A review by andrewspink
Light Perpetual by Francis Spufford

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

When I read the basic premise of the novel, that it is about 'what if' five children had not perished in the London blitz, I had expected the book to be all about what a waste that was, what a wonderful life they had missed. That wasn't the case. Their lives are both ordinary and full of negative experiences. That is not to say that the book was miserable to read. Far from it. The characters are so well-rounded and interesting that it was a pleasure to read the book. What I also liked was the huge jumps in time that the book made as it progressed. That had the effect of putting the everyday troubles and worries into perspective; 15 years later, everything was different anyway. Various reviews suggest it is worth reading a second time. I have the feeling that I missed some things the first time round, so maybe I will do so.