Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, 525 pagesUrsula Todd was born on February 11, 1910 in the outskirts of London. Unfortunately, she died at birth. Fortunately, she was again born on February 11, 1910, and this time she survived. But then, a few years later, she died again. But hey, she was again born on February 11, 1910 and survived a little while longer. In Life After Life, Atkinson tells and retells the story of Ursula's life as she lives it over and over again, with changes here and there resulting from different decisions. This book takes Ursula and the reader through the bulk of 20th-century British history, including the 1918 influenza epidemic (Ursula has a rough time that year) and various elements of World War II, especially the Blitz.
I won't lie: this book was more than a bit confusing. However, it is apparent that the confusion is intentional, and is shared by Ursula. As she lives life after life after life, bits of deja vu slip into Ursula's experiences, underscoring the fluidity of time, chance, destiny, and decisions. This tale, which I've described to friends as Groundhog Day meets Downton Abbey, could be horrible. But Atkinson has created a series of vignettes that create a cohesive, compelling story. Fans of historical fiction, British fiction, and The Time Traveler's Wife will enjoy this one. I highly recommend it.
No comments:
Post a Comment