Over recent years, John Boyne has published a series of four novellas named after the ancient elements of Water, Earth, Air and Fire. I have just finished reading the first two, Water and Earth, both published in 2023. In each, Boyne takes on a part of human nature which is dark and difficult and examines it through the story of a central character.
In Water, the central character is a woman of fifty-two who moves from Dublin to an unnamed island after the end of her marriage. The first thing she does is change her name to Willow Hale. Water is a disturbing recurring theme in her story, not just the water surrounding the island but the water that has claimed the life of one of her family.
The past Willow is escaping is revealed gradually, mainly through flashbacks. Her hermit-like existence gives her time and space to reflect on her childhood, marriage and children. At the same time, she is drawn into the lives of the people on the island. Willow’s willingness to face the pain of the past and her part in it gives her the strength to return to Dublin.
The second novella, Earth, tells the story of one of the minor characters met in Water. Evan Keogh escapes the island and his domineering father at about the same time as Willow Hale leaves. Evan is a gifted if reluctant soccer player who would prefer to be an artist. When the book begins, Evan and fellow players in a top English team have been accused of rape.
The earth of the title is the earth of the island which Evan longs to smell and feel again. Like Willow in Water, he is in self-imposed exile. His experiences after arrival in England help explain how he has arrived in this situation. In a surprise twist, the ending of Earth involves much more than the court verdict.
Both books are compelling and take a relatively short time to read. They make you reflect on what you would do in such circumstances. I’m looking forward to reading the next two novellas in the series, Fire and Air, both published in 2024.
