Annotation:
Seventeen year old Jacob, arrives in Amsterdam alone to explore the city, and meet the mysterious Geertrui, a nurse who tended to his dead grandfather during World War II. Once there, he encounters unforgettable experiences that question his ideals of love, sexuality and family.
Justification for Nomination:
Wonderfully blending two separate stories of love and finding yourself, Aidan Chambers manages to interweave these plots together to pack an emotionally devastating, yet satisfying story.
In my first read I'll admit I had a hard time focusing between the two voices the Aidan Chambers uses. For each chapter he bounces back and forth in time to tell a war torn story of two lovers that hold a secret. It isn't until we jump back to the present that we find out what it was and get the rug pulled out from under you.
The style of writing in this book works wonderfully because it packs an emotional punch while also planting and trickling certain details that reveal its importance later on.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not a fan of war stories but the author does a phenomenal job in painting a picturesque scene without ever over indulging us. As you read on you are actively placed in the shoes of Geertrui, and witness her love struck pain as she mends to hidden soldiers during World War II.
This book is notorious for getting you emotionally involved with the story before it switches to present day setting where we follow an intelligent dreamer named Jacob. Through his adventures you are overtaken with anxiety following him through Amsterdam and getting used to foreign customs and culture.
Both stories really focus on challenging oneself and way of life. It weighs heavily on new experiences and whether or not you let yourself live.
Besides the strong writing style and bouncing in and out of these characters stories, the best part of the book was the strong and realistic dialogue. Since most it all took place in Amsterdam, there were realistic translations and interactions between Jacob (who was English) and the cast he came in contact with. There were many beautiful lines one could pick out that deal heavily with the books theme. Even the slightest phrase sounded so elegant, "all art is love, because all art is about looking closely, isn't it? Looking closely at what's being painted." This is one of my favorite quotes as a character exposes himself while also introducing a particular philosophy.
In the end I found this book very moving, coming of age and filled with honest emotion. As a screenwriter I found the story visually breathtaking and could easily translate to film and touch others lives as much as it has mine.
