This
story takes place in 1954 and is about a 21-day journey that Michael, 11, takes from Ceylon to England
on an ocean liner to reunite with his mother who he hasn’t seen in years and
barely remembers. He is traveling alone and befriends two others boys his age,
as well as several older shipmates that eat at the “Cat’s Table” (the table in
the dining room furthest from the Captain’s).
We see the journey from his eyes as he spends three weeks spying on the
fellow passengers, getting into mischief, and even learning about an intriguing
prisoner on board being transported to England. While the author makes it very
clear at the end that this is a fictional work, it seems similar to Michael
Ondaatje’s own life and I was a little disappointed to learn it wasn’t a
memoir.
I have a
hard time recommending this book, though you can’t deny it’s great writing. As
I see it, this book is all about ‘the journey’, without a strong plot holding
it together. The characters are interesting but the story falls flat and was actually
a little boring at times. There were a few amusing bits, especially the part
where the boys ride out a terrible storm while tied to the boat’s deck.
I understand now why my
fellow book lover friends all said they weren’t too impressed by it. It is not
a book I would hand to a friend and say "you must read this". If it’s still of interest to you after reading
my review, maybe wait until you see it at the library so at least you don’t
waste your money.
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