The Divine Wind Review By Shel
The Divine Wind is narrated by 26 year old Hartely Penrose, an Australian looking back on his time as a teen in WWII. Hartely is a bit of a pathetic character and the story of his family and freinds is seen through his eyes.
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His family intially hailed from Britan and his mother does not find home in the roughness of Broome's pearl diving industry, instead wishing desperately for the coolness and greeness of her native England. She leaves and this is the first sign of the disintegration of the family. The Penrose family suffer enormously as a result of the war, but the main focus of the novel is the developing relationship between Hartley and the Japanese Mitsy. It is a relationship forbidden because of the prejudices apparent during war time. Hartley and Mitsy carry the story and at times there appears to be some hope for them, but of course, the reader knows better.
The review of this Book prepared by Shel
This is a story of friendship, betrayal, loss of friendship and finding ones-self. Set in a 1940's Broome (Australia), a society which gives the impression of racial mix, but in reality is very unstable. Hartley Penrose is the narrator of the novel, a character who by no means is perfect, struggling with himself and loving Mitsy, a Japanese girl growing up in Australia with her family. In a time when suspicion ruled, and Australia and Japan are at war, their love and friendship is put to the test as they encounter prejudice and hate.
The review of this Book prepared by Jen
The Divine Wind is the story of Hartly Penrose, who falls in love with a Japanese girl, in the multicultural town of Broome, Australia during World War II.
The review of this Book prepared by Bevan Deppeler
