Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #21456 in Books
• Published on: 2007-09-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 432 pages

Customer Reviews

A unique and remarkable book.
Ebenezer's book is the fictional autobiography of a stubborn Guernseyman, his friends and family and his compulsive love for his tormentor, the enigmatic Liza Queripel.

Driven to find a worthy recipient for his hoarded legacy of a cache of golden crowns, his story take us vividly to Guernsey and its people over the century, including the effects of occupation in WW2. Fluctuating from tragic to comic, despairing to joyful, it is always enthralling with its attention to the detail that breathes life into the characters and make us feel for this strange yet principled man, his loyalties and yearning for the past and the eventual unlikely relationship which finally fulfils him and gives him hope for the future.

The story meanders, often in an uncoordinated random way, picking up threads from long ago, weaving them minutely for a while and gently dropping them back down again, utterly captivating from beginning to end.

ebenezer le page:- a life in the reading
This is an unusual, gentle yet powerful novel about an eccentic individual who is uncompromising and true to his Guernsey heritage

It is one of the most beautifully understated and interesting novels that I have enjoyed in recent years. Rather than just reading his life story one finds oneself living the life of ebenezer from his birth to his old age and understanding his development of wisdom about people, his island, the occupation of the island during World War Two and also love. One finishes with a deep sense of fulfilment, yet bitter-sweet sadness which I found profoundly moving.

It is a wonder that nobody I know has heard of this post-humously published book but it is one of the gems of twentieth century english novels as far as this reviewer is concerned and I recommend it strongly to those who are looking for an enjoyable tale to alter their perception of life and living

A rare and wonderful book
I can't recommend this book highly enough. It is a real treaure - one of the best books I have ever read. It deserves to be widely known and hailed as a classic of 20th century.
The premise is, on the surface, not specially promising: an 80-year old man looks back on his life, which he has spent entirely on the island of Guernsey. But Ebenezer's story takes us to the very root of what it is to be human, what it is to love, suffer, enjoy simple pleasures, endure disappointments and loss, and all the while, retain the utmost dignity and humanity.
Ebenezer chronicles his life through the 2 world wars, the German occupation of Guernsey, and beyond. He watches, half amused, half sad, but without any self-pity, as the world around him changes, never for the better. His voice is utterly compelling, wickedly funny and truthful as he describes all the pretensions and absurdities of the people and situations he sees around him, and all the tragedies and the joys of life.
I urge you to read this book -it is heartbreakingly beautiful and you will never forget it.