Product Description

Subtitled "The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn", this is the story of Cordelia from the time she is 15 until she is 20. She is pregnant and plans to give this account to her daughter on her 16th birthday so that they can share their youth together. She chooses the old and famous Japanese book "The Pillow Book" by Sei Shonagon' as a model in order to include all kinds of things she has already written as well as the episodes and thoughts she has now as she compiles her book. She tells of her mother (who died when Cordelia was 5) of her father and her aunt Doris (who marry when she is 16), of her love for William Blacklin, the boy with whom she chooses to have her first sex - and with whom she falls deeply in love. She writes about Julie Martin her teacher who helps her spiritually, describes her love affair with an older married man and her terrifying sexual experience with an unbalanced young man who is obsessed with her. The book includes thoughts on being a women, on poetry, music, reading and writing, on being pregnant and finally of her marriage to William. "This Is All" is an anthology, written in six 'books' of Cordelia's adolescent life, by turns funny, poignant, sad, exciting, fascinating ironic and truthful about topics that parents often do not tell their children. It is a richly entertaining and challenging read.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #158691 in Books
• Published on: 2007-01-04
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 832 pages

From the Inside Flap
All writing is a gift
Cordelia, at nineteen, while pregnant with her baby daughter, complies the story of her teenage years.
Choosing the old and famous Japanese pillow book as her model, Cordelia is able to include all kinds of writing she has done in the past, as well as episodes and thoughts, lists and poems she is writing now.
Here is an honest and challenging self-portrait of an exceptional girl who passionately needs to write - of the unusual relationship within her family, of her love for William Blacklin, the boy of her choice with whom she has her first sex, of her affair with an older married man, of her terrifying experience with a young man who is obsessed with her, and of her friendship with her teacher, Julie, who encourages her in her spiritual life. Her thoughts range widely: on poetry and breasts, periods and music, friendship and trees, consciousness and sleep, and much more besides.
A wonderfully evocative and gripping story of an extraordinary girl who in turn maddens and fascinates and finally seduces the reader.
Aidan Chambers is a writer who constantly breaks boundaries, in his stories and the way he tells them. Nowhere has he done this more triumphantly than in the Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn.
All writing is memory.

From the Back Cover
All writing is a gift. All writing is memory.

Cordelia is nineteen and pregnant with her baby daughter. She passionately needs to write and, choosing the old and famous Japanese pillow book as her model, she compiles the story of her teenage years.

What emerges is an honest and challenging portrait of the unusual relationships within her family, of her love for William Blacklin, ofher affair with an older married man, of her terrifying experience with a man who is obsessed with her, and of her friendship with her teacher, Julie. Her thoughts range widely: on poetry and breasts, periods and music, friendship and trees, consciousness and sleep, sex and laughter.

A wonderfully evocative and gripping story of an extraordinary girl who in turn maddens and fascinates and finally seduces the reader.

The final book in a sequence of six ground-breaking and provocative novels that explore different aspects of teenage love and self-discovery. This edition includes an Index and Afterword by the author.

'Remarkable' Independent

'A true novel, a work of art . . . a huge and wonderful act of imaginative empathy' School Librarian

Not suitable for younger readers

About the Author
Aidan Chambers lives in Gloucestershire with his American wife, Nancy, who is the editor of Signal magazine. He divides his time between his own writing and lecturing which he does extensively in Australia, the USA and Europe. His provocative and challenging novels for teenagers and young adults have won him international acclaim. Postcards from No-man's Land is the fifth novel in what he perceives as a sequence; this starts with Breaktime, continues with Dance on my Grave, and carries on through Now I Know to The Toll Bridge. This Is All is the sixth and final book in the sequence. Each novel stands on its own exploring a different aspect of contemporary adolescence.

Customer Reviews

This IS All - you need to read, really!
Although aimed at the young adult market, with This Is All, Aidan Chambers takes the reader on a journey which many 'adult' fiction authors wish they could make. Based on the idea of a Japanese Pillow book, we are introduced to Cordellia Kenn who has written about her life from the age of 15 to present, her loves, her dreams and her poetry so that her unborn child will on it's 16th birthday be able to read and learn about Cordellia. I read this over the course of two days (800+ pages) and was totally drawn into Cordellia's life. It is so beautifully crafted that you won't want to put it down. The ending is beyond words. Please read this book whether you are it's target teen audience or as I am of the next generation. One final word, I would think twice about giving it to anyone under 13/14 as it is adult in it's content.

AMAZING
This book is absolutely fantastic. I became a fan of this author when I read "Postcards form No Man's Land" when it was first published and I have to say that this book excells itself in a similar way.

The book delves into the life and thoughts of Cordelia Kenn, our main charecter and the book is written by this fictional charecter. Cordelia discusses a wide range of everyday things about life, her relationships with her friends, lovers, parents and her thoughts about random subjects in a frank,honest and sometimes funny manner. This is one of the only books I have read where you really connect with and understand the author (in this case the ficticious Cordelia). The book touches on something everyone can relate to or has experienced - whether its first love, betrayal, poetry, music - EVERYTHING!!!

It's definately worth reading - when the book goes onto random thought sand not her life story, the plot does drag and the size of the book is a little daunting, however it is worth tackling the book and reading it. You won't be dissapointed.

Superlative Chambers
I've been a fan of Aidan Chambers since I was 15 - ten years on I awaited the publication of TIA with as much anticipation as when I was a teenager. The book is the last in the six part 'Dance Sequence' and I was fairly nervous about how it would compare to the other books. Well, it's absolutely fantastic. Cordelia is an authentic and engaging voice and I defy anyone not to fall in love with her.

This is a fairly weighty, challenging book. It's written as a collection of notes and diaries without any firm chronological order, which takes a bit of getting used to but also makes it feel much more personal. There are quite a few moments of shock and horror and you will cry at least once along the way. It's aimed at a slightly older age group than the earlier books - probably 15+.

Highly recommended for old Chambers fans and newbies!