A review by laurenleigh
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

dark emotional hopeful tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

I didn’t get what I expected here, but I still got a good story. I suppose I thought there’d be more magical realism or fantasy, but this novel is squarely historical fiction with one dash of magical realism. It was an interesting plot device which allows for the same scene in multiple ways, the same life with various consequences. If you liked that part of The Midnight Library, you’d like this too I bet. Fair warning that many parts of this plot are quite sad and depressing. I was enjoying the bucolic childhood tales in the English country manor, but things take a sharp left turn as Ursula grows up. I do enjoy historical fiction, and this felt very well researched. I think I’m just a little tired of WWII historical fiction. Though it does make me grateful to live in a time and a country that is not at war, not being bombed every night.
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