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miffyf's review against another edition
4.0
A confronting exploration of the effect of war on the human psyche. Built around the activities of real-life participants Seigfried Sasson, Wilfred Owen, Dr. W. Rivers, and other historically famous personages, Barker interweaves the story of the 'common man' through the character of Billy Prior, Sarah - his girlfriend, Billy's family and friends, and other 'typical' Brits of the time. Barker's descriptions of the toll on mental health that the horrific conditions of war impart are harrowing, and at many stages (often in the car on the way to work) I was brought to tears by the frustration and pain of the men in the care of Dr. Rivers and Craiglockhart War Hospital.
kttylatte's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
4.25
i was hesitant to read it because i couldn’t really tell what it was going to be about (plus reading it for college) but i really enjoyed it. it put me through the mill a bit, i found certain sections very emotional and reflective. i do just love and adore pat barker’s writing style, which i think made it even better!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Violence, Grief, Medical trauma, War, and Injury/Injury detail
pywacket's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
maria_juliet's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
fast-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
4.0
librarydancer's review against another edition
5.0
Wow. This fascinating, heartbreaking and extremely well researched historical novel is about soldiers being treated for what we now call PTSD in England during WWI.
The third book in the series won the Booker Prize for 1995.
The third book in the series won the Booker Prize for 1995.
hcube3's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
amythereader's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
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? It's complicated
4.0
rmbolton's review against another edition
5.0
Actually first read this in college and then re-read it over vacation. As a general rule, I don't re-read books (don't ask, it's a weird philosophical thing) but I remembered reading one of the books in the Regeneration Trilogy and wanting to read the rest, so figure I should start with Book #1.
Good news - I loved this book as much the second time as the first. In the US, we learn far more about WW II than WW I, so the subject feels interesting and "new." The characters come to life without an oppressing amount of descriptive language and back-story and their progression through the plot makes sense, especially when you consider the context of wartime England.
After reading this, I'm excited to move on to book #2
Good news - I loved this book as much the second time as the first. In the US, we learn far more about WW II than WW I, so the subject feels interesting and "new." The characters come to life without an oppressing amount of descriptive language and back-story and their progression through the plot makes sense, especially when you consider the context of wartime England.
After reading this, I'm excited to move on to book #2
mchapmansydney's review against another edition
5.0
Too often we forget that the bedrock of the last hundred years, and as a result, every one alive, is trauma. An entire generation in each world war was altered forever, not just the soldiers of course, but especially those ones, whose families bore the brunt of that. Children are not supposed to go to war, no one is built to see death, not in that way.
Regeneration is a perfect book, not grotesque or excessive in its depiction of the horrors of war, but still harrowing, not because of content alone, but because the writing is absolutely drenched in empathy. Every feeling and thought is portrayed in the messy and complicated way that feelings and thoughts often are. It’s a book with no resolution or any solution, which no book like this should try and have, it is left in the same state as at the start, at least with attempts of understanding, which is as good as you can hope for.
Regeneration is a perfect book, not grotesque or excessive in its depiction of the horrors of war, but still harrowing, not because of content alone, but because the writing is absolutely drenched in empathy. Every feeling and thought is portrayed in the messy and complicated way that feelings and thoughts often are. It’s a book with no resolution or any solution, which no book like this should try and have, it is left in the same state as at the start, at least with attempts of understanding, which is as good as you can hope for.