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A review by hobbitfreddie
Private Peaceful by Michael Morpurgo
4.0
First off this is now the 6th World War 1 era book I've read now. I'm very interested in this genre, and have loved every one I've read, this one while still very good, it's probably my least favorite. I strongly recomend the read, it's short and once you get into it you can finish it pretty fast. I think it's accessible to a wide variety, people who aren't interested in war fic and people like me who devour it. For the WW1 nerds, it offers some variety and uniqueness.
Story: The story is a bit unconvential for a WW1 book. As most of the book is a reflection. I think that part can turn people away but it's really quite a nice way to tell a story. It succeeds at almost manipulating the reading to love the characters. It's not really about the war in general, it's about Thomas and Charlie. His childhood, the war, and everything. And for being roughly 200 pages it does a pretty good job at telling that story.
My complaint is that during the book, alot of drama and terrible things happen, as such it feels a bit like emotional manipulation. In All Quiet on the Western Front, another WW1 book, there is alot of terrible stuff, but it's balanced out, or it feels natural. Here, even before the war part happens, I feel like every chapter has something terrible happen. I believe that's the point and maybe also expanding the theme of the horrors of war. But anyways I guess it serves to show suffering that people have to go through, even as a kid. It's also a YA novel, and I don't read those often, so it must just be how they are.
Another complaint would be it may feel more of just a drama meant to invoke emotions, and just be that, like a Hallmark movie. I do think it's more of that if you really take in the book and it's themes.
Anyways the way the story is told really made it for me. I just can't hate the book, it's just really beautiful and sad. Which is probably the easiest way to make a good book, but it does it pretty well for a book so short.
Character: The characters are alright. In war fiction you usually don't get too unique of characters, but they're still pretty good. I really liked that Thomas and Charlie have a strong brotherly connection, rather than alot of media depictions of siblings that make them bicker and junk. It's just really sweet I'm a sucker for close friendships. The side characters are pretty good too, they add to the story nicely.
Writing: I can't really tell writing wise if this is a YA or middle grade book, either way- it's pretty well written. It's nicely written and not too simple, but not too wordy or anything. It's a good mix of the two extremes. And the way it sets up everything is great, especially the ending.
Themes: I picked up that there's some themes of being a kid, more specifically the relationship between kids and adults. Which ties into this being a WW1 book well, because alot of young men and even boys were sent to the war by adults. There's probably more stuff about that in the book but I don't want t go on too long. There's some other themes sprinkled in of course about war in general, religion, family, etc.
Story: The story is a bit unconvential for a WW1 book. As most of the book is a reflection. I think that part can turn people away but it's really quite a nice way to tell a story. It succeeds at almost manipulating the reading to love the characters. It's not really about the war in general, it's about Thomas and Charlie. His childhood, the war, and everything. And for being roughly 200 pages it does a pretty good job at telling that story.
My complaint is that during the book, alot of drama and terrible things happen, as such it feels a bit like emotional manipulation. In All Quiet on the Western Front, another WW1 book, there is alot of terrible stuff, but it's balanced out, or it feels natural. Here, even before the war part happens, I feel like every chapter has something terrible happen. I believe that's the point and maybe also expanding the theme of the horrors of war. But anyways I guess it serves to show suffering that people have to go through, even as a kid. It's also a YA novel, and I don't read those often, so it must just be how they are.
Another complaint would be it may feel more of just a drama meant to invoke emotions, and just be that, like a Hallmark movie. I do think it's more of that if you really take in the book and it's themes.
Anyways the way the story is told really made it for me. I just can't hate the book, it's just really beautiful and sad. Which is probably the easiest way to make a good book, but it does it pretty well for a book so short.
Character: The characters are alright. In war fiction you usually don't get too unique of characters, but they're still pretty good. I really liked that Thomas and Charlie have a strong brotherly connection, rather than alot of media depictions of siblings that make them bicker and junk. It's just really sweet I'm a sucker for close friendships. The side characters are pretty good too, they add to the story nicely.
Writing: I can't really tell writing wise if this is a YA or middle grade book, either way- it's pretty well written. It's nicely written and not too simple, but not too wordy or anything. It's a good mix of the two extremes. And the way it sets up everything is great, especially the ending.
Themes: I picked up that there's some themes of being a kid, more specifically the relationship between kids and adults. Which ties into this being a WW1 book well, because alot of young men and even boys were sent to the war by adults. There's probably more stuff about that in the book but I don't want t go on too long. There's some other themes sprinkled in of course about war in general, religion, family, etc.