Caging Skies

By Christine Leunens

ISBN: 9781419740121

Page Count: 304 (average joe but ain’t no joke)

Genre: historical fiction, coming of age, romance, philosophical, psychological

Book Bites: 3 Sentence Intro About What This Story Is

Johannes Betzler grows up learning about Hitler’s vision for the future during WWII and believing he is an integral part of a movement for a better future by supporting Hitler. When an injury prevents Johannes from continuing his work and he returns home to recover, he finds out his parents are hiding a Jewish girl, Elsa, in their house, which starts his obsession with her. Throughout the course of the war and post-war, Johannes and Elsa’s relationship develops as the world around them changes over the coming years.

*As usual, to see the official book teaser/summary of this, go to anywhere books are found and read up more about what this book is about.

Now on to My Commentary (**May Contain Spoilers: Read at Your Own Risk)

So, this is one of those serendipitous books that I highly doubt I would have picked up on my own accord. A friend of mine recommended I watched the movie, Jojo Rabbit, which was inspired by Caging Skies. And naturally, as a bibliophile, I stubbornly decided to read the book before I watched the movie. And the movie is different in its focus than the book, though both are uniquely wonderful. Either way, I’m really grateful to have been introduced to this story because I delighted in reading it.

Johannes’ character in Caging Skies reminds me of Joe Goldberg’s character in Caroline Kepnes’ book You (check it out if you haven’t already). Both develop an obsession for a woman and go to great lengths to prove their “love” for them. And maybe to justify their actions to the readers too. Okay, so… most of us haven’t acted so passionately, obsessively, extremely, and criminally in our pursuit of another as Johannes and Joe have, but we have all probably felt passion’s powerful surge tempting or motivating us to do things we would never have imagined. All in the name of “love”. Both unapologetically illustrate this raw essence of how our enthusiasm for someone brings out this intensity and, for outsiders observing them, this irrationality.

And that is where I found commonality with the protagonist of Caging Skies. Reading it felt like an introspective journey – further emphasized by the first person point of view Christine Leunens decided to write the book in. As if I were distantly observing potential consequences had I easily given in to the power of my own infatuation. Oh the trouble I would have come across! These relatable private thoughts and feelings that we all have experienced when romantically attracted towards another but rarely ever discussed openly is expressed unabashedly in this book. As I followed the emotional currents of their relationship, I kept contemplating the question: What would you do for love? How far will you go for love? And boy, did Johannes keep me curious about his decisions.

Be forewarned, it’s not a cutesy romance storyline. So don’t expect grandiose romantic gestures like private candlelight dinners on a yacht or stargazing while lying next to your hubby on a blanket on the moon or anything like that.

I honestly believe this book won’t be everyone’s cup of tea (supported by others’ reviews I’ve seen on this). But as a (toxic) hopeless – helpless – romantic and lover of unrequited love stories, I fully empathized with the sacrifices Johannes makes for Elsa. Because isn’t it the sweetest thing when boys give up so much (everything in Johannes’ case) to show you how much they love you? Ha, ha. That’s an analysis/reality check for another day. But seriously, Johannes does a lot of shit to demonstrate his love and care of Elsa.

I will commend Johannes’ achievements as he transitioned from being a boy, who basically had his life in order, planned out, and had a family who took care of him, into a man presented with continuous challenges, like navigating adulthood and questioning his beliefs, that he had to work to overcome. Despite this obsession isolating him from the changing world, I found that Johannes learned a lot about himself. Though I will also add that it seemed like Johannes’ ability to love and form healthy relationships with others was stunted by his all-consuming desire to be with Elsa all the time.

Overall, I found the book real and relatable. It didn’t shy away when it came to incorporating uncomfortable, funereal scenes, which earned my damn respect. It addressed the horrors of war in a way that wasn’t overly grotesque but direct and authentic. Leunens masterfully mirrored the events of Johannes’ physical world with the development of his and Elsa’s inner worlds, creating captivating atmospheric moments that recognized the symbolic transitions Austria faced during the World War II era and evoked compassion with the characters as the story progressed. It reminds us just how interconnected we are to the movements of the world around us even if we’re not fully conscious of it every moment. Even if we feel confined and stagnant within the walls that surround us (as Elsa and Johannes did).

The Good

• Johannes’ character (I liked his character, despite his questionable actions.)
• Enjoyed the historical context it was placed in and how this mirrored events in Johannes’ personal life
• Pimmichen (Johannes’ grandma) is hilarious, they were able it incorporate dry humor in a book with such a morose storyline
• Importance of gender roles (male/female responsibilities) and society’s expectations
• Elsa’s contemplations of the world

The I’m-Not-So-Sure-About-That (AKA constructive criticism)/Parts I Didn’t Like

• Did Johannes’ character experience growth/character development?
• There were some people in the book who were killed off and it felt like they were hastily written off
• Elsa comes across a little bratty, also felt like she was taking advantage of Johannes’ attraction to her

Final Thoughts

This story lingered long in my mind after turning those final pages and closing the book. That doesn’t happen with every book I read, but I do appreciate the stories that make an impression on me. It’s worth a look at. Leunens is very lyrical in her writing style, keeping me hooked on Johannes’s and Austria’s metamorphosis, which was a nice change of pace from the typical things I read.

Happy reading!

Check out this book if it piques your interest. Hope you enjoy it as your next read or a re-read!

And remember, “Every story is worth the read. Someone (some overworked and ink-stains-on-the-clothes lovely soul) took the time to write it.”