When a good writer writes, even if it is their first book, you can "hear" their voice.
Here, Meg Rosoff, the author of "How I Live Now," has none of the angst and apprehension of a first-time writer (or at least, she doesn't let you see it). Hers is a debut marked with confidence: It is as if she has rolled up her sleeves and just gotten down to the business of storytelling -- no hemming and hawing here.
My name is Elizabeth but no one's ever called me that. My father took one look at me when I was born and must have thought I had the face of someone dignified and sad like an old-fashioned queen or a dead person, but what I turned out like is plain More Daisy than Elizabeth from the word go.
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.