A review by acaprice20
The Regeneration Trilogy by Pat Barker

4.0

It's been a while since I've read Regeneration but the main appeal of it was a realistic view of the consequences of war. Pat Barker's writing in this specific book tells a story through the eyes and voices of several characters, weaving fact and fiction and using the voices of two well known poets at the time to portray the brutality of war. This was rare at the time because the popular belief was the valor, bravery and honor of war rather than the damage it caused not only to the body but to the soul. This book makes a very clear statement about Barker's opinion and view of war without becoming propaganda. It's almost an argument with each character being used as a fact or point in the discussion.

Pat Barker is a remarkable storyteller. Her writing actually seems to put you in the place of the characters and helps you understand their perspectives. Unlike many authors, each voice of her character is distinct and unique from the others, not simply copies of each other. She has another book called "Border Crossing" I enjoyed as well.