Matilda’s small island of Bougainville is at war. The redskins are invaders and many of the young men from her village are engaged in fighting them; she lives her life constantly tense and alert, deprived of many of the privileges she experienced in her youth. There is no electricity, no running water, no schools, and the villagers must live off the land. There is just one white man left in the village, and eventually he takes initiative and starts a school. His teaching consists mainly of reading Great Expectations aloud to the class, and Matilda for the first time discovers the power of literature.
For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. I absolutely loved when the teacher, Mr Watts, began reading Great Expectations. It was just magical to see Matilda learn about stepping outside of her life for the first time, and she remarks that she feels like she knows Pip and is completely bound up in his story. She felt like a kindred spirit after that. The book started out so charming. The war parts, however, made me distinctly uncomfortable and sad, as one might expect, so the book was certainly not all a joy, and it’s hard to say I enjoy people being hacked into pieces. It all seems to happen very abruptly, especially when I realized that the author was trying to convey a message about morality. He asks us to consider what a good person is and what a good person does, and the result was quite shocking and upsetting.
I much preferred the parts on the island to the end of the book, but I appreciated that too. I can understand why Mister Pip was shortlisted for the Booker prize. It’s such a compelling tale about the power of story and really looks at the consequences of our actions, the horror of war, and simple goodness. I was really surprised by what I got out of this slim volume, and I definitely recommend it.
I am an Amazon Associate. I borrowed this book from my local library.
I haven’t heard of this one, even though it was shortlisted. It sounds different. I think the cover is charming!
.-= Stephanie´s last blog ..Sunday Salon =-.
I loved Mr Pip. I read Great Expectations just before I read it and I think that really helped. I know what you mean about the ending though – I thought it was the weakest part of the book too.
I have a few more of his books in my TBR pile, but haven’t got round to reading them yet – I really should!
.-= Jackie (Farm Lane Books)´s last blog ..Disgrace – J.M. Coetzee =-.
I loved Mr. Pip too. I read Great Expectations right before it like Jackie, and I agree, I think it really helped get into Mr. Pip better. I also agree that the ending was a little weak, but the rest of the story was shocking, sad, and moving. I really loved Matilda.
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday =-.
I bought this ages ago with every intention of reading it sooner rather than later. It’s still waiting…
.-= lenore´s last blog ..Book Review: The Ask and the Answer by Patrick Ness =-.
Wow, what a story! It sounds like one that makes you think and I love books like that!
.-= Kathy´s last blog ..Our Life in France – banking, money and numbers =-.
This sounds really interesting. I’m with you — I don’t like reading about people being hacked apart.
I might still give it a try, though.
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..Review: The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe =-.
This one has been on my TBR shelf for ages and my radar for even longer… I’m really hoping to get to it this year at some point!
.-= Darren @ Bart’s Bookshelf´s last blog ..Author Interview: Alex Bell (& Giveaway) =-.
I enjoyed this when I read it. I was afraid the use of “Great Expectations” might come off as a gimmick but found it worked in ways I hadn’t expected!
I have heard about this book but never looked into it. Now it sounds quite lovely! And the cover is beautiful, too. I will have to keep an eye out for it. Thanks!
.-= Aarti´s last blog ..With Reverent Hands: Magician, by Raymond E. Feist =-.
I really liked this. I remember being shocked by the hacking apart though aswell. It just came out of the blue.
.-= Jo´s last blog ..Booking Through Thursday-Encouragement =-.
I haven’t heard of this one, either, but it sounds really good! It reminds me of a book I read in middle school that I really liked.
.-= heidenkind´s last blog ..Urban/e Vampires =-.
I mostly remember Great Expectations! Anyway, this does sound like something I’d like.
.-= Beth F´s last blog ..Guest Post: Philipp Meyer (American Rust) =-.
I am so glad that you reviewed this, because it’s one of the books I’ve been toying with reading. It sounds like it’s worth the read and I’ve been on a little streak of reading Booker winners and nominees.
.-= Literate Housewife´s last blog ..#234 ~ A Reliable Wife =-.
I gave this book to Serena for Christmas. I’m hoping she’ll let me borrow it at some point. Sounds like a powerful story.
.-= Anna´s last blog ..And the winners are… =-.
I Loved this book we as a class watched great expectation first tho. It is really sad, intense i even cryed a little but yeah i didnt really like the ending i dont know what I expected the ending to be like but thats not what I had imagined