The Shiny Guys

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Welcome to the mind of Colin Lapsley, a fifteen year old boy who was admitted to Ward 44, a psychiatric ward. The Shiny Guys are the ones that creep in the shadows, in the corners of his eyes, the ones that Colin needs to figure out how to defeat. This amazing little book will constantly have you guessing, thinking and questioning. Although the setting is mostly in the one place, there is never a dull moment.

There are always things happening, always things going on. I have to say, I was very impressed with The Shiny Guys. An awesome and interesting book, it gave me a lot to think about. You are commenting using your WordPress. You are commenting using your Twitter account. You are commenting using your Facebook account. He can't sleep so he takes a whole lot of sleeping pills and finds himself is ward The story continues with his fight through depression, the helping of the Shinny Guys and his friends he makes. This book is amazing I could go on for ages about it, it leaves you guessing and you get to decide what you think it means to you personally.

I think this is a well written book and well wroth the read. My favorite character is Mango as I feel sorry for him as he had a bad start to his childhood and because of that developed the disorder he has of not letting people go. I think that he tries to make the best for himself under his circumstances. Arthur and Mango get along really well as Arthur has gotten to know him, Arthur knows that he is a gentle soul and can't help hugging people so he forgives him for that. If Arthur and Mango didn't get along then Mango would have been portrayed differently and not as gentle and caring as he is.

I learnt from this book what devastating effects that a bad childhood can really have on someone and their adult life. Mango is a very friendly and uplifting person and it is very easy to connect with him through out the novel especially at the end and how the reason for his hugging is reveled. This part made me feel very sad and I even cried.

Jun 06, Kerri Jones rated it it was amazing Shelves: Although I was confused for large chunks of this book, I've decided that the writing is genius. The story is about Colin who ends up in ward 44 following the abduction of his sister. He starts to see shiny guys and experience some rather disturbing things. His friends, mango and Anthea are really interesting characters with their own set of problems.

The genius in this book is the authors ability to make you believe all Colin is going through which in reality is just the effects of his mind, hal Although I was confused for large chunks of this book, I've decided that the writing is genius. The genius in this book is the authors ability to make you believe all Colin is going through which in reality is just the effects of his mind, hallucinations induced by ECT and his trauma. This book has a lot of pathos and whilst I think it's above most kids understanding, those that persist will reap the rewards.

The reference to Kafka throughout the book was just genius and that it brings the book to a stunning conclusion makes it all the more interesting.

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Enjoy, it's so worth it. Apr 13, Alicia Papp rated it really liked it Shelves: Doug MacLeod is a wonderful writer. This book is strange and quirky, and it took a while for me to figure out whether Colin was really in the middle of a sci-fi story, or just crazy. So terribly sad in parts, and laugh out loud funny in others. I really loved his friend Mango, and his comments on his horrible room mate Len. There is a lot of compassion in this book, and I'm still trying to make up my mind about the ending.

A real insight into how tragedy affects people, and the guilt of those le Doug MacLeod is a wonderful writer. A real insight into how tragedy affects people, and the guilt of those left behind. Mar 07, Trisha rated it it was amazing Shelves: The bits that are funny are snort-worthy, and the bits that are sad, totally heart-wrenching.

And if everything isn't spelt out or clear, well, probably that's what life is often like for Colin. He's a great main character - flawed, but resourceful and loyal. I am left with Qs, and I shouldn't be surprised. Mar 10, Christine Bongers rated it it was amazing Shelves: Brilliant, unhinged, desperately funny and sad.

Set in a psychiatric ward, this novel tips its cap to Kafka with giant cockroaches and an ending that I found both whimsical and hopeful. For those who like their books to be what Kafka believed they should be: Jul 10, Anne Weaver rated it it was ok. I was expecting a grand finale that tied up all the ends, but this did not happen for me.

Set in a psychiatric hospital, I found the characters hard to engage with, and while there were some clever, funny bits, I was left feeling this shortish book was a bit like cake dough that needed a bit more cooking. I can see how the aim was to convey insanity, but this is very, very hard to do.

Sep 23, Pegaunimoose rated it liked it. Jun 29, Sharon Marchingo rated it it was amazing.

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The setting is Ward 44 in a psychiatric hospital in Melbourne. The main character is 15 year old Collin who is admitted for taking an overdose sometime after the disappearance of his younger sister Briony. This is the story of their coming to terms with mental illness and accepting what has occurred in the past and forgiving themselves and undergoing the arduous journey to recovery.

The Shiny Guys

The mystery behind why these patients are in this institution makes for compelling reading. MacLeod cleverly delves into mental illness, paranoia and hallucinations and the tricks that patients will try to avoid taking their medication and escape from the facility. This book is certainly not for the faint hearted and would suit older teens due to the disturbing nature of the content.

This being said it is an outstanding read and MacLeod uses subtle humour to take the heat out of the content thus making it approachable for its audience. The characters are sympathetically described, believable and evoke strong affection from the reader. Aug 26, Sue rated it it was amazing Shelves: To echo some other reviewers of this novel - wow. This was not what I was expecting at all.

Doug Macleod has penned a very sophisticated and involving story indeed.

I was totally captured by the story of Colin Lapsley and the "shiny guys". The setting is a psychiatric hospital in and Colin is seeing things no-one else sees shiny guys on the periphery of his vision. His parents have hospitalised him following a family tragedy and little by little we learn about how Colin came to be where he To echo some other reviewers of this novel - wow. His parents have hospitalised him following a family tragedy and little by little we learn about how Colin came to be where he is.

Colin's friend, Mango, has his own set of problems that mainly centre on him randomly hugging people and not letting go. It doesn't bother Colin. Eventually Mango calms down and lets go. Then Anthea shows up. Reserved and focused on shooting netball goals a day, she is drawn into Colin and Mango's circle.

Colin is an eloquent and clever narrator and at times you start to wonder if the shiny guys are real - he certainly believes they are. Bit by bit we learn more and more of Colin's story, and those of Mango and Anthea. My heart cried a little bit at each revelation, as I further understood how these things had come to be. I won't post spoilers, as is my policy, but as I read the last pages over breakfast this morning and then reached the end, there was slamming of the book on the table and lots of "WHAT?

I will be interested in hearing comments about that ending from others. I loved and hated that ending simultaneously. Recommended for ages 14 and up. While this book was a quick read, I couldn't get into it and found myself reading quickly just to get it over and done with and to go onto something else. The storyline was very different but I was too distracted by the cockroach parts to really enjoy it although I know why he saw these things I just got bored. Colin is in a psychistric hospital Ward 44 after a tragedy in his family it's there we meet some interesting characters: Mango Colin's best friend who hugs people from behind and then has While this book was a quick read, I couldn't get into it and found myself reading quickly just to get it over and done with and to go onto something else.

Mango Colin's best friend who hugs people from behind and then has a hard time letting go, Anthea the new girl who Mango falls in love with, Val the alcoholic who's very religious and Colin's roommate the not very nice Len who keeps Colin up every night with his snoring. One day Colin is taken to a office where he meets Dr Vendra who takes him to meet a colleague Dr Maximew who lives in a different dimension called Nestoria where it's inhabited by cockroaches which Colin finds both doctor's are after shedding their human skin, he also finds out that a group of rebel cockroaches are kidnapping humans and taking them into their dimension so they give Colin special contact lens' so that he can see the cockroaches in his own world.

Colin convinces Mango and Anthea to escape with him before the Nestorians attack and throughout the book steals and hides stuff one of his talents for when they breakout. Another thing I did like was the sessions he had with his psychiatrist Dr Parkinson they were quite funny. When it came to the end of the book I really didn't understand it at all and it left me scratching my head all confused, it's not a bad book just not a book that I really enjoyed at all. Jul 20, Robyn rated it really liked it Shelves: It's hard to know what to write about The Shiny Guys.

I feel like I need to read it again with a new perspective now that I've read the ending. To me, that's a sign of a good book. We know that Colin is in a psychiatric ward, so we can't really trust his narration, yet we can't help but see things through his eyes and wonder how much is real and how much is in his head. Giant cockroaches abducting humans seems too crazy to be true but Colin is so charismatic and down to earth that part of me, lik It's hard to know what to write about The Shiny Guys.

Giant cockroaches abducting humans seems too crazy to be true but Colin is so charismatic and down to earth that part of me, like Colin's friends Mango and Anthea, wanted to believe that he was uncovering a sinister plan. As I was reading, I was constantly wondering whether it was a science fiction about cockroaches taking over the world, or the story of a boy with mental problems. If it's the latter, what's causing his hallucinations? Is it the medication or lack thereof or other treatment? Do they stem from repressed memories? How much of it is based on reality? I think The Shiny Guys would appeal to both boys and girls - those who like science fiction and fantasy, as well as those who like more realistic stories that make you think.

I found the parts with the cockroaches a bit weird, but what stays with me at the end of the story are the psychological aspects and the relationships between the characters, who each show the strength and potential to overcome their issues.

May 04, Watermelon Daisy rated it really liked it. The Shiny Guys is still a haunting concept, even now. A friend of mine recently asked me to borrow it out. My friend was confused about the ending; I admit, I was kind of puzzled but then had a grip on what happened after all. But definitely one worth picking up. Overall, a wonderful story for both genders, although quite dark. Jul 29, Ashley rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: Doug Macleod has done it again with his latest book, the dark, humorous and emotionally moving novel "The Shiny Guys".

The Shiny Guys is a brilliant book about guilt, trauma and what it means to be mentally ill. I would recommend it to everybody. May 15, Annette rated it liked it Shelves: The characters, Mango, Andrea and first person Colin were multifaceted and intriguing in many ways, however because of the way the mental illness was depicted, I found the storyline a little disjointed.

Colin had been admitted to a psychiatric hospital a few years after the disappearance of his sister on a family outing. He became close to Mango and they became good friends. Enter Andrea who had been admitted after drug use had played havoc with her life and the three became a force to be reckoned with. The shiny guys were part of an hallucination and drove the story.

The Shiny Guys by Doug MacLeod · www.farmersmarketmusic.com

What is real and not real becomes blurred! The addition of letters to personalities outside the institution, the development of the shiny guys and the real life story and the back story weaved in and out. This is one of a host of books on mental illness and disability that seem to be popular at this time. May 18, Miffy rated it it was amazing Shelves: This book is just so unusual. It is the story of Colin Lapsley.

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The year is Colin sees things out the corner of his eyes. Shiny red guys, in leather jackets. As soon as he looks at them, they go, but he knows - they're always there. Colin is admitted to Ward He shares a room with revolting Len. He has a good friend, Mango. Mango has a compulsion to hug people - and he can't let go. He just waits until Mango calms down. And then there's Anthea. Parallels have made between this book and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - but besides them both being set in a psychiatric facility, there aren't really any similarities to be drawn.

I enjoyed that way that Doug teases out the story, giving the reader little clues and teasers as to how and why Colin is where he is and why he is. This is a really 'different' book. Mar 27, Lynda added it Shelves: At first when you read this novel, the devastation and tragedy hits you, including the guilt and resistance which Colin shows towards his treatment for his mental illness.

However, there is a strong undercurrent of laugh-out-loud humour, and the healing power of love, care and proper attention. The reader is taken on a strange and confronting journey, and finally must reach their own conclusion. Doug MacLeod is a very talented author. Jul 03, Stella Silverstein rated it it was amazing.

The way the story moves is almost fluid even though it jumps through characters and styles of writing. The world that the main character becomes involved with is nightmarish and so well depicted that it feels real when it's read. Even Ward 44 takes on a frighteningly realistic shape when Colin, so seemingly level headed, lives out his time there.

The book does get very, very dark and bleak towards the end, and you can start to piece together what is really happening. It's uns Absolutely fantastic.

And the end is an absolute killer. It's almost what you expect, but not quite and it really left me asking if there was something else I could read to satisfy my craving for more of this book. I really enjoyed it. Oh, also make sure to read this in an Australian accent.

Sep 21, Andrew rated it really liked it.

I'll admit, this book messed with me. Once again, Doug MacLeod creates absurd drama for smart kids, but this book delves into new depths of psychological creepiness. Exploring the minds of a misfit cast of teenagers living in a psychiatric ward, there are plenty of laughs to be had, but you almost feel bad for it. And as the plot develops, the stakes are raised, until you're not at all sure which - if any - of the narrators are reliable, and the unfortunate revelation is as inevitable as it is sh I'll admit, this book messed with me.

And as the plot develops, the stakes are raised, until you're not at all sure which - if any - of the narrators are reliable, and the unfortunate revelation is as inevitable as it is shocking if you'll pardon the pun.

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