A LADDER TO THE SKY: JOHN BOYNE

Rating: 4.5/5*

*Would have been a 5, if Maurice hadn’t been such a complete and intolerable tool.

“’And you’ve heard the old proverb about ambition, haven’t you?’ He shook his head. ‘That it’s like setting a ladder to the sky. A pointless waste of energy.”

This was a good book – a really good book, an un-put-downable book, a book I will read again (much like my first John Boyne novel – The Heart’s Invisible Furies.)

The story was distinctive and interesting, and the pages seemed to turn themselves as I devoured every word. BUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH MAURICE?! From the start, I could tell he was going to be love-to-hate-him kind of a guy, but by the end, and especially at the end, he became a hate-to-hate-him kind of a guy. He’s like the worst villain on a reality TV show who everyone loved until he crossed that line. There were points in this book (more than I care to admit), where I felt compelled to yell at Maurice out-loud.

As with any Boyne novel, I get the sense this was all done on purpose. Next to Maurice, the other (still flawed) characters emerged as lovable, relatable, and real. Gore, who you are rooting for from the start, despite his clear superiority complex, Edith, who can’t stand up for herself, despite her obvious genius, and even Theo, who in the end gives Maurice a taste of his own medicine.

I want to read this book again and again, and I want all of my friends to read it too (that's you!). It’s the kind of novel that I can just tell will become richer with each reading as you pick up on Boyne’s subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) hints about what lies ahead for our pal Maurice, and all of those unfortunate enough to make his acquaintance. A character study, in many parts, with a compellingly beautiful storyline to guide the way – this book is the best of both worlds and the perfect way to start the new year.

Keep reading,

L.S.

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Other Well-Read Reviews of A Ladder to the Sky:

neverimitate's excellent plot summary and analysis:

https://neverimitate.wordpress.com/2018/07/30/book-review-a-ladder-to-the-sky/

It's Either Sadness or Euphoria...'s thoughtful musings:

http://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2018/08/book-review-ladder-to-sky-by-john-boyne.html