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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Post-war Italy was dire. Not only did it serve as one of the battlefields of WWI, but also was embroiled in a civil war. After armistice, as part of their national rebuilding program, children in the South were invited to spend their winter in the North to ensure their survival. The Children's Train follows the experience of seven year old Amerigo.
The dark tone reflects the grim, often hopeless reality of Italy in the mid 1940s. Amerigo's home life is a struggle. There's no food, his mother often withholds affection, he is witness to the brutality of the neighbourhood. Despite this, he is bereft to learn that he has been selected to be part of a government program where is forced North and into the homes of strangers.
Upon arrival in Modena, where he is warmly welcomed into an extended family. Immediately Amerigo grapples with loyalty to his hometown and mother and a growing fondness to the kindness of his new family. While he quickly adapts to his new life, he always feels divided.
When Amerigo returns, he is profoundly changed. As he reverts back to his old way of life he struggles with the dynamic of the household, his mother's resentment of his time and his host family in the North. It eventually comes to a boiling point that leads Amerigo to forge a new path.
I really enjoyed this book, I thought the translation was good, it felt authentic. It's very atmospheric and captures a less documented period in Italian history.
The dark tone reflects the grim, often hopeless reality of Italy in the mid 1940s. Amerigo's home life is a struggle. There's no food, his mother often withholds affection, he is witness to the brutality of the neighbourhood. Despite this, he is bereft to learn that he has been selected to be part of a government program where is forced North and into the homes of strangers.
Upon arrival in Modena, where he is warmly welcomed into an extended family. Immediately Amerigo grapples with loyalty to his hometown and mother and a growing fondness to the kindness of his new family. While he quickly adapts to his new life, he always feels divided.
When Amerigo returns, he is profoundly changed. As he reverts back to his old way of life he struggles with the dynamic of the household, his mother's resentment of his time and his host family in the North. It eventually comes to a boiling point that leads Amerigo to forge a new path.
I really enjoyed this book, I thought the translation was good, it felt authentic. It's very atmospheric and captures a less documented period in Italian history.
informative
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Cannot imagine ever having to put a child on a train to another family to ensure they are taken care of. A piece of history I knew nothing about and appreciated learning. I thought the development of his attachment to the new family could have been stronger, but overall, a well-written novel.
La ausencia física solo es recuperada con las hojas sueltas de recuerdo, con la construcción de las experiencias contenedora de una vida cicatrizada por tiempo, a esto apuesta, este libro, a la reconstrucción de los vagos recuerdos de Amerigo Speranza, quien posibilita la idea de un niño condenado a sus libertades, a fraguar sus miedos con la colectividad de niños al igual que él, unos esperanzados con un viaje placentero, otros a un viaje de las torturas. Así como el tótem en la película El Origen, servía de guía y recuerdo, de conexión con el antepasado, si nos vamos allá de objeto animal, el tótem de Amerigo Speranza era una manzana, la manzana de la despedida que le dio su madre cuando ya estaba en el tren.
El tren de los niños es la reconstrucción del recuerdo de un adulto que comenzó en el año 1946, pero que ya en sus 50 “Los dos hemos cumplido ya los cincuenta, pero me doy cuenta de que yo he envejecido peor, más deprisa.” comienza a trillar aquellos caminos que lo vieron nacer en Quartieri Sagnoli, Nápoles, cuando este como corderito de a penas ocho años iba detrás de su madre sin saber donde ir: “Mi madre delante y yo detrás. Ni idea de adónde vamos. Dice que es por mi bien, pero seguro que aquí hay gato encerrado.” El gran secreto que escondía era enviarlo a Rusia, tanto a él, como a todos lo niños. El Partido Comunista logró trasladar unos setenta mil niños albergando la idea de expropiarlo de sus familias, de cortar cualquier lazo familiar, pero con la intensión a su vez de buscar una mejor vida aquellos niños de la miseria.
Es un novela muy amena, de una lectura sencilla, sin muchos juegos narrativos, mas allá que los dos tiempos con el fin de enfatizar los elementos constructivo de la trama a fin de trazarnos el dolor de la separación familiar. Aunque cabe destacar, que hay momentos donde al escritor le resulta en bajadero cerrar la novela, añadiendo o extendiendo la narración. Y a toda sinceridad, esperaba una novela con más peso histórico, que nostálgico.
“Dejé que aquella manzana se fuera marchitando encima de mi escritorio en casa de Derna. No quería comérmela para mantener vivo tu recuerdo, y un buen día ya no la encontré. Ha vuelto a pasar: dejé que el tiempo fuera transcurriendo y ahora ya es tarde.”
El tren de los niños es la reconstrucción del recuerdo de un adulto que comenzó en el año 1946, pero que ya en sus 50 “Los dos hemos cumplido ya los cincuenta, pero me doy cuenta de que yo he envejecido peor, más deprisa.” comienza a trillar aquellos caminos que lo vieron nacer en Quartieri Sagnoli, Nápoles, cuando este como corderito de a penas ocho años iba detrás de su madre sin saber donde ir: “Mi madre delante y yo detrás. Ni idea de adónde vamos. Dice que es por mi bien, pero seguro que aquí hay gato encerrado.” El gran secreto que escondía era enviarlo a Rusia, tanto a él, como a todos lo niños. El Partido Comunista logró trasladar unos setenta mil niños albergando la idea de expropiarlo de sus familias, de cortar cualquier lazo familiar, pero con la intensión a su vez de buscar una mejor vida aquellos niños de la miseria.
Es un novela muy amena, de una lectura sencilla, sin muchos juegos narrativos, mas allá que los dos tiempos con el fin de enfatizar los elementos constructivo de la trama a fin de trazarnos el dolor de la separación familiar. Aunque cabe destacar, que hay momentos donde al escritor le resulta en bajadero cerrar la novela, añadiendo o extendiendo la narración. Y a toda sinceridad, esperaba una novela con más peso histórico, que nostálgico.
“Dejé que aquella manzana se fuera marchitando encima de mi escritorio en casa de Derna. No quería comérmela para mantener vivo tu recuerdo, y un buen día ya no la encontré. Ha vuelto a pasar: dejé que el tiempo fuera transcurriendo y ahora ya es tarde.”
Based on true events in 1946, southern Italy was recovering from the ravages of WWII and seeped in poverty, in an effort to give the children a chance they were sent on trains to the north. There families would temporarily take them in, clothe them, feed them and provide for them as if they were their own.
Amerigo waved to his mother as the train left the station. He loved her but knew she was struggling, knew this was for the best and even though he would miss her, he still looked forward to the adventure. The life that was waiting for him in the north was one he truly deserved. For six months he enjoyed food for every meal, clothes that actually fit him, new shoes, schooling, and most importantly, the love of a family. As the journey comes to an end Amerigo finds himself in two places at once. He knows he should want to be with his mother again but this new family is where his heart will forever be.
Told from the perspective of a young boy, the reader is introduced to the immense poverty that he experienced as well as the elation of finding love. Amerigo’s story is very relevant, even to this time and represents the feeling that many possess every day. The feeling of loyalty to family as well as the yearning to just wanting to be loved for whom you are. Beautiful story that I very much enjoyed, my only complaint is in regards to a time jump towards the end. The date jumps from 1946 to 1994 which seemed rushed and confusing. Regardless it’s a lovely read and recommended.
Amerigo waved to his mother as the train left the station. He loved her but knew she was struggling, knew this was for the best and even though he would miss her, he still looked forward to the adventure. The life that was waiting for him in the north was one he truly deserved. For six months he enjoyed food for every meal, clothes that actually fit him, new shoes, schooling, and most importantly, the love of a family. As the journey comes to an end Amerigo finds himself in two places at once. He knows he should want to be with his mother again but this new family is where his heart will forever be.
Told from the perspective of a young boy, the reader is introduced to the immense poverty that he experienced as well as the elation of finding love. Amerigo’s story is very relevant, even to this time and represents the feeling that many possess every day. The feeling of loyalty to family as well as the yearning to just wanting to be loved for whom you are. Beautiful story that I very much enjoyed, my only complaint is in regards to a time jump towards the end. The date jumps from 1946 to 1994 which seemed rushed and confusing. Regardless it’s a lovely read and recommended.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
This book absolutely left me broken hearted, but in a good way instead of a bad way. This book tells the story of a young boy named Amerigo in wartime Italy. The main character is just perfect and is the ideal conduit to tell this story. This books pulls on your heartstrings and begs for your empathy; it is so good! I loved the way Italy is described, especially war time Italy because it gives a new perspective of a place that often only one side of the story is told. I loved the multifaceted qualities of this story, which is also reflected in the characters and the characters actions throughout. I also love how strong the ideas of freedom, chance, and opportunity really seem to play out in this story and how these ideas become central to the overall story along with Amerigo’s story as you read the book and learn what has happened and are exposed to what will happen.