BR - Postcards from No Man's Land By Aidan Chambers



Paperback: 336 pages Publisher: Definitions; Re-issue edition (4 Jan 2007) Source: Publisher

Rating;



My Thoughts - Being the first book I have ever read from the author I really didn't know what to expect. I knew that the book had received a lot of praise and had even won The Carnegie Medal not to mention the premise sounded very appealing to me. Taking that all into account it was more than enough to pique my interest!

The first chapter starts of unlike any I have read before. A young man named Jacob has arrived to Amsterdam to attend a memorial service for World War ll - battle of Arnhem. His grandfather Jacob was one of the unlucky ones who never made it back home. (As you might have noticed he is named after his grandfather :) ) Feeling quite lost he momentarily finds a place and waits to be served when he catches the eye of a girl. She is pretty, delicate looking and of good height, he is definitely attracted to her. Turns out so is she. That is until they exchange information upon where the girl tells him her name is Ton, and before leaving gives less than a subtle hint that she might actually be a he. As you can expect this threw me of as much as it did Jacob, I really did not see that coming!

The narrative switches between Jacob which is told from third person and Geertrui who is reminiscing all the way back to 1944, the day she met the love of her life. Her story is told from first person and so for the reader it is much easier to bond and connect with Geertrui. 

Whilst in Amsterdam due his grandmother's request he stays with a Dutch family where he first meets Daan whom Jacob quickly strikes a friendship with. Daan also introduces Jacob to his grandmother who happens to be Geertrui. Now a very old and sick lady, she has not long left. The first time Jacob meets her he instantly senses this whit and fire in her, a lingering presence of the Geertrui that we know to well since we have gotten to know her through her story. There is no mistaking the instant bond that is shared between Jacob and Geertrui; you get the gist that upon seeing him she is remembering her past. It is a scene that would make anyone a bit teary eyed. She is still yearning for a man who has been dead for over fifty years, and still seems to be just as hopelessly in love with him.

We know that Jacob has this infatuation with Anne Frank, like we speak of our admiration of fictional characters that is almost the equivalent of what he shares for Anne Frank, but the feelings are intensified and for someone who very much existed. At one point he even leads one to believe that he might be in love with her. It's hard to think that he is just 17 year old. One would think that Jacob is at least in his 20s, it was after I realised his age that it dawned on me how mature this boy really is. 

He has a lot on his plate. Never really bonding with his sister, mother or father growing up, there is a lot of anger and bitterness welled up when he thinks of them. Perhaps because they never made the effort to ask him to stay when he left home and moved out to live with his grandmother. To add to things he is discovering that he might be attracted to men. It's a lot to take in at once at such a young age. 

Whilst in Amsterdam, he will find that the reason behind his grandmother asking him to visit may just have more of a motive than he could have ever imagined. Specifically linking to; Himself, his grandmother, Geertrui, Daan and his grandfather Jacob.

There was something that I couldn't help but notice. The book did tend to pick up pace and just as quick slow down through the middle of the story which I struggled with, but this was mostly when it came to Jacobs POV. I have to admit I found Geertrui' story much more interesting. It required some patience, but I think that's hardly asking for to much. Soon enough I was engrossed once more.

At one point in the novel Daan makes a good observation. What Geertrui and her lover shared was passionate, but brief. Things most likely would have turned out completely different had circumstances been different. Yet because of the way things ended, even now she has been living with this fantasy as has another woman. 

I really liked Geertrui's love interest (must be slightly vague to avoid being spoilery!) when he was first introduced. He seemed like great guy, decent and caring, it's not hard to see why she fell in love with him. However, as Daan points out, considering his past which we are not aware of until near the end; shows that not all is as one may seem. I would be lying if I said that the revelation didn't slightly make me think less of him. For being such a great man, it's hardly an honourable thing to do. Consequences or hormones are hardly an excuse in my opinion.

Postcards from No Man's Land, although quite predictable it was an interesting read which definitely kept me intrigued and eager throughout. It tells the story of; loss, betrayal and love as well as mystery. Mystery and betrayal perhaps being the highlight of the whole novel. It grew on me, but more than anything I adored and respected Geertrui, if anything reading her story makes reading the book worthwhile. 

I have to share this because I had this "oh my gosh" moment when I picked up on it! I only did because today I was browsing some Lauren Bacall movies and I came across this scene. The exact scene that was quoted by Ton to Jacob!. My instant reaction was when Jacob was completely puzzled. "Hold up, is it, could it be?" and it is. The video is below if you want to see the actual scene from where the quote comes from.  Here it is the quote from the book.

"You know how to do that, don't you,  Jacques? Just put your lips together and blow."
Which produced a smile. He knew Ton was quoting something, couldn't remember and didn't know what but it was funny anyway 


Warning; has a kissing scene for the first few seconds. So, if you are 10 years of age or below close your eyes now! :D



She was merely 19 at the time, but such a stunner! Just to let you know, the two of them started dating and later married. Are you surprised? :)

Posted by Blueicegal ♥ at 16:01
What This Involves: ,