Reviews

Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks

fins_for_frogs's review against another edition

2.0

I'm not someone who likes war novels, so I was admittedly biased against this book from the start, but I don't think I've ever read a book I hated with such intensity. I found most of the writing extremely dull, the sex scenes at the start were horrifyingly reminiscent of the deepest darkest realms of fanfiction, the description of women throughout the entire novel screamed written by a man, Stephen was particularly annoying in this aspect and many others. I rejoiced everytime he almost died and mourned his continued survival. The final scene felt grotesque and entirely unnecessary. I will say that I did find this a compelling narrative of the effects and experience of war but the unbareable main character and overall boring prose made it for the most part extremely unenjoyable. To be annoying and/or boring is truly the worse offense literature can commit and I am not looking forward to further study of this text in my english classes.

reuben_books's review against another edition

 
This is written in such a boring, generic writing style, and I'm not interested in a semi-sordid love affair and fighting in the trenches. I should have known really, I've never enjoyed WW1/2 stories, they're so overdone and dull.  

Also, reading how Stephan thinks about 'Madame Azaire' is like being in the mind of a stalker. Already so deranged and unhinged after spending one night in her house? Its creepy how he observes her in such great detail.

This is truly the final straw. No more WW1/2 books for me, ever. 

bopapps's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

eminthegarden's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.25

Something about the writing, just felt a little off for me. I found the conversations quite stilted and I struggled to follow at certain points as there was little explanation.
The sex scenes were gratuitous and the scene with the prostitutes made me cringe. I'm sorry to say but the thought "clearly written by a man" did pass through my mind.

emmaggedon's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective slow-paced

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

2.5

It was fine. It would be better if I cared for any of the characters. Just read ‘In Memoriam’ instead 

mollyss's review against another edition

5.0

Oof, at points this was hard to read (the tunnel sections) but WOW this was so well written and interesting. Felt it was a little long and sometimes military heavy but I loved it

catbrigand's review

4.0

I very much enjoyed about half of the book. Some of the sections seemed somewhat arbitrary or meaningless.

phantomwise's review against another edition

4.0

Oh, I don't know, is there an option between three and four stars?

abbyaxj's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Took a while to get into it, I wasn’t enjoying it too much at the start and found some of the characters difficult to follow / remember names but really enjoyed

where they were stuck underground in the tunnels - very tense!

. Female characters felt quite flat and definitely felt though they were written by a man

katykelly's review against another edition

5.0

It's such a famous modern classic now that I don't think I need to write too detailed a synopsis, just how I felt about the book.

I've had this book on my windowsill for two years now, staring at me with its 'worthy' title and credentials. I admit, the size put me off starting. There was always something more urgent for me to read.

And it did take some time, nearly a week which is unusual for me. But yes. It was definite worthy of my time.

I'd say Birdsong is one of the most important war novels alongside All Quiet on the Western Front, Catch 22 and a handful of others.

There are the stories preceding the War, when
Stephen falls for Isabelle, and a story set later about a woman searching for facts about her
Grandfather. These were both touching and lovely.

But for me, the trench warfare as narrated by Stephen and other soldiers in his company was fascinating, sorrowful and intense. Faulk's description of the bodies, the wasted lives, the feelings of the men, the conditions, the end of the War for Stephen, were incredibly moving and could have been written by someone go lived through it all.

A very necessary read for anyone who wants to know what the First World War really involved. Beautifully written and fully deserving of its good reports.