I didn't really know what to expect from the story as she hasn't spoken a great deal about it really. Much like her previous novel, On the Other Side, I knew that it would include some magic, and I also knew from reading that book that I love Carrie's ideas, characters and imagination, but am not as big a fan of her writing style which rang true in this book, particularly to begin with.
It starts off with really quite simple, storytelling language, almost like a children's tale. I found some of the phrasing a little cringey, in the sense that it wasn't particularly 'sophisticated' but I also like dhow easily I could read it. I thought that some of the language used was quite particularly phrased to the UK, which may be more difficult for foreign readers, but otherwise it was encouraging to know taht well-written stories can be written in a more informal style, almost in the tone that Carriw herself would speak in.
I loved the concept.
Brief Summary: Cherry has a strange gift, the gift of being able to see people's bad feelings as tangible beings beside them, as monstrous 'Meddlums'. Other than her childhood friend Peter, who she hasn't heard from since she was seven, she doesn't know of anyone else like her. When at 18 years old she experiences family tragedy, Cherry decides to use her gift positively by touring the country, combating these Meddlums with baking that includes her own good feelings. But she is soon to discover that her gift is not quite as rare as she had thought, and that knowing of others may be more harmful to her than good, even if it allows her to finally feel a little less alone. Enter Chase, the bad boy with the bad rep and a spark with Cherry. The idea of feelings as monsters, and the thought that Carrie has put into describing exactly what can both cause and combat these emotions is incredible... what they look like, how they manifest, etc. And alos how major a role they can play in directing our lives. My immediate thought was that she had drawn inspiration from a book she has frequently said she loves and which I recently read: 'All My Friends Are Superheroes' because this book also gave onomatopoeic qualities and abilities to otherwise invisible, notions or feelings. Later on, it also struck me that this idea could also have been combined with the Disney Pixar film 'Inside Out' idea, which again made cartoon characters which represented common emotions such as 'Anger' 'Sadness' and 'Joy' which each had a life and mind of its own and could effect humans (I haven't yet seen this film but have heard lots about it and really want to!). It may, of course, be that neither of these were part of Carrie's thought process, or at least consciously, but those were certainly the links my mind made!
One other comment to make is the rather random genre-mix that both of Carrie's novels have had. Like I said earlier, they begin quite child-like, but are in fact more teen/adult fiction because of the depth of the themes and some wee cheeky romantic scenes haha! In addition, All That She Can See seemed really different in the second half than the first, less fairytale and romance and more of a sci-fi meets thriller!
Overall, I really liked it though. It was unpredictable, quite easy to read and the characters were well-created, mysterious, unique and (mostly!) lovable (or hateable I suppose!). I reckon Carrie has, whether intentionally or not, set up so many we stories in this that a sequel could definitely happen, and I would gladly read it. I'd like to know what happens next for Cherry and Chase, as the ending (which for me was a little rushed feeling) was left quite open, and there are also other characters that I was drawn too and would love for them to have their own stories told in more depth in the future.
I'm also (hopefully!) going to a book signing with Carrie in October. Trying not to get my hopes up in case uni means I can't make it, but that would be amazing!
Catriona x
Reading Challenge: 10/21
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