The Most Beautiful Villages of Provence - Michael Jacobs

Advantages: Beautiful, simple, thematically rich children's book
Disadvantages: none

...'s Jewish son-in-law, Benjamin, is attempting to smuggle 12 Jewish refugee children into Spain... and then German forces arrive to occupy the village and patrol the border. This is a stylistically simple, thematically rich and evocative little gem of a book. Delving into issues not often discussed in books about the war for children (the three or four most popular, such as Tom's Private War and Goodnight Mister Tom tend to focus on the evacuee angle), it is a beautifully written book that, although it was ultimately a children's book, finally put me in mind of that great adult's classic of complexity viewed through the eyes of a child: To Kill A Mockingbird. Waiting for Anya is told in very straightforward language, in the third person. It reads smoothly and paces itself beautifully between the internal wonderings of Jo, a boy who feels keenly... Read review

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Advantages: Moody, moving, meticulous, marvellous
Disadvantages: None of importance

...Those who have seen the two films Jean de Florette and Manon des Sources will have no difficulty recognising this story, on which they are based. Reading the book, one is struck again and again by how faithfully the films follow the plot, as well as capture the spirit and atmosphere, of the original. One is struck too by how much reading the book still manages to add, proving that a word can occasionally be worth a thousand pictures, however often the reverse is also true. Those who haven't seen the films have an even bigger treat in store: a great novel to read as well as two beautifully-made films to see. My advice to them would be to experience all three, and the sooner the better. * The plot * The story is set in the high, dry limestone country inland from Marseilles, at an unspecified time early in the last century. Papet... Read review

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Advantages: Great story, fascinating characters, haunting read
Disadvantages: None

..., but this might be because our modern-day society would not usually expect eighteen-year-olds to be in her situation - widowed, two children, running a farm and doing hard physical work every day. The whole village is brought to life in the novel, with a clear picture being painted from the great descriptive prose. I could easily visualise the layout of Eyam and felt I knew most of its inhabitants too. The characters are beautifully etched and we soon come to love or hate each one. Along with Anna, the two main characters are the village rector Michael Mompellion and his wife Elinor. Anna helps Elinor out and they begin a friendship which was unusual at the time between women in their position, Anna being of a much lower social standing than Elinor. It is interesting comparing the two women and their strengths and weaknesses. It seems natural... Read review

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