Earth is the second of a quartet of interlinked novels named after the elements by John Boyne
[ About Earth ]
It’s the tabloid sensation of the year: two well-known footballers standing in the dock, charged with sexual assault, a series of vile text messages pointing towards their guilt.
As the trial unfolds, Evan Keogh reflects on the events that have led him to this moment. Since leaving his island home, his life has been a lie on many levels. He’s a talented footballer who wanted to be an artist. A gay man in a sport that rejects diversity. A defendant whose knowledge of what took place on that fateful night threatens more than just his freedom or career.
The jury will deliver a verdict but, before they do, Evan must judge for himself whether the man he has become is the man he wanted to be.
[ My Review ]
‘Nothing disappears. Nothing is forgotten.
Everything we say or do these days clings to us forever.’
Earth by John Boyne will publish April 18th with Doubleday and is described as ‘an inescapably gritty story about one young man whose direction in life takes a vastly different turn than what he expected.’ It is the second book, from a series of four, by John Boyne that will make up The Elements. (Water, Earth, Fire and Air).
‘In November 2023, John published the first of a four novella sequence, Water (Nov ’23), which will be followed by Earth (May ’24), Fire (Nov ’24), and Air (May ’25). Together, the sequence will be titled The Elements.‘ – https://johnboyne.com/about/
The first book in this collection, Water, is primarily set on an island off the west coast of Ireland, home to a small rural community. The central character is Vanessa Carvin, a woman escaping her home life and the situation she has found herself in. While on the island reflecting on her situation, Vanessa crosses paths with various other individuals. One of these is Evan Keogh, a talented but troubled young man, who is clearly not planning on remaining there for the rest of his days. In this second book, Earth, we join Evan as he faces a serious trial for sexual assault in the UK.
Evan left Ireland to escape the loneliness of his life. As a young gay man, growing up on a small west of Ireland island was a challenge. He struggled with his life choices but eventually decided that he had to leave his demanding and bullying father and follow his dream of becoming an artist. He had a magical boot but he had no love for football. He believed that he also had talent as an artist but, as time passed, it was clear that, in order to survive, he would have to use his innate footballing skills to pay the bills.
With the court case looming, we get an insight into Evan’s life up to this point and how he came to be in this shocking predicament. Evan made choices, some out of necessity and others for all the wrong reasons, but now he reflects on his past and has some major decisions to make.
Earth is similar in length to Water with an equally significant impact for the reader. Sexual assault is a tough theme to explore yet John Boyne handles it with a certain tact and understanding. The perspective of the accused is at times difficult to stomach with scenes that are quite harrowing to read. Evan Keogh has seen dark times and has made some very bad decisions, yet I was left with a certain unexpected empathy for him.
John Boyne is a top-class writer and his characters are always well plotted. Earth is a short read with little scope to flesh out each individual, as one would expect in a 300+ page novel, yet John Boyne gets behind the mask revealing the sadness and trauma that lies beneath.
Earth is a tale of redemption but it is also a shocking and powerful story. Evan Keogh is artfully depicted as a tormented soul who craves truth and happiness. His life is on a precipice and only he can decide his next move. John Boyne writes from the soul with words that dig deep. In Earth, we are exposed to a seedy underworld, a harrowing exposé, yet we also experience a small sense of hope. Like Water, Earth is another challenging and disconcerting read, it is a taut and affecting tale, and a marvellous addition to this collection.
‘I was six years old when I left the island for the first time, when my father and I took the boat to Galway and then a flight from Shannon Airport to England to see his favourite team play…All I wanted was to be home again, running around familiar fields with Cormac, my fingers mucky from the earth.’
*My thanks to Penguin Random House (UK) for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review
[ Bio ]
John Boyne is the author of fifteen novels for adults, six for younger readers, and a collection of short stories. His 2006 novel The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas has sold more than 11 million copies worldwide and has been adapted for cinema, theatre, ballet, and opera. His many international bestsellers include The Heart’s Invisible Furies and A Ladder to the Sky. He has won four Irish Book Awards, including Author of the Year in 2022, along with a host of other international literary prizes. His novels are published in sixty languages.
X: @JohnBoyneBooks
Instagram: @JohnBoyneAuthor
