mazza57's review against another edition
I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. It is difficult to rate this book which has 3 viable and essentially interesting narratives but absolutely no connective tissue joining them. I struggled even to get through the text until I decided it just wasn't necessary to work out what the author was trying to say (because whatever it was she was making a complete hash of it), but simply to follow the disparate story lines. I understand the book is based on truth - my question is what truth? What of the 3 divisive narratives was true ? The obligatory LGBT tale and drowning in Paris?, The drowning of Bear ? or the development of cystic fibrosis? My feeling is it none of these - rather it is the development of ResusciAnn - an also ran in the narrative department of this book.
I feel this was a bad book and because it failed to draw together whatever it was aiming to draw tog ether. I feel the reader was let down and I won't be looking for more by this author
I feel this was a bad book and because it failed to draw together whatever it was aiming to draw tog ether. I feel the reader was let down and I won't be looking for more by this author
thebooktrail88's review against another edition
5.0
Visit the locations in the novel
There’s not a book for a while that has moved me quite as much as this one. A book about drowning, needing to breath yet finding you can’t, a story of surviving and existing rather than living.
It starts with the most stark image of all – a woman who drowns on the banks of the Seine. Little do they know, but so many lives will be affected by this act and this woman, and what happens next. Stories told from 1899, 1950’s and to the present day.
For what happened next is based on a real story. L’Inconnue de la Seine.- the unknown woman of the Seine – a woman who found the need to kill herself, and in this manner, but who was considered so beautiful in death that the authorities created a death mask modelled on her face. Many years later it went on to become the face for the resuscitation mannequin named Resuscitation. I love a story with a real history link and this was brilliantly chosen and intertwined.
In this compelling story however, Annie lives and is given a voice. Her story weaves with that of Norwegian toy maker Pieter Akrehamn. He is the main who makes the first model of the resuscitation model. He lives a hard life and lives by the river which controls his everyday existence. Tragedy strikes which will have lasting consequences
Then we meet Anouk, a Canadian journalist who lives in the present day (well the 1980s, but almost) She is hoping for a transplant and so again is existing rather than living. She has CF so her lungs fill with fluid so she is effectively drowning too. A struggle to live and survive..
What a moving and insightful novel this is. A story about mortality and death is never going to be easy but this one had me shaking as I read. Suicide, death, preparing for death and struggling to survive….all themes were so insightful and it was as if the characters were speaking to me personally. I wanted to hug them, share their pain and Annie, oh Annie, I was in turmoil with what she did but more with what she achieved even in death.
The water and drowning theme were apt and poetic. I drowned in this book. I couldn’t read anything else after reading this. It hurt, it lingered and it’s still with me now.
brionybailey's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
I loved this book! I think it was a really clever idea executed brilliantly. The story has stuck with me and characterisation was very good.
glamourfaust's review against another edition
5.0
This was the latest "Big Library Read" and I really enjoyed it. My only complaint is that each voice was different in loudness, so I was constantly adjusted the volume. Poorly produced but the story was great.
mslourens's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
astridandlouise's review against another edition
3.0
I received an ARC of this book with thanks to Random House UK, Doubleday via NetGalley.
Coming up for Air gives us three narratives set across time and continents that weave together all centered around breath and air. 1899 France, 1950's Norway and present day Canada. It shows us the impact of everyday life and the extensive influence our existence has on humanity around us without ever entirely knowing so.
It is beautifully written and highly descriptive. It took me a few days to get into the story, but I was hooked by the second half which I finished over the course of a morning. I adored the narratives set in France and Norway, they merged together beautifully and were also fascinating as standalone tales. The third thread whilst lovely, seemed slightly disjointed and didn't link to the other two threads as well as I expected (other than having the breath/air connection).
Coming up for Air gives us three narratives set across time and continents that weave together all centered around breath and air. 1899 France, 1950's Norway and present day Canada. It shows us the impact of everyday life and the extensive influence our existence has on humanity around us without ever entirely knowing so.
It is beautifully written and highly descriptive. It took me a few days to get into the story, but I was hooked by the second half which I finished over the course of a morning. I adored the narratives set in France and Norway, they merged together beautifully and were also fascinating as standalone tales. The third thread whilst lovely, seemed slightly disjointed and didn't link to the other two threads as well as I expected (other than having the breath/air connection).
patricijatilv's review against another edition
4.0
„Skendimas labai asmeniškas reikalas. Niekuo neypatingas. Tylus.“
3.5/5
„Prieš įkvepiant“ istorijos teka lengvai, aiškiai ir greitai. Kaip vanduo. Vanduo jas sieja, vanduo išskiria. Vanduo sujungia, bet ir išdrąsko. Šeimas. Ar širdis. Kartais tai – vienas ir tas pats. Visos istorijos, pasirinktos pasakoti lengva, nepretenzinga maniera, siejasi labai aiškia, iš anksto skrupulingai apgalvota linija. Ar visos vienodai įdomios? Nepasakyčiau. Bet knyga neprailgsta nė akimirkai, randa būdų nustebinti ir nebus pamiršta per artimiausią savaitę. Galima verkti, jei norisi, galima užvertus pamiršti, bet labai prie kažko dramatiškai prikibti beveik nėra.
Didžioji dalis knygos man priminė Picoult romanus: sergantis vaikas, dėl jo gerbūvio kovojantys tėvai, aplinkinės problemos, kurių gijos vis tiek susiveda į bendrą šeimyninį skaudulį. Kasdienė ligos realybė ir rutina. Rodos, vien šios istorijos pakaktų, tačiau autorė pabando viena sėdyne apsėsti ypač daug kėdžių. Kai kurios lieka stovėti čiut kreivai: istorija apie tėvo netekusį vaiką graži, meniška, poetiška, tačiau įsivažiuoja sunkiai ir lėtai, o ir yra veikiau laiškas, nei kad būtina knygos dalis. Suprantu jos reikalingumą bendram istorijos gijos kontekste, tačiau nelikau iki galo įtikinta – truputį per daug paviršiumi, per greitai, per trumpai, visiškai nepalaikant balanso su kitomis dviem istorijomis: nei įsijautimo į istoriją, nei jos išplėtojimo prasme. Kita vertus, žymiausios paskenduolės nuo pat Ofelijos laikų istorija, pasakojama 19-ojo amžiaus Paryžiuje, tokia pat įtikinanti, išplėtota ir pilnavertė, kaip ir cistine fibroze sergančiosios Anuk. Tiesa, dera jos taip šiek tiek klišai, truputį kaip kepsnys ir šokoladas, bet balai už išradingumą ir gerus norus, o ir vertinu tai, jog autorė sugeba įtikinti, jog visos knygos metu girdėjau tris aiškiai skirtingus pasakotojų balsus, skaičiau tarsi atskiras knygas. Balsai nesimaišė tarpusavyje, išliko harmoningai nepanašūs nei stiliumi, nei istorijomis. O ir juos jungianti gija ir problematika nepasirodė pritempta – viskas tvarkingai, truputį pasakiškai patogiai, tiek giliai, kiek giliai neria penktadienio vakaro filmas visai šeimai, bet ne per saldžiai, ne cukraus vata.
Skirtingų perspektyvų ir skirtingų istorinių linijų romanų kontekste, „Prieš įkvepiant“ žiūrisi solidžiai: tiek autorės stiliui, tiek veikėjų plėtojimui beveik neturiu jokių priekaištų. Tai nėra romanas, kuriam garantuočiau nepajudinamą vietą savo bibliotekoje, bet tikrai tas, kurį nebūtų baisu rekomenduoti beveik bet kam: ar bėgančiam nuo rimtesnės literatūros, ar tiesiog ieškančiam pagavios istorijos. Yra vietos ir paverkti, ir susimąstyti, ir kažką naujo sužinoti. Ne amžiams įsimintinas, bet tiesiog tvarkingas.
3.5/5
„Prieš įkvepiant“ istorijos teka lengvai, aiškiai ir greitai. Kaip vanduo. Vanduo jas sieja, vanduo išskiria. Vanduo sujungia, bet ir išdrąsko. Šeimas. Ar širdis. Kartais tai – vienas ir tas pats. Visos istorijos, pasirinktos pasakoti lengva, nepretenzinga maniera, siejasi labai aiškia, iš anksto skrupulingai apgalvota linija. Ar visos vienodai įdomios? Nepasakyčiau. Bet knyga neprailgsta nė akimirkai, randa būdų nustebinti ir nebus pamiršta per artimiausią savaitę. Galima verkti, jei norisi, galima užvertus pamiršti, bet labai prie kažko dramatiškai prikibti beveik nėra.
Didžioji dalis knygos man priminė Picoult romanus: sergantis vaikas, dėl jo gerbūvio kovojantys tėvai, aplinkinės problemos, kurių gijos vis tiek susiveda į bendrą šeimyninį skaudulį. Kasdienė ligos realybė ir rutina. Rodos, vien šios istorijos pakaktų, tačiau autorė pabando viena sėdyne apsėsti ypač daug kėdžių. Kai kurios lieka stovėti čiut kreivai: istorija apie tėvo netekusį vaiką graži, meniška, poetiška, tačiau įsivažiuoja sunkiai ir lėtai, o ir yra veikiau laiškas, nei kad būtina knygos dalis. Suprantu jos reikalingumą bendram istorijos gijos kontekste, tačiau nelikau iki galo įtikinta – truputį per daug paviršiumi, per greitai, per trumpai, visiškai nepalaikant balanso su kitomis dviem istorijomis: nei įsijautimo į istoriją, nei jos išplėtojimo prasme. Kita vertus, žymiausios paskenduolės nuo pat Ofelijos laikų istorija, pasakojama 19-ojo amžiaus Paryžiuje, tokia pat įtikinanti, išplėtota ir pilnavertė, kaip ir cistine fibroze sergančiosios Anuk. Tiesa, dera jos taip šiek tiek klišai, truputį kaip kepsnys ir šokoladas, bet balai už išradingumą ir gerus norus, o ir vertinu tai, jog autorė sugeba įtikinti, jog visos knygos metu girdėjau tris aiškiai skirtingus pasakotojų balsus, skaičiau tarsi atskiras knygas. Balsai nesimaišė tarpusavyje, išliko harmoningai nepanašūs nei stiliumi, nei istorijomis. O ir juos jungianti gija ir problematika nepasirodė pritempta – viskas tvarkingai, truputį pasakiškai patogiai, tiek giliai, kiek giliai neria penktadienio vakaro filmas visai šeimai, bet ne per saldžiai, ne cukraus vata.
Skirtingų perspektyvų ir skirtingų istorinių linijų romanų kontekste, „Prieš įkvepiant“ žiūrisi solidžiai: tiek autorės stiliui, tiek veikėjų plėtojimui beveik neturiu jokių priekaištų. Tai nėra romanas, kuriam garantuočiau nepajudinamą vietą savo bibliotekoje, bet tikrai tas, kurį nebūtų baisu rekomenduoti beveik bet kam: ar bėgančiam nuo rimtesnės literatūros, ar tiesiog ieškančiam pagavios istorijos. Yra vietos ir paverkti, ir susimąstyti, ir kažką naujo sužinoti. Ne amžiams įsimintinas, bet tiesiog tvarkingas.
abbie_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
PR copy provided by the publisher
I posted my wrap up too prematurely yesterday, as I ended up finishing this one in bed last night! Oh well. I really enjoyed this one, despite a few parts which dragged or didn’t necessarily feel like they fit the overall story. There are three sections, one featuring ‘L’Inconnue de la Seine’, one a toymaker whose son drowns, and one a young woman with cystic fibrosis. I loved the sections with the two women, but the toymaker ones didn’t captivate me as much.
.
The theme running through the book is of course drowning, as well as the death mask that was made from L’Inconnue de la Seine which went on to become the face of CPR mannequins. Some of this book is rooted in fact, which is fascinating, and then in other sections Leipciger exerts a lot of creative license. I really like this kind of mash up! Especially as the storyline she imagined for L’Inconnue, who died around 1899, was a queer one. It was tragic, but I just love a good melancholic story!
.
Even though all three strands are set about 50 years apart, I think Leipciger ties them together really nicely. If you enjoy quiet, sad stories then I’d definitely recommend this one!
I posted my wrap up too prematurely yesterday, as I ended up finishing this one in bed last night! Oh well. I really enjoyed this one, despite a few parts which dragged or didn’t necessarily feel like they fit the overall story. There are three sections, one featuring ‘L’Inconnue de la Seine’, one a toymaker whose son drowns, and one a young woman with cystic fibrosis. I loved the sections with the two women, but the toymaker ones didn’t captivate me as much.
.
The theme running through the book is of course drowning, as well as the death mask that was made from L’Inconnue de la Seine which went on to become the face of CPR mannequins. Some of this book is rooted in fact, which is fascinating, and then in other sections Leipciger exerts a lot of creative license. I really like this kind of mash up! Especially as the storyline she imagined for L’Inconnue, who died around 1899, was a queer one. It was tragic, but I just love a good melancholic story!
.
Even though all three strands are set about 50 years apart, I think Leipciger ties them together really nicely. If you enjoy quiet, sad stories then I’d definitely recommend this one!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Child death, Death, Grief, Infidelity, Injury/injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, and Terminal illness
Graphic depictions of drowningbookietracey's review against another edition
4.0
This book is made up of three stories which are all interwoven with the common theme of water.
One is set on the banks of the river Seine in 1899, one is set in Norway in the 1950s and one is set recently in Canada.
This book is so well written. In places it just feels so poetic. While reading it, I felt lost in the pages. The pacing was perfect. The characterisation in this book was outstanding.
A brilliant book. Highly recommended.
One is set on the banks of the river Seine in 1899, one is set in Norway in the 1950s and one is set recently in Canada.
This book is so well written. In places it just feels so poetic. While reading it, I felt lost in the pages. The pacing was perfect. The characterisation in this book was outstanding.
A brilliant book. Highly recommended.
kait_unicorn's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Rape