Island of the World by Michael O'Brien

Island of the World is an historical novel but in a greater sense it is the narrative of a soul's journey - an odyssey - through love, anguish, loss and recovery.

Josip Lasta is the soul of the story. From his innocent beginnings in a small Croatian village which was later absorbed into Yugoslavia, Josip experiences the instability of the region during World War II as various factions begin to tear into the fabric of his land. From the occupation of Croatia by German and Italian forces to its domination by Communist Partisans, Josip is caught up in the maelstrom and suffers the loss of all that he loves.

This is the second novel I've read by this author, the first was Eclipse of the Sun. Both are epics (this one is 839 pages), the writing deep and rich. The first book is more story but Island of the World is in a large part philosophical with the main character's poetry and the theme of Homer's Odyssey woven throughout.

The historical aspect of the book is often overshadowed or obscured by the author's philosophical leanings, which are quite profound in places, and the sections of poetry, which I thought were overdone at times. That was probably due to the style of the poetry rather than its merit, but I pushed myself to read those bits, all the time wanting to get on with the story.

Michael O'Brien looks at humanity not just from a human perspective but in view of the spiritual realities: people are not our enemies. We are in a battle and we fight against principalities and powers and I appreciated the way he showed this reality and the truth that God can work all things together for our good.

His writing has a beautiful literary quality and even though the book is long, it wasn't hard to read or to follow the plot.

I had some reservations with some of the mystical encounters and experiences the author describes. While these were understandable, I think that relying upon these as a basis for faith is problematic as they can be deceptive.

Something that I felt most powerfully through this book was the way the author brought in the themes of hatred, justice and forgiveness.

Hatred is an energy that gives and takes. It drains the soul, even as it seems to invigorate.

Josip has witnessed great cruelty and degradation during his imprisonment on the 'island of death' and he intends to avenge the murders of two of his fellow prisoners who were tortured by Zmija the snake. A fellow prisoner, a priest, pleads with him not to let himself become Cain and allow evil to win:

"You would kill your oppressors if given the chance?"

"With pleasure," says Josip.

"Your vengeance will destroy you."

"Oh? Tell me, Tata, how does a man remain wise in hell?"

The priest does not respond to this. Instead he says: "A man suffers injustice. He resents it, and his resentment grows and grows and becomes anger. Anger, if it is fed, then becomes hatred. Hatred, if fed, opens the soul to evil spirits. And when they possess a man, he becomes capable of any atrocity. Afterward, he will not know how or why he became like that."

"I will know why. Go away!"

Josip escapes from the prison on the island and becomes 'the walker.

He will walk into oblivion; he will walk so far that all remaining cells will be burned away; if he can overcome his body, if he does not allow it to force him to eat.

Making his way to Italy, he finds an abandoned army tank and takes refuge in the cave of its interior. On his second night he realises that something alive is moving within the machine...

Throughout the long night hours, they converse together, the walker and his unseen companion, so quiet spoken and considerate...

"You need not take the path you think is yours...I will show you a different way..."

"What place is that?"

"Freedom," whispers the voice reverently. "Freedom without submission. Come with me, and I will show you. We will enter together."

"What is your name?"

"You know my name."

...The walker pauses and wonders, for an unease has entered him...

The walker falls silent. The dawn has crept in through the holes in the walls, and above his head is a scar of pale light. Now he sees the form of the other in the shadows, a man seated close by, their bodies centimeters apart. The face comes forward out of the shadows. It is Zmija the snake.

"You have found me!" cries the walker. "How did you find me?"

"I followed your trail, the trail Cain always leaves in the desolation beyond Eden, for his evil drains out of him but is ever replenished. Yes, you are already like me, for you are me and I am you."

"No!" cries the walker.

Glancing about with desperate terror, he spies a spear of metal and thrusts his wrists upon it...

"You escape from me into my arms," laughs the snake, "for there are no escapes."

Now his blood is spurting, and he falls backwards against the hard metal floor.

Now another form slips down into the hole and strikes the shadow of the snake. The two forms clash, sword upon sword, until Zmija flies out through the hole and disappears into the sky.

The warrior kneels and takes the walker's wrist in his hand.

"Rise up," he says, "for you have work to do."

The book is violent at times, as would be expected in a novel dealing with war & racial and religious tension. However, the themes of forgiveness and self-sacrifice are woven throughout it, undergirding the journey of a modern day Odysseus back to his homeland and his Father.

A very worthwhile book and I look forward to reading more from the author.

To read an interview with Michael O'Brien about this book see here.

Wednesday with Words - Island of the World

I started reading Island of the World by Michael O' Brien during the Christmas break. There are so many sections I've underlined and I'd like to quote but I chose this one because we're getting ready to start into our regular routine again after a few weeks off and like the quote says, "It is easier to read no books and remain uneducated."

  

It is a warm evening, midsummer. Fra Antonio has a little talk with the boys who serve at the altar, not the youngest, just those who are ages eleven to fifteen. Josip is only ten, though he will soon be eleven. Perhaps he is included because he is advanced in his studies and is unusually tall for his age - taller than some of the boys whose voices have cracked...

It is a talk about purity...

Fra Anto tells them that the changes in their bodies are good. These are new powers, the powers of life itself. But they must be used in a holy way. The strength of these powers is such that a young man can easily be ruled by them, if he does not grow strong in his character.

"You study to train your mind," he says. "You work hard to build up your muscles when you work with your fathers in the field. You don't always like it. It is easier to read no books and remain uneducated. It's easier not to strain your mind and body with labor, easier to lie on the ground all day and let the birds drop boiled eggs into your mouths." (Italics mine) 

  

I think the quote above ties in well with Charlotte Mason's thoughts from A Philosophy of Education on purity and its association with the mind and is something I'm pondering as I plan what we are doing this year:

 

Now a fact not generally recognised is that offences of the kind which most distress parents and teachers are bred in the mindand in an empty mind at that. That is why parents, who endeavour to save their sons from the corruption of the Public School by having them taught at home, are apt to miss their mark. The abundant leisure afforded by home teaching offers that empty chamber swept and garnished which invites sins that can be committed in thought and in solitude. Our schools err, too, in not giving anything like enough work of the kind that from its absorbing interest compels reflection and tends to secure a mind continually and wholesomely occupied.