The Boy Behind the Curtain is an autobiographical work by the well-known Australian writer Tim Winton. The book contains more than 20 interesting stories about Winton’s life from the very childhood. The author claims that the reader expects chaos and an incredible range of emotions. Tim Winton was a very restless and smart child by temperament, thus he often got into various situations and troubles. Winton’s stories will reveal all the secret moments of his life to the reader from his childhood to adulthood. The book describes the author’s thoughts about creativity and his way to fame.
In his memoirs, Winton writes about his childhood habit. His father has a rifle in their house and Winton often aims at people, passing by the house. This habit gives him confidence and strength. But having matured, the author gets rid of this habit and does not acquire weapons.
In one of Winton’s essays, the reader learns that the author has witnessed accidents several times. First, he sees how one stranger gets into a motorcycle accident. Then, sometime later, Winton’s father suffers from a motorcycle accident. These chaotic and panic moments negatively affect his mental health. The author describes these car accidents and their impact on the children’s psyche and perception of reality, even if the child grows up in a loving and caring family.
Tim Winton details Australia’s wildlife and environment. He visits Mount Gibson Sanctuary, where he learns about endangered species of animals. The author teaches the reader to take care of nature and maintain its safety. He also demonstrates his interest in traveling and surfing. Surfing helps Winton to find many like-minded people and friends, and it becomes a specific form of meditation for him. The author also talks about politics and religious beliefs, as well as about Australian society and its traditions. In general, this book is very colorful, because the reader does not only learn information about the author and his family but also about Australia in general.
Every story of The Boy Behind the Curtain has its own message, reflections on various life situations, and some morality for the reader. It seems that the book does not lead to morality, but this is not the case. Winton claims that life seems awesome and carefree in childhood, but it can change in an instant in adult life. Despite ridiculous incidents and unforeseen situations in life, the author teaches us to love this life, respect individual choice, stay strong and remember that each adult is a small child, who is hiding behind a curtain.
