Questions About A God in Ruins (Todd Family, #2)

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Answered Questions (22)

What is this -- the "outtakes" of material that was left over when she finished Life after Life?

Bruce Katz Not even a little. It's a companion to "Life", not a sequel. You don't have to read "Life" at all to appreciate "Ruins."…moreNot even a little. It's a companion to "Life", not a sequel. You don't have to read "Life" at all to appreciate "Ruins."(less)

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Why is God in ruins?

Rachel A man is a god in ruins. When men are innocent, life shall be longer, and shall pass into the immortal, as gently as we wake from dreams' Ralph Waldo …moreA man is a god in ruins. When men are innocent, life shall be longer, and shall pass into the immortal, as gently as we wake from dreams' Ralph Waldo Emerson (less)

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I'm trying to read this, but having a really hard time. I've been reading for a week and I'm about 10% into it. There is too much jumping around between characters that I feel lost. I'm thinking about quitting and I hardly ever quit on a book. I loved Life After Life, but I'm not seeing the appeal with this one. Is it worth it?

CarrieBeth Garrett I have the audio book and, at first, was falling asleep to it. Buf I half way into it and it has gained a slow but fierce grip on my attention. I find…moreI have the audio book and, at first, was falling asleep to it. Buf I half way into it and it has gained a slow but fierce grip on my attention. I find any reason to listen throughout the day. The slowness in the begining seems to reflect the tedium of Teddy's life after the war. He never really finds a place where he belongs and excels like he did in the war. The more we see his time as a bomber pilot, the more we, or at least I, sympathize with his mediocre marriage, annoying, selfish daughter, and general displacement in life. I'm so impressed with how Atkinson slowly reveals the Teddy that was in contrast to the Teddy that is. While not a page turner, I agree with the comment from Trish that you should "just let the writing flow over you".(less)

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This question contains spoilers... (view spoiler)

Patrick I like to think of the ending as a bit of a nod towards Life After Life. That there were parallel histories in which he either lived or died on the ni…moreI like to think of the ending as a bit of a nod towards Life After Life. That there were parallel histories in which he either lived or died on the night of the Nuremburg bombing raid. I don't think either version is what "really" happened and the other just a "fiction"...(less)

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What has Kate to offer about a "God in Ruins" instead of asking what man or human being in ruins is going to be next?

Larry Fontenot If you read the Emerson quote at the front of the book, you will realize that Atkinson IS writing about man, not God. The premise of the book is how m…moreIf you read the Emerson quote at the front of the book, you will realize that Atkinson IS writing about man, not God. The premise of the book is how mankind is ruined by the things we can control, and by things out of our control. In particular, the war was a great ruination of millions of people. Whether God had anything to do with it is beyond my experience. Given choices, we often make a complete muddle of them. The charm of this book is that the characters are smart enough to at least realize the extent of the damage and can ruminate over whether their choices made a difference or not.(less)

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