Book Review: Peilis

Author: Kit Masters
Publication date: 31st July 2013
Rating: ★★★☆☆

   Last year I won Kit Master's novel entitled Peilis through a goodreads give-away via the website's First Reads scheme. I put off reading until this year as it is so different to what I usually read.

   The title comes from the Lithuanian term for knife which is a huge theme throughout the novel. Told from a twenty-nine year old teacher's point of view, the story explores the dangers of adolescent school chaos. This narrator is very much an observer who exposes the reader to the social infection which is rapidly tearing through the education system.

   Peilis gives the reader a glimpse into the lives of four teenagers who all have a story of their own. With episodes of tragedy, the author shows how problems pushed to the extreme can end with a shocking fate.

   Being only 165 pages, this is quite a quick read but it is near impossible not to dig deeper into the connotations implied by Masters. It may be a work of fiction but the ideology of the main character holds truth to what is being experienced in the real world in terms of racism, family issues and professional boundaries.

   Masters has a poetic style of writing which is captivating to read whilst causing us to question if there is any form of romanticism to the messages being explored. Alongside the story, Masters has included illustrations to support the theme of each chapter. On a first glance, these illustrations may steer you away but there is an implication to them which comes to surface after reading.

   I gave Peilis three out of five stars for the message the author delivers. It may not be my cup of tea but for the right reader it could be just the ticket! This is the second piece of work Masters has written, Ruta was the name of his first novel.

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Thanks for reading.

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