Behind the Lines An anthology of short stories edition by Ian Patrick Literature Fiction eBooks
Download As PDF : Behind the Lines An anthology of short stories edition by Ian Patrick Literature Fiction eBooks 
A young man coming of age as he undergoes basic military training. Stories drawn from real-world experience, with the anti-hero transforming from awkward teenager to young adult as he tries to outwit those in authority. These eight short stories are hilarious, serious, whimsical, and entertaining, providing insights into a young man's search for identity and independence within a military system designed for conformity and control.
Behind the Lines An anthology of short stories edition by Ian Patrick Literature Fiction eBooks
It’s no surprise that a young soldier who could only make it through a long dark shift on watch by reading Shakespeare was not cut out for war. Ian Patrick’s ‘Behind the Lines,’ is a stunning autobiographical account of his experiences as a soldier in a time of military conscription in South Africa under the Apartheid regime.The book is comprised of what the author calls short stories but the eight vignettes flow into each other like chapters mapping out a timeline and culminating in the coming of age of the troepie. As readers we journey with the protagonist. He grapples with his identity as his intellect and compassion for humanity conflict with entrenched prejudice.
From the journey by train, to basic training and on to a series of yearly camps troepies had to complete, the stories have it all. I laughed as the soldiers outsmarted their superiors in Hubbly Bubbly and shed tears too.
Portrayed with honesty, humility and sensitivity we are privy to the transformation of perspective that occurs in the youngster as he reformulates the way he views the society in which he lives and in whose army he is forced to serve. In Alpha Bravo Charlie, Patrick’s assumptions are challenged when he is given a lift to Durban by an erudite Indian vegetable seller. Blood Bond describes a critical incident which leads to the rejection of heartless racism, and those who ascribe to it. From this point onward, Patrick is transformed and finds a love interest who shares and encourages a more inclusive world view.
Ian Patrick writes beautifully. I loved the poetic touches as the youngster heads off to enlist journeying on ‘a bleeding train.’ Patrick tells us about his experiences in colourful ways without indulgence or excess. From these stories we can truly appreciate his cognitive shifting, his love of literature and drama, and his daring driven by desperation. His fine intellect is apparent; not only in his prose, but in the way he appealed missing a camp in court. He could have been a fine lawyer too.
‘Behind the Lines’ is a narrative about finding one true self, being open enough to critically engage and brave enough to reject what is unjust. This is a powerful and thought-provoking read that presents a period in South African history that affected many young white males. The skilful telling of the tales, with their whimsy and wit, leaves one hankering for more.
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Behind the Lines An anthology of short stories edition by Ian Patrick Literature Fiction eBooks Reviews
The" soldier" hero in this story lives in apartheid South Africa but could have easily been a young conscript in the U.S. during the same period of Vietnam. Young men, coming of age and realizing the hypocrisy of a system under which they are asked to serve.
The soldier's weekend trip home, realizing that he no longer fit in with the ideals of family and friends rang especially true for me. I was a twenty-something war protestor during Vietnam, an ideological break with my small conservative community. A leaving home of sorts.
Mr. Patrick skillfully combines pathos with humor. The hilarious "forced march" to the Hubbly Bubbly machine , followed by a commendation for the entire platoon, superbly defined the irony of military service.
I was disappointed when I reached the final page. I wanted more.
Loved the originality and spontaneity of this young man ploughing through his military training and creating space for himself to get ahead. Very creative of him to clear his name as far as his personal record was concerned. In today's record system nothing of the past would ever be found. Loved reading it.
These short stories speak to a view felt by so many of us who lived through the same period of the schooling system designed to keep the people 'uniform' and at the same time 'uninformed' in order to fulfil the then governments ideals and to use scare tactics about 'the other'; the 'different' from them. The sheer futility of the conscription of young men to train them fight the 'perceived enemy' who would later become the new government is staggering.
I so enjoyed the piece where the writer takes a lift from 'one of the others' and is enlightened by chats about things never taught and unknown - speaks to me of how much we can learn from people who are different from us and how in the end we all want the same thing - to be allowed to live; work; succeed and not be judged for our looks or colour or religion.
The writer paints a great picture of 'coming to the light/truths' of a young man placed in a position not of his making but forced unwillingly to comply with orders from those then in power and who history would later consign to powerless and bitter angry old men.
It’s no surprise that a young soldier who could only make it through a long dark shift on watch by reading Shakespeare was not cut out for war. Ian Patrick’s ‘Behind the Lines,’ is a stunning autobiographical account of his experiences as a soldier in a time of military conscription in South Africa under the Apartheid regime.
The book is comprised of what the author calls short stories but the eight vignettes flow into each other like chapters mapping out a timeline and culminating in the coming of age of the troepie. As readers we journey with the protagonist. He grapples with his identity as his intellect and compassion for humanity conflict with entrenched prejudice.
From the journey by train, to basic training and on to a series of yearly camps troepies had to complete, the stories have it all. I laughed as the soldiers outsmarted their superiors in Hubbly Bubbly and shed tears too.
Portrayed with honesty, humility and sensitivity we are privy to the transformation of perspective that occurs in the youngster as he reformulates the way he views the society in which he lives and in whose army he is forced to serve. In Alpha Bravo Charlie, Patrick’s assumptions are challenged when he is given a lift to Durban by an erudite Indian vegetable seller. Blood Bond describes a critical incident which leads to the rejection of heartless racism, and those who ascribe to it. From this point onward, Patrick is transformed and finds a love interest who shares and encourages a more inclusive world view.
Ian Patrick writes beautifully. I loved the poetic touches as the youngster heads off to enlist journeying on ‘a bleeding train.’ Patrick tells us about his experiences in colourful ways without indulgence or excess. From these stories we can truly appreciate his cognitive shifting, his love of literature and drama, and his daring driven by desperation. His fine intellect is apparent; not only in his prose, but in the way he appealed missing a camp in court. He could have been a fine lawyer too.
‘Behind the Lines’ is a narrative about finding one true self, being open enough to critically engage and brave enough to reject what is unjust. This is a powerful and thought-provoking read that presents a period in South African history that affected many young white males. The skilful telling of the tales, with their whimsy and wit, leaves one hankering for more.
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