Gentlehands by M.E.Kerr Buddy's got a girlfriend who's upper-class. His parents, his brother, and even his best friend do not approve. But Buddy is infatuated. He is willing to do lie, steal, whatever it takes, to be with her. To impress her, Buddy brings his girlfriend, Skye Pennnington, to his grandfather's house. Skye and his grandfather hit off well, and Buddy begins to admire his grandfather. When his father gets mad at Buddy for going behind his back with Skye, Buddy moves in with his grandfather. Then, a reporter publishes the story that Buddy's grandfather is a Nazi war criminal, who was called Gentlehands ironically, because he used to taunt his Italian prisoners with Italian opera to make them homesick. Faced with this unpleasant truth, Buddy is forced to confront himself.
I didn't like Buddy himself, which made the book much less enjoyable. Buddy lies and goes against his conscience too much for me to empathize with him. I was also annoyed that the problem of Buddy's grandfather being Gentlehands came out at the very end of the book, after a lot of hinting. Nonetheless, this book raises a number of interesting philosophical questions.
By the way, have you noticed that M.E. Kerr visited this site? If not, I suggest you look at and sign the guestbook now.
Happy reading.
