Why did I chose this book?
It is a novel set on another familiar island; an evocative story based on truth. We visited The Orkneys several years ago and loved them, especially the uncovered layers of history everywhere you turn, from Mesolithic and Neolithic tribes through to World War 2. There is none more moving than the Italian Chapel built from an old Nissen hut and beautifully painted by Italian Prisoners of War, as if it was a famous chapel in the heart of Rome. I looked forward to reading The Metal Heart, not only to whisk me back to The Orkneys, but to also to bring these Italians from WW2 alive in my head!
Did I feel empathy for any particular character?
I could not help but be drawn both the Dorothy and Con as they struggled to survive; supporting each other through thick and thin and comforting each other for the loss of their parents. They escaped the town for a tiny island, only to be surrounded by strangers who become more than that, especially to Dorothy. I can imagine being entranced by the building of the chapel and mesmerised by the inside of it. Not to mention the exotic Italian men who created it!
Is there a lasting thought or memory from the book which remains with me long after the novel is finished?
Self sacrifice ~ Dorothy and Con gave up their seclusion to be war time nurses on the main island, and yet their gain was to keep safe from harm.
Then there was ultimate self sacrifice ~ I will not expand on this to be a spoiler, but it made me question, and still does when thinking about it:
- ‘How much do I give of myself for the benefit of others?’ ‘In the end is it true that I gain as much myself, as I give?’
What do you think?
Diana Jackson's Muse, Views and Reviews 