Atkinson, Kate ; Life After Life ; Informal Buddy Read ; Start Date 7 Dec 2014

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

What is a Buddy Read?

This is an "Informal Buddy Read"
An “Informal Buddy Read” doesn’t have a discussion leader and participants are asked to consider some generic questions when making comments about the book. An example is here.

Book synopsis
On a cold and snowy night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born, the third child of a wealthy English banker and his wife. Sadly, she 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 any number of ways. Clearly history (and Kate Atkinson) have plans for her: In Ursula rests nothing less than the fate of civilization.

Wildly inventive, darkly comic, startlingly poignant — this is Kate Atkinson at her absolute best, playing with time and history, telling a story that is breathtaking for both its audacity and its endless satisfactions

[Moderators of NBRC, Challenger-in-Chief]

reserved

[Michelle]

Looking forward to this one!

[Erin]

Me, too!

[Alex]

I read this about a month ago and loved it. I'll probably lurk in the discussion.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

I got my copy today and am hoping to start in a few days.

[Michelle]

I started it tonight. It's not really gripping me yet. I'm curious to hear what you all think.

[Kim]

im joining in on this one, i tried to read it once before and got bored with it, im sticking it out this time, im determined!

[Michelle]

Kim, I get that. I'm a bit bored so far too. We'll stick through it together.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Oh dear, that doesn't sound too good. 600 pages of boredom... oh well, I'll think of the TT points, LOL.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

I'm going to try and start over the weekend. Is anyone still reading?

[Michelle]

I'm doing it on audio so it will be a slow go for me, but yes. It's getting better, but I'm not gripped by the story yet

[Michelle]

I'm not 100% sure which chapter I am on since I'm listening to the audio. 18% completed. I don't love it. I don't hate it.

(view spoiler)[Ursula is working after the war. She has died many times, in many ways. I'm not sure where this is all leading up to now.

I also think there is something strange with her mom, Sylvie, but I can't put my finger on it. Is she somehow the cause of all of these reset buttons? No clue.
(hide spoiler)]

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

I read a few chapters last night but can't get a sense of where this all going just yet. I like the short concise chapters format but it does mean you have to concentrate.

I will be reading at a slower pace too because I'm also reading the BOM at the same time.

[Michelle]

Good, Lisa. Let's read it at a slow pace together. I'll try to figure out what chapter I am on so we can chat.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

I'm up to PEACE, pg 157.

This is not a book I'm instantly falling in love with but the concept is interesting. Because of the short "chapters" and the switching between "lives" I don't seem to be feeling much of a connection with the characters.

It does provide insight into the everyday lives of the people left behind in the days of WW1, especially the family life of the servants and upper middle class women.

[Michelle]

I'm on SNOW: 11 Feb 1910. (24.3% complete on the audio)
(view spoiler)[Ursula is seeing the psychiatrist, and he is addressing the possibility of reincarnation. The interesting thing about this book is I think everyone is in some sort of time loop, or parallel lives. It doesn't seem to be just Ursula, but she seems to be the only one cognizant of it.
(hide spoiler)]
I can't put my finger on why I'm not loving this book. But you are right, Lisa, it does give interesting insight into everyday lives during the war.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

I'm just behind you, I think. (view spoiler)[ Ursula is just becoming aware of her knowledge of what is going to happen. I think you are right. All the people around her seem caught in the same loop but she is the catalyst it seems. (hide spoiler)]

Yes, sometimes you can read a book and know it is well written and has a really great premise but somehow it doesn't resonate with the reader at all. I am fairly neutral about this book so far.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Half way through. A Lovely Day Tomorrow. Pg 297.

(view spoiler)[ After reading through more of English middle class life the book has reached a darker section. Rape, termination, hasty marriage, domestic violence, death. It was particularly sad how Ursula saw the rape as somehow her fault and the opinion of her mother didn't help matters. Her mother Sylvie is a particularly unlikeable character. One who thinks she is somehow better than everyone around her, judgemental and plays favourites with her children.

I'm still finding the book quite laborious to get through, hoping the pace will pick up as we get towards the end. (hide spoiler)]

[Michelle]

I'm not quite as far as you (I think??) June 1932 (35% complete)
(view spoiler)[
I felt so, so terrible for Ursula after the rape and abortion. Hugh seemed to take it in stride (other than banning Issy from the family) but Slyvie was so judgmental. In fact, I think she is such an unlikeable character, and part of the reason I am not really enjoying the book. The scorn, the judgment she held for Ursula, and it didn't seem like she even tried to understand. As a mother, I just can't comprehend how cold she seems towards her children. (hide spoiler)]

I am on the wait list at the library for the ebook since this is such a slow read on audio. But I'm 10th on the list so I may be waiting for a while. Sorry it is taking so long--I only get the hour or so on my commute so I can't get as far as I would like each day. I'm on part 6 of 14.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Not a problem, Michelle. I am just reading a bit at a time in between other books.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

The Land of Begin Again, April 1945 PG 435.

Slowly getting there.

The story has taken an interesting turn (view spoiler)[ Ursula's "life" has taken her to Nazi Germany pre-1939 and the heart of the Nazi party. A contrast to her life in middle class England. It is moving towards the events of where the book started (hide spoiler)]. Still can't say I am totally engrossed but hopefully it will have a thrilling ending.

[Kim]

I got sidetracked with the BOM, awful book. gunna pick this one back up now.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Finished it. Yes, it was an interesting idea and well written but quite labourious to get through in sections. I didn't get the thrilling ending either. More a "thinking" book than an action one.

[Michelle]

I'm up to November 1940 (about halfway done). This is a bit of a slog on audio. If I'm counting correctly, I am about 5 chapters behind Lisa's post #22 above. I'm listening some today as I clean my kitchen.

(view spoiler)[Ursula has had some terrible things happen to her. I found it really interesting that she came back to her 16th birthday after her husband beat her to death. It seems like she has not "jumped back" in time like that before, but I guess that's where the reset button was to stop that time stream. It just seemed odd that she died twice in that time stream, but seemed to only die once in the others. I may be missing something since the book is confusing at times.

I still loathe Sylvie. She is not a good mother, nor a particularly good person. Glad the kids have Hugh around.
(hide spoiler)]

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

And Michelle, Sylvie is consistently awful in every stream of Ursula's life. And Hugh is lovely. Interesting how their characters remain a constant.

[Renee]

I read this via audio a while ago. The narrator is good, but it is a bit repetitive...LOL I did enjoy it and I agree with Lisa - a thinking more than action book.

[Kim]

I'm struggling still.halfway through it and I'm just not invested at all in it I feel like I'm reading words but nothing is sinking in

[Kim]

I wonder if I switched to audio if it would be better

[Michelle]

I am doing it on audio. It is hard to keep the timelines straight, but the narration isn't bad. It's a long one.

[Kim]

the timelines are what im struggling with, I hate back and forth and jumping around type books

[Renee]

The timeline was just as hard with the audio. At least there is only one timeline at a time, then it starts over again.

[Michelle]

This book is a bit like a "choose your own adventure" book except every path seems to lead to death.

[Kim]

Okay, I finished it. I'm not really sure what I can say about it, it's definitely a thinking book, requires more concentration with the timelines and deaths than I was prepared to deal with, I've been in the mood for quick easy reads, maybe another time I'd like the book, but since this is the second time I tried this book, I probably wont try it again when im in a bit more of a mood to read something that isn't pure fluff.

[Michelle]

I should finish up the audio tonight or tomorrow. Unless something amazing happens at the end, I can't say this will be a highly rated book for me.

[Lisa - (Aussie Girl)]

Yay, Michelle, you finished it. I think this is definitely a book where you appreciate what the author was trying to do but somehow it didn't transfer into an easy reading and enjoyable book. Just my opinion, of course.