"The Elements" by John Boyne

John Boyne's "The Elements" is the most intense book I've read in a long time. It's comprised of four linked novellas that deal with the issue of sexual abuse from different perspectives -- an enabler, a complicit observer, a perpetrator and a victim. Each story is powerful on its own; reading the four together is a literary experience. Warning: Reading on will divulge the basic plotline of each story, so you might want to stop here if you already think this is a book for you. 

"Water" tells the story of Vanessa, a woman who's fled her life in Dublin following the revelation that her husband, director of Ireland's National Swimming Federation, sexually abused young people who participated in the Federation's programs. Learning about her husband's actions was not only shocking; she has been accused of being complicit. Could she have been? Upon arriving at her new island home, she changes both her name and her appearance in hopes of not being recognized. Will the island to which she's escaped provide a refuge?  

"Earth" turns to the story of Evan, a professional soccer player who was witness to a sexual assault involving a teammate. Evan happens to be from the same island to which Vanessa has relocated, which is the first connection. A careful reader will be rewarded when they discover how the two characters' paths crossed. The question of Evan's culpability in his role as a witness leads to his being a defendant in the trial. 

"Fire" was, to me, the most shocking of the stories. Freya, a respected surgeon, is also a sexual predator. One of Freya's connection to the previous characters is having served on the jury for Evan's trial. Her intern Aaron just happens to be married to Vanessa's daughter. (Ireland is apparently an even smaller world than I have imagined.) We learn at the outset that Freya was kidnapped, raped and buried alive when she was 12 years old. Does this incident contribute to/excuse her behavior in some way? That little tidbit is not, however, the most shocking revelation in this story. 

And, finally, there's "Air." Aaron and Rebecca (Vanessa's daughter) are now divorced, and he's taking their son Emmet to Australia for a visit. As the novel's characters converge, we find out how they have fared over time. It is a wholly satisfying ending to the most impactful reading experience I can remember. 

I will note that "The Elements" is not a book for everyone due to its themes and intensity. But if your interest is piqued, I urge you to give it a try. I'm looking forward to reading more by this author, who also wrote "The Boy in the Striped Pajamas" and "The Heart's Invisible Furies." For Boyne's website, click here. And for an article he wrote about being abused himself, click here.