"After" by Morris Gleitzman

Notable characters: Felix, Gabriek, Yuli, Paven, Dom (horse), Richmal Crompton books, Doctor Zajak,
German kids: Axel, Bug (little sister) and Helmut,
Jewish kids: Hannah, Beryl and Faiga

Wartime stories touch a chord with me. Always. Especially, stories on Holocaust.  "After" is a story set in a period towards the end of Holocaust. Felix is a 13yr old boy (from the initial narration, i perceived him to be a girl)- who hides out in the stable of Dom, provided for by Gabriet. The story bring different facets of people at different instances-and how the same person can transform to different forms in different situations. For eg., Felix has always always seen Gabriet as a "mender", who can never never break anything- given how Gabriet protects him even after losing his wife and daughter, for more than 2 yrs . //The world needs all the mending people it can get at the moment. There are too many people around who just break things.//
So much so that an adolescent Felix fears German torture of Gabriet, follows to rescue him (risking his own life as a Jew), only to see that Gabriet is a member of a Partisan that derails and loots trains. //So, even though good people don't usually break things, I think he should be allowed to for a while. But not for too long because it's dangerous.//

It's an interesting book that speaks volumes of the agony of the victims of Holocaust (although the context is Holocaust, can be generalized to any war scenario)-victims who lost their homes, families, friends and all. It takes a Holocaust/nothingness/war to realize the futility of all the belongings we are so proud of -in the face of food and starvation, nothing really matters-in the end, it IS all about survival alone! This is subtly depicted by how Felix negotiates for a tin of stew with his bag of jewellery! More importantly, how the urge for survival unites people across groups-beautifully depicted by the growing relationship between the Jewish and German kids that Felix provides for.  And more importantly, regardless of whether you belong to the class of antagonists or to the class of protagonists, war agonizes civilians on either sides. And the two parties sometimes unite, in the face of such agony. Does Agony really have THAT power to unite?

Even more importantly, the truth that even if the war is over, life can NEVER be the same-Felix dreams of going back to HIS home, lying on HIS bed and enjoying the rest of his life with his parents-but reality is harsh, as always! //It's wonderful when a war ends, but then you remember that things will never be the same. Everyone you've lost will still be dead. Parents and relatives and pets and best friends. And some people, even if they're not dead, you'll never see again.//

Another dimension of understanding is that the most tormented is more stronger, and tends to protect anybody weaker than he/she is- Do torment and agony really broaden the horizons of human thinking? Until he was protected by Gabriet, Felix kept thinking about his parents, but, when he realized that he is the only hold for the kids, the 13 year old Felix thinks of himself in the shoes of  a parent to the kids - // It's what a parent has to say. You can't say 'I hope not' or 'who knows' or 'if this war goes on for many more years we might'. Its one of the hard things about being a parent. I don't know how they do it without getting sad and scared themselves. This is another hard thing about being a parent. Wanting to give good protection and not knowing if you can.//

Whatever, it has been repeatedly insisted that humans ARE social animals, and CANNOT survive without another life around them- atleast an imaginary one- like Noland in Castaway. In his most lonely times, Felix keeps calling out to author Richmal Crompton, and talking to Dom.

Very subtly, very very subtly, the author has also touched on the subject of faith and God- with his depiction of Felix deriving his strength from Richmal Crompton from time to time.

A very poignant book written in such simple language-no poetry, no fancy writing- just plainly presenting a very neat meal, and a lot of food for thought.

Quotable Quotes:
'Lets agree something', he says after a bit. 'Lets agree we'll both do our very best to stay alive, OK?'

It's what a parent has to say. You can't say 'I hope not' or 'who knows' or 'if this war goes on for many more years we might'. Its one of the hard things about being a parent. I don't know how they do it without getting sad and scared themselves. 

This is another hard thing about being a parent. Wanting to give good protection and not knowing if you can.

Sometimes retreating armies destroy their own stuff as well, but only when they know they've lost the war.

It's wonderful when a war ends, but then you remember that things will never be the same. Everyone you've lost will still be dead. Parents and relatives and pets and best friends. And some people, even if they're not dead, you'll never see again.

She keeps staring at me. It feels really nice, but I'm.embarrassed about her doing it in front of the others because they haven't got grown-ups to look at them in an amazed and concerned and proud and loving way.

Gabriek was right, when you're feeling very stressed it is good to keep busy.

I'm sorry, i say to him, "I wish I didn't have to leave you. But humans are different to horses. We need our parents, i hope you understand".

Dreams are like stories. We have them for the same reason we have stories. To help us know things and i feel better about them.