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3.63 AVERAGE
3.63 AVERAGE
challenging
mysterious
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:
No
challenging
emotional
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
Ben sees the light, and the light is very good.
Not very often does reading a book give me actual goosebumps. The last three pages of this one did. While this book was slow going for me, very flowery and eloquent prose that sometimes tripped me up, is was undeniably beautiful. The realization, with that final “come dust,” that all of this book really occurred in the blink of an eye as those five children died in an explosion, a kind of reverse life-flashing-before-the eyes, was gut-wrenching and nearly brought me to tears. That final reminder (as I had in fact almost forgotten) that none of these things happened, no children and grandchildren born, no jobs loved, no marriages cherished, was brutal. It so effectively did what Spufford intended, making you truly realize what is lost when a child dies before their time.
Not very often does reading a book give me actual goosebumps. The last three pages of this one did. While this book was slow going for me, very flowery and eloquent prose that sometimes tripped me up, is was undeniably beautiful.
A Second World War bomb drops in Bexford and kills amongst many others five children - except it doesn’t and here’s what their lives are instead. A somewhat low-stakes and tired trope? (For a more invigorating wartime “alternate lives” take see Kate Atkinson) The vignettes that followed were readable enough and might eventually have stretched together to a more intriguing story but after 60 pages I wasn’t invested.
dark
emotional
emotional
informative
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:
No
Interesting premise for a story where five children who died in a bombing during WWII get a "reimagined" future.
The writing was beautiful, but perhaps a bit too flowery for me. I also felt that following the imagined futures of five children became too much to follow and it didn't allow me to become invested in the individual characters.
I can understand why this has received so much praise, but it just wasn't for me.
The writing was beautiful, but perhaps a bit too flowery for me. I also felt that following the imagined futures of five children became too much to follow and it didn't allow me to become invested in the individual characters.
I can understand why this has received so much praise, but it just wasn't for me.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
thank god I'm done this boring book
This was very disappointing experience for me.
I normally would love a story about the London working classes in the 1950,s as it is my own families heritage but this story just dragged and to my mind, was a cynical attempt by the author at being clever, and it just comes over as pretentious.
I would much have preferred a straight written story interweaving the characters lives and in a normal time line.
The title containing the word ‘perpetual’ is a clue to the unnecessary need to appear erudite, just be sincere please author and not create something aimed at the inane Booker prize giving panel.
Also, I listened on audiobook and the normally excellent Imogen church did not read this book in the right way at all. Throughout she has a singsong narration, and every sentence is said as if ironic and it simply sounds irritating.
A DNF for me.
In fact I was glad to see the back of it,
I normally would love a story about the London working classes in the 1950,s as it is my own families heritage but this story just dragged and to my mind, was a cynical attempt by the author at being clever, and it just comes over as pretentious.
I would much have preferred a straight written story interweaving the characters lives and in a normal time line.
The title containing the word ‘perpetual’ is a clue to the unnecessary need to appear erudite, just be sincere please author and not create something aimed at the inane Booker prize giving panel.
Also, I listened on audiobook and the normally excellent Imogen church did not read this book in the right way at all. Throughout she has a singsong narration, and every sentence is said as if ironic and it simply sounds irritating.
A DNF for me.
In fact I was glad to see the back of it,