Book Review
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Sandra Metcalf
Familiar Passions
n her thirteenth wedding anniversary, 0 Bridie's husband takes her out to dinner and then calmly announces that he is leaving her. Married to James (a widower with two young children) when she was only 19, Bridie spent her adult life caring for others and maintaining an image of her marriage, which she now suddenly sees has little relation to reality.The shock of James' behaviour frees her in a way she could never have believed possible, but the need to plan a future without him raises new questions and uncertainties . It brings to the surface older questions about identity and the roles we take on for those we love. For Bridie is an adopted child. Her birth parents have never been an issue, thanks to the loving parents she has had all her life, but now she feels that she has never really known who she is. Finding out about the circumstances surrounding her birth suddenly seems fundamental to
knowing how to move on.
The search for her past, the insights it gives her into her own personality and the strength of family ties, as well as the power of ancient quarrels, deceptions and repeated patterns across the generations, is acutely observed. Personal relationships are displayed in all their comedy and cruelty, underpinning the complex hunt for family secrets, which is a common theme in many of Nina Bawden's books. Best known for her childrens' books, particularly 'Carrie's War', Bawden has written many prize-winning books for adults.
Thelma Shacklady
Th e Absolutist
8 Phonebox Magazine
'A wonderful, sad book' Colm Tot
any readers will know this author 's name in connection with a previous novel - 'The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas' - a haunting, poignant story, which was made into a film. In the 'Absolutist ', the writer turns his attention to the First World War, telling an equally poignant story.
It begins in 1919 with Tristan Sandler, a survivor of the horrific trench warfare, travelling to Norwich with a bundle of letters to deliver to the sister of Will, a fellow soldier who had once been his friend. After a terrible incident on the battlefield, Will had laid down his gun and declared his refusal to play any further part in the war. Unlike conscientious objectors, who were prepared to act as stretcher bearers, or undertake other non-combatant roles, Will declared himself an absolutist - someone who would not support any action connected with the war. Such a decision could have only one outcome.
The relationship between Will and Tristan was a complicated one and is woven against the background of basic army training, telling a graphic account of the conditions the soldiers suffered in the 'Great War'. As the novel proceeds , there are clues to the appalling and shameful secret Tristan carried with him, one which is ultimately revealed in the final chapter.
This is much more than just an anti-war novel; it is about relationships, the use and abuse of authority, power, prejudice and discrimination . At times, it makes for uncomfortable reading, raising issues which are still current a hundred years after the outbreak of the 'war to end all wars'. John Boyne brings history to life, reminding us of the significance of learning from past mistakes .