I Had Seen Castles
by Cynthia Rylant
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Book Summary Information
Author: Cynthia RylantEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2004-10-01
ISBN: 0152053123
Number of pages: 128
Publisher: Graphia
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780152053123
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. Tracking provided on most orders. Buy with Confidence! Millions of books sold!
Book Reviews of I Had Seen Castles
Book Review: One man's memories of wartime
Summary: 5 Stars
"I Had Seen Castles," by Cynthia Rylant, is a short novel (97 pages) about World War II. The story is told by a first-person narrator, John Dante. John is a man in his late 60s who lives in Toronto. He recalls living with his family in Pittsburgh during the war, when he was a young man. He also remembers his intense relationship with a remarkable young woman named Ginny, and his decision to enlist in the military.
John's narrative is a war story, a love story, and a coming-of-age story. Through her characters Rylant offers a critical look at how war affects individuals, families, and an entire nation's culture. I especially liked her portrait of Ginny, a likeable young woman with a nonconformist streak. The book addresses such issues as wartime propaganda and stereotyping. The issue of courage is also a key theme. But this is a very human story, not a political tract. The tone of the book reminded me of "To Hell and Back," Audie Murphy's powerful WW2 memoir, which might make a good companion text.
"I Had Seen Castles" has a copyright date of 1993, and the copyright page gives 1995 as the date of the first Harcourt paperback edition. I must admit to being surprised to read these dates, because the book feels to me like a commentary on American society during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Perhaps this just demonstrates the accuracy of Rylant's psychological insights; I imagine the book will still feel relevant during some future period of war. This novel offers a compelling look at the home front during World War II, and paints a vivid, unsentimental portrait of Pittsburgh in that era. Written with a quiet but powerful passion, this is a beautiful and moving novel.
Summary of I Had Seen Castles
John Dante is seventeen when the Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor, and he wants to fight for his country. But then he falls head over heels for Ginny Burton, who is against all war, and his beliefs are suddenly questioned. Rather than be judged a traitor or a coward, though, John enlists--a decision that changes his life forever.
Includes a reader's guide and an inverview with the author.
Includes a reader's guide and an inverview with the author.
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