1 of 1 members found this review helpful.
“This I such a beautiful piece of literature in its own right, and its link to Great Expectations makes it even more so. The characters are vivid, easily seen and understood. They leap off the page into the room to live their story right here with us, and what a story it is. Full of conflict, terror, sadness, mental illness, great literature, war, vicious violence, hatred, enemies, and deep love. Such a little book, but each and every word counts. Each word is fully necessary to the story, with nothing left out and nothing extra. Exquisite writing.
So what is this story? This is the story of the effect of a war on one young girl and her parents in a small village on a tiny South Pacific island. Lloyd Jones paints a picture both personal and large. Because of the siege on the island the school closes, but Mr. Watts, an eccentric island neighbor assumes the role of teacher and his main source of curriculum is reading Great Expectations to the children. The children devour the story and it extends to even affect their parents in ways that are not immediately evident. Even if you have not read Great Expectations, you will enjoy the many references to it, and the meaning that it has in these people’s lives.
”
Lavana H wrote this review Tuesday, December 16 2008.
(
reply |
permalink )
