Amazon.com: Martyn Pig (9781903434512): KEVIN BROOKS: Books

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

80 Reviews

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(33)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

Average Customer Review

3.9 out of 5 stars (80 customer reviews)

Share your thoughts with other customers:

Create your own review

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Martyn Pig -a Masterpiece, January 4, 2004

By

Melissa Wojciechowski (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Martyn Pig (Hardcover)

Martyn Pig to the Rescue! I was looking for a book to read my students during their weekly library time. I didn't want to bore them with a story about things that could never happen. I saw Martyn Pig, picked it up, and couldn't put it down. I read it to my students and they loved it. They kept asking me to keep reading even after the school bell had rung. It kept my interest and definitely my students'.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse | Permalink

Comment Comment

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Noir, July 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Martyn Pig (Hardcover)

Martyn Pig is a noir in the classic sense. Brooks follows in the footsteps of the mystery writers whom he admires extremely well; he knows the genre. The twists and turns in this novel make for a gripping, quick read. Despite its sort of morbid subject matter, it turns out to be surprisingly funny. The reader can relate to the main character on all sorts of levels; this is a kid who's likeable and sort of vulnerable, and though you may think that he's a total idiot at times, you're hoping he gets what he wants in the end. Sort of. This is a book that illustrates that once you make that initial (fateful) decision, the cards fall and you just have to deal with them as they come. The way you handle the fallout shows you who you really are inside.

I don't want to go into plot -- it'll just ruin all the suspense!

I have a few criticisms: I was confused about where this story took place, at least initially. The main character had a definite British voice and throughout the story uniquely British terms were thrown around: "loverly turkey" and "bloody" and "trolley" and "bloke" and "pub" and on and on. At the same time, the author used "bucks" and dollars, referred to CVS and listened to NPR. It makes this reader wonder if the editors were trying to make the book more readable to the average American teen. If so, why not Americanize everything? Or just leave it completely British? Plenty of books originally published in the U.K. have had great success here, and not only Harry Potter. David Almond's Printz Award winner and the series by Louise Rennison (a sort of Bridget Jones Diary for teens -- also a Printz Honor) to name a few. Please don't insult the intellligence of U.S. teens!

Another criticism I had was an error in fact: Brooks has the father's dead body "loosen up" (the affects of rigamortis reversing) after laying around rotting for a few days.

And lastly, my edition had several glaring copyedit errors, including part sentences just not being there!

But, criticism aside, it remains a great read, one that teens will love.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse | Permalink

Comment Comment

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Suspense, Black Comedy and Teen Elements, May 16, 2004

By

C. Apple "horsegirl122" (Longmont, Colorado United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Martyn Pig (Paperback)

I read Martyn Pig from beginning to end in a brethless rush. It was a suspense novel with the perfect mix of black comedy and teen elements thrown in. The story chronicles a teenage boy, Martyn, dealing with his father's sudden death. Martyn's dad was a runthless abusive drunk, so the death dosen't really upset him at first. After weaving a web of lies to cover up what really happened, Martyn and his friend Alex find themselves caught up in a mystery much like the dective stories Martyn loves so much. It's an intricately woven book that you won't forget long after you put it down. Brooks writes with much honesty and intregity, making it feel like you're in right in the story. From the beginning to the end the book is facinating and memorable.

Help other customers find the most helpful reviews

Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Report abuse | Permalink

Comment Comment (1)

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review

› See all 80 customer reviews...

Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars A Maybe Read
I thought that this book was interesting. I read this for a book report and it was an ok book. I thought that it had a weird plot that was easy to follow. Read more

Published on December 2, 2009 by Hokie 8

1.0 out of 5 stars A PARENTS REVIEW - ZERO STARS
My son got this book for free at a school function. I wish he had picked another! This book is disgusting. Read more

Published on November 24, 2009 by R. Sedgwick

4.0 out of 5 stars The Martyn Pig Story
My book is about a young teenager that lost his mom when he was a young boy. And his dad is an alcoholic and does not like his son. Read more

Published on November 3, 2006

4.0 out of 5 stars The Unaverage Life of a Fourteen Year Old
In my own opinion, Martyn Pig is a gripping teen novel that is well written. I think this is a great book for teens that enjoy a mysterious, secretive, life-changing character... Read more

Published on March 28, 2006 by Honey Dew

3.0 out of 5 stars very slow start good ending
This story is about a boy named Martyn Pig who lives with his father and does not know or remember his mother. Read more

Published on July 25, 2005 by Metalgnome

4.0 out of 5 stars The pig in Martyn.
I enjoyed this book, oddly enough. It was so out of the ordinary that I feel in love with. Who knows why? Read more

Published on July 14, 2005 by Jesser2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Martyn Pig
Your Mom is dead, your Dad is an alcoholic, now he is dead in your house, and your a teen left to raise yourself. What do you do? Read more

Published on December 10, 2004

4.0 out of 5 stars Rivoting tale
This story is about a boy who grew up with a drunk as a father. One evening Martyn got so fed up with his father's alcohol problem that they started to argue. Read more

Published on April 2, 2004 by 3 eighth graders

4.0 out of 5 stars good book
i like the book martyn pig it is really intesting.that is why i gave it 4 stars it is cool how know one knows this one secret and now everyone does. it was amazing bye

Published on February 21, 2004 by katie

5.0 out of 5 stars Tone Ann's Review
My opinion on this book is that I didnt like one thing about this story at the end he still didnt turn Alex in. Read more

Published on January 29, 2004 by Tone Ann

› See all 80 customer reviews...

Inside This Book (learn more)
Browse and search another edition of this book.

First Sentence:
It's hard to know where to start with this. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Aunty Jean, Martyn Pig, Sherlock Holmes, William Pig, Christmas Day, Dean West, Inspector Morse, Christmas Eve, Elvis Presley, Sergeant Finlay, Stage One, Stage Three, Alexandra Freeman, Beer Tent, Raymond Chandler

New!
Concordance | Text Stats

Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!