg
Thank you Meg!
I now have ‘Just In Case’ and I can’t wait
Hi thanks for replying, I wonder if you are ever coming to Australia, I would love to meet you in person ps just finished The Bride’s Farewell and loved it dearly especially Bean Justine B xx
HI Justine. I think I’m coming to Australia on tour in May. I’ll write about it on the blog when I know for sure. Where do you live?
Hi Meg I live in Melbourne, Victoria hope to see you there in May Justine Benstead xx
Hello!
I’ve read this book for school, as I studie modern languages and had to read three books for English.
But now I have to write a report in which I have to say what kind of novel this book is..
I think that it’s a psychological novel, but I’m not sure. And as you are the writer of this novel, I wanted to ask you if this is correct..
I really enjoyed this book, by the way.
Kathy
Hi Kathy
Authors are always the least likely people to know what sort of book they’ve written. I suppose it is a psychological novel — I’d call it a coming-of-age novel, but it’s a slightly eccentric version of that genre, as the ‘love affair’ is remembered from Hilary’s old age. I generally say I write literary fiction, and let other people figure out the details.
I hope that helps. If you figure it out, do let me know!
xMeg
I love how internal and honest this story is. I love the familiar self-talk and I am tickled at how aware Hilary is of his adolescent emotions. I love that he is so old telling this story and he knows the impact these events have had on him. It is a beautiful story.
Thank you, Katie….
By far one of the best books I have read, although I came across it almost entirely by chance. I’m so glad that I did. I found the narrative voice so believable that at times I forgot I was reading fiction. The language is gorgeous, the setting is poignant, and the characters, so memorable. I fell in love. This book renewed my interest in literary fiction and my desire to write for young adults. Thank you so much, Meg, for sharing such a wonderful story.
So glad you liked it, Hannah — a bit depressing the “almost entirely by chance” bit, but it’s quite hard to sell books in the US. It’s my quietest book, too, which doesn’t help… There’s a film of How I Live Now going into production early next year with a fantastic director, so I’m hoping it all might change somewhat? You never know. Good to hear from you, in any case (spread the word!)
So glad to hear about the film, I’ll be looking forward to it. I’m recommending What I Was to everyone I know. Let me know if you’re ever touring the Southeast states…I’d turn up to a lecture or a book signing in a heartbeat.
hello! I’m from Vienna and I have to read this book for a project (which is this friday) in school. And I really love this book, it’s so fantastic! Now I just wanted to ask you if you could tell me how long it took you to write this book. I just wanted to know more about you and the book…sorry if i’m too curious
greats from Vienna, laetitia
PS: please don’t pay attention on all my spelling mistakes and so on
Hi Laetitia
Thanks for your nice words. The book took about a year to write…for some more information on the book, have a look at these two reviews….you might find them helpful for your project. xMeg
http://www.monstersandcritics.com/books/reviews/article_1392304.php/Featured_Book_Review_What_I_Was_by_Meg_Rosoff
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/feb/03/books/bk-rifkind3
Thank you very much!!
Thank you very much, for your help!
hello,
My name is Daphne and I live in France. I just finished this book today and was left astonished but at the same time confused. Nevertheless i really enjoyed this book and I must say you have a very captivating way of writing! Thank you for a thrilling read!
Hi Meg
I have just (sadly) finished reading What I Was, and it really is one of the most incredible, heartfelt and stunningly beautiful books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I can truly say, hand on heart, that it is the best book I have ever read (yep, Peter Pan in Scarlet has officially been trumped). Thank you for reminding me of just why I spend most days banging my head against my computer keyboard, trying to chase that elusive unicorn of a dream of being able to say “I’m a writer”.
I’m on the Arvon course next week, and I’m really looking forward to meeting you and hearing more about your upcoming work (read: boring you to tears with my excitable, incoherent babbling about just how much I enjoyed What I Was).
All the best
Helen
Thank you, Helen. What a lovely response. Looking forward to meeting you, too. xmeg
p.s. Wonderful name, Roadnight. Might be tempted to steal it for a character someday, though no one would believe it’s real….!
Dear Meg,
You are an absolutely amazing auhther and i have read and adored all of your books, What I Was is my favourite. I thought it was the most beautiful and heartfelt novel i have ever read and i have never cried so much just because of the simple fact that the book had ended, I’ve read it several times and i look forward to reading it many times in the future, thank you so much.
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My dad got it for me for christmas and I’m pretty sure it’s a gay love story… I haven’t read it yet but from the first few pages and the blurb it seems so. Am I correct?
Never judge a book by its blurb.
You came to my school today and read an extract from your book ‘The Bride’s Farewell’ Me and my friends were really inspired and we were planning on buying some of your books. It’s such a shame your daughter doesn’t read them, they sound really good. I was planning on buying this one ‘What I was’ from my birthday money. Which is on 13th February, by the way. I just had to see what it was like, that’s why I came on here. Which book did you say there was film rights for? It’s such a shame about the Kristin Stewart. But I don’t like her much anyway, she mumbles, not speaks. I have to have the volume up really loud if I want to watch Twilight. So you’re much better off with the person from Alice and Wonderland playing Daisy (I think that was her name). Anyway, I can’t wait until I get my birthday money and thank you for coming to my school, I probably would have never found out about these books.
Thank you Erin. I think I’ll show her your comment! And it’s true about Kristin Stewart, she does mumble. But maybe the director of the Twilight movies told her to mumble??
What I Was is quite a difficult book, I think, so I hope you like it. You can always try How I LIve Now (which is going to be turned into the movie) first if you’re not sure!
I really really liked your school — it seemed like a great place (this is where my daughter would say, ‘Ha! You don’t have to go here every day for a hundred years!’)
Thanks for writing. xxxMeg
wow i just started reading and i love it….i can relate so much…..because i always look for an escape from school and routine…..thanks for this book, its really nice….i want to be a writer when i grow up….any pointers? haha.
thanks
oh yea….and are hilary and finn lover? or is it just an innocent friendship…sorry if thats a stupid question…can u email me?
Keep reading. You might even figure it out yourself!
awww haha fine then….i love your style of writing, it’s dramatic yet it have sarcasm in it ^-^ im a fan now
oops i meant has instead of have
Great book, cant put down xx
I am doing a report onn you for school and i have a Question. What influenced you to becoming a writer.
hi!
I just went out and bought your book, what I was today and I cant wait to read it! Someone at the shop recommended some of your other books to me, and soon a felt tempted to by the whole shelf of your books!
Cant wait to read it and i really want to be a writer when I am older!
x
After I read this book, words couldn’t explain the emotions I felt for these characters, I had to pass this book around to all my friends, as soon as I read the last word of the book. Meg Rosoff, you are a truly compelling and passionate writer, you widened my perspective, my views enhanced, I now look at the world in the perspective of H-. Compelling novel, and I can’t wait to read everything else you’re put your eager thoughts into. COME TO TEXAS! I would love to meet you!
-Micah xx
How lovely to hear from you, Micah and I’m so glad you liked the book. I actually did go to Texas last year for a San Antonio charity book event and had a great time. I’ll try to look for an excuse to come back! xxMeg
This book is so different, it’s like nothing I’ve ever read…But in a good way! I just don’t like how it’s written in the past for some reason the end just makes me sad especially the part where it said “once upon a time I was young”. This book is really original, Meg, I love your books.
It is kind of a sad book, Sabine. But not tragic-sad as much as thoughtful-sad maybe? I’m really glad you like my books, Sabine. Thanks for writing. xxMeg
can u tell me the summary of this story because i went to the library and i coudnt find it. everyone talks about this book and i wanna know what is this book about like from the beginnig to the end
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/What_I_Was
I’m not quite sure how to describe what this book means to me. I picked it up a few years ago, having been urged to by a friend. I’ll admit, at first I was somewhat apprehensive. It’s not the sort of thing I usually read, and I probably wouldn’t have looked twice at it if it wasn’t for my friend.
However, when I started reading it I couldn’t put it down. I read the whole thing in an afternoon and, though I don’t want to go into detail here, it definitely made an impact on me.
In short, this book marks a sort of turning point in my life for me and I thank you for writing it.
…It’s probably somewhat unnerving to get such a serious comment. Oh well.
Hello! I have to say that What I Was is my favorite out of all your books I’ve read so far (How I Live Now and Just in Case). I read it in high school and now I’m a college graduate and I’m reading it again! Your writing style is simply lovely. H and Finn’s relationship has such a bittersweet and nostalgic feel to it that it really tugs at my heartstrings. I cannot get over how much I love this book. Thank you for sharing this beautiful gem of literary art with the world. I want to read Bride’s Farewell next, but this one will always be my first love.
Thank you for that Nancy. I always think that secretly it’s my favourite too. xxx
I am reading this book at the moment, I have already read how i live now and found that one really good. Once finished What I was I will definatly be buying another of your books.
I hope you carry on producing these fabulous novels.
Thank you Daisy. x