And first read of the year goes to..........The True Story of Hansel and Gretel.
OK so I started it in December but I finished it in 2019 so it counts.
"In the last months of the Nazi occupation of Poland, two children are left by their father and stepmother to find safety in a dense forest. Because their real names will reveal their Jewishness, they are renamed "Hansel" and "Gretel." They wander in the woods until they are taken in by Magda, an eccentric and stubborn old woman called "witch" by the nearby villagers. Magda is determined to save them, even as a German officer arrives in the village with his own plans for the children. Louise Murphy's haunting novel of journey and survival, of redemption and memory, powerfully depicts how war is experienced by families and especially by children."
Billed as a retelling of the classic fairy tale all the elements are there: the forest, the breadcrumb trail, the witch, even the oven but twisted into a believable war story. Hats off to Murphy for managing to incorporate so much of the classic whilst still telling her, very original story.
I've read a lot of World War Two stories but nothing quite like this. For a start there are no British, no Americans and very few soldiers. Just a melting pot of peasant Poles, Russians and Germans. There is very little fighting, with most of the story taking place in a small Polish town and the forest that surrounds it. Magic and religion are featured heavily and surprisingly, fitted together perfectly. If you're a fan of war stories then it's a very original good one.
I've read many fairy tales in my time but, again, nothing quite like this. The Brothers Grimm can be, well, grim, but this was cruel, heartbreaking and at times positively disturbing. Whilst Hansel and Gretel are central to the story, it's certainly not for children.
"The orders had been explicit. The best load for rapid burning was one fat body that burned well, one starved that couldn't burn much, and a child."
I loved Murphy's portrayal of both the witch (Magda) and the step mother, finding in particular Magda's tale simply beautiful. I had a tear in my eye at times! This most gentle character also involved some of the most brutal scenes of the book, boy what a contrast!
It would have been so easy to make the step mother wicked. Yet Murphy made her strong, brave and practical. I loved the fact that Murphy also chose to stick to very simplistic names for certain characters: step mother, mechanik, witch. Only a glimpse into their former lives remained, the war had taken away everything else.
My only criticism is that I found the Oberfuhrer's ending (not giving anything away) a little bit too neat, but this didn't stop me totally loving the book and I strongly recommend it.
The link to the book surprisingly takes you to Salt Lake City Library. Yes, Salt Lake City Utah, America. No, I haven't been on holiday but my copy of the book is second hand and when opening it the words "Discarded, Salt Lake City Public Library" were found stamped inside the front cover. It's clearly travelled some miles but for now, it's staying put as I think it's a total keeper.
OK so I started it in December but I finished it in 2019 so it counts.
"In the last months of the Nazi occupation of Poland, two children are left by their father and stepmother to find safety in a dense forest. Because their real names will reveal their Jewishness, they are renamed "Hansel" and "Gretel." They wander in the woods until they are taken in by Magda, an eccentric and stubborn old woman called "witch" by the nearby villagers. Magda is determined to save them, even as a German officer arrives in the village with his own plans for the children. Louise Murphy's haunting novel of journey and survival, of redemption and memory, powerfully depicts how war is experienced by families and especially by children."
Billed as a retelling of the classic fairy tale all the elements are there: the forest, the breadcrumb trail, the witch, even the oven but twisted into a believable war story. Hats off to Murphy for managing to incorporate so much of the classic whilst still telling her, very original story.
I've read a lot of World War Two stories but nothing quite like this. For a start there are no British, no Americans and very few soldiers. Just a melting pot of peasant Poles, Russians and Germans. There is very little fighting, with most of the story taking place in a small Polish town and the forest that surrounds it. Magic and religion are featured heavily and surprisingly, fitted together perfectly. If you're a fan of war stories then it's a very original good one.
I've read many fairy tales in my time but, again, nothing quite like this. The Brothers Grimm can be, well, grim, but this was cruel, heartbreaking and at times positively disturbing. Whilst Hansel and Gretel are central to the story, it's certainly not for children.
"The orders had been explicit. The best load for rapid burning was one fat body that burned well, one starved that couldn't burn much, and a child."
I loved Murphy's portrayal of both the witch (Magda) and the step mother, finding in particular Magda's tale simply beautiful. I had a tear in my eye at times! This most gentle character also involved some of the most brutal scenes of the book, boy what a contrast!
It would have been so easy to make the step mother wicked. Yet Murphy made her strong, brave and practical. I loved the fact that Murphy also chose to stick to very simplistic names for certain characters: step mother, mechanik, witch. Only a glimpse into their former lives remained, the war had taken away everything else.
My only criticism is that I found the Oberfuhrer's ending (not giving anything away) a little bit too neat, but this didn't stop me totally loving the book and I strongly recommend it.
The link to the book surprisingly takes you to Salt Lake City Library. Yes, Salt Lake City Utah, America. No, I haven't been on holiday but my copy of the book is second hand and when opening it the words "Discarded, Salt Lake City Public Library" were found stamped inside the front cover. It's clearly travelled some miles but for now, it's staying put as I think it's a total keeper.
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