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A review by _matthewdon_
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
3.0
It may be a fictionalised and highly melodramatic read, but the events in [a:Michael Morpurgo|8080|Michael Morpurgo|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1260905000p2/8080.jpg]'s 2003 novel [b:Private Peaceful|1048645|Private Peaceful|Michael Morpurgo|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328868065s/1048645.jpg|2454980] are based on what would happen to WW1 soldiers, who we now know were suffering from shell-shock but were treated like prisoners for their "cowardice".
Following two brothers and their First World War experiences, Private Peaceful has all the makings of a Morpurgo outing: brothers, war, unrequited love, this should be a pinnacle of what is undoubtedly a long and illustrious career, spanning forty years. But everything in this book has been done before; it's like slipping your feet into a nice, warm, comforting pair of slippers. It's so familiar. But that doesn't mean it's ostensibly bad. No, in fact, on the contrary. It's a well-written, respectful ode to the men who fought for our country. There's some parts that go a little over the top and get all tear-jerky, but that doesn't mean it's unwelcome. I enjoyed it, but Morpurgo keeps repeating the same motifs and themes and symbolisms and even ideas, over and over. His work is some of my favourites and he is the most reliable author working today, but seriously. If [a:Michael Morpurgo|8080|Michael Morpurgo|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1260905000p2/8080.jpg] is on the cover, buy it. But, it is getting a little tired, if you ask me. Well worth a chance but if you've read some of his other books you might not love it; it's a good intro to him, though.
Following two brothers and their First World War experiences, Private Peaceful has all the makings of a Morpurgo outing: brothers, war, unrequited love, this should be a pinnacle of what is undoubtedly a long and illustrious career, spanning forty years. But everything in this book has been done before; it's like slipping your feet into a nice, warm, comforting pair of slippers. It's so familiar. But that doesn't mean it's ostensibly bad. No, in fact, on the contrary. It's a well-written, respectful ode to the men who fought for our country. There's some parts that go a little over the top and get all tear-jerky, but that doesn't mean it's unwelcome. I enjoyed it, but Morpurgo keeps repeating the same motifs and themes and symbolisms and even ideas, over and over. His work is some of my favourites and he is the most reliable author working today, but seriously. If [a:Michael Morpurgo|8080|Michael Morpurgo|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1260905000p2/8080.jpg] is on the cover, buy it. But, it is getting a little tired, if you ask me. Well worth a chance but if you've read some of his other books you might not love it; it's a good intro to him, though.