Tamar by Mal Peet

People who have been reading my blog might have realised by now how much I love Mal Peet's writing. Only experiencing it for the first time last year when I read his latest novel, Life: An Exploded Diagram, then further this year when I read Keeper and Penalty.

I'm very excited that I get to meet him this week thanks to Sydney Writer's Festival! But I'm a little sad I didn't get time to read Exposure as well. Needless to say, I'll get to it when I can.

Tamar is made up of two stories: one set in Holland in 1944-45 and one set in England in 1995. They overlap, interweave and are tied in more ways than are instantly clear.

In 1995 Tamar, a fifteen year old girl, witnesses the declining physical and mental health of her grandmother, while her grandfather becomes more distant and eventually commits suicide. Her father, the link between that side of the family disappeared without a trace years earlier.

In 1944 two Dutch operatives, code-names Dart and Tamar are parachuted back into Holland after training in the UK to help organise the resistance.

Like the others of Peet's books, this one is brilliantly written. He has a way of crafting words that is inspirational. This compelling novel looks at only some of the devastating generational effects of war on those who fought, or were witness to the horrible things that happened.

I should point out, that I have never had what could be described as 'an interest' in modern history, historical fiction set in recent times, or war in general. Ancient, mythical and magical has always been a lot more engaging for me. But if more of it were written at the high standard that Mal Peet has set, then I would be interested. Between Tamar and Life, I've discovered that when in the hands of the right storyteller, topics outside of my comfort zone are a must read! I mean, look at how Mal got me reading about football (soccer) - and loving it! (not the sport *shudder*, the reading about it...)

Have I convinced you yet to read any of his books? Let me know if I haven't and I'll try harder!

 

4 Gold Stars

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The Penalty by Mal Peet

Mal Peet is an amazing writer. He writes the most fascinating stories about basic subject matter that I would usually have no interest in. Keeper is predominantly about football/soccer, I'm not into sport in any way, yet I loved this book. Life: An Exploded Diagram is set during the cold war/Cuban missile crisis, I love me some ancient history, but modern has never been as engaging, yet this book totally blew my mind. So when it came to reading the 'next' in the 'Paul Faustino' series I was ready to put aside my dislike of sport once more because I knew I was going to get a great story none the less.

And I was right. If anything, this book has a lot less actual soccer in it than Keeper did, as this focuses more on the kidnapping of soccer star and the religion and voodoo that it is wrapped up in. Almost a half of the book is set in the 1800s, telling the story of a slave captured and brought to South America who ends up becoming a powerful spiritual leader. This same faith is the root of the kidnapping and the strange goings-on in San Juan, a city in an imaginary South American country.

I loved the two stories and how they intertwined, never really stating with any finality whether the spiritual happenings were real, or not. Leaving it to our own beliefs to decide.

I'm looking forward to reading the rest of Mal Peet's books, if you haven't read any, you should amend that!

4 Gold Stars

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8/40

Keeper by Mal Peet

After reading Life: An Exploded Diagram I was so thoroughly impressed by Mal Peet's writing that I vowed to myself that I would go back and read all his other books.

So, needing to start somewhere, I came to Keeper.

I need to be up front, I am not sporty at all. I dislike sports of nearly all kinds and so found myself cringing at the thought of reading a book that is, pretty much, all about football/soccer. But a promise is a promise, even if it is one you make to yourself and don't actually speak it out loud.

However, it did not take long for me to become riveted. Yes, I thought, this is writing should do you: make you hungrily devour a book on a topic you couldn't care less about. The story was great, going further than a typical sport book and adding layer after layer. Yes, this is a book about football, but it is also a ghost story, it is a superbly realised example of magic realism. I loved it. Think how much you would love it if you actually liked sport, or football?

I've heard glowing reviews of Mal Peet's books from a large number of people, and 'Life' was my first Peet experience. Keeper did not let me down. If anything, my resolve to read all of his books has been strengthened. And, learning that he is coming to Sydney for the Writer's Festival means I now have a dead-line to have them all read by.

From now on, if anyone asks me for a good sport related read, this will be top of the list. It's not far off the same list for a good read in general.

4 Gold Stars

(to read about by rating system, go HERE)

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Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet

Wow! I have heard some glowing reviews about Mal Peet’s writing in general but had never had the time to read any of his books. Until now… and I’m left amazed!

Peet’s prose is a smorgasbord for those who love the English language and what it’s capable of. Full of rich and original descriptions and subtleties that state plainly what going on in the story, but allude to so much more. If there is one thing he has achieved in this brilliant book, it is a perfect illustration of Life as an exploded diagram.  No piece of the story is too small or too large to be left out. Each little detail all fits perfectly into the picture. Peet has superbly realised with this novel what his narrator has with his art: “I’ve made my living these past thirty years painting and drawing things exactly and intensely as they are and letting them speak for themselves.”

The story itself centres on two teenagers who are trying to make sense of life and love in the English countryside in the shadow of the Cuban Missile Crisis. The missile crisis is explained in detail as it will affect both of them more than they could have ever imagined.

This is for the reader who wants more. More of everything. More of life. It is not simply another teenage love story. Quoting the book: “Lord knows, bookshop shelves already creak under the weight of Misery Memoirs and Teen Novels that might as well all be called My School Hell. I have no desire to add my small pebble to that avalanche of unhappiness.” 

Do not be fooled by this being shelved in Young Adult fiction sections of bookshops. While it is a great read for the teen who wants something meatier, something better, it is just as much for adults. Those that lived through the missile crisis, those that have only heard about it, those that haven’t but have had a run-in with teenage love, and those that are simply fascinated by life and how everything fits together. In all honesty, I have no interest in politics, but there was no point in this book that I didn’t want to keep reading. Such astounding writing has left me invigorated. I strongly suggest you read this book.

Now I’ve got all of Mal Peet’s other novels to look forward to. As a friend said to me recently “I’m jealous that you’ll get to read them for the first time.” There is a magic in that first reading. There certainly was in this one.