The Dynamite Room

I knew no good would come of this. But, I had hope. This is a prime example of, "it's not the destination, it's the journey. Between the beginning and the end, Hewitt doles out tiny bits of insight - told in flashback - that build the tension. And I do mean tension. The kind of tension you feel when watching a movie and you actually say out loud, "No, no! Don't split up to explore the woods alone The writing is beautiful, and the characters Lydia and Heiden are sympathetic and likeable. If you want a book that will push you, pick this one.

If you want to read about growing up and lost love, complicated by war and all the horror that entails, pick this book. I suspect your book group will love this book as I did for all the ideas to ponder and viewpoints to discuss. Not a conventional World War II novel but a brilliant fresh approach to the narrative of this conflict. It is about the casualties of war, seen through relationships. How war changes people, attitudes and lives. Set predominately in a Suffolk house, isolated due to the fear of invasion it is the story of a 12 year old hostage and a German commando.

Their interaction has the potential to change their lives forever. However, the war has already done that and it is a story of th Superb debut novel. However, the war has already done that and it is a story of them coming to terms with this new reality. Beautifully told, smart dialogue and locations; through back stories we gain insights into various aspects of this time, from evacuees to the Berlin home front.

I liked the tension built from confined locations, a Berlin garret room, the dynamite room and where the drama unfolds Greyfriars. A joy to read, tense, with mystery and thrills. I liked the slow reveals if the various plot lines and the generosity of the author not to hide things other than in plain sight. However, the plot did have a few twists and turns I didn't fully see or understand until later. Other themes I see are trying to escape and seeking forgiveness for those left behind or used to achieve that end.

The Dynamite Room by Jason Hewitt review – the bonds of war | Books | The Guardian

This would be a great book group read and is a must read for Apr 17, Kristine rated it liked it Shelves: Original review can be found at http: The synopsis was intriguing and the genre is one of my favourites. I couldn't wait to get lost in it. Although there wasn't anything horribly wrong with it, the story fell a little flat. It was really slow to get going and I found my mind wandering often. I wanted to know how everything wo Original review can be found at http: I wanted to know how everything would tie together but not in an anticipation type of way.

It was more like an "I'm bored" kind of way. However, I do see quite a bit of potential with this author. The Dynamite Room was his debut novel and as debuts go it was a solid effort. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it. May 05, Rebecca McPhedran rated it liked it Shelves: Lydia is walking down the street, alone in a gas mask. The year is , and she is trying to get home to her mother.

There is someone in her house, but it's not her mother. And this is the beginning of a stressful week for Lydia and her unexpected house guest. At times, I really liked this book. At other times, I was very confused. She seemed quite helpless, and in need of the strangers attention maybe he was going for this?

I also felt like the breaks between points of view were very disjoin Lydia is walking down the street, alone in a gas mask. I also felt like the breaks between points of view were very disjointed. Sometimes, I would have to re read entire sections, before I could figure out which point of view it was. I was so hoping for a climactic ending, but it kind of fell flat for me.

It was ok, the setting was an interesting twist, but something was lacking in the execution. On to the next one! This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. In giving this one of my rare four star reviews almost impossible to get a five from me mainly for how atmospheric it felt It was no surprise that Heiden had met the father, and got information from him, but a nice twist to the story, that he wanted to become him, and set about a path In giving this one of my rare four star reviews almost impossible to get a five from me mainly for how atmospheric it felt It was no surprise that Heiden had met the father, and got information from him, but a nice twist to the story, that he wanted to become him, and set about a path to take him there.

I enjoyed the small plot line of Alfie Well all of it really.. This was a book club read that I started the day before the meeting and miraculously managed to finish on my way out of the house to the meeting.

By Rick Moody

Set during World War II, debut author Hewitt creates the feeling of a post-apocalyptic world as th This was a book club read that I started the day before the meeting and miraculously managed to finish on my way out of the house to the meeting. Set during World War II, debut author Hewitt creates the feeling of a post-apocalyptic world as the eleven-year-old heroine makes her way home through her abandoned village in England, having run away from the family she was sent to as an evacuee.

That night, alone in her home, she hears someone enter and search the house. The book was good fodder for a lively discussion about how the novel uses these two characters to explore themes of war, power and morality.

The Dynamite Room by Jason Hewitt, review

View all 3 comments. Mar 30, Barbara Beswick rated it really liked it. We both agree The Dynamite Room is 'superb'. I know Mr Filer does, because it's quoted on the front cover. I think therefore, I shall have to seek out Mr F's book because clearly he has exceptional taste! Set in , the book takes me back to old black and white films I watched as a child on a Sunday afternoon while passing around Riley's Toffee Rolls and Richmond Selection always to be shared between my three sisters Nathan Filer author of The Shock of the Fall and I, have something in common.

Set in , the book takes me back to old black and white films I watched as a child on a Sunday afternoon while passing around Riley's Toffee Rolls and Richmond Selection always to be shared between my three sisters and Mum and Dad. Lydia, the young girl in the story is a kind of Hayley Mills in Whistle Down The Wind character, only rather than the 'baddy' Alan Bates who turns up in a barn, it's a young German Nazi officer who breaks into Lydia's abandoned and boarded up family home, only to discover Lydia, an escaped evacuee has fled fled back there to hide.

And so begins the relationship between the two. It's thought provoking, touching and very emotionally charged, - talk about read it and weep!

The Dynamite Room

Cannot believe this is a debut novel and I shall certainly be buying his second book Devastation Road. Such writing talent - and then you seen the man!! Aug 26, Bethany Rose rated it it was amazing. Bravo Jason Hewitt for this superb book! Jason Hewitt is not only an author,but a playwright and actor and you can tell that he is all three of those professions,because he absolutely breaths life into each and every one of his characters as if you are watching a great play or film. I've read his second book Devastation Road and it is equally as engaging and heartbreaking The Dynamite Room is one of the best books I've read this year.

Oct 16, Elizabeth rated it really liked it Shelves: This book was hard to get into at first, I feel like the author really polished his skill as the book progressed.

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I do have to say, I did not see the twist coming right away and once you got past the first few chapters I really wanted to know what going to happen to them. We find out pretty quickly that our German, Lance-Corporal Heiden, is a goodie; the Norwegian campaign has left him thoroughly disillusioned with the war. Liked her sensitivity to the paranormal too. But this is definitely a worthwhile read.

May 01, Sarah rated it it was amazing Shelves: I'm going to start this review with a spoiler, and here's why: The moment I read the back cover copy, I knew I had to read this book. But I also knew that this book could be beyond horrifying and upsetting depending on which way the grown-man-forcing-little-girl-to-live-with-him angle went.

And, as a result, I couldn't fully get into the book the first time I read it because I was so worried Lydia was going to be raped. There were unsettling scenes and comments that seemed like they were going to lead to that, yes. But thankfully, no, there was no sexual angle to her being held captive in the house. This time around, I could fully appreciate the writing -- which, by the way, is spectacular.

The writing is evocative, claustrophobic but also beautiful, and just so well done. But my favourite part is, by far, the characterization. Lydia is a phenomenal character. When I think about girls narrating books about war, I automatically compare them to Briony from Atonement. And it's especially easy to make that comparison in this case, with their shared interest in writing.

Lydia doesn't waver under this comparison. With her practicality and her imagination, she's an engaging, wonderful character. Heiden was someone I couldn't stand at first, for obvious reasons. I didn't care about his army missions, I didn't care about his girlfriend, I didn't care about his backstory Well done to the author for having made this character equal parts sympathetic and creepy. Thank you to the publisher and goodreads for a free copy of the Dynamite room.

This is a gem of a book, and I'm so happy to have had a chance to read it.

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Accessibility links Skip to article Skip to navigation. Tuesday 18 December The Dynamite Room by Jason Hewitt, review. Eerie, thrilling and piercingly sad,The Dynamite Room evokes the great tradition of war classics yet achieves a strikingly original and contemporary resonance. Hypnotically compelling, it explores, in the most extreme of circumstances, the bonds we share that make us human. Jason Hewitt is a novelist, playwright and actor. He was born in Oxford, and lives in London. Get our latest book recommendations, author news, and sweepstakes right to your inbox.

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