Life After Life

By Kate Atkinson

Life After Life - Kate Atkinson
  • Release Date: 2013-04-02
  • Genre: Literary Fiction
Score: 4
4
From 949 Ratings

Description

What if you could live again and again, until you got it right?

On a cold and snowy night in 1910, Ursula Todd is born to an English banker and his wife. 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 a variety of ways, while the young century marches on towards 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?

Darkly comic, startlingly poignant, and utterly original: this is Kate Atkinson at her absolute best.

Reviews

  • Life after life

    2
    By Avanvaid
    Thumbs down
  • A MUST READ!

    5
    By NanaValerieR
    This is the first book I have read by Kate Atkinson but I am eager to read her other books now! She paints pictures with words. Her characters are wonderful. The plot was original and deep. I mourned each failure and I felt joy at each rebirth. This book had me hooked with plot twists & horrific situations where people were heroic. Atkinson is a fantastic story teller. I am so happy to have found a new favorite author!
  • I loved this book

    5
    By mistifaery
    I really really enjoyed this book. It is one of 41 that I have read in 2018 and it is one of the top 5.
  • Life After Life

    5
    By JavaBags1
    Loved it! Read it, tell your friends to read it.
  • Enchanting

    5
    By Gogo Kitty
    This book moved me deeply. Although several reviewers branded Ms. Atkinson's technique as disingenuous and even conceit, I found it intriguing and gripping. I enjoy fiction set in historical contexts greatly and this book felt unique, authentic, and starkly beautiful. Ursula's choices felt timeless, and reflected the life changing events of women throughout history. This story was my favorite fiction of 2014.
  • Fascinating!

    5
    By Frugal reader
    Awesome read. I liked it so much I am rereading parts.
  • Evolved narrative

    5
    By Roomy!
    The plot device of getting to reinvent Ursula's life each time was novel, and at times hilarious. What took this from an entertaining read to an epic one was the writer's ability to layer a deeper, less explained residual wisdom that might occur, like dipping a candle. The end of the book made the read worthwhile, proving that it wasn't just a device. Bravo!
  • Life: OK

    3
    By Mac-Chick
    This book is a bit of a challenge to review. On one hand the writing is well done, the characters are likable and I love the twists and turns to the story. On the other hand, when the story begins and begins again and again it gets a bit tiring even though there are new details woven in. A bit depressing at times. Overall though I like the book and the plot. Unlike some reviewers I felt the ending was fairly clear. Based on this book I would read another by this author.
  • 留名

    5
    By 中国三界无安
    马克
  • Well That Was Spectacular!

    5
    By BrianM8614
    I've always wondered how Kate Atkinson wove the pieces of her stories together, so that they came together with such stunning brilliance and near perfection at the end. Yet, Life After Life manages to transcend all the truly wonderful stuff she's written that came before. I'm afraid you can't say much about the story itself without possibly spoiling someone's future read. But Ms. Atkinson does certainly "get it right." Having just finished the book, I am in awe of her incredible talent.