Behind the Lines

By: Ian Patrick

Narrated by: Ian Patrick

These eight short stories are works of fiction but reflect the author's real personal experiences while undergoing compulsory military training during his youth in apartheid South Africa. The stories are all based on real events but the characters are the products of creative imagination, however rooted in reality they might be. Listeners will enjoy a range of humour and unusual incidents - frequently hilarious - along with perceptive insights into the trials and tribulations faced by a young man seeking an identity in a confusing world of military discipline and rigid conformity.

©2017 Ian Patrick (P)2017 Ian Patrick

These are good stories, well written

Where does Behind the Lines rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Very good indeed. First rate.

What other book might you compare Behind the Lines to and why?

Lord of the Flies: about growing up and coming of age in trying circumstances.

What about Ian Patrick’s performance did you like?

Nice and easy narration, no fuss, just comfortable and clear.

If you could rename Behind the Lines, what would you call it?

Between the lines and behind the dialogue.

Any additional comments?

These short pieces are very good. I read the book then got the audio version and listened to the writer reading his own work. It was very good to hear him delve into the characters and the accents and feelings, etc. The experience of shutting one’s eyes and just letting the stories unfold was a good one for me. I enjoyed most of all the scene in the guard tower with the young soldier wondering what he was doing there while at that very moment Neil Armstrong was stepping on the moon and Led Zeppelin were hammering out songs at a gig in the USA and the sounds of the Beatles and others were permeating the atmosphere. That was cool. These are good stories, well written.

Such nice stories, such a nice young man

Where does Behind the Lines rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top of the range

What was one of the most memorable moments of Behind the Lines?

I’m so pleased he found a soul-make partner at the end in “Blood Bond”. She is just the type of woman for him.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene in the guard tower with the moon landing taking place and the poor young man thinking about his existence. Very poignant.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Love, life and torture

Any additional comments?

I didn’t expect these stories to be linked to one another in the way that they are. In fact, they could all constitute a really nice short novel about life growing up in the army. The central character is lovable. A nice young man coming to terms with his own immaturity and his own fears and prejudices. A lovely honest set of reflections. A lovely set of reflections of life while growing up.

Very gentle and enjoyable stories

These were very pleasant to read and also to listen to. First I listened to the audio version in one go, during a long night in which I couldn't sleep because of the heat. Then I decided to get the e-reader version too, and I re-read each story. They are all under 3000 words (I think) and so they are very good to read while shopping and waiting for a bus or train. I must have read them over the course of a week, at one a day, and they made such an interesting narrative when you think of them together. It could make a good novel, in fact, with the central character very agreeable and compassionate and real. So interesting and witty.

Hilarious stories and quite touching

These stories are very funny and quite touching in parts, too, as we realise that this is not all just about funny experiences. This was a dreadful time in the country's history and this poor youngster battles to find his way through the treacle of political fascism, racism, bigotry and authoritarianism. In many ways it is an allegory for the coming of age of the country. But how charmingly naive the young man is. It's wonderful when he learns and grows. The relevance right at the time I read this, of the moon landing, makes the "Lesser Works" story particularly poignant. What a delight. The best piece in the whole collection, for me, is the foreword (or is that afterword or preface?). The gentle intelligence behind those words really struck me. I had read the collection a year ago but I listened to the audio version only last week and it all came back to me. The accent of the narrator makes it all that more real. Very good reading, very articulate and atmospheric.

Short, sharp and sweet tales

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely. Most enjoyable short tales, very entertaining

What was one of the most memorable moments of Behind the Lines?

I thoroughly enjoyed them once I got to the second story. Not that the first one was deficient in any way: in fact, when I re-read (and listened again to) that one after having read the others, it emerged as probably the best of them all. Very touching, very moving, in fact.

Which character – as performed by Ian Patrick – was your favorite?

The young protagonist and his girlfriend in "Blood Bond" are both great.

If you could rename Behind the Lines, what would you call it?

Fun, love and training for war.

Any additional comments?

This was unexpected. The cover led me to believe the stories would be more about action on the front line. But then the brilliant afterword (which I read first) told me more. Then I realised: the title is everything about “behind the lines” – what the words on the page don’t tell you. Very clever. The stories are all very funny in some way, and all of them are also very serious. I have seldom enjoyed short stories as much as these. Well, OK, there’s always Herman Charlie Bosman, of course, who’s king. But these were damn good.

Delightful Afterword says it all

Would you listen to Behind the Lines again? Why?

Again and again. Truthful, touching, funny, and very, very wise.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The girl in "Blood Bond" really appeals to me. She's feisty and intelligent and loving and wise.

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene where he bleeds on the girl: in the same story: "Blood Bond".

If you could take any character from Behind the Lines out to dinner, who would it be and why?

I'd like to take this poor soldier out and teach him a thing or two about life. I loved him.

Any additional comments?

The delightful Afterword to this collection says it all. Closing with a beautiful rendition of the same sentiment expressed in the last line of "The Great Gatsby", the author puts all the stories in context and it is very touching indeed. All the books we read - whether fiction or non-fiction - can at best claim to be only "substantially" true at best. A good honest reflection of the protagonist's(author's?) personal experience. I thoroughly enjoyed reading these delightful eight stories.

A delightful collection

Would you consider the audio edition of Behind the Lines to be better than the print version?

Not sure. They are both great. I've just listened to the audiobook today. I read the kindle version some time ago. It certainly bears out a second reading. The stories are so clever and subtle and amusing.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Behind the Lines?

To tell the truth, the Afterword is amazing. What a fine piece of writing that is. The stories are all compelling, too, but when one reads that Afterword everything takes on even more poignancy and meaning. But all the stories were good. Maybe the best moment is when he takes the long journey through the night and gets an education from a sharp old market gardener as they drive down to Durban.

What about Ian Patrick’s performance did you like?

Very lucid and easy and cosy.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Bad soldier, good guy.

Any additional comments?

My father served in this same cohort of soldiers at the time this all takes place. He says it is completely accurate in every detail. He loved it, especially the audio version (he's read the book three or four times already and has just listened to the audio).

Most unusual and very entertaining

These stories about growing up and coming of age in boot camp are deliriously funny. I've read a couple of crime thrillers by this writer before but these are an entirely different genre. Witty and gentle and insightful, these stories are utter gems. I read them while standing in line, while sitting on the subway, and while waiting for a friend.

They're unusual, in that the location for these stories is not what a U.S. citizen expects. But the writing is subtle and engaging and the stories are so interesting. Following a young man as he grows up in the course of a short period of time in the military is a lovely idea. But in this case the added urgency is the political context. One's heart goes out to the young guy as he struggles against not only the officers in command but against his own preconceptions and prejudices. He learns in leaps and bounds and it is a joy to behold. Most entertaining, all the way.

Better than the printed version

I had to read this when I was told that it was about an early-twenties young man doing boot camp. Having had the same experience (boot camp) at about the same age, it was a must for me. Well, what a delightful set of stories. And the audio version, too. It was good to listen to the accents.

The setting is very different than what I experienced, but also very similar in so many ways. The different personalities, the different experiences (including, I have to say, a regretable relationship with someone with whom I/he should never have started), and the thoughts of the young man when he finds some time alone are so poignant to me.

A most delicious set of tasty morsels, as one advert said. I totally loved this and read it right through in less than two hours.

Just lovely

These were so lovely. Soft and gentle and amusing stories about a poor young man who doesn't know where or what he is until he works out how to survive predatory bullies, army corporals, and stuffy girlfriends and their families. I love this writing. So clever and witty and gentle and empathetic.