So, it's been a while, huh? I'm afraid my excuse is travel (again), but I promise I'm not going off on anymore holidays for the forseeable, so I'll be here. In England. In the rain. Anyway, what was I saying? Oh, right, the book... I've seen this novel in the children's section of various bookshops, and I have to say, I don't really think it belongs.
That's not to say that it isn't fit for children, just that it is suitable for adults. It's about children, yes, but as anyone who's ever read 'The Lord of the Flies' will tell you, that doesn't mean it's for children. (Just an aside: if you're waiting for me to write a review of 'The Lord of the Flies', I should warn you, you'll be waiting for quite some time. I read it last when I was 8 - so when I say it's not suitable for children, I mean it - and any review would require me to reread it. Which I don't intend to do. Ever. Sorry.)
So, by now you're probably thinking that I haven't read the book at all and am hoping to distract you by saying rude things about classics... I promise, I have. Several times, in fact, which means, I'm afraid it's another positive review. I really liked this novel. It's set in Nazi Germany, which gives it the requisite amount of darkness with minimum effort. It isn't too dark and doesn't leave you despairing of humanity, though I did cry.
The only complaint I really have is that, while the basic conceit (a story narrated by death) is good, it sometimes gets a little irritating, as he will insist on telling how it ends. I don't mean that in a foreshadowing, hint-y kind of way, I mean he actually tells you. Luckily, he's a good enough writer that the end still comes as a surprise, but it can be annoying. Otherwise, I like the characters, I enjoyed the plot and his writing style is, by and large, very likeable.
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