Rachelle's Response to The English Patient

As a war novel, the English Patient deals with the post-war effects on both humans, and the landscape. This book did an excellent job of creating images of the landscape and of the villa which was turned into a make-shift hospital. All of the characters of this novel were fascinating and unique. I would have to agree with Holly that the novel is much better than the movie. But perhaps this is because, with the novel we were able to create the characters and the settings in our own minds, and when watching the movie they didn't meet up to our own individual expectations.

One distinct difference between the movie and the novel was Kip's reasoning for leaving. I felt as though his reasoning was understandable in the novel. He needed to get away from that place, and return home. He felt as though he had been supporting the wrong side, and as though he was almost responsible for the bombings. In the movie after his friend dies he just packs up and leaves, and you're left waiting for the rest of the story.

Hannah is an interesting character, she is clearly emotionally wounded at the loss of her father, friends, and the things she has witnessed. However, by taking care of the English Patient, it is as though she is healing herself, and regaining the aspects of who she is.

This book was a good read, however, I would argue that at points it was a bit flat, and I was waiting for something to happen, like a mine to go off inside the villa. I wasn't pleased with the ending either. Anne had warned me that she herself wasn't happy with it, and once I read it I understood why. If Kip was still longing for Hannah, why wouldn't he just go and find her? Instead of constantly being reminded of her and thinking about her even though he had married moved on and married another women, this was a frustrating element of the novel for me.