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ee_em_em_aye's review against another edition
5.0
Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet is one of the best books I’ve read this year.
If I’m honest, I wasn’t initially attracted to the book when it came out (2011) because the plot features the Cuban Missile Crisis and I just thought, “boring.” I’ve got a problem with making untrue snap decisions about books.
Clem Ackroyd, our central character, lives with his parents and grandmother in a claustrophobic home too small to accommodate their larger-than-life characters in the bleak Norfolk countryside.
Life takes us from intimate moments in a teenage boy’s life to the world stage and back again with ease.
We’re off to school with Clem and his mate, we’re picking strawberries in the blazing sun of the English countryside, we’re scoping out new places for make out sessions… then we’re in JFK’s war room, part of the Cuban Missile Crisis, flying high about the Arctic avoiding radar, we’re part of 9/11…
I’m almost strictly a reader of contemporary fiction so don’t often find myself in war rooms and Presidential ponderings. These, like the Cuban Missile Crisis seem to be the fodder of the non-fiction set, which is something I’m typically not. However, despite my initial reservations I found myself enjoying the American history and politics enormously. In fact, I would hazard to say I enjoyed that more than the domestic settings I’m usually fonder of.
When I was 16 I was an exchange student to USA (rather sadly it was me who was top of my American Government class) and Life took me back there. I remembered how much I love American history and found the side comments about JFK’s medical history and personal predilections fascinating. In fact, I’d now be really keen to read a biography of JFK so please recommend me one in the comments.
Life is a book about the importance of events – about how it’s the ordinary, everyday, often (long-term) unforgettable lives that we lead that shape us far more than the recorded events of history that time tells us are important.
The juxtaposition of these world stage events with Clem’s everyday life is what makes Life: An Exploded Diagram so special and memorable. Because while world events will be remembered for all time as the events that have shaped and reshaped our world, in the face of personal discovery they’re all just background noise.
What really matters to us as individuals are the events and effects of our own, tiny lives. Village life, our family, plans for a brighter future, a first, true love – all seem so massively effective and important – arguably even more so if you’re a teenager like Clem.
In Life, Clem’s life changes irrevocably when he meets Frankie, the daughter of a wealthy farmer, and experiences first love, in all its pain and glory. The first rush of love is thrilling and exciting and even better, clandestine. Anyone who has fallen in love as a teenager (and who didn’t) knows theirs alone is the greatest love story of all time.
Throughout Life the story is told in flashback by Clem and moves from the past of his parents and grandmother to his own teenage years. I found the change of tense and narrative styles as we moved through time thrilling. Each character is so well developed and seems so large and important to the book that it’s hard to believe they don’t really exist.
Although I finished reading Life a good few weeks ago it’s a book I’ve often reflected on since.
It’s a bit like John Lennon wrote in his song Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy), “Life is what happens to you/ While you’re busy making other plans.”
If I’m honest, I wasn’t initially attracted to the book when it came out (2011) because the plot features the Cuban Missile Crisis and I just thought, “boring.” I’ve got a problem with making untrue snap decisions about books.
Clem Ackroyd, our central character, lives with his parents and grandmother in a claustrophobic home too small to accommodate their larger-than-life characters in the bleak Norfolk countryside.
Life takes us from intimate moments in a teenage boy’s life to the world stage and back again with ease.
We’re off to school with Clem and his mate, we’re picking strawberries in the blazing sun of the English countryside, we’re scoping out new places for make out sessions… then we’re in JFK’s war room, part of the Cuban Missile Crisis, flying high about the Arctic avoiding radar, we’re part of 9/11…
I’m almost strictly a reader of contemporary fiction so don’t often find myself in war rooms and Presidential ponderings. These, like the Cuban Missile Crisis seem to be the fodder of the non-fiction set, which is something I’m typically not. However, despite my initial reservations I found myself enjoying the American history and politics enormously. In fact, I would hazard to say I enjoyed that more than the domestic settings I’m usually fonder of.
When I was 16 I was an exchange student to USA (rather sadly it was me who was top of my American Government class) and Life took me back there. I remembered how much I love American history and found the side comments about JFK’s medical history and personal predilections fascinating. In fact, I’d now be really keen to read a biography of JFK so please recommend me one in the comments.
Life is a book about the importance of events – about how it’s the ordinary, everyday, often (long-term) unforgettable lives that we lead that shape us far more than the recorded events of history that time tells us are important.
The juxtaposition of these world stage events with Clem’s everyday life is what makes Life: An Exploded Diagram so special and memorable. Because while world events will be remembered for all time as the events that have shaped and reshaped our world, in the face of personal discovery they’re all just background noise.
What really matters to us as individuals are the events and effects of our own, tiny lives. Village life, our family, plans for a brighter future, a first, true love – all seem so massively effective and important – arguably even more so if you’re a teenager like Clem.
In Life, Clem’s life changes irrevocably when he meets Frankie, the daughter of a wealthy farmer, and experiences first love, in all its pain and glory. The first rush of love is thrilling and exciting and even better, clandestine. Anyone who has fallen in love as a teenager (and who didn’t) knows theirs alone is the greatest love story of all time.
Throughout Life the story is told in flashback by Clem and moves from the past of his parents and grandmother to his own teenage years. I found the change of tense and narrative styles as we moved through time thrilling. Each character is so well developed and seems so large and important to the book that it’s hard to believe they don’t really exist.
Although I finished reading Life a good few weeks ago it’s a book I’ve often reflected on since.
It’s a bit like John Lennon wrote in his song Beautiful Boy (Darling Boy), “Life is what happens to you/ While you’re busy making other plans.”
bsolarz's review against another edition
4.0
While the book jumped around a bit in the first part, towards the middle, the story started stabilizing and the pieces started coming together. A depressing and cynical story that keeps you interested at the same time.
Very unpredictable as well.
The ending was slightly disappointing but also incredibly powerful... One of the better books I have read this year (so far).
Very unpredictable as well.
The ending was slightly disappointing but also incredibly powerful... One of the better books I have read this year (so far).
roseleaf24's review against another edition
2.0
I didn't get what some are seeing in this book at all. Once we got to the story of Clem and Frankie, it was interesting enough, though still not spectacular to me. And the pages and pages before that were difficult for me to get through. If I hadn't bought this book, and if it hadn't been the last of the Battle of the Kids' Books that I needed to read, I wouldn't have made it to the interesting part of the book.
One of the main criticisms I've seen is that this isn't a YA book. I think that's my main issue with it. If it hadn't been categorized that way, I wouldn't have had the expectations of it that I did, but since I kept trying to figure out why it was YA, the beginning just didn't work for me at all.
The ending is pretty amazing, though, so it was worth it to get there.
One of the main criticisms I've seen is that this isn't a YA book. I think that's my main issue with it. If it hadn't been categorized that way, I wouldn't have had the expectations of it that I did, but since I kept trying to figure out why it was YA, the beginning just didn't work for me at all.
The ending is pretty amazing, though, so it was worth it to get there.
thebrainlair's review against another edition
2.0
Finished. Did not like most but some parts were ok.
steph01924's review against another edition
4.0
Whatever ending I was expecting, it was not that. What WAS that?
I don't know what to say about this book. It was very interesting, at times it enthralled me, but...damn. It was heavy. Kind of depressing, and not always in the good way.
I enjoyed the back and forth history of the generations of Clem's family, the chapter names and the wry voice of older-Clem narrating. I loved Goz; what a great character. I enjoyed some of the Cuban Missile Crisis history. It got a little...pointless? I guess? to me towards the end, when there were things I was much more interested in focusing on. I skimmed those last few inserts.
This is one of those books. It's well-written and has an interesting premise and was quite taking at the time, but I doubt I'll ever go back to it in the future. It's not going to be one of my absolute favorites. But that is my thing with books, and may not be yours. I'd still recommend it to people who can handle this type of book.
I don't know what to say about this book. It was very interesting, at times it enthralled me, but...damn. It was heavy. Kind of depressing, and not always in the good way.
I enjoyed the back and forth history of the generations of Clem's family, the chapter names and the wry voice of older-Clem narrating. I loved Goz; what a great character. I enjoyed some of the Cuban Missile Crisis history. It got a little...pointless? I guess? to me towards the end, when there were things I was much more interested in focusing on. I skimmed those last few inserts.
This is one of those books. It's well-written and has an interesting premise and was quite taking at the time, but I doubt I'll ever go back to it in the future. It's not going to be one of my absolute favorites.
Spoiler
I guess I prefer my books to have some hope at the end. I thought for sure Clem was going to die on 9/11, and, hell, maybe he did since it CUT OFF SO ABRUPTLY. Jesus. Either way, maybe I can imagine that the attack helped him realize he should go back to be with Frankie and they lived together for the rest of their crippled days, perfecting the art of Doing It. I don't need the happy ending to be all spelled out but...there needs to be some glimmer of hope from the characters that that is where it's heading. I don't know if I got that from Clem, and that's probably what bothers me.sweetcat's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. The perspectives of the different people within the same family was really enjoyable, it reminded me of Girl, Woman, Other. I fell in love with Frankie, seeing her through Clems eyes. I don't enjoy war as a setting, plot device or literary hurdle, and that didn't change with this book. However, I feel I did learn a lot about the Cuban Missile Crisis, and without the war sections, I wouldn't have been able to miss the protagonists. The interspersed sections of White House Briefing Room drew out Clem & Frankies relationship dramatically, giving me time to miss them and realise what exactly I wanted for them and from them.
johnnymacaroni's review against another edition
5.0
This book is just a stunning read. The narrative is very powerful, the story is powerful. It ebbs and flows ...quiet at times and literally explosive at others. This book is marketed (I suppose is the word) for YA but it's got a lot of adult appeal. I had the opportunity to meet the author and his wife and while I didn't get the chance to ask this directly I think this is one of those cases where the author writes to express a story without thinking about audience & age and I wholeheartedly support that especially when the result is something so brilliant as this.
I think this story and the characters will stick with me for some time.
I think this story and the characters will stick with me for some time.
rosalind14's review against another edition
4.0
4.5.
I don't think I've read another book quite like this. It began by narrating the lives of a fairly nondescript family though three generations, and the engaging, humorous writing voice was what kept my interest at first. The story began to center on a teenage boy named Clem dealing with a forbidden first romance with the daughter of his father's boss. Interspersed were chapters detailing the events of the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis (to be honest, I had known next to nothing of this subject before and actually learned a lot from the book). The last few chapters were when it all came together for me, though-- this book had the kind of ending that after I finished, I had to close the book and just sort out all of my feelings for a while. I loved the message of history coming full circle.
Definitely recommended, and I'll have to get my hands on Tamar soon, which I'm surprised I haven't read yet.
I don't think I've read another book quite like this. It began by narrating the lives of a fairly nondescript family though three generations, and the engaging, humorous writing voice was what kept my interest at first. The story began to center on a teenage boy named Clem dealing with a forbidden first romance with the daughter of his father's boss. Interspersed were chapters detailing the events of the Cold War and the Cuban Missile Crisis (to be honest, I had known next to nothing of this subject before and actually learned a lot from the book). The last few chapters were when it all came together for me, though-- this book had the kind of ending that after I finished, I had to close the book and just sort out all of my feelings for a while. I loved the message of history coming full circle.
Definitely recommended, and I'll have to get my hands on Tamar soon, which I'm surprised I haven't read yet.
seifknits's review against another edition
3.0
Way too much exposition. At times I loved the book, at other times, I just turned the pages to gt through it. Going to require some mor thought.
murderousscottishgremlin's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
+0.25 stars for using contraception.