chloelockwood's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
palomapepper's review against another edition
3.0
A single choice - whether or not to marry her long-distance boyfriend in her early twenties - sends Patricia spiraling into two very different lives. These lives are told in parallel, yet both reach the same conclusion: confused convalescence in a nursing home at the end of her life.
The story moves along at a brisk pace, stopping only briefly for individual scenes. It's like reading the truncated SparkNotes of two lives. TL;DR. Something about it reminded me in a kindly fashion of hearing about the exploits of Sims you've grown particularly fond of, or playing house with dolls as a child.
The story and language are all very straightforward, nothing terribly original or different happened... but I found myself enjoying it very much. It's an incredibly comforting read. You see the same woman build a life for herself and find beauty in her surroundings, no matter the circumstances. Patricia begins shy yet resilient; as her life progresses, she surrounds herself with love and beauty when possible, takes chances for self-improvement no matter how late the age. There are some great portrayals of non-traditional relationships and families. Alternate timelines for world events always make me smile, and neither timeline in this book is exactly our own.
The story moves along at a brisk pace, stopping only briefly for individual scenes. It's like reading the truncated SparkNotes of two lives. TL;DR. Something about it reminded me in a kindly fashion of hearing about the exploits of Sims you've grown particularly fond of, or playing house with dolls as a child.
The story and language are all very straightforward, nothing terribly original or different happened... but I found myself enjoying it very much. It's an incredibly comforting read. You see the same woman build a life for herself and find beauty in her surroundings, no matter the circumstances. Patricia begins shy yet resilient; as her life progresses, she surrounds herself with love and beauty when possible, takes chances for self-improvement no matter how late the age. There are some great portrayals of non-traditional relationships and families. Alternate timelines for world events always make me smile, and neither timeline in this book is exactly our own.
moogen's review against another edition
2.0
Shallow and unsatisfying. The main character's two lives were committed to the page with all the nuance and texture of a shopping list.
jthoms's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
literatehedgehog's review against another edition
4.0
It was fortunate that I had forgotten that this book was by the author of Among Others, since I had conflicting feelings about that book, and gave this one a chance (or two) when I again felt conflicted about her writing.
A story about a woman who has to make an important choice - and then proceeds to have two completely different lives from the outcomes of that choice? A story set in mid 21st century England, that briefly touches on European history and pop culture?! A story with two life lines that both end up in very possible alternative presents? So perfectly up my alley!
Unfortunately, for the first third of this book, I kept making unfavorable comparisons of this book to Kate Atkinson's Life after Life, which I LOVED. I know, there are many differences in these stories and their structures, but still, I couldn't help it. I also found myself irritated at the character Tricia (one lifeline of Patricia), not really believing in her meekness and acceptance of her husband's emotional abuse. For a part of the book, I loved one path of her life so much more, and didn't understand how Walton could make one choice end so HORRIBLY and the other so WONDERFULLY. BUT! But but but! Ah, this is where it was so important that I hung in there! Then Walton did what life does, threw some chaos and sadness and joy and wonder throughout both lives, making both lives more enjoyable to read about, and more believable that our Pat/Tricia would make these choices and live in either of these very different worlds. And those two worlds! It was annoying at first to tease out what was different and what was not different between the two worlds and also between each world and our world, but it eventually became easier - and less necessary - to understand the story as a whole. And the choice at the end! I love me some open endings! Of course, I bet we all know which life she chose to actually live...
Like Among Others, I'd say there are 2 star parts, 3 star parts, and 4 star parts. Unlike Among Others, I'd say over all I liked this much more after I finished it than I thought I would, and find myself still thinking about it.
Recommend to fans of Life after Life and Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society. And other Anglophile contemporary history books with generations to keep track of and generally good characters to grow fond of.
A story about a woman who has to make an important choice - and then proceeds to have two completely different lives from the outcomes of that choice? A story set in mid 21st century England, that briefly touches on European history and pop culture?! A story with two life lines that both end up in very possible alternative presents? So perfectly up my alley!
Unfortunately, for the first third of this book, I kept making unfavorable comparisons of this book to Kate Atkinson's Life after Life, which I LOVED. I know, there are many differences in these stories and their structures, but still, I couldn't help it. I also found myself irritated at the character Tricia (one lifeline of Patricia), not really believing in her meekness and acceptance of her husband's emotional abuse. For a part of the book, I loved one path of her life so much more, and didn't understand how Walton could make one choice end so HORRIBLY and the other so WONDERFULLY. BUT! But but but! Ah, this is where it was so important that I hung in there! Then Walton did what life does, threw some chaos and sadness and joy and wonder throughout both lives, making both lives more enjoyable to read about, and more believable that our Pat/Tricia would make these choices and live in either of these very different worlds. And those two worlds! It was annoying at first to tease out what was different and what was not different between the two worlds and also between each world and our world, but it eventually became easier - and less necessary - to understand the story as a whole. And the choice at the end! I love me some open endings! Of course, I bet we all know which life she chose to actually live...
Like Among Others, I'd say there are 2 star parts, 3 star parts, and 4 star parts. Unlike Among Others, I'd say over all I liked this much more after I finished it than I thought I would, and find myself still thinking about it.
Recommend to fans of Life after Life and Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society. And other Anglophile contemporary history books with generations to keep track of and generally good characters to grow fond of.
melissakuzma's review against another edition
5.0
A woman in a nursing home with dementia vividly recalls two lives:one in which she married her college sweetheart and one in which she didn't. Two radically different lives - and worlds - are described, and both actually seem to have happened. Of course I would have liked more explanation (did she really live both lives? Does everyone?) but it was great nonetheless. I love the theme of the life that might have been lived (Sliding Doors, Life After Life (which I didn't like, but still), The Post-Birthday World) had different decisions been made. This amazing book explored it incredibly well. I will definitely be reading more by Jo Walton.
niyou's review
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This is a book about life, loss and the love for one’s children. A bit of a tear jerker.
carstensena's review against another edition
5.0
Gorgeous writing. I couldn't put it down, and had a hard time paying attention to "real" life while I was reading it. I was expecting more SF elements, but this is a largely realistic novel that simply asks whether our personal choices affect the world at large.
This is probably closer to 4 1/2 stars for me, and I mention that because the last quarter felt rushed. The grandchildren were hard to keep straight, and years went by in a sentence or short paragraph. Still, it's conceivable that the author did this quite on purpose.
Interesting similarities to Atkinson's Life After Life, but of course they are completely different books. I'd love to hear a conversation between the two authors, though!
This is probably closer to 4 1/2 stars for me, and I mention that because the last quarter felt rushed. The grandchildren were hard to keep straight, and years went by in a sentence or short paragraph. Still, it's conceivable that the author did this quite on purpose.
Interesting similarities to Atkinson's Life After Life, but of course they are completely different books. I'd love to hear a conversation between the two authors, though!