Remembrance by Theresa Breslin.

This novel is compelling reading for everyone interested in war or romance.
When you read it you will see lots of evidence of Breslin's research into the first world war. It's also a personal drama mainly of two families who become closer and share the great tragedy of loss. We learn about the war through the personal struggles and traumas faced by the soldiers and Breslin uses a sequence of letter-correspondence to show her truth about the horrors of war.

Maggie and Charlotte seem compelled to help the war effort at home but they long for action in France where casualties are severe and nurses are needed urgently. The older generation epitomises the pride and glory of fighting for one's country and one example of this is when Francis is given a white feather as a sign of cowardice because he has not, as yet, conscripted.

The younger generation have mixed feelings; those who have been socially conditioned and less educated share the concept of honour and glory like their parents and grandparents. Others like Francis and eventually Maggie and Charlotte, realise the horrors and brutality of fighting a war to die a horrible death. Where is the honour and glory?

A sad point for me and there were many tragic moments in the novel is when Alex, keen to enlist, but too young, steals his friend's birth certiicate and runs away to do his bit for England and more importantly, to avenge his brother's death. The reality of war for Alex is cruel and shocking as he lives through a nightmare, his childhood and innocence shattered.

Remembrance is an apt title for those survivors and those who lost family members but it is also apt for the reader. The novel explores our vulnerability and the total loss of innocence. It conveys a serious message that is applicable as much today as it was then.

                           In Flanders Field            McCrae.

At the Somme, around Thiepval, and in Beaumont
Hamel they walk through preserved trenches
and stand looking into the huge nine craters.
By the roadside and on the hills they see
Cemetry after cemetry, collections of
headstones among fields fertile with crops.
The white clay clings, and they spend time wiping
boots before reboarding the coach.

Publishers: Corgi Yearling Books.   ISBN: 0-552-54738-7

www.theresabreslin.co.uk

Copyright 2013. Permission must be obtained from the author before any of this review is reproduced.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Stranger From Lagos by Cyprian Ekwensi

Image
  image courtesy of Google images   Ekwensi was born in Nigeria in 1921. He wrote about the country and people of Nigeria-city life and life in the rural areas. Loko Towns and Other Stories was published in 1966. A Stranger From Lagos was one of the nine stories in that collection.   The writer explores the place of women in society. Lilian is trapped by social conventions. Her fiance treats her like a possession as if he owns her. It is written in third person to allow the writer's thoughts to merge with Lilian's. The protagonist is unable to speak to the stranger in public although it is obvious that there is a strong physical attraction between the two. If Lilian asserts herself she will go against social conventions (for females) and her reputation will be damaged through rife and unhealthy gossip. She will therefore be stigmatised as a loose woman. The story explores her inner conflicts in accepting these "conventions" or flaunting them as well ...
Read more

A Stranger From Lagos by Cyprian Ekwensi Final Part

Image
                                                                    courtesy of Google images Lilian uses her sexuality to liberate as well as attract the opposite sex. Ekwensi uses "wiggled." Lilian had just had her hair done and was wearing very large, loop earrings. This had been done for her lover's benefit. She was conscious of all the eyes watching the two of them. The writer uses the simile: she felt like something projected on a 3D screen for all Onitsha to view. We are told very little about the stranger other than that he was tall and good-looking. We are told he didn't feel embarrassed by all of the attention. He would ruin her reputation...
Read more

A Bit of Singing and Dancing by Susan Hill

Image
Here you'll find 11 varied but intense stories about emotional struggles of ordinary people trying to get to grips with life. For some unfortunates, the adjustment is too great and tragedy is inevitable, something very characteristic of Hill's writing as many of you will already know. A Bit of Singing and Dancing is less dramatic and not quite so tragic. I can stay out here just as long as I like, I can do anything I choose, anything at all, for now I am answerable only to myself. Esme is still coming to terms with her mother's death and her new-found freedom. She is over 50 years of age and has reluctantly been forced into caring for her forthright and domineering bedridden mother for 11 years prior to her death. She had been half-alive satisfying her mother's needs and repressing her own needs and desires. Her mother's death had given her a new lease of life, an unexpected freedom which also attracted fear and bewilderment to someone who had been so sheltered...
Read more