Some of the products we feature are from partners. We adhere to strict standards of editorial integrity. Some of the products we feature are from our partners. No monthly fees, no overdraft fees. Large free ATM network. Multiple automatic savings options. Get your paycheck early with direct deposit. Where Chime falls short: Cash deposit is difficult and may cost you. How does Chime compare? Bonus features No Monthly Fee. Easy ways to save. No overdraft line of credit. To be precise, by page 3 or 4 I was head over heels in love with it and almost believed the story had been composed for my benefit alone.
Because I somehow understood her state of mind. I longed to savor each page, to let the sentences melt into my consciousness. If you crave action, film-worthy monster-fights and scenes that flash by in quick succession, better look for a different book. And I did not mind a bit that the hero did not possess superhuman qualities and the heroine did not perform magic and summonings and other acts, which are usually mandatory for the paranomal teen romance protagonist, day in and day out.
If you need to melt into a kneeless puddle at least once in each chapter, go search for another book. But but I did not mind a bit. I enjoyed the gothic vibes. If you prefer your main characters unmaimed, I can help you choose another book. In this case it does. Briony is porcelain-skinned with velvet-black eyes and blond hair. I'll end this perusal with a quote: Not the feeling, the idea.
Would a regular girl be happy simply eating a hot meal with a great deal of chew to it? Maybe happiness is a simple thing. Maybe it's as simple as the salty taste of pork, and the vast deal of chewing in it, and how, when the chew is gone, you can still scrape at the bone with your bottom teeth and suck at the marrow. If not, take you time My copy is full of little plastic Post-it-strips that need to be typed and my head is full of thoughts to be formed, my heart is full of cravings for more works by the author and my jealous soul longs to be able to command written language to bow to my every whim like she is.
After my first re-read I feel so mushy and so abundantly happy inside and I can only barely refrain from quoting half the book. Briony and Rose have become even dearer to me. Knowing where the story went meant I was at leisure to savor all the tiny bits and wondrous pieces. It is probably safe to say that I've found an all-time-favorite. Or is that pretentious after only two years of infatuation? People - and readers - change, even when books do not change with them.
View all 16 comments. Feb 19, Tatiana rated it it was ok Recommends it for: This book received a starred review from basically every professional reviewing publication - School Library Journal , Booklist , Kirkus - and here I am, unable to even finish it. While I acknowledge Chime 's originality and high quality of writing, I believe this is a novel that will appeal to only a very specific type of reader who is looking for some eccentric fantasy.
The whole cast of characters, the world, the interactions are all what you call "quirky," but many I would call bizarre. The ma This book received a starred review from basically every professional reviewing publication - School Library Journal , Booklist , Kirkus - and here I am, unable to even finish it. She is funny and interesting, but at the same time infinitely odd. To put it simply, Chime was not a book for me. The narrator's voice was so hard to relate to, I had to abandon the story after about 70 pages. I strongly recommend everyone to read a couple of chapters before buying this novel to see if it's a story to your taste.
View all 18 comments. Describing my favorite writing style is a bit like playing Goldilocks: Either way the writing ends up falsifying the characters and story for me. Somewhere in the middle is the writing that speaks right to me. It feels beautiful and descriptive without feeling forced. I guess what I am leading up to here is that this book is written in a way that will just never be my favorite.
I cannot blame this book for that. Here is just a random passage that I found in the goodreads quotes section to illustrate: It pinches you small as a grain of rice. It twists in your gut like a worm. Silence clawed at my throat. It left a taste of burnt matches. The main character and the love interest do not have a single iota of chemistry. The only thing missing is the tree house. Both Briony and Eldric feel like they are about twelve years old, but are supposed to be seventeen and twenty-two respectively.
They feel like playmates or siblings, but never lovers. The plot is completely transparent. Even the title is a major spoiler. But Briony is so completely obtuse. Every scrap of empirical evidence as related to the reader by Briony herself points to one conclusion. And even when the big reveal occurs, it really makes absolutely no sense, in my opinion. And I understand why Briony would need to alter her memories to forget about her step-mother after the library fire, to avoid suspicion. But why would she need to forget after the murder? It seems like that would be something that she would really want to remember.
And why wouldn't the midwife tell anyone that she's located the next Chime child? So, this book was clearly not for me. Please refer to the long list of reviews if you are considering this book because it seems like quite a few people liked it! I would have deleted it long ago to avoid skipping over it in frustration every time it came up.
Recently we chatted about this band, which I used to sort of like, but unfortunately decided to pair with the first trimester of my second pregnancy. This resulted in a sort of Pavlovian induced nausea every time I hear this album. Which is exactly how I felt at the ending of this book. I had to fast-forward through the entire end scene. View all 30 comments. Mar 02, Minli rated it it was amazing Shelves: I loved Chime so much I do not have words.
I stayed up late to finish it, and I re-read parts of it the next morning. Chime feels like a retelling without being based on a fairytale: All of those books I love passionately, and I can happily add Chime to that list. Seventeen-year-old Briony Larkin has a secret and feels like she ought to be hanged. Life in her small town of Swampsea is dominated by forbidden visits to the swamp, known to be mystical and dangerous; that is, until Mr.
Clayborne arrives to drain it in the name of progress. At some point I will elaborate on the idea of book soulmates. Chime is mine—it feels like it was written just for me. My taste skews more towards fairy and folk tales, and I live for stories set on the cusp of the industrial age. The main character, usually female, must have agency. And writing, oh writing. It must be good writing, obviously—sometimes an unexpectedly funny turn of phrase, vivid imagery, an effortless smoothness that every writer knows only comes after countless revisions.
Ultimately, Chime is a novel about the facets of a person, about self-loathing, about love, about art. About monsters, too, and the shape they come in—and about mothers and manipulation and morality. It has beautiful moments, moments where you stop breathing, moments where you sit back and gaze at the pretty words, moments where a sigh is practically written into the page. View all 5 comments. Nov 24, Nafiza rated it it was amazing Shelves: I long deliberated about whether to review this or not.
Sometimes you read something that resonates with you to such a degree, with such intensity that it feels as though you could never do it justice by reviewing it. That it just may be impossible to articulate the reasons why you loved this book and why other people should definitely try it out.
But since I like doing impossible things, I am going to try. Just be warned though: No matter how lavishly I praise this book, it deserves a lot more. It is a novel's prose that attracts me. The plot and the characterization, while important in their own rights, become secondary when I decide how much I like a novel. To date, there have been only two other novels that I have loved simply for the gorgeousness of their prose.
Chime finds itself a niche on my shelf of awesome. Chime creates an unearthly world, a land dominated by marshes and superstitious people. The effect is surreal as though the reader has submerged herself in a world that is determined to surprise her by its strangeness and enthrall her with its beauty. The protagonist, Briony, is by far one of the strangest, and all the more compelling for it, narrator I have had the fortune to come across.
She is an unreliable narrator and her narration is less of a storytelling and more as though the readers were the blank pages of her journal on which she is scribbling her experiences, thoughts and emotions. She is intricately detailed and her individuality is delineated even despite the fact that she has a twin sister.
Yes, as though I were a music box and the tune were my life, playing more and more slowly with every passing day. Finally, not even I could recognize it. The notes were stretched too far apart. They were no longer notes, they were plinks. I wound down to a plink. From the little boy that Briony considers a friend to the unfortunate man murdered in the marsh, they are all superbly characterized.
The plot comes to life slowly. The story does not flow from point A to B, oh no, it blooms like flowers in a field. First you may notice a patch of daisies on one side and then later on dandelions in the center. And then at the end, suddenly, you have a field full of flowers and it is much like an epiphany you weren't certain you were going to have. It's a beautiful thing. This book contains one of the most delicious kissing scenes ever. I adore the love interest. I can't say much more than that. Read it for the kiss scene alone. And finally, let me talk about the prose. Billingsley plays unabashedly with language here.
She creates words, she repeats them and it is a testament to her boldness that her experimenting pays off. I believe I am loveable. How can something as fragile as a word build a whole world? In the cup of his hand lay his fidget of paper clips. But the fidget had blossomed into a crown. An allover-filigree crown, with a twisty spire marking the front. I stared at it for some moments. It was almost weightless, a true crown for the steam age. In a proper story, antagonistic sparks would fly between Eldric and me, sparks that would sweeten the inevitable kiss on page But life doesn't work that way.
Chime Sharp | The Latest Chime Music Puzzle Game
I didn't hate Eldric, which, for me, is about as good as things get. So, if I haven't convinced you let, let those words do the job. Give it a chance. Even if you don't go in for eccentric protagonists, read this book. I guarantee you won't regret it. View all 8 comments. Jun 26, Erica daydreamer rated it it was amazing Shelves: Keep your secrets, wolfgirl.
Howl at the moon, at the blood-red moon. Let your mouth be a cavern of stars. Briony can tell no one her story, she promised her Stepmother, and the penalties of being a witch is death. But Eldric, this boy-man with his lion smile and lion leap and fidgety hands, confuses her mind. But she can never forget what she is. Chime was strangely intriguing. The writing was kindof unusual. I really liked Briony, her voice, her view and interpretation of things.
She was a nice, fresh heroine, not dependent on others, fends for herself, and takes care of her twin sister, Rose. I liked the relationship between these sisters. Rose lives in a world of her own, after an incident that happened when she was young that affected her mind. She prefers not to. But her secrets are unveiled at the end, and Briony realizes how much her life really has been a lie. I thought it was rather brilliant the way Billingsley connected everything in the end, and everything started to make sense.
I really loved reading this book. It was strange, but in a compelling way that pulled me into the mushy sloughs of the Swampsea, running alongside wolfgirl and lionboy as they grew, and found themselves, and found love, something Briony never thought possible. Mar 03, Nikki rated it it was amazing Shelves: Where do I begin to talk about Chime?
It's a magical story and it's not: The plot revolves around a stepmother, and illness, around a girl who is made to believe that she's a bitch. Chime makes me want to play with words, makes me think a little like Briony which was, by chance, almost my own name. I can quite see why some people don't like it. It requires thought, pa Where do I begin to talk about Chime?
It requires thought, patience, and a willingness to tread out new brain-paths. Briony isn't an easy narrator, and she isn't reliable either, as she constantly tells us. The narrative isn't a straightforward quest, it's a maze, it's full of funhouse mirrors. I found the culmination of it all satisfying, and I happily followed the maze through to the end. I loved the friendship that turned into love and also remained friendship, so much more solid-feeling than the kind of romances that fiction is enamoured of where there's a spark and then a flame without any time in between.
I loved the characters, and I would prefer to read them again. But if you read fifty pages and you're not intrigued, if you read fifty pages and you would like to kick Briony, if you'd like to stop reading, then stop. It probably isn't going to magically turn out to be the book for you. View all 4 comments. Sep 19, Lexy rated it it was amazing. I loved how fast the book went after I picked this book up again and I'm glad I did because I like love stories. Jan 14, Isalys rated it it was amazing Shelves: This may be one of the most challenging reviews I've ever had the joy of writing simply because this book is so wonderfully unique and cleverly written that it's nearly impossible to put into words why it's so unique and clever.
It's one of those "you have to just trust me and read it for yourself" books to truly understand the complexity of this story. Chime is the story of a wicked girl named Briony who does wicked things, who loves no one and feels no emotion. She is a witch you see, an Old On This may be one of the most challenging reviews I've ever had the joy of writing simply because this book is so wonderfully unique and cleverly written that it's nearly impossible to put into words why it's so unique and clever. She is a witch you see, an Old One which is a secret that she's kept all her life.
No one must know for if they find out, she will be hanged. Briony has also taken responsibility to care for her twin sister, Rose, who has the qualities of an autistic learner. I can, in all honesty, say that these are two of the most brilliantly written characters that I've ever read. Briony is nothing if not unabashedly honest.
She has such a strong and unintentionally witty voice. Her internal conversations, in which she refers to herself in the third person were fascinating. She was always reminding herself that she was not "allowed" to feel normal things because she was not a normal girl. Rose, her twin, was also a favorite character of mine. It was so interesting to see an author write about a character with a learning disability and still make her lively, playful, innocent, and interesting.
Like her sister, she was too honest and she took everything literally which made for some very funny conversations between the sisters. The third most interesting character in the mix was Elric, Briony's eventual love interest. She referred to him as the boy-man which was perfect for him.
He was adult and worldly enough to be part-man, but mischievous enough to be part-boy. The setting of the book was like a character in itself. The swampsea was a place of mystery and magic where witches go to do "witchy" things. In the swamp, you will meet the Old Ones and creatures capable of manipulating the elements. One would have to be VERY careful when traversing the swamp because if not, it will gobble you up. This is not a light read. You cannot just flit through this book. You need to sit down and spend time with it.
Let your mind sift through and absorb all the deliciously creepy details.
expertise on demand
I don't know if I'm doing this book justice with this review, but the best way for me to describe this book is by saying it's like one of those 1,piece puzzles. It's chock full of interesting bits that don't make much sense at first, but once you finish, you have a beautifully crafted masterpiece that was worth the time it took to put it all together. This was my first Franny Billingsley novel but it won't be my last now that I know what a genius she is! My name is Isalys and I am a new Franny Fangirl! View all 11 comments. Jan 31, Keertana rated it it was amazing Shelves: Briony Larkin has grown up hating herself.
Before her stepmother passed away, she told Briony a secret: Briony is a witch. Briony is responsible for hurting her sister Rose. Briony must not tell her father. Briony must not tell anyone. If Briony tells, she will be hanged. Thus, Briony believes in her own inherent evil - she despises herself. Yet, when Eldric, a boy who is as different from her as sun and moon, arrives from London, Briony starts to question eve Briony Larkin has grown up hating herself. Yet, when Eldric, a boy who is as different from her as sun and moon, arrives from London, Briony starts to question everything she's ever been told.
Slowly, secrets begin to surface - secrets about Briony. Secrets about her life. Secrets she doesn't know. Chime is dark, haunting, and utterly original. Billingsley's writing style can be strange at first, but it soon grew on me. I found myself devouring the pages, unable to stop reading until late into the night. Briony, despite her own self-loathe, is an intelligent and self-reliant new heroine, able to fend for herself. Furthermore, she does everything she can to take care of her twin sister, Rose.
Rose lives in her own world, acting like a child after an accident that affected her mind when she was young. She tells Briony that she has no birthday although they are twins, doesn't allow her to listen to the clock chime twelve, and has a plethora of secrets of her own. Although Briony often doesn't want to take care of her sister, she does anyway, showing an admirable sense of loyalty. Briony has so many notable characteristics that one cannot help but love and sympathize with her even though she despises herself. She is intriguing and, as the narrator, provides a refreshing new perspective.
Briony and Eldric's blossoming romance was captivating and - dare I say it - something that had not been done before. Eldric calls himself a resident "bad boy,"; yet, he is unlike any other "bad" boy we have come to know in YA literature. Eldric is a gentleman who is kind, honest, friendly, and funny. He becomes Briony's friend first and Briony, believing that she in incapable of love, does not see him as anything more than that for much of the novel.
It is evident to the reader that Eldric likes Briony very much; however, as the novel is told from Briony's perspective, we cannot help but doubt him and question Briony's own feelings towards him as she does not know them herself. Eldric is so easy to fall in love with and, despite his evident weaknesses and flaws, has become one of my favorite male characters in YA literature. To be honest, I was originally very skeptical about reading Chime. The cover is gorgeous and I wanted to like it so badly, but most reviewers had simply been unable to read it because of the writing style.
I didn't want to be one of those readers. Thankfully, I was sucked in my the writing and thoroughly enjoyed it. Everything about this book is unique - its characters, its plot, its romance. Although it seems like just another paranormal romance, it is so much more. It is thought compelling, strange, and beautifully written. Certain scenes are written with such poise that they stand out, immediately making this novel one with writing that may not necessarily be poetic or beautiful, but certainly striking.
Billingsley's talent for writing is evident throughout the story as she never makes Briony come across as whiny or annoying for hating herself - she truly develops and adds depth to her personality. Some authors are simply good, Franny Billingsley however, has true talent. Chime may not be a novel that everyone may necessarily like, but it is haunting and deserves to be read.
- Working together, simplified.
- WINTERS TWILIGHT;
- Golf Swing FxV: Improve Golf Swing Power!
- Moxibustion for breech presentation.
If you are looking for something that will completely blow your mind away, leaving you pondering the novel long after you are finished with it, read Chime. You won't regret it. You can read this review and more on my blog, Ivy Book Bindings Dec 06, Steph Su rated it it was amazing Shelves: CHIME has received countless starred reviews and a nearly equal array of praise and protestation from bloggers. Suffice it to say that I went into this book with equal parts anticipation and trepidation. But oh, I loved it. Oh, how I did.
Banking like it should be
It might be a good thing you are not in my vic CHIME has received countless starred reviews and a nearly equal array of praise and protestation from bloggers. It might be a good thing you are not in my vicinity right now. The first or so pages were craAaAaAaAazy! She is a great example of a successful unreliable narrator, because everything she narrates is colored by her own charged perception of things.
Briony is so vehement in her self-hatred that she very nearly makes us hate her as well. Eldric, the boy-man with an irrepressible love of kind-hearted playing. Rose, brain-damaged but still beautifully artistic, and all the more precious for her unique and childlike take on the world. CHIME celebrates childhood and play, and suggests that the best kind of love comes from these nearly magical moments of youthfulness.
Search form
But I could go on and on for pages and pages, and nothing would compare to reading this book yourself, to see if it is, too, your brand of magic. Now excuse me, while I go and reread it. View all 9 comments. Chime by Franny Billingsley is one of those books I discovered on Goodreads and immediately knew I'd love based on the synopsis and the gorgeous cover. Briony has a guilty secret - she is a witch.
- I Love Oklahoma/I Hate Texas (I Love/I Hate).
- Bartlett (Images of America).
- A New Chai Experience?
- Its Only a Test: Maybe the devil didnt do it?
- One Gone Cat.
A witch who has destroyed her family: She only feels at home in the swamp, but before her stepmother died she warned Briony that the swamp only made her powers worse. T Chime by Franny Billingsley is one of those books I discovered on Goodreads and immediately knew I'd love based on the synopsis and the gorgeous cover. Then handsome Eldric moves into town and makes Briony question everything.
Well, I was so right: I did love this book! I fell in love with it from the first sentence and remained enchanted through the whole story. Briony is one of a kind - her narration was at times angry, sad, eerie, hopeful, scary There are numerous versions and remixes of "Chime". Orbital themselves have done several. The latest version by Orbital, called "Christmas Chime", was released on December 16, From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Communicating Hazard Information in the Modern Environment (CHIME)
Guinness World Records Limited. Paul Hartnoll Phil Hartnoll. Live at Glastonbury — Retrieved from " https: All articles with dead external links Articles with dead external links from August Articles with permanently dead external links Articles with hAudio microformats. Views Read Edit View history.