Brother in the Land

El Libro resultó muy bien y el pedido llegó a tiempo.Todo bien!!!

Brother in the Land is a novella about the lives of two English brothers after World War III and the effects it has on their lives, the community and the bleak future. Danny is a teenage boy who's World comes to an end when the missiles fall. Confusion and frustration cloud the youngster's mind as he finds himself in an unimaginable and hellish situation. But that is nothing compared to the doom of the impending fallout and harsh winter along with starvation staring at him in the face. What is an English kid gonna do when his life is changed forever?A found this book so dark, dreary and heartbreaking. But it was entertaining and I wanted to read the entire book in one sitting. Unlike some books that I read, I felt for the characters and sympathized with their situation (even though they were English). Human suffering and it's condition knows no borders. I really enjoyed the book, my only complaint is that I wished it was longer and more in depth. But then I realize that it would even be more depressing. If you are a fan of the nuclear war or post apocalyptic genre then I highly suggest that you find a copy. I wish this book was more widely available. Too bad a lot of these books are out of print.Highly recommended

I first came across Robert Swindells Brother In The Land back in my school days, in early 2000's when I was in the school library. As a teenager of fourteen years of age, I was already reading hard-hitting crime novels, and true-stories and so I liked the front cover of Brother In The Land. At the time I hadn't read any post-apocalypse literature, and I took the book home. I couldn't stop reading from the moment I got out of school that very same day, I was reading it on the way home and I didn't stop until I was home. The book may have only been approximately 160 pages long, but I enjoyed my reading and I was young so the book lasted me a week in total before I finished it.The first thing that caught me off guard, was that even as a teenage-aimed book it was very mature, and sadly realistic in some scenes. Swindells does not shy away from the content of the plot to his book, he doesn't try and ignore the dark reality of the event of the aftermath of nuclear war. From the terrifying reality of radiation poison from the nuclear blast slowly killing the survivors off, to the short supply of food and clean water and eventually the fight against bandits, and raiders intent on taking what they want. Swindells covers this terrifying, horrific situation perfectly with the main character of teenage boy Danny as he comes to terms with this new world. I had already read books about the mafia, and true crime but Brother In The Land hit home with me as my first end-of-the-world story. I felt for Danny, and the other characters of the book including his younger brother who is oblivious to the situation they all face, due to his age and naivety.Brother In The Land stayed with me most of childhood and even my young adult years, and one day last year I was browsing Amazon and came across the book with an newly added chapter at the conclusion of the original version, and I couldn't help but reminisce of when I first read the book. I had to have it, and I bought it for a good price and when it arrived it brought up memories for me, of sympathizing with Danny and his values, and morals be them miniscule with the situation of the land. I wondered once again, as I did when I first read the book of how I would have reacted in his very same situation, with my own younger brother. I don't think I could have made the hard decisions he made in the story, and it was good to read it again and remember that. A great book, still good for teenage readers but for adults still just as hard hitting as more modern adult titles. Give it a try people.

I read this book at school and was keen to buy it again. So....This is just such a masterpiece. It's quite short, and does lend itself to being a children's book, but I think anyone could read it and thoroughly enjoy it.This is a post apocalyptic novel, so be prepared for some desolation and desperation as well as a corrupt military/government and some death. After the nuclear bomb goes off that destroys much of the world (we are to believe -- definitely a lot of Europe) we are presented with a small village that must pick up the pieces and look after the sick and wounded. Radiation sickness, cannibalism, poisoned rations - all of these paint a bleak picture of society after the bombs.The real pearl in Brother in the Land for me was the analysis of human nature, and how we might react and learn to live with 'the new situation'. One reoccurring theme is of the neanderthal/caveman and the modern human and how humans as a race have become cold and heartless to adapt to the desolation we have doomed ourselves to (by creating nuclear weapons).The relationship between Ben (Danny's 7 year old brother) and Danny is very sweet. Ben adapts very quickly to their new life, and this is a source of Hope for Danny. Likewise, Kim gives Danny a reason to go on and their budding romance is used well to give contrast to the bleak, monotonous days that are so numerous in this story.I couldn't recommend this book more highly. It may not be perfect, but it is well worth a read.

My grade 9 English teacher read this aloud in class to us and I always remembered it. I bought it recently and enjoyed it this time around, 14 years later. It reminded me of Cormac McCarthy's The Road.