379 reviews for:

Light Perpetual

Francis Spufford

3.64 AVERAGE

fern17's review against another edition

2.0

reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

anniekf1209's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional hopeful medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

mulch's review against another edition

5.0

emotional hopeful reflective 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: Yes

readingrara's review against another edition

2.0

lighthearted slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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I didn't understand this book! The premise is that a goup of children are not killed by a bomb and instead live a parallel life. However their lives are inconsequential and unlinked. Where was the clever twist?

samsearle's review against another edition

3.5

emotional 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

literary_carie's review against another edition

3.0

reflective slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

vpodhorny's review against another edition

4.0

hopeful 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: Yes

charlottesometimes's review against another edition

3.0

reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

davidc_'s review against another edition

2.0

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Usually historical fiction isn’t my thing, but I read this after it was longlisted for the Booker prize. I found it problematic. The novel follows the lives of five (white) people from South London, with chapters spaced 15 years apart, so that we check in with the characters at roughly ages 10, 25, 40, 55, and 70. Various domestic themes are addressed as well as societal issues - racism, classism, Thatcherism, etc. Whatever the merits this might otherwise have, I can’t get over framing a historical narrative of post-WWII Britain told solely from the perspective of a bunch of white people. Longlisting this for the Booker seems particularly tone-deaf at best.

clem's review against another edition

2.75

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes