Happy Monday all I hope your weekends were great
And welcome to the November featured monthly read. I have seen many programs lately on elephants being killed for their Ivory so this is indeed a timely read even though it's set a ways back in the past.
So let’s get chatting about it
Gareth will of course be here looking over our shoulders so if you have a question for him ask away!
Journey From Darkness
Week One
Parts one and two
Week One
Parts one and two
What are your first impressions of the novel?
Your initial thoughts on Derek and Edward
Gareth brought attention to Derek’s recurring dream more
than once.
Why do you think that is?
Why do you think that is?
As always please only use this as a guide I encourage
talking about questions you have too!
Ooo I am looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts on this.
ReplyDeleteHi Kim, me too :)
DeleteSorry I'm so late in posting this. Last week just flew by.
ReplyDeleteWhat are your first impressions of the novel?
This is one book that I immediately fell in love with. The characters felt so real and I felt an instant attachment to the two brothers, Derek and Edward. I loved the bond they shared. Here were two orphaned boys growing up in the reformatory and in the opening pages, the two brothers were boxing each other over a girl. After Derek knocked out Edward and the boys received a diary their father had written about his time in Africa, I was swept up into the mystery of the elephants their father had seen. This book is so well written, that I have found myself re-reading and highlighting many sentences along the way because of how beautiful they are. This first section of reading was fantastic and I can't wait to get started on this week's section.
-April
Your initial thoughts on Derek and Edward:
ReplyDeleteIn the beginning, I liked Edward more than Derek. Edward seemed to be the more careful and more thoughtful of the two. He let Derek win the boxing match and saved Derek's life during the war even though it meant he took a bayonet through the chest. Edward was the older brother and seemed to be Derek's protector. Derek on the other hand was quicker to anger and seemed to act on a whim. Whenever something angered him, he was ready for a fight. As the book progressed though, I found myself liking Derek more and more. His anger over what was happening to the elephants at the hands of poachers made me see him in a different light. For the first time his anger seemed to serve a purpose. I loved reading about Derek throwing caution to the wind and going to sit in front of the injured elephant, taking off his shirt to prove he wasn't a threat to the animal. My love for Derek grew even more when he decided to follow the injured elephant on her journey to protect her from any more poachers. He wasn't the least bit concerned for his own safety, he only wanted to keep the elephant safe.
-April
Gareth brought attention to Derek’s recurring dream more than once. Why do you think that is?
ReplyDeleteDuring the war, soldiers had no choice but to kill the enemy or be killed themselves. I think Derek's guilt at being forced to kill others was carrying over into his dreams. He began dreaming of the little German girl waiting for her father who would never return. In Derek's last dream in this section, he dreamt the girl's father safely returning. For me, it represented a turning point in Derek's life. I think it was a sign for him to let go of his guilt and focus on the next chapter of his life.
-April
April, Wow What lovely sentiments. I'm glad you're liking the novel. And I agree about being drawn into the story the author has tons of ways he does that.
DeleteAnd one thing I've noticed about this novel as well as Finding Jack was that even though the characters go through some terrible trials in the book Gareth always somehow softens the blow for us readers, I'm not sure how he does that but I'm glad he does.
Thanks April now on to Week Two!