The Radleys by Matt Haig

First Published: 2010 by Canongate (Edinburgh)
Date Started: 18th February 2013
Date Finished: 18th February 2013
Genre: Fiction
Read for: Uni
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At first, the Radleys seem like a normal family doing stereo-typically normal things and acting as if their is nothing wrong with them. They appear to be just an average family, or so that's what the kids think. When their teenage daughter, Clara, gets attacked on the way home from a party, life suddenly takes a dramatic turn.  They learn why they have to do certain things like put on Factor 50 before going outside and why they can't get much sleep.
When their uncle Will comes into the picture, everything truly changes and secrets are revealed that the parents tried so desperately to hide. What happens when he arrives gives a whole new meaning to life itself.

I really like what Matt Haig has done with the concept of vampires; he makes them appear more believable in how they behave and how they try to blend in with society, yet he still gives them supernatural traits what vampires were originally known for (so no sparkly vampires in this novel).

There is also the idea of the 'good vampire vs bad vampire' in the book, the good ones being the Radleys who don't attack humans to drink their blood and act like civilized human beings, and the bad ones being Will and a few other small characters mentioned, who do drink blood and also go on exciting adventures, travelling all over the world. This helped me more to connect with the characters and to understand why they do the things that they do.  It certainly made the novel more exciting knowing the actions and characterizations behind each individual character.

 In terms of the style of the chapters, they are split into days, the first being Friday. Within each day are several little chapters which makes the book very easy to come back to. Another good thing about this is that it makes it easier to switch between the characters and their situations.

A little bonus about the book is that it was featured on the TV Book Club 2011 and viewers voted it as their favourite summer read, so you know that it's going to be good.


----> Matt came to my uni as part of my Creative Writing module and talked about his work and what it's like to be a writer, as well as giving us advice and answering any questions we had for him. He came in for my lecture and my seminar which was great fun.

He was happy to give signings at the end of the lecture, and as you can see by the picture. I, of course got mine signed, being the huge book worm that I am.

Thanks Matt!