The Girl From the Train by Irma Joubert

Book Details

Author: Irma Joubert

Ages: 12+

Rating: 8/10

Number of Pages: 320

Plot: Set in Europe during and after the Second World War, the book focuses on the lives of two people and how the devastation of war brings them together. Six- year-old Gretl Schmidt, a German-Jewish girl, has faced the hardships of war first hand along with her family and now she is on a train headed for Auschwitz. Jakob Kowalski, a fighter in the Polish resistance, unaware of Gretl’s existence, is planting a bomb to the tracks. As the sole survivor of the bomb, Gretl is alone in Poland, a country hostile to her people with no one to look after her or help her survive. After Jakob finds Gretl alone and hungry he takes her to his family farm. For years, Jakob and Gretl must keep her true identity a secret amongst his Catholic family. After spending years learning and growing with Jakob and his family, Gretl becomes a key part of running the farm and also expresses a love of learning – but she cannot stay with him forever. Lying about her true inheritance, Jakob and Gretl return to Germany and Gretl is given the opportunity to travel to South Africa and find a new family. Separated by continents and the political conflicts of the time, Jakob and Gretl form an impenetrable bond that stays with them forever. In a story of history, politics and love Joubert creates a historical fiction with realistic characters and unique storyline that makes it stand out against other Nazi Germany novels.

 

Review: I was kindly given a complimentary copy of this novel from the publishers via BookLook Bloggers, and was excited to delve into the world created by Joubert. Having loved this period of history during my GCSE’s and read almost all of the young adult fiction around the subject, I thought I had quite a large knowledge around the subject – how wrong I was. This concept is not only unique, but introduced me to new parts of the period that I had not previously been aware of. One way in which I think Joubert achieved this, was through her use of two narrative voices. Through Gretl we get the Jewish perspective of the Nazi regime and the Second World War, and this is what is typically seen in ficition regarding this subject. However Joubert chooses to add a second narrative voice, in Jakob, who introduces the effects of German and Russian aggression on the Polish people. In my opinion, I think that it is this use of two interlinked narratives that makes Joubert’s work so unique in comparison to other World War II fiction.

“When you look at the moon, remember I am seeing it too.” – Jakob

It is undeniable that Joubert creates a range of realistic characters that fit the expected characteristics and beliefs of the groups at the time. However, I felt that at times I wanted to know more. There were a few moments in which I was left wanting more, especially in regards to Jakob and his struggles in Poland whilst Gretl was in South Africa. Although Joubert quickly remedies this near the end, I felt that, at times, the characters didn’t have the same exposure that the reader craves. At times I was left wondering what has happened to Jakob. This may have been to emphasise their distance, but, for me, it felt as if a huge chunk of the narrative had been discarded.

Despite this, I thought Joubert captured 20^th century Europe and its inhabitants in a realistic way that other writers have failed to convey. The depictions of the hardships of the war and the conflicts between communism and capitalism were vivid and memorable, so much so that it is, in my opinion, one of the best fictions set in the Second World War time for the young adult readership. I loved the characters, especially the development of Jakob’s characters as I feel Joubert really managed to capture the disastrous effects of war on the individual. Despite at points wanting more, I feel that, overall, Joubert captured these lives so beautifully that I think Gretl and Jakob will stay in my mind for a long time after reading the book. I would recommend this to anyone who loved The Book Thief or John Boyne’s work as Joubert deals with the same themes whilst introducing the reader to characters that you can’t easily forget.

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

Book Details

Author: Jessie Burton

Ages: Adult

Rating: 6/10

Number of Pages: 424
Plot: Set in the seventeenth century, Burton’s debut novel centres on the life of eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman and her arrival in Amsterdam to begin her life with her new husband wealthy merchant Johannes Brandt. Alone in her new household, with a distant husband and sharp-tongued sister-in-law, Nella explores the many secrets in her new home. It is when Johannes presents Nella with an extraordinary wedding present, a cabinet-sized replica of her new home, that Nella discovers the true mysteries and magic that surround Amsterdam. Her unusual present is to be furnished by an elusive miniaturist, whose intricate creations appear to mirror the secrets and actions of the inhabitants of her new household – secrets that no one appears to know of. As Nella becomes engulfed into discovering the many secrets behind her new miniature figurines, Nella discovers that escalating dangers await behind all of the secrets of her household. In a story of love, mystery and betrayal, this historic fiction delves into the seventeenth century culture in Amsterdam, a period which is not usually covered in popular fiction. Burton creates an award winning mystery that keeps the reader intrigued throughout and educates the reader on a new period of history.


Review: I am a massive fan of historical fiction and mysteries so when I found this book I was quite intrigued to see if the two very different genres worked well together. I was also quite excited to read a book set in Amsterdam, something I had never seen before in popular literature. In my opinion, the book was beautifully written. Burton’s descriptive language is amazingly detailed and actually makes you feel as if you are really by the canals in seventeenth century Amsterdam. As well as this, I found the description surrounding the cabinet of their home and the miniatures created by the miniaturist were equally impressive. I was quite surprised actually that a modern novel had such pictorial imagery that quite frankly matched parts of classics that I have read recently. The characters created were also interesting and creative. Even the unlikeable characters are made more intriguing and mysterious through the secrets that surround them. Burton’s focus on secrecy and mystery within the narrative, therefore, makes the novel more unique in comparison to other novels in this genre. This focus on mystery also makes the characters more interesting and their stories more engaging.

“Every woman is the architect of her own fortune.”

However, unlike other historical fictions that I have read recently, I found the story, at times, to be quite repetitive and thus quite boring. I had originally thought that, upon reading online about this book, that the novel was going to follow a gothic narrative with a sort of voodoo-doll concept. This would have been a fantastic concept as it would have mixed the mysteries and suspense of horror with the intrigue of historical fiction. Unfortunately, the book did not take this turn. Instead of being focused on the creepy miniaturist, as the title of the book, I felt that this idea was lost half way through the novel and there was an unnecessary focus on the sugar trade that quite frankly was not interesting and lacked any mystery. It was this shift away from the mysteries surrounding the miniaturist that made me lose interest in the story by about half way through – the story, for me, became disjointed and lacked the same fluidity that it had in the beginning of the story.

By the end of the story I was a little confused as to the mystery regarding the miniaturist and its relevance to the life of Nella Oortman and Amsterdam. In addition, I felt that there was an unnecessary focus on the history of sugar in Amsterdam that, to a reader who knows very little about the subject, made the second half of the novel increasingly difficult to read. Overall, I felt that the novel tried to merge too many concepts together in the space of 400 pages. The premise of the novel presents a mix of historical fiction and horror that would have been an unusual concept to explore. However, I feel that Burton relies too heavily on her readers knowledge making the novel quite hard to follow at points. I would recommend this to anyone who does have an interest in Amsterdam or historical fiction, but, I would say you have to persevere through certain chapters and passages to fully appreciate the writing style of Burton and her wonderful characterisation.

The Boy at the Top of the Mountain by John Boyne

Book Details:

Author: John Boyne

Ages: 12+
Rating: 9/10
Number of Pages: 224
Plot: From the author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, John Boyne returns to Nazi Germany with a new heart breaking story and young protagonist. After a series of tragic events surrounding his family, Pierrot Fischer, at the age of 8, is forced to leave his life in Paris behind and look for somewhere he can call home. It is when his distant aunt Beatrix arrives that little Pierrot’s life is turned upside down. Thrown into the German lifestyle and abandoning his mother’s Parisian roots, Pierrot must abandon his old life, including his childhood friend Anshel and even his name, in order to conform to the Germanic customs and the high expectations of the master of the house – Adolf Hitler. As we follow Pierrot through the war, Pierrot is forced to make difficult and, in some cases, life-changing, decisions, but where will his loyalties lie – with his loved ones or his Führer? In a story filled with danger and war, Boyne educates the reader on the effects of Nazi propaganda on the youth in Germany at the time.

Review: Having read The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas before, I was really excited to read more from Boyne and experience his take on Nazi Germany again. I was intrigued by the premise of the book as I had only ever read a few books from the perspective of Germanic children from the period, including, one of my favourites, The Book Thief. The book follows a young boy, Pierrot, from 1936 to adulthood and has a strong focus on the indoctrination of the Nazis on the Germanic youth. The development of the main character, in my opinion, is the most impressive and quite astonishing aspect of the novel and it is this that makes the novel one of the best Nazi Germany books I have read in a while. Throughout the beginning of the novel, there is a sense of naivety and innocence that surrounds the character, depicting Pierrot in the typical child-like manner. However, as the novel progresses and the Nazi indoctrination he is subjected to intensifies, Boyne cleverly uses his original innocence to emphasise his change in personality after moving into Hitler’s home. I, personally, found this character development not only incredibly written but also quite heart breaking to experience.

“You have many years ahead of you to come to terms with your complicity in these matters. Just don’t ever tell yourself that you didn’t know... That would be the worst crime of all.” – Herta

It’s not just Boyne’s incredible character development that made me come to love this book, but, his attention to detail and subtle references made the book even better than its predecessor. There were numerous points in the story in which Boyne cleverly used historical references that, in cases, made the story more saddening. The inclusion of individuals like Wallis Simpson and Goebbels, made the story appear to be more of an autobiographical piece than fictitious. It is this historical attention to detail that Boyne displays that separates this new novel from its predecessor.


The Boy at the Top of the Mountain is a historical fiction that I think I could easily read again and again without getting bored of the story or the characters. Through his heart breaking character development and unbelievable attention to detail, Boyne has created yet another historical fiction that will not only appeal to its intended young adult market but a range of history lovers across all ages and genders. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, especially those who are interested in or studying Nazi Germany, and for anyone who enjoyed The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas. I hope that Boyne delves into this genre and topic more often in the future, as the stories he creates are memorable and iconic whilst being captivating and enjoyable.  

Top 3 Halloween Reads

I know that it is now November, but, as I didn’t post anything last week I wanted to give you the top 3 reads that I enjoy during the Halloween/Autumn season. Below, I have included some of my favourite horror and thriller books and novels for a range of different age groups and genders. Let me know in the comments section, just below this post, if you have read or maybe want to read any of the books I have mentioned. I would love to hear your thoughts and please feel free to recommend your favourite Halloween reads below.

For Younger Readers:

Uncle Montague’s Tales of Terror by Chris Priestly

Travelling through the dark wood, Edgar makes the journey to visit his Uncle Montague in his strange and intriguing house. Through the chilling and spooky stories that appear to relate to objects in Uncle Montague’s house, Edgar soon discovers that his Uncle has a mysterious link to these tales of terror. Full of mystery and scares, this collection of short stories is a great introduction to horror for younger readers. I remember having this read to me in primary school when I was about 11, and falling in love with the creepy tales and the wonderfully scary world Priestly creates. This is a perfect collection for younger readers (8+), as although it still has scary elements, the language is not too complex and it doesn’t deal with incredibly gory or disturbing themes.

For Young Adult (YA) Readers:

The Saga of Darren Shan by Darren Shan

This series consists of twelve small(ish) novels and is centred around the life of an average teenage boy Darren Shan and his transition into the world of vampires and the supernatural. After attending an illegal freak show with his friend Steve, Darren encounters the mysterious Mr. Crepsley and his talented spider Madam Octa. As the series develop, the reader follows Darren Shan and his adventures and battles in the vampire world. This series, although rather long for some, is a great mix of horror, action and comedy that will keep you engaged throughout. The characters are well thought out and the narrative style is easy to follow, perfect for the YA readership. I read this series a few years ago and have since recommended it to many of my friends and my brother.

For Adult Readers:

Horns by Joe Hill

Horns is one of my favourite contemporary horror/fantasy novels that I have read in a long time. Through a third person omniscient narrator, the story focuses on Ig Perrish and the events following the brutal murder of his girlfriend, Merrin. Ig then, after being accused of the murder, awakes one morning to find that he has grown horns from his head and now has the power to control the ugly urges of his neighbours and friends. With his newfound powers, Ig looks to uncover the mystery of the murder, to avenge his girlfriend and clear his name. In a story of revenge and mystery, Hill explores the concept of the devil being the anti-hero and the fine line between right and wrong. I read this book last year just before the release of the movie adaptation starring Daniel Radcliffe, as I wanted to get a grasp on the story before watching the film. I absolutely loved the book as despite its dark aspects at times there was also small parts of dark humour that made the novel stand out from other contemporary horrors. I would recommend this, however, to more of an older teen or adult novel as it does deal with some disturbing themes and the language used is often quite offensive for a younger audience.

These are just 3 of my favourite Halloween reads that I have read again and again during the festive seasons in the past. I hope you liked this style of post, and I would love to hear some of your favourite Halloween/Autumn reads in the comments section below.