Reviews - Regeneration | The StoryGraph

725 reviews for:

Regeneration

Pat Barker

3.94 AVERAGE

jmross10's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

tanyarobinson's review against another edition

3.0

In recent years I have become more and more interested in World War I with its senseless barbarity. Regeneration is a novel that focuses on the psychological impact of the war. It takes place at a remote psychiatric hospital in Scotland, where Dr. Rivers, a renowned anthropologist, tries to help shell-shocked soldiers overcome nightmares, paralysis, stuttering, and more. At the center of the story is historical poet, Siegfried Sassoon, who published a Declaration against the continuation of the war. Rather than court-martialing him, his superiors are convinced to send him before a Medical Board, for surely his protests come from psychological disturbance rather than pacifist philosophy.

While the plot didn't grab me, I was interested to learn more about different characters and the specific causes of their issues. I found that it was often not a specific instance that led to breakdown, but the amalgamation of continuous months of helplessness, where they were unable to challenge suicidal orders and hopeless situations. I was intrigued by the title, wondering what Barker meant by it. The answer came in Rivers' contemplation of a colleague's nerve-regeneration experiment; through consistent stimulation, physical nerves can be regrown. Can the same be said for the psychological man who through trauma has been disconnected from his soul?

I chose to read this particular book because it is the first of a trilogy that includes Booker Prize winning Ghost Road. I plan to skip forward to the award winner, skipping over book 2.

3.5 stars.

laura_monique's review against another edition

4.0

reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

emmc's review against another edition

4.0

emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

thevintageflowerfaerie's review against another edition

4.75

emotional informative reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Content Warnings

erweatherburn's review against another edition

4.0

I studied this novel during the first year of my A-Levels. As I was studying it, I probably didn't appreciate it as much as I would have done if I was reading it for pleasure. Nevertheless, this is an extremely well-written novel that provides a fascinating insight into war - not the side of war that we are used to, with the swords, blood and gore - the side of war that is less talked about. We are made to consider the women left behind who take on more responsibilities to fill their absent husband's roles, and we are shown the brutal realities of the soldiers who either were unable to fight, or who were injured in battle. A big part of this novel is about the consequences of shell-shock, which makes it absolutely heartbreaking. It's emotional in the way that it is written, but even more so when you consider that this isn't just fiction - it was also (at least partly) reality.