Hi everyone
Life after
Life has been on my bookshelves for a long time.
It has 611 pages of story and 5 pages note by Kate Atkinson herself.
It has 611 pages of story and 5 pages note by Kate Atkinson herself.
“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.”
I really
enjoyed this book and I’ve already put some of Atkinson’s other works on my
wishlist.
This is a very clever novel. It’s full of details about daily life and it gives us a really good impression of politics and society. It’s as if you’re then and there.
But you have to keep track of which ‘when’ you are.
This is a very clever novel. It’s full of details about daily life and it gives us a really good impression of politics and society. It’s as if you’re then and there.
But you have to keep track of which ‘when’ you are.
The
beginning was difficult to follow. It took me some time to get into it. The
novel started out rather boring and not very special. After about 150 pages it
got better.
It’s not like she repeats herself because the same event as the time before is now witnessed by someone else or is just a tiny bit different.
It was just not very interesting.
It’s not like she repeats herself because the same event as the time before is now witnessed by someone else or is just a tiny bit different.
It was just not very interesting.
Ursula is a
wonderfully, rounded character. I loved her more and more as the novel
progressed. Especially once she figures out that she can prevent some things
from happening. And as she grows older, she realizes she has to take society,
morality and other people into account. Or as she says it: "I'm very
interested in the moral path, doing the right thing".
A lot of
other characters like Sylvie, Pamela and Izzie are very well realized too. They
are important in every storyline and we get to know them a bit better with
every lifetime.
I grew more attached to them every time.
I grew more attached to them every time.
One thing
that was a bit of a miss to me was Ursula’s sixth sense. In some stories she
does develop one and she tries to act accordingly to prevent certain events.
But in other storylines she doesn’t seem to remember anything from her other
lives. In my opinion, Atkinson should have done the same for all the
storylines.
The book
ends up being an advocate for women’s rights. Marrying for love or for gratitude
are never the same, women can have a profession too and the height of our lives
should not be a marriage and children. Thank you Kate Atkinson.
It also shows us that our identities aren’t hardwired or fixed but changed by environment and circumstances.
It also shows us that our identities aren’t hardwired or fixed but changed by environment and circumstances.
This is a
wonderful, fascinating, marvelous, thought provoking and interesting read.
Definitely recommended!
Definitely recommended!
Happy
reading.
Helena
Helena
Geen opmerkingen:
Een reactie posten