Boys of Blood and Bone (Blog 5)

Boys of Blood and Bone, written by David Metzenthen were in my opinion a pretty good book overall. Though it took a long time to get into the book, and to be generally interested to continue to keep reading the book it was really interesting by the end of the book. At the start of the book, in my opinion was boring as there was too much detail and the event in which the character was written to introduce the readers to the book was not so much interesting but slow and boring. But, as the book continued the details of the characters became more interesting as their lives turned from a normal life, to an exciting, adventurous life. These events that structured the lives of the characters were shaping the books characteristics, evolving the book to become more appealing to the readers, allowing them to continue reading it. 

Though this novel was good, I would change 2 parts of the book. The first part that I would change would be the beginning of the book (chapter 1). The introduction to the book wasn’t exciting enough for me – as a reader – there should have been a very interesting event at the start of the book to allow the readers to become interested and keep reading, otherwise (like myself) the readers would put the book down and not continue reading the book, but due to this assignment I had to continue reading the book. The second part that I would change would be the ending. I would like to know what Janine and Henry’s relationship would turn out; would they continue being friends, or would their relationship grow into becoming more intimate (romantic). This change would be the greatest ending to the book, as it would be a lot of excitement for the reader knows that this book was ending in a very positive note. The book’s greatest strength would have been the detailed descriptions of the emotions of the character; this influenced me to keep reading, affecting my emotions towards the characters. These descriptions made me feel for the character, also relating to experiences that have happened to me in the past.

Overall, the book was good, though it needed parts of the book to be changed. I liked it :)

Boys of Blood and Bone (Blog 4)

This blog is about World War One, and how the novel is based around a soldier who was in the war at the time.

World War One, the war that Andy Lansell fought in to defend our country. Throughout the novel, WW1 was a bloody war that many wished not to experience. There was a lot of bloodshed, dead bodies, artillery, and loud noises in the war. Soldiers of the war were the most affected people throughout the war as they were out in the battlefield with people they do not know, with weapons that many have never used to fight against a country that may have the ability to kill them at any time, any day. All of the soldiers did not know if they would return to their families, or even make it out alive. Every day at war the boys experience new surroundings of the country, new soldiers by their side, new adventures, lose boys, and have to bury their boys. Without these experiences, this would not be war. The language of the boys is very informal while the occasional cursing of one another. These events experienced as a typical teenager would be nothing to what many of the soldiers in the war. Typical teenagers never appreciate what many people have done to keep our country safe for today. Without these men fighting for our country we would still is in war right now. Therefore, Boys of blood and bones has re-established the events of the war.

Boys of Blood and Bone (Blog 3)

So, this blog is about the next chapters (15-21) and the questions I am left with, as well as what I would like to see happen in the later part of the novel.

Henry and Andy’s life seem to unfold together throughout the novel, introducing Janine and Cecelia. By moving the story away from Henry and Andy and follow Janine and Cecelia’s life would build on the story structure from the two males. Janine and Cecelia’s life are similar as they seem to not know who one another at the start of Henry and Andy’s journey’s, and later will hopefully meet ends and tell of their mysteries that haunt them. This shifting of the story was an excellent choice by Metzenthen, otherwise there would have been no mystery or climax to the story overall. There are many questions that I have at this stage of the book, like what happens to Andy in war and how does it feel when he finally dies during war? How is Janine relevant to the book, why is she still in the story? These questions are the two main questions that I am yet so eager to find out about. Later throughout the book, I hope to find out what actually happens to Henry and Janine, and how Andy finally passes away during war. 


But to find out I must continue reading the book.

Boys of Blood and Bone (Blog2)

So this blog will be about mateship and how it has structured Henry’s and Andy’s life with their mates. Without mateship, everybody will be lonely!

Metzenthen has constructed this book by writing mateship throughout it, as it is necessary in everybody’s life in some way. Andy’s mates: Bob and Darcy, they share a special mateship as they experience the same experiences during war. The three mates can always joke around with others unlike other mates can. Bob, Darcy and Andy have only been close friends since the start of war; they stick together throughout the book, and if one is in need of help, the others will be there by their side making sure that there okay. As for, Henry’s friends: Nick and Marcus show a brotherly bond, they all have been through what one another have been through, and they know what the other’s feel and do. Without Nick and Marcus, Henry would be the guy who study’s hard to become a lawyer.

By Metzenthen constructing a book based on mateship, it relates to everybody’s life and it allows readers to feel certain emotions as we know how it feels. In my opinion, without mateship in this book, the book would be dull and boring and nobody can relate to, and they don’t know how to react to the situations.

Girlfriends! Henry’s relationship with his girlfriend, Marcelle is not going so well. There have been more downs then ups in this book, and it feels as though Henry just takes the blame for everything. He doesn’t know how to involve Marcelle in his life with his mates or just hang out together like boyfriend and girlfriend should. They don’t really share a relationship like they should, instead it’s more like a friend relationship, nothing more. As for Henry, he’s a loving guy who likes to be involved in Cecelia’s life, meaning that he is serious about their relationship. Andy really does show that he loves Cecelia in the book. But yet, how could Andy cheat on Cecelia like that? He goes to a fundraiser and ruins it all by becoming physical with another girl name France-Jayne, and ended making her pregnant. He now has a baby; this could definitely make life difficult for Andy and Cecelia’s relationship.

The relationships between people are interesting as many people in society go through the same thing. Metzenthen wrote about this because it’s the way humanity was born for. Whether, you cheat on a girl or get somebody pregnant, people can relate to that as they have done it or it has happened to them.

Boys of Blood and Bone (Blog1)

Hi everyone, so as a part of my assignment I am required to write a blog to blog about this book called Boys of Blood and Bone written by David Metzenthen, a talented writer who has been short-listed and been a winner in many literary awards including Qld’s Premiere Literary Award in 2003.

Award-winning writer, David Metzenthen, writes a story about two men whose lives will change due to one’s influence in his life (the past), to the other’s life in the future. Henry Lyon,  eighty years after the World War One when Andy Lansell stories meet up when Henry’s mother’s car breaks down near a paddock in the middle of nowhere while trying to driving up to Saint Helena Bay to meet his mates and his girlfriend, Marcelle. His life, with no adventure, finally derives him into meeting Trot, the guy who gives Henry a lift to a local car shop were his mums car gets fixed, starting Henry’s journey in Strattford, discovering the mystery and story of Andy Lansell. While in Strattford, Henry becomes friends with Trot and his girlfriend Janine, while in Strattford, later meeting Cecelia Hainsworth, Andy’s supposed to be fiancé, only to discover that he dies during battle. Cecelia lends Andy’s diary that he kept close to his heart during the days of battle until he deceases during battle. Andy Lansell, the boy who loved to work with horses, in the quiet, peaceful country town of Stratford. Though his life was peaceful, this happiness was soon replaced with great sadness in his heart, as Andy leaves Strattford in 1918for the Great World War One starting a new journey without the love his life, Cecelia Hainsworth, standing by his side experiencing what he will see during the war. There is a real emptiness and regret from Andy, when leaving Cecelia behind back in Strattford. On the days of him leaving, Andy keeps a diary of all his journals of everyday through his journey in war.

I have only read the first 8 chapters of the book, but it seems like Henry’s relationship is rocky with his girlfriend, Marcelle. I would think that the relationship with Trot and Janine lasts throughout Henry’s life, building more of a firm relationship with them, better than his friends and girlfriend. But it feels as though something bad is going to happen in the book soon, something that would affect Henry, and something related to Andy’s life. As for Andy, an adventure of a lifetime would be expected as he’s in war in a different country. There will be bad situations as you would think during war, but his journey ends as expected at the end of the book.

So right now, the books been pretty good, and I hope it continues to be adventurous and mysterious.