Warehouse
| The warehouse is ‘the somewhere else you can go when
there’s nowhere else left’. Located in the dockland
of a small northern town, the warehouse is a refuge for young
people who have slipped through society’s safety net.
A cast of memorable characters have, for various reasons, found
themselves there. They face a struggle for survival, but for
dignity too in this gutsy, gripping and dangerous novel. |
 |
 Warehouse
is a strange book because it’s actually several stories
all wrapped up together in one novel. It doesn’t follow
a straight forward timeline, and there is more than one main character.
It was definitely a challenge to write. I had something
that looked like a mathematical diagram on my wall to try and
make all of the events and dates tie in together. Luckily
it all seemed to work, however, because I think it would be fair
to say that this has been my most successful book... so far.
It
provokes a mixed reaction from readers. Some have said it’s
totally realistic and true to life. Others say it’s just
too far-fetched. From my point of view I don’t believe the
warehouse would ever exist in the real world - it’s a utopia.
The characters are as realistic as I can make them, however. I
really want you to care about these people, and feel all of the
things they do. Canner is my favourite character, he’s the
true hero of the book and the pin that holds everybody else’s
story together.
Many readers have asked if there will
be a sequel. The answer (at the moment) is no. But there are
many characters who
live in, or have passed through,
the warehouse. Some you meet - Stef, Kinnard, Shelly - who still remain
mysterious because you never get to find out where they came from or
where they’re
hoping to go. And then there are dozens of others who the reader never
gets to meet at all.
If you wanted to find out more, why
not write your own warehouse story? Set it sometime before the
end of the book, and either use one of my
characters, or invent one of your own. How did they find the warehouse?
Why do they
need
to stay there?
The warehouse is a place full of stories.
| Warehouse is an exciting and moving story. It is targeted
at teenagers who enjoy fast-moving and witty novels. Keith
Gray skilfully splits the story into a three-part novel.
Based around memorable characters it is constructed into
a terrific book. I thought it was excellent and impossible
to put down. |
| Kate,
Trinity Academy, Edinburgh |
| |
| Edgy, terrific on both the grimness and the warmth of
life on the margins, Warehouse is a violent, emotionally
honest and passionate story. From the outside, the transient
population of the warehouse seem like a bunch of losers.
Their lives may appear feckless and reckless but, on closer
inspection, they have their own compassion and kindness.
Keith Gray controls both the dramatic story and his wholly
credible characters with delicacy and conviction. |
| Guardian Fiction Award |
Shortlisted for the Guardian Fiction Award
Winner
of a Scottish Arts Council Book Award
Winner
of the Angus Book Award
 Buy
Warehouse from amazon.co.uk
|
