What I Learned - Ivon by Michael Aylwin (Blog Tour)

****Please note that this post contains some bad language in direct quotes from the book****

I was incredibly lucky & privileged to receive an advanced copy of Ivon by Michael Aylwin, and let me tell you, it is now one of my most favourite books OF ALL TIME and unequivocally a must read future classic.  If you read one book this year please make this the book!

If you get chance have a look at the other stops on the Blog Tour for this gorgeously, unique, amazingly surprising book

I'm being really careful what I'm saying about this book because I want you to be as surprised by every turn of the page as I was...I went in not sure if this book was going to be for me and I can't believe how much I loved every single last page.

I would go as far as to say that Michael Aylwin is now on my "fantasy dinner party" quest list - you know that dinner party where you can invite anyone, dead or alive, for some amazing dinner time conversation.  I would just love to hear about how this book and it's characters came into being, and how he came up with all the incredibly clever nuances (people being decommissioned, not retired; isotonic dispensers in place of water, Prime Managers instead of Prime Ministers - tiny little details that made the world of differences to authenticity of this story - just incredible intelligent, and I'm a little bit in awe!)

What I Learned:

this passage is literally on the first page, and at this point, having stopped, caught my breath and re-read it, I knew this novel was going to be something incredibly special.

What a beautiful concept (maybe without the alone bit - although peace and quiet is very welcome sometimes, it's nice to have the choice - this will make sense when you read this gorgeous book!)  Home is, without a doubt, my haven.

This was another passage that made me stop and re-read it.  It's so nice to see that you love people because you want to - I can't imagine a world where this wouldn't be the case.  And this is just a beautiful, somehow welcoming, and heartfelt passage.

The most perfect description of the "sports passion" I have every read - although as a Scot I am still reeling from a thorough trouncing by Wales in rugby at the weekend so I am having a wee bit of an issue quoting this directly...Michael if you are reading this I hope you appreciate the sacrifice this just took!)

This can apply to so many things in life.  It doesn't matter how good you are perceived to be, or how prepared you are, you have never played that next game and none of us know what's coming next.

I've thought about this quote a lot since I read it.  This sums up a lot of themes in this book.  How do we know when to stop striving...and when do we cross the line between loving something and all the enjoyment going because we are constantly striving for the (often unattainable) perfection.

Nothing more to say about this - it just is!!!

Again, wow, just wow.  What a thought.  Everything is fleeting.  I think it' a good thing to remember.

These quotes just keep blowing me away.  What an incredible accurate description of what "having hope" actually means.  Literal perfection.

I don't usually quote from the acknowledgements but I just loved the honesty in this!  Think we have all been there!

My Goodreads Review:

Ivon by Michael Aylwin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

So I finished reading this book about half an hour ago, and I still have tears rolling down my face. This book is unexpected in every single way. And I am going straight back in for a re-read. I cannot wait to see this book become the classic it was written to be, read and loved by everyone no matter age or gender.

I will be honest when I received this book I wasn't sure. A futuristic sports novel, not really my thing but with an open mind I dived straight in and, 6 hours later, I am sitting breaking my heart with so many things swirling round my head, just wanting to do my little bit to make sure EVERYONE reads this book.

I don't want to go into too much detail here, because I want everyone to go into this book effectively "blind", and to be surprised and elated with every turn of the page.

I'm feeling really pretty inadequate writing this today, as I just don't have the words to describe how this book has left me feeling.

Just, please, if you read one book this year, read this one, and then buy copies for all your friends and family to read too.

As I've said in my Goodreads review, I just can't begin to describe the perfection that is this book - and I can't wait to start seeing it getting all the accolades it deserves.  Quite possibly the most stunning and surprising debut novel I have ever read.

(I am now off to buy a biography on a certain 1980's sports personality - saying no more but read the book and you will understand!)

Drop everything and read this masterpiece now!

Find Michael online at:
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Find Red Door Publishing at:

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I hope you enjoyed this review - if you did have a look at my other listed here.

Happy Reading!