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wheelofparm's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
meme_too2's review against another edition
2.0
I wanted to take my life after reading this book. IT WAS SO DEPRESSING!!!!!
Each story (five in all) focuses on one person and their life. We read of their struggles, their sadness, their despair, and more struggles. Do they come out of it a better person? Not really.
Why do people write books like this?
Each story (five in all) focuses on one person and their life. We read of their struggles, their sadness, their despair, and more struggles. Do they come out of it a better person? Not really.
Why do people write books like this?
greybeard49's review against another edition
5.0
'What if I had done that instead? Where would I be now?' How Did I Become Who I Am Today?'
'A Possible Life' explores these big ideas with insight and depth through the medium of five different lives. Faulks writes cleverly, sparsely and with compassion. The unfolding tale around each person moves you in a different way but still develops the central theme.
Wonderfully engaging and superbly written.
'A Possible Life' explores these big ideas with insight and depth through the medium of five different lives. Faulks writes cleverly, sparsely and with compassion. The unfolding tale around each person moves you in a different way but still develops the central theme.
Wonderfully engaging and superbly written.
mikewa14's review against another edition
3.0
a mixed bag of short stories - full review here
http://0651frombrighton.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/a-possible-life-sebastian-faulks.html
http://0651frombrighton.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/a-possible-life-sebastian-faulks.html
milly_in_the_library's review against another edition
4.0
I really do enjoy Faulks' writing.
These short stories all shared a common sadness and the idea of repetition/common themes through time, which I enjoyed.
Though equally clever, the first story was my favourite, the final my least favourite.
These short stories all shared a common sadness and the idea of repetition/common themes through time, which I enjoyed.
Though equally clever, the first story was my favourite, the final my least favourite.
sometimes_iread's review
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Guys… I thought this was a novel, it says so on the front cover, does it not? Yet, the five stories seemed way more disparate than I’d expected. It’s not a big thing but I do feel a little cheated. Still, the read itself more than makes up for it.
A Possible Life by Sebastian Faulks is a novel in five stories, with each part being a completely different story with different characters obliquely connected to each other. And I do mean obliquely, in a squint or you’ll miss it way. We have the teacher called to fight in the Second World War, the self-made man struggling to do the right thing in Victorian London, the scientist struggling to reconcile what she has found with her human experience, an old French servant finding understanding in the Bible stories her master reads her, and the musician-producer chasing the siren call of a new singer’s exquisite gift of voice.
Each story is so well-crafted, they have entirely different voices. The first story read unbearably British which contrasted deliciously with the bohemian voice in the last. It truly is testament to Faulks’ craft, how he created such rich worlds with the bare minimum. Each story left me feeling like I’d read an entire novel on its own. In fact, the stories were probably richer and more nuanced than some standalone novels. Yes, Faulks really is that good.
Despite the completely different lives inhabited in each story, all five of them beautifully rendered the idea of love in their own way. Faulks brings us on a journey, exploring what it means to love. From blind love that throws caution to the wind, to quiet devotion, and much more in between. In its oblique fashion, the subtle links between the stories serve to show how love is a universal experience. We might not be a genius scientist or a gifted singer, but we too share in the experience of loving, losing, and living.
This book truly was a richly woven one and I think it might be one of those books that will throw up new revelations on each subsequent read.
Diversity meter:
Strong female characters
adw7984's review against another edition
1.0
This novel is told in a series of 5 short stories. They are supposed to be linked in some way, but I found it easier to read each story as a separate entity, because a couple of the stories were terribly hard to read (for me).
Geoffrey (1938): Unfortunately, the very first story in the book was so incredibly dull and hard to read that I had no hopes for the rest of the books. I don’t know what about this story bored me, perhaps the time period isn’t my favorite? However, I just couldn’t connect with this story.
Billy (1859): Billy, however, was a beautifully written story. It was heartbreaking in different ways throughout. Billy and Alice’s story broke my heart, and I truly felt for Alice, yet I never felt angry at Billy for being with Nancy. This story also contains a quote that really struck a chord with me: “I don’t think you ever understand your life - not till it’s finished and probably not then either. The more I live the less I seem to understand.” (page 111). Isn’t that the truth?! This story truly stands on it’s own two legs, if you will, and is a beautiful piece of literature.
Elena (2029): I expected this story to feel out of place. The setting is set in the future, while the others take place in the past. However, it fit in nicely, even if it was a tad icky (technical term). Even before the mini-twist, I was grossed out by Elena and Bruno, the adopted siblings, sleeping together. Then after the twist, I wanted to throw up. If I avoid that part of the story, it was actually very interesting and Elena was a great, yet lonely, character. One thing that did shock me was that the future seemed so bleak. Maybe that isn’t the right word, but when her father died because the town only had one ambulance and it was on another call…that isn’t what I would expect from the future. It was an interesting take on the future, and one I haven’t read before.
Jeanne (1822): Jeanne offered a brief story, but it too carried a theme of loneliness. I felt so sad for her, she offered herself for her whole life and I just felt so much loneliness from her even though she was surrounded by people. While it wasn’t my favorite story, it had nice flow and was quick to read.
Anya (1971): This one felt wildly out of place to me. As a story, it was just okay but not my favorite.
Overall, this was interesting for me. There were three stories that I really enjoyed and two that did nothing for me. Also, I didn’t see the connection, so maybe I missed the larger picture. However, I am more interested in reading some of his other books.
*This book was provided for review on Confessions of a Bookaholic. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Geoffrey (1938): Unfortunately, the very first story in the book was so incredibly dull and hard to read that I had no hopes for the rest of the books. I don’t know what about this story bored me, perhaps the time period isn’t my favorite? However, I just couldn’t connect with this story.
Billy (1859): Billy, however, was a beautifully written story. It was heartbreaking in different ways throughout. Billy and Alice’s story broke my heart, and I truly felt for Alice, yet I never felt angry at Billy for being with Nancy. This story also contains a quote that really struck a chord with me: “I don’t think you ever understand your life - not till it’s finished and probably not then either. The more I live the less I seem to understand.” (page 111). Isn’t that the truth?! This story truly stands on it’s own two legs, if you will, and is a beautiful piece of literature.
Elena (2029): I expected this story to feel out of place. The setting is set in the future, while the others take place in the past. However, it fit in nicely, even if it was a tad icky (technical term). Even before the mini-twist, I was grossed out by Elena and Bruno, the adopted siblings, sleeping together. Then after the twist, I wanted to throw up. If I avoid that part of the story, it was actually very interesting and Elena was a great, yet lonely, character. One thing that did shock me was that the future seemed so bleak. Maybe that isn’t the right word, but when her father died because the town only had one ambulance and it was on another call…that isn’t what I would expect from the future. It was an interesting take on the future, and one I haven’t read before.
Jeanne (1822): Jeanne offered a brief story, but it too carried a theme of loneliness. I felt so sad for her, she offered herself for her whole life and I just felt so much loneliness from her even though she was surrounded by people. While it wasn’t my favorite story, it had nice flow and was quick to read.
Anya (1971): This one felt wildly out of place to me. As a story, it was just okay but not my favorite.
Overall, this was interesting for me. There were three stories that I really enjoyed and two that did nothing for me. Also, I didn’t see the connection, so maybe I missed the larger picture. However, I am more interested in reading some of his other books.
*This book was provided for review on Confessions of a Bookaholic. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
moirastone's review against another edition
2.0
A cut-rate Cloud Atlas. Part Five redeemed the rest for me.