Letter to Joseph Kertes by Matt Bunston

Dear Joseph Kertes,

I recently read your novel Gratitude and I thought it was a generally effortless read. Your writing style is such that it allows the book to flow from topic to topic making it enjoyable to read. When I say books are effortless, I am talking about how much I enjoyed them, which would make them easier reads for me. The mixture of history and story telling really appealed to me. Although your novel deals with some of the most gruesome and upsetting subjects that this world has seen, I did not have trouble continuing to read, as it seemed like there was always a light at the end of the tunnel. I found the one part in the novel where the SS guard pulls Marta out of the gas chamber quite astonishing. In most of the movies, novels, and textbooks that I have seen or read, almost every Nazi is portrayed as somewhat of a monster. This part shows complete and utter caring for another human being although it goes against what he was taught to believe in. The fact that you could write about this was a great change to the harshness of that point in history. I enjoyed the fact that many of the main characters contributed to the plot. Sometimes characters are just in a book to fill up space on the page but it seemed with your novel that every character had a purpose and a contribution to make. I’m sure the book was a mentally and emotionally draining process for you. As hard as it was for me to read at some points, these parts must have been quite challenging for you to write about.

I thank you for giving another outlook on WWII with the personal struggles of the characters in your novel.

Sincerely,

Matt Bunston