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Half a Man

Half a Man

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Ever since I discovered Michael Morpurgo, I have been borrowing his books from the library. BUT, til now, I have still yet to find his award-winning book “War Horse”. I shall endeavour in my search for it! Meanwhile, I am reading any of his books that I can get my hands on, from the National library.

There are just some books, that once you have read them, they stay in your mind for a long time. “Half a Man” is one of them. It’s short and thin (which makes it a short read, and therefore it’s very ideal for a busy day), but it packs a punch. It’s thought-provoking and invokes feelings that I seldom feel in my busy, everyday life. I admit that I wasn’t particularly impressed with the book cover, which showed a man in a fishing boat. Ok, I admit, I’m a shallow book reader. I sometimes borrow a book if I like the book cover. Hehe. But, it was a Michael Morpurgo book. So, ya, I borrowed it. And that was one of the best book decisions I have made.

Michael’s grandfather was a man scarred physically and mentally during the war. Whenever he visited, everyone would not dare to look at him in the face. It was only when Michael spent a summer with him that he was truly able to see the man behind the burns. Grandfather told the whole story to someone for the first time.

“It was years before I discovered why he never smiled. It was because he couldn’t. It was too painful. The skin simply wouldn’t stretch. When he laughed, which wasn’t often, it was always with a straight face. And when he smiled, it was with his eyes only.”

“No one wants half a man, and that’s what I was, Michael, half a man. That’s what I still am.”

Half a Man by Michael Morpurgo
Pinocchio in His Own Words

Pinocchio in His Own Words

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I have never read a Michael Morpurgo book in my entire life. Heck! I have not heard of him until Hwee’s Book Club in FB mentioned about him. And Sistic started blasted ads about “War Horse”, which is an award winning play based on a children’s novel he had written. So, the last time I went to the library, I headed to the children’s section and borrowed 3 of his books off the shelf. The intention was to introduce his books to my children. I usually read the books before I pass them over.

I grew up reading Pinocchio books and watched the Disney Pinocchio. Seriously, I wasn’t expecting much from the book, but yet another retelling of the well-loved tale. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Sure, the important parts of the story remained true to the original story but he’s rewritten it from Pinnochio’s angle. It’s like walking around in Pinnochio’s shoes and feeling it as a first person.

You won’t know it yet, but when you get older, your childhood will seem like a long dream; sometimes a happy dream, sometimes a bit of a nightmare, sometimes so unlikely you can hardly believe it happened. But it did. You were there, you know. My dream of childhood was just like that. But I know it happened. I was there.

Pinnochio in his own words – Michael Morpurgo

It’s not just a children’s book, it’s for adults as well. When I read the book, I could totally emphatise with Pinnochio – the trials and tribulations of being a child, the temptations of money, sweets, school truancy and the draw of wanting to be Mr. Popularity, all the stupidity, lying, broken promises and regrets. I was seeing myself going through similar situations and making dumb decision just like Pinnochio. I am sure a young reader who hasn’t been through that much in life won’t be able to identify with most of it. To him or her, it will just be a fairy tale.

I teared (yes, this children’s book made me tear) when I read about how Gepetto sold his only warm coat to buy a book for Pinnochio so that he could use it in school, because it reminded me of my late father, the sacrifices he had made to give me the best that he could.

And at the end of the day, irregardless of all the follies and sins Pinnochio had committed, his parents still loved him unconditionally. If there is one takeaway from this book by my children, this is what I want them to know.

So yeah, Pinnochio in His Own Words, is not just meant for kids, adults can read it too and reflect on our own experiences. And Michael Morpurgo has been elevated to the status of being one of my favourite authors. Although I didn’t read his books as a child, reading them now gives them a a different flavour.