Caging Skies by Christine Leunens

Author : Christine Leunens
Title : Caging Skies
Published : 2004
Publisher : John Murray
Pages : 304
Genre : Historical Fiction

     This extraordinary novel is seen through the eyes of Johannes, an avid member of the Hitler Youth in the 1940s. After he is severely injured in a raid, he discovers his parents are hiding a Jewish girl called Elsa behind a false wall in their large house in Vienna. His initial horror turns to interest, then love and obsession. After the disappearance of his parents, Johannes finds he is the only one aware of Elsa's existence in the house, the only one responsible for her survival. Both manipulating and manipulated, Johannes dreads the end of the war: with it will come the prospect of losing Elsa and their relationship, which ranges through passion and obsession, dependence and indifference, love and hate.

     Caging Skies is a book I came to because of a film Jojo Rabbit. I saw it at the cinema and then have subsequently watched it again when it came out on Blu Ray. Needless to say, I loved it, but at the same time, I was curious to see how the book would compare. More often than not I approach this from the other way around and am usually left feeling a little let down by the film. Too often the cut far too much from the plot and fails to capture the subtle nuances of the book. So would I find this time around, could the book, in fact, live up to and go beyond my love of the film? 

     It's a slightly strange thing going into a book already familiar with the characters I was about to meet. But to my surprise, somewhere very much changed and others had appeared that were not present in the film. To be honest, I'm not sure why this surprised me so much it happens all the time but there we go. When it comes to the book Johannes is a much more serious type of child. Whilst in the film, he is clearly a firm believer in the Third Reich here his beliefs are shown far more for what they were. They are ingrained in him by those around him and the time he lived. Maybe it is because they are shown for far more humourous effect in the film rather than the real horror of what they are. His relationship with his mother also seems far more strained within these pages. His belief that his mother is somehow a traitor to the cause plays out far more realistic in someone with his ideology. It is also added to by the fact that other family members come into play within the book The realities of there situation play out with a lot more tension as they each battle there sides. 

     So I would say that the first half of the book plays out within the same realms of the film. For Johannes joining the Hitler youth up until the fall of the Nazi regime. And in going so I think teach us a valuable lesson in how children more than most are indoctrinated into the beliefs of those around them. How they choose not to question events no matter how bad they may seem to and adult. The come with a fervent belief in what they are doing and only when push very hard do they start to change how they view the world. And when it comes to this part of the book the author has done her job very skillfully. She shows us the world as it was and tries not to shy away from the aspect that we might find hard to read.  However, when it comes to the second half I was in completely uncharted territory In some ways the book began to feel like it was slowing down. The tensions that once existed starts to seep away. But with the threats of exposure slipping away it was only to be expected. It becomes more about everyday survival. And this does have its place, you can only live in childish fantasies for so long before the real world comes crashing in and things like pays the bills and getting food become the new reality. 

     I would say this book is a very different beast to that of the film. While the latter plays out for satire the book places both its feet firmly in reality. She is trying to teach us a lesson from history. One that sadly seems to be on the rise again. For me, I have to separate the two as whilst both setting out to deliver the same basic message they go about it in very different forms. For me, the author does deliver and having finished the book I can now full appreciate it for what it is. I would just warn aginst expecting Jojo Rabbit in book form.