A review by literatehedgehog
My Real Children by Jo Walton
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.