The Railway Man by Eric Lomax
No, no, no, no and no again. This is not a book to read. Why? It doesn't ring true. It doesn't say anything. And it is badly hopelessly and amateurishly written. Of course it made a reputedly good film, because it was rewritten.
A man obsessed with railways. The same man finds himself a prisoner of war, ironically building the Burma railway. During which he is tortured, mates are killed, and at the hands of various Japanese captors, undergoes severe privations.
Of course the memories stay with him. The torture goes on, this time in his mind. He hates the Japanese, one in particular. By chance, he comes across him. The torturer is repentant. He finds redemption in good deeds. They meet, Lomax forgives him, they become good friends. The book doesn't work.
War is a foul business during which bad people do bad things. These bad things are not something to be forgiven. Of course forgiveness is a fine thing. Are we meant to find solace in this, reassurance that war is fine as long as you forgive. Forgive me if I don't think so.
This man was responsible for not only Lomax's pain and suffering but for the pain and suffering of others, as well as thier deaths. It is not Lomax's place to forgive just so that he feels better.
This is Lomax's journey. He was a victim of war and we should feel sorry for him. But we don't have to swallow rubbish that tries to somehow atone for /forgive the barbarity of war so that we can be ready for the next one and the next and the next. Verdict: off the rails 0/5
A man obsessed with railways. The same man finds himself a prisoner of war, ironically building the Burma railway. During which he is tortured, mates are killed, and at the hands of various Japanese captors, undergoes severe privations.
Of course the memories stay with him. The torture goes on, this time in his mind. He hates the Japanese, one in particular. By chance, he comes across him. The torturer is repentant. He finds redemption in good deeds. They meet, Lomax forgives him, they become good friends. The book doesn't work.
War is a foul business during which bad people do bad things. These bad things are not something to be forgiven. Of course forgiveness is a fine thing. Are we meant to find solace in this, reassurance that war is fine as long as you forgive. Forgive me if I don't think so.
This man was responsible for not only Lomax's pain and suffering but for the pain and suffering of others, as well as thier deaths. It is not Lomax's place to forgive just so that he feels better.
This is Lomax's journey. He was a victim of war and we should feel sorry for him. But we don't have to swallow rubbish that tries to somehow atone for /forgive the barbarity of war so that we can be ready for the next one and the next and the next. Verdict: off the rails 0/5
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