Book Review: Pie in the Sky – Remy Lai

This is the story of Jingwen and Yanghao, told through the eyes of the former, as the boys emigrate with their mother to Australia. They have left behind all they know, and the language barrier is prevalent from the very first page. Jingwen, in particular, struggles.

Jingwen immediately feels uncomfortable, almost alien-like, in his new surroundings

The death of the boys’ father is not immediately revealed (so this can’t count as a spoiler…can it?), but once it is, the opposing reactions of the brothers become more and more distinct.

Jjngwen becomes focussed – almost obsessed – with cakes, his father having been a baker. He begins what is almost a tribute to his late dad by pledging to bake all the cakes they baked together when he was alive. It’s a clear indicator that he is struggling, that he can’t let go, and the transition to a new country has only exacerbated things for him.

The difference between Yanghao and Jingwen begins to show itself…

Yanghao, the younger of the two, throws himself into his new surroundings, taking on the language, making new friends, and, simply, doing everything that Jingwen feels he cannot. Perhaps, due to his age, he is simply getting on with it. Or maybe he is struggling too, burying his feelings beneath a facade of perpetual motion. You decide.

Grief can affect us in many different ways: the polar opposites of Jingwen and Yanghao, as well as their mother’s quiet, private grieving, shows different dimensions of this, and how it can affect (and hinder) the ability to ‘move on’.

The book is told largely through prose, but also with lots of illustrations that are comic book/graphic-novel-inspired, which enhances Jingwen’s frustrations as he learns to accept his dad is no longer there. What is clear is where and when Jingwen is happiest – baking cakes, holding on the memory of his father, keeping him close even when he’s gone.

This is a wonderful book that shows the difficulties of change in many aspects of life.

Book Review: The Bird Within Me – Sara Lundberg

A beautiful, heartfelt and heart-wrenching biographical account of the Swedish artist, Berta Hansson.

Inspired by her art, diaries and letters, we learn of Berta’s childhood, a time where her mother was ill with tuberculosis; her father, meanwhile, seemed to have a very narrow view of what Berta could achieve – a different era, and all that – but Berta is frustrated, and ultimately, repressed. Her art is her outlet, and her mother her ever-engaged audience, even through illness.

Encouragement

Her father is portrayed as the ‘villain’ of the piece, a man seemingly wanting control of his life and the lives of those around him, although it’s entirely possible his stance on Berta’s wishes was borne of the circumstance of the time in which he lived. Maybe not. Either way, the first few interactions with Berta show him calling her again – he’s incessant, demanding. Dad calls Berta hopeless, and Berta is happy to be sent elsewhere, away from him. It doesn’t scream warmth.

The first major illustration which includes the father shows a huge, imposing figure, taking up much of the page, bigger than the others, moodier, a sense of foreboding about him. From the outside looking in, as Berta is, we can feel the disapproval. Make no mistake, his shadow looms large.

Meet the family. Who’s in charge?

Elsewhere in the family is Uncle Johan, a painter, and throughout her mother’s illness, the family doctor visits; both quietly encourage Berta to make the most of her talents, much to father’s displeasure.

Her mother’s inevitable yet untimely death deals a huge blow to the family. There is a stark acceptance of what has happened, but we do begin to see a different and developing side to Berta’s relationship with her father. There is hope and, for both, there is a future.

Perhaps these awful circumstances are what pushed Berta into becoming the artist she was – or influenced her, at least.

This could easily be categorised as a story that shows us we should follow our dreams – a loose, easy phrase that doesn’t really tell us the half of it. Berta followed her dreams, for sure, but in order to do so she had to have an unshakeable belief in herself, a steely determination that never faltered, and, somewhere in there, a bit of rebellion. She knew what her father wanted, but she knew it was not enough for her.

Rebellion

Perhaps, then, the bird within her is her artistic talent, and it is her flight away from a traditional family life, but could it also be her grief. Holding on to her mother’s insights and inspiration gives reason for Berta to take flight, in all senses.  The bird within her flew, and her mother would have been proud.