From the Bookshelf of Constant Reader…

Life After Life (Todd Family, #1)

Kate Atkinson

Start date: September 15, 2013

Finish date: October 15, 2013

Discussion: Reading List

Discussion leader: Sherry

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 434 topics — 16,973 comments total

Reading List

* The Schedule for July through Dec. 2025
By Lynn · 1 post · 49 views

last updated Jun 20, 2025 08:37AM

Call for Nominations — Classics Corner Jan–June 2026
By spoko · 1 post · 9 views

last updated 5 hours, 50 min ago

showing 10 of 12 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Jun 08, 2013 Sara rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audios-owned

Need to think on this one a bit, but really brilliant.

Having thought, here we go:

This was a very satisfying read for me. Once I got used to the rewinds, I found it very inventive, rather than any sort of gimmick (which translates as "tricky" to me, and not complementary). The comparison to Groundhog Day doesn't resonate for me at all, as that is a comedy about a smug, self-absorbed man who needs to learn how to care about other people. I got very involved with pretty much each iteration (some of Need to think on this one a bit, but really brilliant.

Having thought, here we go:

This was a very satisfying read for me. Once I got used to the rewinds, I found it very inventive, rather than any sort of gimmick (which translates as "tricky" to me, and not complementary). The comparison to Groundhog Day doesn't resonate for me at all, as that is a comedy about a smug, self-absorbed man who needs to learn how to care about other people. I got very involved with pretty much each iteration (some of them didn't work as well for me, like the stay in Germany, her daughter and the little-too-research-showing stuff about Eva Braun!) of Ursula's life. The rape/abortion/abusive husband section was very difficult, but I loved the "solution" when she just kicked the rapist pre-rape.

All of which is to say that I found this to be a very complex, involving way of telling a story about (that dreaded word!) a family between the wars and during WWII. My one major regret is that Atkinson didn't follow the thread offered by the guy who saw Ursula solving the crossword and handed her a business card--because I've read a lot in this period, I know that was how people (particularly young women) were recruited into Bletchley Park, the decoding arm of Britain's intelligence service during the war.

As mentioned already, the depiction of the Blitz reminded me of Connie Willis's two books Blackout and All Clear, which I loved, and made me think a lot (as did Atkinson) about what is worth saving in the context of war, and how one faces the inevitable hopelessness. Being a sucker, I did love that Ursula eventually found a way to save Lucky, the dog. :-)

I wonder, too, if other characters had some insight into Ursula, and I'm okay with it being murky. Certainly the therapist did, and possibly Izzie, and yes, the scissors made me think Sylvie possibly as well. But the ultimate ending, with Teddy seeming to say, "Thank you" to Ursula, made me think that he possibly knew, too. It would sort of make sense that as Ursula gained knowledge, so did others, but I don't have a lot invested in that. It's fine with me, either way.

I have not particularly enjoyed Atkinson before, but it has never been about the quality of her writing, which I find to be extraordinary. The complexity of the structure of this book, along with the consistency of the writing, just blew me away.
...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Mar 30, 2013 Laurel Bradshaw rated it it was amazing

Shelves: domestic-fiction, chunky-450, audiobook, england, historical-fiction, world-war-ii, 20th-century, daytimers-book-club, 1940s, 1920s

WARNING: I shall try not to give anything away, but this is a difficult book to review without comments that could be spoilers for some readers.

While this isn't a perfect book, the difference between 4 and 5 stars for me is that I would read (or listen) to this book again. Maybe even right away. It wasn't what I expected - girl living life over and over until she gets it "right." Who is to say what is right? She make choices, she is given a sense of deja vu in the next life and is able to make d WARNING: I shall try not to give anything away, but this is a difficult book to review without comments that could be spoilers for some readers.

While this isn't a perfect book, the difference between 4 and 5 stars for me is that I would read (or listen) to this book again. Maybe even right away. It wasn't what I expected - girl living life over and over until she gets it "right." Who is to say what is right? She make choices, she is given a sense of deja vu in the next life and is able to make different choices when that situation comes up again. Sometimes it takes multiple lifetimes to break past a certain point - the Spanish flu epidemic for example. So I expected a final lifetime in which all the right things happen to break the cycle, sort of like the Bill Murray film Groundhog Day. Instead, it turns out to be more like the image of the snake eating its tail, the ouroboros, which is also a symbol of infinity. We end up right back where we started. Or do we?

Philosophically, there is a lot to ponder here. I happen to be someone who believes in reincarnation, and in the idea that maybe we do have a number of parallel lives where our "soul" experiences something like Ursula does - different versions of life according to what choices we make. If we die in one parallel, the lessons get absorbed in the others and life continues, with different threads breaking off and coming back together again over and over. In previous books by Ms. Atkinson, I have commented on her talent for taking multiple plot threads and weaving them together in the end (Case Histories), or taking an event and then spinning off plot threads (One Good Turn). So this is yet another exploration of the same kind of thing. And I think she does it brilliantly.

There is also her magical way with words, with painting scenes and characters. Even with so much built in repetition, I did not lose interest. Something is different each time. How will she avoid getting the flu this time, how will she avoid getting raped, how will she survive the London Blitz?

This is definitely a book to be savored, and a book to be reread.

Book description: On a cold and snowy night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born to an English banker and his wife. Ursula dies before she can draw her first breath. On that same cold and snowy night, Ursula Todd is born, lets out a lusty wail, and embarks upon a life that will be, to say the least, unusual. For as she grows, she also dies, repeatedly, in a variety of ways, while the young century marches on toward its second cataclysmic world war. Does Ursula's apparently infinite number of lives give her the power to save the world from its inevitable destiny? And if she can, will she?

Audiobook narrated by Fenella Woolgar. ...more

Like · see review

Nov 23, 2014 Curious Squid rated it liked it

I had a hard time deciding whether to give this book 2 or three stars. I gave 3 because it was readable and I was curious to know where it was going.

It seemed way to similar to the "Choose Your Own Adventure" series from my childhood, or some sort o writers workshop assignment. (How many endings can you write to this scenario in 45 min?)

Didn't seem like a particularly fresh idea, and I am surprised it is so highly rated. All and all I'd give this book a big solid - Meh. ...more

Like · see review

Apr 02, 2013 Debra rated it liked it

Shelves: audiobooks, historical-fiction

A stylish version of Groundhog Day, set in WWI - WWII England. As always, Kate Atkinson writes stylishly, and I love the premise. Somehow though, it didn't impress me as much as the many people who gave it 5 stars. Still, I'd recommend this book for vignettes if not the complete whole. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jun 16, 2014 Lisa Thomas rated it really liked it

Really unusual writing - I really enjoyed the variations of the plot as told as different "lives." Hard to explain, but the main character dies and relives the story over and over again with different choices and outcomes. ...more

Like · see review