The Elements Series by John Boyne

The Elements are four books that can be bought as individual books or in a combined volume as illustrated by the image associated with this review.

Water by John Boyne

Water is the first part of the collection called the Elements which examine abuse from different perspectives. Water deals with the viewpoint from the wife of the perpetrator. The scenario is not far from ones that have been in the media over recent years as Brendan is the national coach of the swimming team and as a result very well connected. However, there is a dark side to Brendan which becomes exposed and this book is about how his wife copes and deals with all the issues this raises for her and the family as they work through everything that has happened to them. It is a thoughtful delicate story woven with all the emotions and actions of the wife and her negotiation of a path out of the trauma.

Earth by John Boyne

This second book in the series stems from events in the last book so that a minor character from the previous book becomes a major player in the next although you would be unaware from the previous book who it was going to be. That said, on reflection the seeds are sown. This book is Evan’s story who leaves the island at the same time as Vanessa in the previous book. This charts his life as he finds his way into the world and becomes a professional footballer. He finds himself on trial for assisting in a rape allegedly committed by another footballer on his team, a footballer he has a crush on as he himself is gay. The fact that he is a lad from some Irish backwater and the other is a posh English boy only adds to the drama. Another good look at sexual crime from another viewpoint with all the added twists and turns of a court case.

Fire by John Boyne

The third in the series follows the same pattern as the main character is Dr Freya Petrus who was a jury member in the previous book. Again, the book charts her early life and her career as a burns consultant in a hospital. The story develops and soon we realise that she is a danger to young teenage boys. Interwoven with this is her own childhood history. This is perhaps the most uncomfortable read as we also see how she rationalises her crimes and how they catch up on her. We also see some resolutions to events in the Earth story and also back to the Water story. Very thought provoking reads and well crafted.

Air by John Boyne

The final book in the series is Aaron’s story which began in the Fire story. Aaron is the victim of sexual abuse and this is his story although again beautifully woven into the previous stories as he dates and marries Rebecca who is Vanessa’s daughter from the first book. There is much to the bringing together of the other stories but it is centred around Aaron’s journey and his resolution of the awful events that have so shaped his life to this point of his fortieth birthday. A wonderful conclusion to the series from a master storyteller.

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