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literarylover37's review against another edition
4.0
I really liked the different perspectives in this book. My only critique is that I wish the ending had been different. Beautifully written though.
buffstbookslisa's review against another edition
3.0
I wish I could rate this higher, and I would for 3/4 of the book. Love her writing, great characters.... But the whole thing seems to speed way up at the end, everything happens too fast and seems out of context, and many of the plot elements just don't seem to add up.
carolpk's review against another edition
4.0
After listening to Jill McCorkle's talk at a Booktopia Petosky, MI I had to move Life after Life up on my list. Hearing McCorkle speak about her intentions gave me a better understanding of where she was coming from. Forgive me if these are not quite what she said - It ain't over til it's over, that drama and humor tread a thin line, and that there can be a celebration of life even with the bleakest of topics - piqued my interest and got me reading.
I have mentioned before that as I get older and loved ones depart I am more interested in end of life issues. This hit home with McCorkle too as she visited her father who was dying of lung cancer. Even as she grieved she became enthralled by the process of dying and how our bodies shut down, going from life to what comes next. She likens this bodily shutdown to"going through your house and turning out the lights". As she watched her father prepare for his death she couldn't help wondering what he was thinking. She also noted while living this grieving, the mundane chores of life still must go on. Experiencing his death and later her aging mother's slip into Alzheimer's with need for a nursing home bredLife after Life. This blending of life stories of a group of residents in Pine Haven Estates, NC are not only the summation of who they are but also the end of life memories as they draw their last breaths.
In reading the reviews of Life after Life some had trouble with the varying story lines and many characters, others found the transition from past to present confusing. For some the humor seemed out of place and others found aspects that didn't ring true. Though I did wonder why McCorkle included some characters and questioned what they did, my overall goals for reading this were met. I chucked what I didn't like and basked in what I loved.
I have mentioned before that as I get older and loved ones depart I am more interested in end of life issues. This hit home with McCorkle too as she visited her father who was dying of lung cancer. Even as she grieved she became enthralled by the process of dying and how our bodies shut down, going from life to what comes next. She likens this bodily shutdown to"going through your house and turning out the lights". As she watched her father prepare for his death she couldn't help wondering what he was thinking. She also noted while living this grieving, the mundane chores of life still must go on. Experiencing his death and later her aging mother's slip into Alzheimer's with need for a nursing home bredLife after Life. This blending of life stories of a group of residents in Pine Haven Estates, NC are not only the summation of who they are but also the end of life memories as they draw their last breaths.
In reading the reviews of Life after Life some had trouble with the varying story lines and many characters, others found the transition from past to present confusing. For some the humor seemed out of place and others found aspects that didn't ring true. Though I did wonder why McCorkle included some characters and questioned what they did, my overall goals for reading this were met. I chucked what I didn't like and basked in what I loved.
kategci's review against another edition
3.0
I really liked the premise of this book, with its look at end of life issues through many different eyes. I really disliked the ending, and felt this was almost two different books written in parallel until one curved and they intersected. The parts of it that I liked were well-written and thus, 3 stars.
deeb's review against another edition
4.0
A really lovely book, tenderly written, full of finely drawn characters, deeply poetic, and with multiple compelling story lines. I was a little thrown by a final plot twist, but overall I really enjoyed this meditation on lives lived, memory, and aging.
lizaroo71's review against another edition
4.0
Set in a retirement home, this book interweaves the lives of the residents and those that care for them. It is told in alternating narratives, which, initially took me a while to get used to. Not because the writing is unclear, but because I had to get the characters straight in my head.
This is a book about small moments that change the course of a life. Small moments that carry weight and importance, but it's also knowing when to let go of such moments.
I felt such a warm feeling in my heart reading this book. The characters are so genuine and lovable. I am so glad I finally got around to reading it.
This is a book about small moments that change the course of a life. Small moments that carry weight and importance, but it's also knowing when to let go of such moments.
I felt such a warm feeling in my heart reading this book. The characters are so genuine and lovable. I am so glad I finally got around to reading it.
julesanne's review against another edition
2.0
I loved the first 3/4 of this book, and was planning on rating the book with 4 stars. The characters were so well developed and interesting, even the minor characters. I love how she had different points of view from the same event and the death of the characters. Wonderful. Then I read the last 1/4. It was abrupt and seemed like the author did not know how to end the book. After the characters were so well developed, I had trouble seeing certain events occurring. Why would CJ keep tolerating Andy's moves, why would Joanna hide what may be evidence (the note) that CJ did not kill herself? Also, the way Joanna returns the dog will probably just get Sam into trouble and not prevent the mother from finding a way for the dog to disappear again. Why would she not tell Ben what happened to the dog? Why is Joanna interested in Ben? I can understand not having a nice and tidy ending, but this seemed out to sync with the rest of the book.
cj82487's review against another edition
4.0
An ending worth the journey
An ending that has everything a book needs: a twist, a reunion with a long lost friend, death of a loved one, a new found romance, and a promise to live a life worth living. I'm at a loss for words because of the death of a character that made the book worth reading and was not only lovable but relatable. I learned from her and want to continue to learn from her, and yet her time has passed. A smidge of happiness tucked into the grief makes the entire book memorable in the most pleasant of ways and worth the journey traveled to get there.
Life After Life - Rustling in the Breeze Blog
An ending that has everything a book needs: a twist, a reunion with a long lost friend, death of a loved one, a new found romance, and a promise to live a life worth living. I'm at a loss for words because of the death of a character that made the book worth reading and was not only lovable but relatable. I learned from her and want to continue to learn from her, and yet her time has passed. A smidge of happiness tucked into the grief makes the entire book memorable in the most pleasant of ways and worth the journey traveled to get there.
Life After Life - Rustling in the Breeze Blog