Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Fable Publication.Date May 10th 2011 Pages: 224 Where to get: Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Website John Boyne Noah Barleywater Runs Away My review copy: Received from David Fickling Books through Shelf Awareness (Thank you!)
In Noah Barleywater Runs Away, bestselling author John Boyne explores the world of childhood and the adventures that we can all have there. Noah is running away from his problems, or at least that's what he thinks, the day he takes the untrodden path through the forest. When he comes across a very unusual toyshop and meets the even more unusual toymaker he's not sure what to expect. But the toymaker has a story to tell, a story full of adventure, and wonder and broken promises. And Noah travels with him on a journey that will change his life for ever. A thought-provoking fable for our modern world from the author of the bestselling and critically acclaimed Boy in the Striped Pyjamas.
(goodreads.com)
"You should never want to be anything other than you are ... Remember that. You should never wish for more than you've been given. It could be the greatest mistake of your life."
“There are a lot of memories in there, and sometimes it can be quite difficult to face the memories of the past. Even to glace at them can make you very sad. Or regretful.”
Noah Barleywater Runs Away by John Boyne is a magical work of art. What appears superficially to be just another juvenile adventure book, is, in truth, the most beautiful and deeply touching fairy tale I've had the pleasure of reading in a long time.
Noah is an extremely vulnerable and bright young boy, who, at the age of 8, have decided to escape from his home and his parents, in hope of experiencing some great, life-changing adventures. Or, should I say, this is what Noah convinces himself to believe. He tells himself that adventure sounds much better than the real reason for him leaving home. A reason, which he does not even want to think about. And so he decides to go out to "make his own way in the world", to do something meaningful with his life, achieve something impressive.
We follow Noah's every move, since the moment he puts on his coat, opens the door and sneaks out of the house. As he runs, Noah enters an enchanting land, straight out of the pages of children's book. He walks into the world of magic, talking animals and moving trees. He meets many interesting individuals along his path, a talking Dachshund, an ever-hungry (and also talking) donkey, an exceptionally short man with a black wig.. And then he reaches a mysterious toy shop, full of hand-crafted wooden toys. Inside the store he finds whispering puppets, doors that move and speak, a floor that shifts and moves around, to make up for the deficiency of floorboards, and many, many other extraordinary things. He also meets a strange and enigmatic man, who invites him in for lunch and tells him the story of his life. As these two talk, we learn more and more about both the elderly man, and Noah, and we begin to understand the real motivation behind Noah's escape.
The story comes to a surprising and heart-breaking conclusion, that left me speechless. I was deeply moved by this book and impressed with John Boyne's fabulous writing style. The novel addresses many awfully important issues of both childhood and adulthood, like friendship, bullying, loss of someone close to us and ways to deal with it, broken promises, aging and inevitability of death, importance of facing and overcoming our fears, being there for each other in times of need and making the most out of the time we have with our families. The profound depth of this story and rare sensitivity with which it's told, unforgettable characters, spellbinding encounters and deeply moving conclusion will no doubt make this story resonate with readers of all ages. I myself will make sure that my children will grow up reading this wonderful book.
Noah Barleywater Runs Away is not just any book, it's a sparkling gem among children's novels. Meaningful and memorable, it will no doubt have a special place in your heart. I highly recommend buying a copy for yourself, it's not only a must-read, but definitely a must-have, too!
Noah is an extremely vulnerable and bright young boy, who, at the age of 8, have decided to escape from his home and his parents, in hope of experiencing some great, life-changing adventures. Or, should I say, this is what Noah convinces himself to believe. He tells himself that adventure sounds much better than the real reason for him leaving home. A reason, which he does not even want to think about. And so he decides to go out to "make his own way in the world", to do something meaningful with his life, achieve something impressive.
We follow Noah's every move, since the moment he puts on his coat, opens the door and sneaks out of the house. As he runs, Noah enters an enchanting land, straight out of the pages of children's book. He walks into the world of magic, talking animals and moving trees. He meets many interesting individuals along his path, a talking Dachshund, an ever-hungry (and also talking) donkey, an exceptionally short man with a black wig.. And then he reaches a mysterious toy shop, full of hand-crafted wooden toys. Inside the store he finds whispering puppets, doors that move and speak, a floor that shifts and moves around, to make up for the deficiency of floorboards, and many, many other extraordinary things. He also meets a strange and enigmatic man, who invites him in for lunch and tells him the story of his life. As these two talk, we learn more and more about both the elderly man, and Noah, and we begin to understand the real motivation behind Noah's escape.
The story comes to a surprising and heart-breaking conclusion, that left me speechless. I was deeply moved by this book and impressed with John Boyne's fabulous writing style. The novel addresses many awfully important issues of both childhood and adulthood, like friendship, bullying, loss of someone close to us and ways to deal with it, broken promises, aging and inevitability of death, importance of facing and overcoming our fears, being there for each other in times of need and making the most out of the time we have with our families. The profound depth of this story and rare sensitivity with which it's told, unforgettable characters, spellbinding encounters and deeply moving conclusion will no doubt make this story resonate with readers of all ages. I myself will make sure that my children will grow up reading this wonderful book.
Noah Barleywater Runs Away is not just any book, it's a sparkling gem among children's novels. Meaningful and memorable, it will no doubt have a special place in your heart. I highly recommend buying a copy for yourself, it's not only a must-read, but definitely a must-have, too!
