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Kate O'Shea's Reviews > Earth
Earth
by
by
4.5
Another harrowing part of John Boyne's Elements series. This time he focuses on Evan Keogh, who left the island the same day as Willow/Vanessa (who was the protagonist in Water).
Evan left the island to escape his father, wanting to be an artist, but things do not go as planned. Finding himself jobless and without support for a second time after his arrival in England Evan decides to do the only thing he knows he excels at - football. He has his reasons for picking the Championship club he does but the main one is defender, Robbie.
We start the story with Evan heading to a court room to hear the verdict in a case involving the alleged rape of a girl by Robbie in which Evan has played a significant part.
I'm not going to tell you this is an easy read because it's not. It's no more harrowing than Water though. John Boyne does not pick easy subjects. I found Water (and subsequently Earth) much easier to read than Boyne's longer novels because the prose has to be condensed into the salient facts. That's not to say the say it is any less shocking or unpalatable but, as with Water, these things happen. We have seen a catalogue of famous people heading into court to defend current or past actions and it is always divisive and emotive. Boyne manages very cleverly to condense the emotion so it does not become overwhelming.
Whichever side you find yourself supporting I can tell you that Mr Boyne does not leave you hanging at the end. Although it's hard to like any character in this book you should find yourself having sympathy in some small measure.
I am looking forward to seeing where Mr Boyne takes us in Fire.
Another harrowing part of John Boyne's Elements series. This time he focuses on Evan Keogh, who left the island the same day as Willow/Vanessa (who was the protagonist in Water).
Evan left the island to escape his father, wanting to be an artist, but things do not go as planned. Finding himself jobless and without support for a second time after his arrival in England Evan decides to do the only thing he knows he excels at - football. He has his reasons for picking the Championship club he does but the main one is defender, Robbie.
We start the story with Evan heading to a court room to hear the verdict in a case involving the alleged rape of a girl by Robbie in which Evan has played a significant part.
I'm not going to tell you this is an easy read because it's not. It's no more harrowing than Water though. John Boyne does not pick easy subjects. I found Water (and subsequently Earth) much easier to read than Boyne's longer novels because the prose has to be condensed into the salient facts. That's not to say the say it is any less shocking or unpalatable but, as with Water, these things happen. We have seen a catalogue of famous people heading into court to defend current or past actions and it is always divisive and emotive. Boyne manages very cleverly to condense the emotion so it does not become overwhelming.
Whichever side you find yourself supporting I can tell you that Mr Boyne does not leave you hanging at the end. Although it's hard to like any character in this book you should find yourself having sympathy in some small measure.
I am looking forward to seeing where Mr Boyne takes us in Fire.
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