What do you think?
Rate this book
When We Were Alive
When we first meet Bobby, he is a shy, twelve-year-old magician who falls in love with his best friend.
William is consumed with self-hate and drinks to escape the memories of his father’s sadness and his mother’s death.
Myles is writing letters to a mother he has never met.
Three diff erent people from three different times each explore the dark side of relationships, search for beauty in sadness and try to bear the burden of guilt from living in a world we are powerless to fix.
William is consumed with self-hate and drinks to escape the memories of his father’s sadness and his mother’s death.
Myles is writing letters to a mother he has never met.
Three diff erent people from three different times each explore the dark side of relationships, search for beauty in sadness and try to bear the burden of guilt from living in a world we are powerless to fix.
234 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2016
14 people are currently reading
952 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
February 27, 2016
One of the best debuts I've read in years. You can watch my full spoiler free review here - http://youtu.be/iG5MyXVJpPE
February 26, 2016
We all know that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. And it is equally true, as evidenced by this remarkable debut novel, that you shouldn’t judge a book by the appearance of its author. C. J. Fisher is a young YouTube vlogger and at first sight, although she is obviously intelligent and articulate, it might seem that I am not her target audience. But When We Were Alive is a powerful, raw, compassionate and moving novel, astonishing in its maturity and perceptiveness, which will appeal to a wide readership. It tells the story of three men, following them as they grow and experience the world whilst battling their demons and trying to make sense of what happens to them. Bobby, William and Myles are all compelling characters. We first meet Bobby as a shy aspiring magician. William is finding it hard to cope with the memory of his parents. And Myles longs for his absent mother. Feelings of sadness, longing and loss are the keynotes of the book, although there is wit and humour here too. C. J. Fisher has a great love of language and understands the power of words. Occasionally I was brought up short by her choice of a word, but always on reflection it seemed to be exactly right. Her ability to describe scenes is masterful. There’s a wartime episode which is as chilling as anything I’ve ever read. And one of the closing scenes will haunt me for a long time. Well-plotted, with all the threads expertly woven together at the end, well-paced, and with convincing dialogue throughout, it’s a wonderfully accomplished piece of writing and deserves every success.
Read
February 24, 2017The trend for multiple timelines, narrators and perspectives in the fiction of the last few years has given us some outstanding novels, but this is a tricky literary approach, with many potential pitfalls and doesn't always make for a satisfying novel. In the case of WHEN WE WERE ALIVE, I found myself admiring the writing on a line-by-line basis (the younger characters are particularly well-drawn) whilst at the same time longing for a more linear plot (or indeed, any plot). Having said that, this is an excellent book. The style and structure reminded me a little of Kate Atkinson's A GOD IN RUINS, although I think in this case the episodic nature of the letters, chapters, evolving time frames, etc. although engaging as individual mood pieces, might have benefited from a stronger structural underpinning and more early clues as to how they fitted together. Nevertheless, a great debut by an incisive and accomplished writer.
March 7, 2016
A very promising debut. Full review to follow.
March 23, 2016
I received an ARC from the publisher in return for an honest review. WHich is why I am having trouble reviewing it - I do not like writing negative reviews - no one wants their work ripped to shreds.
I have to confess: overly literary fiction really isn't my thing - it reminds me of being back at school, being forced to read Mrs Dalloway (I think the most pointless book ever *ducks for cover*) and Hotel Du Lac (a close second). Nothing really happens, there's just rambling words that I'm sure are really very clever but I struggle to take in and end up feeling that I really must be quite stupid and ignorant, and definitely not an intellectual. Especially when other reviewers rave about it.
I know it is supposed to be thought-provoking, and it is cleverly written, but I read for pleasure, for escapism, and I found this a challenging read.
We have three main characters, Bobby, who we meet in the 1930s and whose story is told in the third person; in 2011 we have Myles's first person point of view shown through letters he has written to his mother; and nearly half-way through the book, William, in the 1970s, again in the third person.
The characters are all very different, Bobby is obsessed with magic and illusion; William is an alcoholic and Myles, I think perhaps is somewhere on the Autism spectrum. He is a very different, exacting character.
The book is very descriptive and wordy, and unfortunately I found myself re-reading several paragraphs in order to make sense of the sentences, which led to me giving up and skimming such paragraphs. I did have to force myself to carry on to the end, and I am glad I did as I had been struggling to find any links between the characters, which of course did become apparent towards the end of the story.
I do wish the author well with her book, and I'm sure it will do very well, and will be loved by plenty of people, who won't have any trouble in understanding and connecting with it.
I have to confess: overly literary fiction really isn't my thing - it reminds me of being back at school, being forced to read Mrs Dalloway (I think the most pointless book ever *ducks for cover*) and Hotel Du Lac (a close second). Nothing really happens, there's just rambling words that I'm sure are really very clever but I struggle to take in and end up feeling that I really must be quite stupid and ignorant, and definitely not an intellectual. Especially when other reviewers rave about it.
I know it is supposed to be thought-provoking, and it is cleverly written, but I read for pleasure, for escapism, and I found this a challenging read.
We have three main characters, Bobby, who we meet in the 1930s and whose story is told in the third person; in 2011 we have Myles's first person point of view shown through letters he has written to his mother; and nearly half-way through the book, William, in the 1970s, again in the third person.
The characters are all very different, Bobby is obsessed with magic and illusion; William is an alcoholic and Myles, I think perhaps is somewhere on the Autism spectrum. He is a very different, exacting character.
The book is very descriptive and wordy, and unfortunately I found myself re-reading several paragraphs in order to make sense of the sentences, which led to me giving up and skimming such paragraphs. I did have to force myself to carry on to the end, and I am glad I did as I had been struggling to find any links between the characters, which of course did become apparent towards the end of the story.
I do wish the author well with her book, and I'm sure it will do very well, and will be loved by plenty of people, who won't have any trouble in understanding and connecting with it.
January 26, 2021
I have real mixed feelings about this one.
When We Were Alive is the debut novel of C.J. Fisher, previously known as Ophelia Dagger and later Old Hot Radio on YouTube. I was a big fan of her content, and it's frustrating that it took me so long to get to her debut novel. Sadly, she appears to have disappeared from the internet, and hasn't published any further writing which is a real shame, because I think this book showed real progress.
I was surprised at how different the style of her writing was from her online presentation. The writing comes across as very accomplished for a debut, full of wisdom and reflection. It did tend to become a tad too 'literary' for my taste at times, a mite overblown, but for the most part she really kept me hooked with her style. The premise is also quite ambitious - three separate narrators from three different time periods - and what ultimately links their lives together as they search for meaning in a world filled with hurt. It's not typically what I would go for normally in a novel, but for Fisher I'd have read anything.
Unfortunately in the long run, it was only really the writing style and the promise of a future link that kept me going. Bobby's story was probably my favourite, in that I felt it was the most interesting and fleshed out, but ultimately I think it took far too long for the links between the characters to appear. I did figure out at least one of the two links, and was pretty close with the other, but we spend so much time with these character prior to this reveal that it made me wonder as a reader 'what is the point in this?'. I would have rather had the same story but with a continuing timeline, being introduced to other characters later down the line - I feel like there would have been more depth in that way as well, because the character of William in particular felt very underdeveloped in relation to the other two, and I'd have liked to see more of his life.
I also found the ending to be a bit haphazard and ultimately confusing. There seemed to be a kind of reveal on the last few pages, but I just... didn't understand it? And I've been reading this over the course of a few days, so surely I should have understood whatever it was that the writer wanted me to realise? I don't know, maybe it was the disparate narration style that impacted my overall engagement with the novel and therefore the ending, but it was just a bit of a let down. However, the book is ultimately incredibly sad, and did really tug on my heartstrings - certain events I did not see coming, and the realisation was gutting to say the least.
I hope Fisher does publish more novels because I'd be really interested to see what she comes out with next, despite this being a bit of a mixed bag for me. I'm definitely glad I persevered with it though, and I'll keep my eyes peeled for any (hopeful) further developments with her writing career.
When We Were Alive is the debut novel of C.J. Fisher, previously known as Ophelia Dagger and later Old Hot Radio on YouTube. I was a big fan of her content, and it's frustrating that it took me so long to get to her debut novel. Sadly, she appears to have disappeared from the internet, and hasn't published any further writing which is a real shame, because I think this book showed real progress.
I was surprised at how different the style of her writing was from her online presentation. The writing comes across as very accomplished for a debut, full of wisdom and reflection. It did tend to become a tad too 'literary' for my taste at times, a mite overblown, but for the most part she really kept me hooked with her style. The premise is also quite ambitious - three separate narrators from three different time periods - and what ultimately links their lives together as they search for meaning in a world filled with hurt. It's not typically what I would go for normally in a novel, but for Fisher I'd have read anything.
Unfortunately in the long run, it was only really the writing style and the promise of a future link that kept me going. Bobby's story was probably my favourite, in that I felt it was the most interesting and fleshed out, but ultimately I think it took far too long for the links between the characters to appear. I did figure out at least one of the two links, and was pretty close with the other, but we spend so much time with these character prior to this reveal that it made me wonder as a reader 'what is the point in this?'. I would have rather had the same story but with a continuing timeline, being introduced to other characters later down the line - I feel like there would have been more depth in that way as well, because the character of William in particular felt very underdeveloped in relation to the other two, and I'd have liked to see more of his life.
I also found the ending to be a bit haphazard and ultimately confusing. There seemed to be a kind of reveal on the last few pages, but I just... didn't understand it? And I've been reading this over the course of a few days, so surely I should have understood whatever it was that the writer wanted me to realise? I don't know, maybe it was the disparate narration style that impacted my overall engagement with the novel and therefore the ending, but it was just a bit of a let down. However, the book is ultimately incredibly sad, and did really tug on my heartstrings - certain events I did not see coming, and the realisation was gutting to say the least.
I hope Fisher does publish more novels because I'd be really interested to see what she comes out with next, despite this being a bit of a mixed bag for me. I'm definitely glad I persevered with it though, and I'll keep my eyes peeled for any (hopeful) further developments with her writing career.
July 8, 2019
I loved this first novel by C. J. Fisher. It is a fresh different read. I like to know what inspired an author to write their novel and this story was actually inspired by events in C.J Fisher's own life. Although C.J. Fisher vlogs as Ophelia Dagger I watched and listened to C. J. Fisher as soon as I got the information that C.J. Fisher vlogs at YouTube channel Old Hot Radio, which has over 30,000 subscribers. When We Were Alive features the stories of three male characters from three different times and backgrounds, tied together by an exploration of relationships, dealing with guilt and the pursuit of beauty while demonstrating the impact one generation has on another. Sam was always wishing for things. He was seventeen when he died. Bobby is a magician. William is consumed with self-hate and drink to escape the memories of his father's sadness and his mother's death. Myles writes letters to his mum who he has never met, and signs them as potential last lines for a novel. I am so pleased that C. J. Fisher is going to published a second book I definitely won't be missing reading it.
June 27, 2016
When we first meet Bobby, he is a shy, twelve-year-old magician who falls in love with his best friend.
William is consumed with self-hate and drinks to escape the memories of his father’s sadness and his mother’s death.
Myles is writing letters to a mother he has never met.
Three different people from three different times each explore the dark side of relationships, search for beauty in sadness and try to bear the burden of guilt from living in a world we are powerless to fix.
I received this book through a goodreads giveaway..just to note that.
Now I found the start of this novel quite slow but you do get introduced to the characters and who they are and what they are searching for. Bobby lives in the 1930s, William 1970s onwards and myles, 2011 onwards. For me the first half was slow and it was difficult to distinguish some characters from the next but as the novel started moving onwards you see the connections made between these characters and instead you are following a family timeline of a family who just doesn't have much luck in the world.
As the novel grew and expanded you see the characters start woving into each others chapters as well as some tough issues being raised within the novel such as Alzheimers disease, the war, death, mental illness, dark relationships, heartbreak, abandonment etc. Each character is unique in their own way and all play different roles to support the three main characters such as Mira, Myles friend, she kind of keeps him line but also has a sensitive side that myles relates to.
The second half of this book I found was just great, the pacing started picking up and you are nearing the end of each characters chapters. The last chapter especially had me going...WHAT! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! THERE HAS TO BE MORE. The ending was just so thought provoking and abrupt, nothing really gets resolved especially for Myles. But as for the title you do get a feel for when each character was alive in their youth and adulthood. One of the other things I liked about this novel was the philosophical about life, reality and existence. Why are we here? being the narrative of the story.
Overall I give this book 3 out of 5 stars because it is a first novel for Fisher, she has potential to be an upcoming author and look forward for more books from her. 2 stars down for the slow start but overall a good read.
William is consumed with self-hate and drinks to escape the memories of his father’s sadness and his mother’s death.
Myles is writing letters to a mother he has never met.
Three different people from three different times each explore the dark side of relationships, search for beauty in sadness and try to bear the burden of guilt from living in a world we are powerless to fix.
I received this book through a goodreads giveaway..just to note that.
Now I found the start of this novel quite slow but you do get introduced to the characters and who they are and what they are searching for. Bobby lives in the 1930s, William 1970s onwards and myles, 2011 onwards. For me the first half was slow and it was difficult to distinguish some characters from the next but as the novel started moving onwards you see the connections made between these characters and instead you are following a family timeline of a family who just doesn't have much luck in the world.
As the novel grew and expanded you see the characters start woving into each others chapters as well as some tough issues being raised within the novel such as Alzheimers disease, the war, death, mental illness, dark relationships, heartbreak, abandonment etc. Each character is unique in their own way and all play different roles to support the three main characters such as Mira, Myles friend, she kind of keeps him line but also has a sensitive side that myles relates to.
The second half of this book I found was just great, the pacing started picking up and you are nearing the end of each characters chapters. The last chapter especially had me going...WHAT! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! THERE HAS TO BE MORE. The ending was just so thought provoking and abrupt, nothing really gets resolved especially for Myles. But as for the title you do get a feel for when each character was alive in their youth and adulthood. One of the other things I liked about this novel was the philosophical about life, reality and existence. Why are we here? being the narrative of the story.
Overall I give this book 3 out of 5 stars because it is a first novel for Fisher, she has potential to be an upcoming author and look forward for more books from her. 2 stars down for the slow start but overall a good read.
March 2, 2016
For a debut novel, this is very well written. To have three male perspectives is something not commonly seen in books so that was an interesting perspective to take. I like novels that span time and this saw the characters from the 1930s, 1960s and 2012 realise truths and mature before the readers' eyes.
However, in terms of plot I wasn't completely happy. The author is clearly a gifted writer and can write lengthy paragraphs of description and emotions, most of which was rather intense, but this did happen quite frequently and I found myself skim reading the middle section of the book without missing anything. The plot is slow and often there were tangents to the storylines that felt unnecessary and weren't actually completed, just left hanging. From what seemed a very slow paced book suddenly in the last couple of chapters the reader is hit with new information, plot twists and revelations that feel too rushed and actually leave one quite confused as they appear out of no where.
If you want to read this book, I suggest you keep a list of names as I found myself trying desperately to remember who is who (Sam- when do we meet him/ which story did he belong to??)
I enjoyed most of the book, especially the Bobby and Rose story, Myles' letters were also entertaining. On the other hand, I really didn't relate to William and Dawn and I felt like their story had the least progression and I was most prone to skim reading their chapters.
That being said, there is clear talent in the ability of the author and the faults I've pointed out are common amongst debut novels, writing is one of those things one cannot really learn but only improve as they practise more. I feel confident that CJ Fisher will have a bright future in writing novels.
However, in terms of plot I wasn't completely happy. The author is clearly a gifted writer and can write lengthy paragraphs of description and emotions, most of which was rather intense, but this did happen quite frequently and I found myself skim reading the middle section of the book without missing anything. The plot is slow and often there were tangents to the storylines that felt unnecessary and weren't actually completed, just left hanging. From what seemed a very slow paced book suddenly in the last couple of chapters the reader is hit with new information, plot twists and revelations that feel too rushed and actually leave one quite confused as they appear out of no where.
If you want to read this book, I suggest you keep a list of names as I found myself trying desperately to remember who is who (Sam- when do we meet him/ which story did he belong to??)
I enjoyed most of the book, especially the Bobby and Rose story, Myles' letters were also entertaining. On the other hand, I really didn't relate to William and Dawn and I felt like their story had the least progression and I was most prone to skim reading their chapters.
That being said, there is clear talent in the ability of the author and the faults I've pointed out are common amongst debut novels, writing is one of those things one cannot really learn but only improve as they practise more. I feel confident that CJ Fisher will have a bright future in writing novels.
May 9, 2016
I was lucky enough to receive this beautiful thing from the publishers in exchange for my honest review.
I have been watching Chelsea on YouTube for years and some of you may take this review as a fans review of the book. To which I have to say, you shouldn't. This isn't a book pitched at a YouTube audience. This isn't a book meant for Teens to get their parents to shill out as much money as possible to make a quick buck on an already existing audience. I was ecstatic to receive this book, but I waited before starting in order to calm down and read it with a level head because I knew this was A BOOK, and not a piece of propaganda. I was petrified I would have to bash it online because I wanted to like it so much. Luckily, Chelsea came through and did what I knew she could, write a fucking awesome book.
Now, the reason I know this book is awesome? It almost made me cry. Now you might be wondering why I say its awesome when it didn't succeed at making me cry. I cry any time someone says something remotely sad in movies. It is much harder to make me cry while reading. There is a level of intimacy at watching someone say something extremely heart breaking and vulnerable versus reading it in a detached third person perspective. The distance from the people and their problems usually helps me to keep a level head. Yet I was moved to tearing up while reading this book.
If you thought a book titled when we were alive featuring three empty chairs on the cover would be a happy book, I'm sorry to inform you that you may want to work on your understanding of imagery. I knew it was going to be sad but I wasn't prepared to feel so much for these characters. We get to see all of them go through so much and then have even more go to shit. Usually when I read a book like this I feel upset by the end, like I was unfulfilled but she was able to write this in such a way that I was forlorn but not left wanting. It seemed real. However tragic and outlandish, it wasn't beyond the scope of reality and that is what was truly scary about it.
The book has a cyclical nature spiraling in and out, returning to certain themes like love, magic, and death even to the point of repeating certain lines throughout. Different characters in different time lines all seem to ruminate on similar ideas. It is really easy to make a structure like this seem repetitive or heavy handed but I don't think that this was. For me, I felt like this was another sign of the beauty in this books writing. While things repeat and show up time and time again it seems inevitable. It seems like a mixture of fate or perhaps a curse put upon them years ago. The things these characters ruminate on, I think, are truly at the root of the human experience. You can't be alive without having spent time wondering about all of these things.
The last thing I wanted to mention is that there was one particular tragedy that I did not see coming. During most of the scenes where something horrible was going to happen you can feel it. She was able to build anxiety in you without it being too much. You are waiting for something bad to happen, and then it doesn't or it does and you nod and move along. There was one particular tragedy that was alluded to throughout the book that completely blindsided me despite happening to the only character we hear from in the first person and there being little hints and clues along the way. This is brilliant writing. Not only do I think this relates completely to the tragedy I am speaking of but also to the fact that even after the entire book I was still hoping for something better for these characters.
All in all, I am so glad that I loved this book but also really want to implore you to pick it up. This isn't a happy book but it is a really great book. This is a book that will have you hooked from the very beginning. This is a book about the strengths and weaknesses of living and loving. This is a book about how to keep going when everything goes tits up. I am going to buying myself a physical edition of this book for my shelves because it was so poignant for me. Don't take this as a fan of the author telling you how great the author is, take this as a fan of the book telling you how worth while the book is, because its worth all the time in the world.
I have been watching Chelsea on YouTube for years and some of you may take this review as a fans review of the book. To which I have to say, you shouldn't. This isn't a book pitched at a YouTube audience. This isn't a book meant for Teens to get their parents to shill out as much money as possible to make a quick buck on an already existing audience. I was ecstatic to receive this book, but I waited before starting in order to calm down and read it with a level head because I knew this was A BOOK, and not a piece of propaganda. I was petrified I would have to bash it online because I wanted to like it so much. Luckily, Chelsea came through and did what I knew she could, write a fucking awesome book.
Now, the reason I know this book is awesome? It almost made me cry. Now you might be wondering why I say its awesome when it didn't succeed at making me cry. I cry any time someone says something remotely sad in movies. It is much harder to make me cry while reading. There is a level of intimacy at watching someone say something extremely heart breaking and vulnerable versus reading it in a detached third person perspective. The distance from the people and their problems usually helps me to keep a level head. Yet I was moved to tearing up while reading this book.
If you thought a book titled when we were alive featuring three empty chairs on the cover would be a happy book, I'm sorry to inform you that you may want to work on your understanding of imagery. I knew it was going to be sad but I wasn't prepared to feel so much for these characters. We get to see all of them go through so much and then have even more go to shit. Usually when I read a book like this I feel upset by the end, like I was unfulfilled but she was able to write this in such a way that I was forlorn but not left wanting. It seemed real. However tragic and outlandish, it wasn't beyond the scope of reality and that is what was truly scary about it.
The book has a cyclical nature spiraling in and out, returning to certain themes like love, magic, and death even to the point of repeating certain lines throughout. Different characters in different time lines all seem to ruminate on similar ideas. It is really easy to make a structure like this seem repetitive or heavy handed but I don't think that this was. For me, I felt like this was another sign of the beauty in this books writing. While things repeat and show up time and time again it seems inevitable. It seems like a mixture of fate or perhaps a curse put upon them years ago. The things these characters ruminate on, I think, are truly at the root of the human experience. You can't be alive without having spent time wondering about all of these things.
The last thing I wanted to mention is that there was one particular tragedy that I did not see coming. During most of the scenes where something horrible was going to happen you can feel it. She was able to build anxiety in you without it being too much. You are waiting for something bad to happen, and then it doesn't or it does and you nod and move along. There was one particular tragedy that was alluded to throughout the book that completely blindsided me despite happening to the only character we hear from in the first person and there being little hints and clues along the way. This is brilliant writing. Not only do I think this relates completely to the tragedy I am speaking of but also to the fact that even after the entire book I was still hoping for something better for these characters.
All in all, I am so glad that I loved this book but also really want to implore you to pick it up. This isn't a happy book but it is a really great book. This is a book that will have you hooked from the very beginning. This is a book about the strengths and weaknesses of living and loving. This is a book about how to keep going when everything goes tits up. I am going to buying myself a physical edition of this book for my shelves because it was so poignant for me. Don't take this as a fan of the author telling you how great the author is, take this as a fan of the book telling you how worth while the book is, because its worth all the time in the world.
March 12, 2016
This is a slim novel, telling the story of three male characters, three very different characters from very different times. The author has chosen to tell their stories using a mixture of the first and third person, and this is a clever way to help the reader to distinguish between the voices.
Twelve-year-old Bobby is entranced by everything to do with magic, his story is set in the 1930s. Myles is the only modern-day character and we learn about him and his life through the letters that he writes to his mother, and then there is William; an alcoholic, his story takes place in the 1970s.
CJ Fisher has an astute mind, and her writing is poetic and flows beautifully. She does, however, tend to drift off into overly-wordy and descriptive passages which for me, were both distracting and unnecessary. Despite this, I hugely admire the skill of this debut author, she's incredibly perceptive about relationship and the impact that actions can have on others, and how generations can be affected by things that have been done in the past.
I've heard that CJ Fisher has drawn upon her own experiences when writing this book, and there is a haunting quality to the words and the story, with sadness, loss and longing lingering between each character. There is also a sparkle of wit interspersed which brings a welcome lightness to what could quite possibly be an overwhelming read.
This is a strong and admirable debut novel from a young author who obviously has great talent. Her words are rich and poetic and the novel is structured very well. I will be very interested to read her next book.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
Twelve-year-old Bobby is entranced by everything to do with magic, his story is set in the 1930s. Myles is the only modern-day character and we learn about him and his life through the letters that he writes to his mother, and then there is William; an alcoholic, his story takes place in the 1970s.
CJ Fisher has an astute mind, and her writing is poetic and flows beautifully. She does, however, tend to drift off into overly-wordy and descriptive passages which for me, were both distracting and unnecessary. Despite this, I hugely admire the skill of this debut author, she's incredibly perceptive about relationship and the impact that actions can have on others, and how generations can be affected by things that have been done in the past.
I've heard that CJ Fisher has drawn upon her own experiences when writing this book, and there is a haunting quality to the words and the story, with sadness, loss and longing lingering between each character. There is also a sparkle of wit interspersed which brings a welcome lightness to what could quite possibly be an overwhelming read.
This is a strong and admirable debut novel from a young author who obviously has great talent. Her words are rich and poetic and the novel is structured very well. I will be very interested to read her next book.
http://randomthingsthroughmyletterbox...
April 4, 2016
This book follows three separate narratives. We have Bobby, a third-person narrative that starts in the early 20th century; Michael, a third-person narrative from the later 20th century; and Myles, an epistolary narrative in the form of letters to his mother, in the late 20th century.
For a debut novel I think it shows a lot of promise. I found the start of the novel the weakest part. It came into its own more in the second half and once the three narratives actually started to link together, the novel really started to shine. Unfortunately, prior to that it felt a bit disjointed. I could make guesses as to the links between the narratives, but it still felt like I was being thrown from one place to the next with no real rhyme or reason. At times I also found it really hard to distinguish the three main characters from each other. Maybe that's my own fault, but when I'm given three cishet male characters in a book, they need to have really, really distinct personalities in order for me to care about them and tell them apart. At times I forgot which bits of which plot belonged to which dude.
The last quarter of the novel though, I just found it getting better and better. The plots all wove together really well. I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. And I think the final chapter in particular was spectacular.
I think that Fisher could have a really good career ahead of her as an author and I'm interested to see what else she gets published, because by the end of this book I could see a lot of potential for greatness. It just wasn't quite there yet for me, personally.
For a debut novel I think it shows a lot of promise. I found the start of the novel the weakest part. It came into its own more in the second half and once the three narratives actually started to link together, the novel really started to shine. Unfortunately, prior to that it felt a bit disjointed. I could make guesses as to the links between the narratives, but it still felt like I was being thrown from one place to the next with no real rhyme or reason. At times I also found it really hard to distinguish the three main characters from each other. Maybe that's my own fault, but when I'm given three cishet male characters in a book, they need to have really, really distinct personalities in order for me to care about them and tell them apart. At times I forgot which bits of which plot belonged to which dude.
The last quarter of the novel though, I just found it getting better and better. The plots all wove together really well. I wanted to keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. And I think the final chapter in particular was spectacular.
I think that Fisher could have a really good career ahead of her as an author and I'm interested to see what else she gets published, because by the end of this book I could see a lot of potential for greatness. It just wasn't quite there yet for me, personally.
May 14, 2016
Final thoughts? Colour me confused.
To begin, this book is letters from Myles in 2011 to his mother he has never met. It is not a spoiler to tell you that he was adopted and his adoptive parents were honest with him very quickly that he was adopted. Then we jump back to 1936 and follow the story of Bobby and Rose, with Myles' letters making an appearance as we flip back and forth between the two timelines.
Unexpectedly at about 40% we are introduced to 1972 and William and Dawn.
As we get close to the end of the book the connection between these characters starts to become apparent, but I found myself trying to remember who-was-who and when ; and with an ebook it is not as easy just to flip back and remind yourself. In hindsight, I wish I had been prepared for all the characters and timelines and kept notes on them. Because by the end I found myself stumped as to what had happened and shaking my head. I will have to find a review with spoilers in it to answer some of my questions I think!!
Still, I thought the writing was well done and the author has a large vocabulary so the kindle dictionary function came in handy ;). I would probably try more of Fisher's work in the future, but perhaps next time I will read a few more reviews before I start to ensure that I have a better idea of what I am in for.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
http://aficionadofiction.blogspot.com...
To begin, this book is letters from Myles in 2011 to his mother he has never met. It is not a spoiler to tell you that he was adopted and his adoptive parents were honest with him very quickly that he was adopted. Then we jump back to 1936 and follow the story of Bobby and Rose, with Myles' letters making an appearance as we flip back and forth between the two timelines.
Unexpectedly at about 40% we are introduced to 1972 and William and Dawn.
As we get close to the end of the book the connection between these characters starts to become apparent, but I found myself trying to remember who-was-who and when ; and with an ebook it is not as easy just to flip back and remind yourself. In hindsight, I wish I had been prepared for all the characters and timelines and kept notes on them. Because by the end I found myself stumped as to what had happened and shaking my head. I will have to find a review with spoilers in it to answer some of my questions I think!!
Still, I thought the writing was well done and the author has a large vocabulary so the kindle dictionary function came in handy ;). I would probably try more of Fisher's work in the future, but perhaps next time I will read a few more reviews before I start to ensure that I have a better idea of what I am in for.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
http://aficionadofiction.blogspot.com...
March 1, 2016
When I first set eyes on this book I have to say it really got me excited. I think the three chairs is certainly a great way to portray that the actual story is split three ways between three different people. I also loved how the word ALIVE very much stands out in pink. It is certainly a striking cover.
The story is set over different time periods which I found very enjoyable.
My favourite characters in the novel were Bobby and Rose. I have to admit to enjoying Bobby’s story a lot more than the other two. I loved seeing the innocence of them meeting in their childhoods and forming a lovely bond. I could quite easily loose myself into their story as it was one that really interested me.
As much as I overall enjoyed this novel, I do have to admit to finding parts quite confusing. It did take me a while to settle into the story which swaps between the three characters. I think this maybe because it took me a while to figure out the connection between the stories being told to me and until it all clicked I did find it quite puzzling.
When We Were Alive is the authors debut novel. For a debut novel it certainly makes for a thought provoking and intelligent reading experience. It certainly makes you re assess the way you look at death and how at times it can consume us.
Many thanks to Legend Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story is set over different time periods which I found very enjoyable.
My favourite characters in the novel were Bobby and Rose. I have to admit to enjoying Bobby’s story a lot more than the other two. I loved seeing the innocence of them meeting in their childhoods and forming a lovely bond. I could quite easily loose myself into their story as it was one that really interested me.
As much as I overall enjoyed this novel, I do have to admit to finding parts quite confusing. It did take me a while to settle into the story which swaps between the three characters. I think this maybe because it took me a while to figure out the connection between the stories being told to me and until it all clicked I did find it quite puzzling.
When We Were Alive is the authors debut novel. For a debut novel it certainly makes for a thought provoking and intelligent reading experience. It certainly makes you re assess the way you look at death and how at times it can consume us.
Many thanks to Legend Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 29, 2016
The darkly perceptive When We Were Alive is punctuated by an acute, quick-witted observation of three generations, spanning from the 1930’s until the present day.
Through shifting decades, the individual stories of Bobby, William, and Myles set the scenes of history with clarity and originality. The picture conjured from these words is more akin to looking through a personal photo album than holding a book in your hands. As their fate intertwined through the magnificence of time I was utterly spellbound.
In the present, Myles’ reactions to everyday situations is left to run like a tap until his thoughts overflow. His twenty-two year old randomness takes shape in letter form addressed to a mother he never knew. The letters show how he expresses inappropriate emotional responses to those close to him. But his humorous candidness throws light on the shade that marks his life.
William orchestrates personally damaging events in order to experience ‘something’, rather than prolonged nothingness. While he’s intoxicated by alcohol he meets a young woman called Dawn in a corridor of a hotel in Vegas, and subsequently discovers he’s not wearing any trousers. It’s the 1970’s when their story begins. Life may be a struggle, but there’s every possibility it could be bearable.
Bobby is a twelve year old avid magician, practicing illusions, even though he’s crippled with embarrassment when performing for an audience. His lack of confidence leaves him alone, with just the oddity of his parents to keep him company by indulging his pastime. That is until chance meeting with Rose brings him the ‘willing assistant’ he didn’t even know he needed until they met. We follow their uniqueness through the Second World War, and beyond.
Every new chapter sees their personalities grow, as they fail, love, leave, and live. The unpredictable game of life reveals they are shells of people until they can find that elusive something to fulfil them. Even then, it may never be enough.
When We Were Alive is insightful, page-turning perfection. Its incredible vision is one you will want to discover for yourself.
(I received an ARC from the publisher for review.)
Through shifting decades, the individual stories of Bobby, William, and Myles set the scenes of history with clarity and originality. The picture conjured from these words is more akin to looking through a personal photo album than holding a book in your hands. As their fate intertwined through the magnificence of time I was utterly spellbound.
In the present, Myles’ reactions to everyday situations is left to run like a tap until his thoughts overflow. His twenty-two year old randomness takes shape in letter form addressed to a mother he never knew. The letters show how he expresses inappropriate emotional responses to those close to him. But his humorous candidness throws light on the shade that marks his life.
William orchestrates personally damaging events in order to experience ‘something’, rather than prolonged nothingness. While he’s intoxicated by alcohol he meets a young woman called Dawn in a corridor of a hotel in Vegas, and subsequently discovers he’s not wearing any trousers. It’s the 1970’s when their story begins. Life may be a struggle, but there’s every possibility it could be bearable.
Bobby is a twelve year old avid magician, practicing illusions, even though he’s crippled with embarrassment when performing for an audience. His lack of confidence leaves him alone, with just the oddity of his parents to keep him company by indulging his pastime. That is until chance meeting with Rose brings him the ‘willing assistant’ he didn’t even know he needed until they met. We follow their uniqueness through the Second World War, and beyond.
Every new chapter sees their personalities grow, as they fail, love, leave, and live. The unpredictable game of life reveals they are shells of people until they can find that elusive something to fulfil them. Even then, it may never be enough.
When We Were Alive is insightful, page-turning perfection. Its incredible vision is one you will want to discover for yourself.
(I received an ARC from the publisher for review.)
March 6, 2016
When We Were Alive features stories centred on three male characters over three different time periods. They are tied together by an exploration of relationships, whilst dealing with guilt and searching for beauty within sadness. Fisher exquisitely demonstrates the impact one generation has on another in an imaginative and thought provoking way.
The novel is split into three perspectives with two different narrative styles; Bobby and William’s stories are told in third person in contrast to Myles, whose account is voiced in first person in the form of letters to his mother who he has never met. Fisher’s style of writing and language is striking and potent in the way in which she makes you question humanity throughout the novel. Her choice of words is so utterly heart-wrenchingly beautiful that I was almost moved to tears. What really moved me was Myles’s letters to his mother; his letters ponder the idea of what it means to be alive and what it means to be a person. For example, in one of his letters, he questions his inability to express emotions: “I feel guilty about not feeling enough…when people break down at funerals, are they crying for themselves or for the dead?”
Whilst reading the book, I did at first, fail to see how these three characters were relevant to each other or if they were even related at all but Fisher ties everything together remarkably well. What is intriguing is how the characters all have similar ideas and thought processes as certain events/lines are repeated which bind Bobby, Myles and William and this is testament to Fisher’s writing. The characters have so much depth to them that they felt real. Everything in this novel alludes to reality which makes it all the more powerful. This is a book about learning how to cope with human experiences such as loss and the search for fulfilment.
Fisher’s debut novel is an astonishing piece of work that will grip you from the very beginning. I can’t stress the beauty of her writing enough; her choice of words and storytelling are outstanding. I haven’t read a book that has touched my heart like this in a long time and I can’t wait to read more of Fisher’s work.
The novel is split into three perspectives with two different narrative styles; Bobby and William’s stories are told in third person in contrast to Myles, whose account is voiced in first person in the form of letters to his mother who he has never met. Fisher’s style of writing and language is striking and potent in the way in which she makes you question humanity throughout the novel. Her choice of words is so utterly heart-wrenchingly beautiful that I was almost moved to tears. What really moved me was Myles’s letters to his mother; his letters ponder the idea of what it means to be alive and what it means to be a person. For example, in one of his letters, he questions his inability to express emotions: “I feel guilty about not feeling enough…when people break down at funerals, are they crying for themselves or for the dead?”
Whilst reading the book, I did at first, fail to see how these three characters were relevant to each other or if they were even related at all but Fisher ties everything together remarkably well. What is intriguing is how the characters all have similar ideas and thought processes as certain events/lines are repeated which bind Bobby, Myles and William and this is testament to Fisher’s writing. The characters have so much depth to them that they felt real. Everything in this novel alludes to reality which makes it all the more powerful. This is a book about learning how to cope with human experiences such as loss and the search for fulfilment.
Fisher’s debut novel is an astonishing piece of work that will grip you from the very beginning. I can’t stress the beauty of her writing enough; her choice of words and storytelling are outstanding. I haven’t read a book that has touched my heart like this in a long time and I can’t wait to read more of Fisher’s work.
June 7, 2016
I think the measure of a good book is whether it stays with you after you turn the final page. This is definitely the case with When We Were Alive.
I don’t think I was quite prepared for the story, only knowing that it focused on three different people over a few generations. And I think this was the best way to go into the novel, as it is impossible to prepare yourself for the twists and turns that happen throughout.
The storyline of Bobby and Rose was particularly intriguing, their chapters being those that I was eager to read the most. Their relationship was fresh and original, they also helped tie the novel together on a grander scale as it was possible to refer back to them when looking at the other characters.
The three story lines also highlight the cyclical nature of families as the different timelines all focus on the same ideas, even though they’re on different levels.
My one criticism would be that it took a while to be able to see the links between the characters clearly, which may have meant that many little things up to that point may be easily missed because at the time they seemed unimportant.
It discusses loss at a very mature level and demonstrates that people grieve in many different ways, as the thing or the person that is lost was not the same to the people surrounding it. The tragedies that the family exist around are undeniable but they do not leave the reader unfulfilled with the storyline because the way they learn to heal or begin to learn is just as important and is what the focus is on.
It was after I finished the novel that the cover of the three chairs particularly resonated with me, it ties everything together and shows that loss and isolation often come as one.
Overall I think a great debut and will definitely read again as I imagine with retrospect it is a far more immersive piece.
I don’t think I was quite prepared for the story, only knowing that it focused on three different people over a few generations. And I think this was the best way to go into the novel, as it is impossible to prepare yourself for the twists and turns that happen throughout.
The storyline of Bobby and Rose was particularly intriguing, their chapters being those that I was eager to read the most. Their relationship was fresh and original, they also helped tie the novel together on a grander scale as it was possible to refer back to them when looking at the other characters.
The three story lines also highlight the cyclical nature of families as the different timelines all focus on the same ideas, even though they’re on different levels.
My one criticism would be that it took a while to be able to see the links between the characters clearly, which may have meant that many little things up to that point may be easily missed because at the time they seemed unimportant.
It discusses loss at a very mature level and demonstrates that people grieve in many different ways, as the thing or the person that is lost was not the same to the people surrounding it. The tragedies that the family exist around are undeniable but they do not leave the reader unfulfilled with the storyline because the way they learn to heal or begin to learn is just as important and is what the focus is on.
It was after I finished the novel that the cover of the three chairs particularly resonated with me, it ties everything together and shows that loss and isolation often come as one.
Overall I think a great debut and will definitely read again as I imagine with retrospect it is a far more immersive piece.
April 25, 2016
My View:
I really struggled to continue with this book…the three individual stories seemed disconnected and not even particularly interesting until about 80% of the way through the book. But I persevered. I thought I understood where this was going…or rather where the stories were meeting but really I didn’t. The ending was so sad. I wondered why I continued with this, hopeful I suppose.
I enjoyed the story of the enduring love between Bobby and Rose. The war narrative was painful and real.
William’s anger was understandable – his attempt to feel were interesting and reminded me of the lives of so many damaged children in care, self-harming in an attempt to feel something, to feel anything, to distract themselves from the realities of their lives.
But mostly these individual stories remained just that, I am at a loss to understand the overall picture. If you understand this book – perhaps you can share that knowledge with me.
I really struggled to continue with this book…the three individual stories seemed disconnected and not even particularly interesting until about 80% of the way through the book. But I persevered. I thought I understood where this was going…or rather where the stories were meeting but really I didn’t. The ending was so sad. I wondered why I continued with this, hopeful I suppose.
I enjoyed the story of the enduring love between Bobby and Rose. The war narrative was painful and real.
William’s anger was understandable – his attempt to feel were interesting and reminded me of the lives of so many damaged children in care, self-harming in an attempt to feel something, to feel anything, to distract themselves from the realities of their lives.
But mostly these individual stories remained just that, I am at a loss to understand the overall picture. If you understand this book – perhaps you can share that knowledge with me.
December 19, 2016
As a fan of Ophelia Dagger the YouTube channel, I had pretty high expectations for this book, and they were EXCEEDED. It encompassed so many themes in only 240 odd pages: love, death, sexuality, war, loneliness, mental illness and more. I felt so attached to the characters I even surprised myself as I read the last page and ranted and despaired about it to my Dad, who had no idea what was happening.
The dialogue was wonderful and I found the switching between time periods was a very different and interesting technique. And for it to be her debut? Keep on writing C.J!
The dialogue was wonderful and I found the switching between time periods was a very different and interesting technique. And for it to be her debut? Keep on writing C.J!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 20, 2017
I won this novel from Goodreads Giveaways.
When We Were Alive is C.J. Fisher's debut novel featuring three male characters living in three different time periods. As is the case with many debut novels, When We Were Alive showcases the author's talent, while at the same time, suffering from some unevenness.
I think showcase is the right term here. Fisher displays a real talent for writing beautiful, evocative sentences. The downside is that many of these sparkling sentences are strung together into paragraphs that accomplish very little and advance the plot not at all. Fisher's characters are strong (I loved Bobby and Rose in particular, though I found Myles's insightful letters to be equally compelling) and she has a deft ear for dialogue. All tools that any author would be happy to have and a good omen for future success.
When We Were Alive's plot wasn't quite like anything I've read before. I think it is most reminiscent of Stephen king's Hearts in Atlantis with its characters similarly spread out in different eras. That said, I think the similarities are mostly superficial. Although it took a while to grab me in any meaningful way, the reader is rewarded for their patience when the threads do finally come together towards the end.
Although I'd have some reservations about wholeheartedly recommending this to most readers, I think for the right reader (with tempered expectations) this is a challenging and rewarding read. I'm curious to see where Fisher goes from here as I think her talent is undeniable, but in search of some seasoning. Three stars.
When We Were Alive is C.J. Fisher's debut novel featuring three male characters living in three different time periods. As is the case with many debut novels, When We Were Alive showcases the author's talent, while at the same time, suffering from some unevenness.
I think showcase is the right term here. Fisher displays a real talent for writing beautiful, evocative sentences. The downside is that many of these sparkling sentences are strung together into paragraphs that accomplish very little and advance the plot not at all. Fisher's characters are strong (I loved Bobby and Rose in particular, though I found Myles's insightful letters to be equally compelling) and she has a deft ear for dialogue. All tools that any author would be happy to have and a good omen for future success.
When We Were Alive's plot wasn't quite like anything I've read before. I think it is most reminiscent of Stephen king's Hearts in Atlantis with its characters similarly spread out in different eras. That said, I think the similarities are mostly superficial. Although it took a while to grab me in any meaningful way, the reader is rewarded for their patience when the threads do finally come together towards the end.
Although I'd have some reservations about wholeheartedly recommending this to most readers, I think for the right reader (with tempered expectations) this is a challenging and rewarding read. I'm curious to see where Fisher goes from here as I think her talent is undeniable, but in search of some seasoning. Three stars.
July 5, 2020
I used to watch the author's Youtube videos years ago and really enjoyed them. She published this novel, promoted it on her channel and all but disappeared from social media. I hope she's doing well.
Unfortunately, I found this book to be a bit of a mess and not a pleasant reading experience.
This book has multiple POVs across different generations. One of my bugbears with this sort of structure is that authors tend to struggle to make each character's voice unique and inkeeping with the timeframe. This has happened here. The characters all sound too similar and there are so many Americanisms in the dialogue and prose that I had trouble placing where this was set (England with a section in Vegas).
The prose style was occasionally so pretentious I rolled my eyes and it doesn't progress the plot at all. I guessed the connections between the characters quite early on, and the novel doesn't really move until the last 40 pages or so.
The multiple POVS and timelines make this novel difficult to keep track of. There is some sort of twist right at the end with one of the characters and I'm completely baffled by it.
Judging by the other reviews on here, some people have really loved this book. It's a shame I'm not one of them but this is not a novel that I could recommend.
Unfortunately, I found this book to be a bit of a mess and not a pleasant reading experience.
This book has multiple POVs across different generations. One of my bugbears with this sort of structure is that authors tend to struggle to make each character's voice unique and inkeeping with the timeframe. This has happened here. The characters all sound too similar and there are so many Americanisms in the dialogue and prose that I had trouble placing where this was set (England with a section in Vegas).
The prose style was occasionally so pretentious I rolled my eyes and it doesn't progress the plot at all. I guessed the connections between the characters quite early on, and the novel doesn't really move until the last 40 pages or so.
The multiple POVS and timelines make this novel difficult to keep track of. There is some sort of twist right at the end with one of the characters and I'm completely baffled by it.
Judging by the other reviews on here, some people have really loved this book. It's a shame I'm not one of them but this is not a novel that I could recommend.
June 30, 2017
The concept for this book was good. The story is told from a three person perspective. The writing was spot on, the narrative was very interesting. I truly enjoyed this book and will recommend to people for a good read. This book stayed with me which is a good thing to me. I have to say, the cover told me that this book was going to have something to do with the number three (three chairs), and the way the significance of those chairs are brilliantly brought forth in this novel. Great book!! Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.
August 7, 2017
I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway, so I feel like I should give it an honest review.
For me this book was hard to read and hard to follow, which astounds me because I am a ravenous reader. I never really connected to any of the characters or became invested in any part of the stories. Maybe I just wasn't the target audience.
I will pass this book on in hopes that another may love it as intended.
For me this book was hard to read and hard to follow, which astounds me because I am a ravenous reader. I never really connected to any of the characters or became invested in any part of the stories. Maybe I just wasn't the target audience.
I will pass this book on in hopes that another may love it as intended.
June 29, 2017
I received a copy as a Goodreads giveaway winner.
I was not sure what to expect from this debut author, and I was slow to get into the book... BUT once I pieced together the ties that drove the characters, I was hooked. Refreshing approach and twists. I look forward to more from this author....
I was not sure what to expect from this debut author, and I was slow to get into the book... BUT once I pieced together the ties that drove the characters, I was hooked. Refreshing approach and twists. I look forward to more from this author....
July 6, 2017
While the dialogue and description is superb in this book, the tired trope filled plot drag it down. I love Ophelia Dagger's work and I know that she can produce great things, this book just suffers from first novel syndrome.
Did not finish
October 17, 2021I did enjoy some of the characters in this book, which makes me reluctant to say there was not much a plot to be found. Some of the narrators in this book I wanted to skip over just to get to my favorite characters. I wanted so badly to like this, but in the end, I couldn't finish it.
August 11, 2017
THIS STORY DEFINITELY SHOW THE UPS AND DOWN OF LIFE
November 29, 2019
To say I found this book on a train it was a great read and really well written. Will be checking out the author for future novels as this is a cracking debut.
August 16, 2020
At first I didn't think I’d be interested in this book. But then I fortunately realised that back when Chelsea was still making videos, I was always eagerly awaiting a new one, hungry for every word. What a great debut.
February 3, 2018
This story is told over three eras and story lines. It begins with twelve-year old Bobby, shy and in love with his best friend. William struggles with sobriety and grief. Myles writes to a mother he has never met in an effort to reconcile his family's oral story and what he comes to question as truth.
This is a debut novel and many aspects were beautifully written and a pleasure to read. I admit to struggling to keep the overlapping stories straight as I read, and even as I realized how they fit together, I still had to return to previous sections to cross-check what I had read. This book gave me pause in how I think about life and death, and familial connection.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in return for a fair and honest review.
This is a debut novel and many aspects were beautifully written and a pleasure to read. I admit to struggling to keep the overlapping stories straight as I read, and even as I realized how they fit together, I still had to return to previous sections to cross-check what I had read. This book gave me pause in how I think about life and death, and familial connection.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in return for a fair and honest review.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews