The Boy with the Cuckoo-Clock Heart (Vintage Contemporaries)
INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER • A wildly original, fantastical adventure of love and heartbreak—and an animated movie, Jack and the Cuckoo-Clock Heart—that takes us from Edinburgh to Paris to Andalusia to tell the story of a boy who discovers the great joys and ultimately the greater costs, of owning a fully formed heart.
Edinburgh, 1874. Born with a frozen heart, Jack is near death when his mother abandons him to the care of Dr. Madeleine—witch doctor, midwife, protector of orphans—who saves Jack by placing a cuckoo clock in his chest. And it is in her orphanage that Jack grows up among tear-filled flasks, eggs containing memories, and a man with a musical spine.
As Jack gets older, Dr. Madeleine warns him that his heart is too fragile for strong emotions: he must never, ever fall in love. And, of course, this is exactly what he does: on his tenth birthday and with head-over-heels abandon. The object of his ardor is Miss Acacia—a bespectacled young street performer with a soul-stirring voice. But now Jack’s life is doubly at risk—his heart is in danger and so is his safety after he injures the school bully in a fight for the affections of the beautiful singer.
Edinburgh, 1874. Born with a frozen heart, Jack is near death when his mother abandons him to the care of Dr. Madeleine—witch doctor, midwife, protector of orphans—who saves Jack by placing a cuckoo clock in his chest. And it is in her orphanage that Jack grows up among tear-filled flasks, eggs containing memories, and a man with a musical spine.
As Jack gets older, Dr. Madeleine warns him that his heart is too fragile for strong emotions: he must never, ever fall in love. And, of course, this is exactly what he does: on his tenth birthday and with head-over-heels abandon. The object of his ardor is Miss Acacia—a bespectacled young street performer with a soul-stirring voice. But now Jack’s life is doubly at risk—his heart is in danger and so is his safety after he injures the school bully in a fight for the affections of the beautiful singer.
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Community Reviews
Haunting and beautifully written. I have to be honest and say, I feel Tim Burton could bring this story to life via cinema.
Boy is born, boy loses mother, boy nearly dies, boy is given a Cuckoo clock for a heart to survive. Boy must never fall in love. A very heavy price to pay. The boy, Jack, does fall in love with this beautiful song bird, Miss Arcadia, who sings like a nightingale. He sees her just once when he is ten and loses her. He goes on a quest to find her and win her heart.
This tale is about love, trust, lies, and half-truths. All the while, we fall in love with Jack and feel so protective over him.
The ending is what I did expect but it was written so that I don't mind I had guessed it right. Yes, it is written that well.
Mr. Burton, please pick up this book and make it into a movie.
Boy is born, boy loses mother, boy nearly dies, boy is given a Cuckoo clock for a heart to survive. Boy must never fall in love. A very heavy price to pay. The boy, Jack, does fall in love with this beautiful song bird, Miss Arcadia, who sings like a nightingale. He sees her just once when he is ten and loses her. He goes on a quest to find her and win her heart.
This tale is about love, trust, lies, and half-truths. All the while, we fall in love with Jack and feel so protective over him.
The ending is what I did expect but it was written so that I don't mind I had guessed it right. Yes, it is written that well.
Mr. Burton, please pick up this book and make it into a movie.
This book is dark, charming, whimsical, and tragic. Contrary to popular belief, it isn't a book for children due to sexual situations. It's exquisitely written and full of unusual, memorable characters. I definitely recommend the concept album by the author's band, Dionysos, as well as the movie. This quirky, romantic tale is definitely worth reading, although the ending isn't as satisfying as I had hoped.
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