Reviews

Rigenerazione by Anna Nadotti, Pat Barker

lucysnowy's review against another edition

4.0

a really great portrayal of the treatment of soldiers with mental health issues during the first world war. i find it really interesting that barker toes the line between fiction and non fiction, portraying real characters and real events but also filling in the gaps herself.

i really enjoyed prior's story specifically. i only need to read the first instalment of this series for uni but i think i will read the other two books too - i want to find out what happens next!

the scene in the london hospital at the end where rivers observes a treatment was quite difficult to read. it is a reminder of the harsh way that society perceived those who were traumatised by the war.

natedate's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

3.25

therejuvenatedreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

tessfc's review against another edition

4.5

if a perfect war novel exists, this is it. 

morgann_ashh's review against another edition

4.0

Read for class. Pretty good and interesting read! The plot was interesting to follow along with as it followed the lives of multiple characters struggling to make sense of the war and their own trauma. I like how the book focused on multiple characters so that I could see the different ways that people were impacted. But, my one critique, there were parts that felt slow and dragged so I did get a little bored at times. I think I am just more used to action and fast paced book while this was heavily character based

duncbell's review against another edition

5.0

I think Pat Barker really is a master of character and narrative. The characters that revolve around Dr Rivers are brilliantly created and fleshed out. The narrative is lean and neat and wrapped up (or not) so well. I mustn’t wait too long to complete the trilogy.

patriciapueyolopezz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense medium-paced

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

5.0

starrybooker's review against another edition

relaxing slow-paced

3.5

This was a great piece of prose that I’m not sure entirely succeeded as a novel. I have pre-existing interest in the time period and the real life figures (I own multiple poetry collections of Owen and Sassoon), so I found Regeneration interesting from that perspective. And the prose is absolutely undeniable - the way Pat Barker describes landscapes makes you feel like you’re walking through the marsh or along the beach right alongside the characters. 

However, the actual substance of the novel leaves a lot to be desired. It’s literary fiction, so I have no problem with a lack of plot or emphasis on interiority. The problem is Barker treats her characters with such a sense of narrative distance that I never felt fully invested in their stories. Honestly, I think there were too many POV characters - flicking from Sassoon to Rivers to Prior with her cold omniscient narrative style left me at times a bit unmoored. 

Overall, I’m interested enough in the time period that I’ll probably read the rest of the trilogy, but they will definitely be library loans.  

margu's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.25

merry_bryson's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated

4.0