Tuesday 13 January 2004

The Wind Singer by William Nicholson

We listened to this BBC Cover to Cover audio book over the holidays and it was brilliant. We're not alone thinking this as it won a golden Smarties award in 2000. William Nicholson is also known for writing the screenplay of Gladiators but this is his first attempt at a children's story.

It's essentially a fantasy adventure of three children on a quest. If successful, they will completely change the nature of the dreadful society in which their family despondently lives. Deeper than that, it's primarily an attack on conformism among children and the dangers of following a group (see interview by Jo-Anna Wildman). There is also a theme reinforcing the merit of a strong family.

Deeper still, it can be viewed as a satire of the absurdities created by a meritocracy and an examination of the idea of social inclusion. It's a book you can read at multiple levels.

Entertaining. Well paced. Superbly read by Samuel West. The audio book is six CD's long (7 hrs 45 minutes) and has no boring bits. Highly recommended. Or read the book yourself of course!

This is the first book in a trilogy and the other two books are available as well. Nevertheless, the climax brings the story to a satisfying close so you don't have to read all three.

20 comments:

  1. Can anyone elaborate on the theme of this book???

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  2. Sure. Here's one description:


    Ever since the voice was taken from the wooden tower called the Wind Singer, all of Aramanth has been unhappy. The people are forced to take examinations that determine how wealthy and successful they will be. When Kestrel and her twin brother, Bowman, refuse to cooperate, their father is thrown in prison. But before he is sent away, he gives them an ancient map, a map that shows the location of the Wind Singer's voice. The children, accompanied by the disgusting outcast, Mumpo, must journey through the Undercity where the mud people live, past the strange and dangerous old children, and down the path known as "The Great Way." The road to their destination is fraught with peril--two strange groups of people at war with one another, ravenous wolves, huge crows, a crumbling bridge over a deep ravine...and into the fire!


    More here:

    http://www.kidsreads.com/reviews/0786805692.asp

    http://www.readingmatters.co.uk/books/wind-singer.htm


    There's even a forum for it:

    http://www.williamnicholson.co.uk/sf2k_v34_03/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=3

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  3. The Wind on Fire trilogy is so amazing to read that I cant even express my feelings for it to a tiny extent. It should be compulsory to read it... I recomend it as a read for any reader who does not mind sad endings because 'Firesong' has quite an abysmal ending to it. But it has superior vocablurary in it and is the best book ever. PLEASE JOIN MY WEB-SITE www.downwithgeorgebush.co.uk

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  4. I really don't get this book because i think it is a bit weard and i cant ever do my homework on it because i can never find anything!!!!!

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  5. The wind singer was the first book that I had ever read by William Nicholson. He is such a great author. His stories feel real not made up!

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  6. i dont really understand this book and it is really confusing. i find it really hard 2 read cause i dont fine it that exciting and it is hard when i am doing my home work on it!

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  7. i think the wind singer is boring!

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  8. hi jessica i know what your saying i have home work on it now and i dont know how to do it at all.!x

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  9. So let's hear what some of these homework assignments are.

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  10. i think the wind singer is fukin wiked and should be made into a dvd

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  11. The Wind Singer is really a good book and it is extremely touching. If you read the Wind on Fire Trilogy, you'd find that it is actually a very interesting book. The shallow fellas who can't understand it! Don't simply talk rubbish if you just don't know how to read well!

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  12. The Wind Singer should not be turned into just a dvd, it should be made into a movie! I'm sure it'll be really cool!

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  13. the wind singer is the most shitest book i ever read POW!!!!

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  14. the book was soooooooooooooooo great that i read the slaves of the mastery, and if there is a book 3 i would rush to get it. a trillion stars for the book!whoa!

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  15. Then you better get a copy of "Firesong" - It's the 3rd book!

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  16. It's hard to not like this book. It is my ultimate favorite with the whole trilogy. It's AMAZING, has characters with full personalities, unique plot and characters and a satisfying ending. If you can't find your homework on it ti's probably because you are too lazy to think and you're expecting the answers to be obvious. If a movie was made I'd go see it on the first day!

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  17. REBECCA AKHAZEMEA23 November 2005 at 06:16

    I THINK THE WIND SINGER IS AN OK BOOK ITS VERY INTERESTING AND ITS GOT ALOT OF FEELINGS ABOUT THE CHARACTERS THATS WHY I LIKE IT

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  18. Im looking at the theme of social exclusion in the wind singer. Im looking at setting and character in detail, but i have been stuggling to link the title to the theme? Im not sure how they are linked. The voice seems to lift the chains on the society? Im really unsure. Any comments?


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  19. Hello.


    I must be brief could you tell me where you got that book please??


    I feel terrible for being so impolite


    The above address is my Wind on Fire message board that we have used to replace the one from WiLLIAM nICHOLSONS official website. feel free to join.


    Please email me a reply at bowmanhath9@yahoo.co.uk


    Thank you very much

    Bowman Hath

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