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A God in Ruins (Todd Family, #2)

Kate Atkinson

Start date: March 15, 2016

Finish date: April 1, 2016

Discussion: Reading List

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Reading List

* The Schedule for July through Dec. 2025
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last updated Jun 20, 2025 08:37AM

Nominations list for January - June 2026
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What Members Thought

Jul 03, 2016 Sara rated it it was amazing

Loved this book--maybe slightly less than the "companion" novel, as Atkinson calls it--Life After Life, but I found myself just so immersed in the lives of these characters. A terrific reading experience. ...more

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Sep 03, 2015 Jane rated it it was amazing

Shelves: recentfiction

I love Kate Atkinson's writing. In this novel, we follow a character from her most recent book Life After Life. Teddy is the main character, but his sisters, parents, wife, daughter and grandchildren play important roles as well. World War II is pivotal to the plot, particularly the bombing raids over Germany. Time is fluid. Even when a section is designated with a particular year, say "1966" the reader is privy to the past and the future that has not yet occurred. I love this about Atkinson's w ...more

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Mar 22, 2015 Jessica rated it really liked it

Shelves: world-war-ii

More traditionally structured than Atkinson's unusual narrative device in Life After Life, and probably to the good for it. It's extraordinarily difficult to strike twice with an idea that intrigues largely because of its novelty, and I'm glad that Atkinson chose to go in a different direction here. The pacing feels a bit languid at times, but in a way that heightens the feeling that you're reading something to savor. One of my favorite authors in fiction right now. ...more

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Aug 03, 2015 Michelle rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, constant-reader, first-reads, audiobooks

Received thru GoodReads First Reads. I had really enjoyed Life After Life and was looking forward to this book. Although I still have mixed feelings about the ending (really upset at first, but now accepting/appreciating it since I've had some time to process it), I absolutely loved it. Up until the ending, which was very confusing and jarring to me, I was completely caught-up in the story. The stories and characters are so rich and interesting. Strongly recommend! ...more

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