Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Having previously enjoyed Kate Atkinson's novels, which generally defy genre whilst leaving an impact on the reader, I decided to read her '2013 Costa Novel Award'-winning title which grapples with the concept of having second, third and infinite chances at life and the 'what ifs' which so often occupy our minds. Although instantly drawn in by Atkinson's gritty narration and vivid descriptions, I was initially confused when reaching a new chapter with an identical date and title as the previous one. However, I realised that this was both part of the concept and charm of the storyline, exploring the idea of how different decisions we make, as well as circumstances out of our control, could lead to our lives playing out very differently Life After Life centres on the upper-middle-class Todd family, but focuses on the third of five children, Ursula Todd, following her relationships with family, friends and colleagues over the span of almost 6 decades and through major historical events including the Spanish Influenza pandemic and both World Wars. We are taken on a captivating journey back and forth through time, exploring Ursula's life from a number of perspectives as we examine the many different possibilities of her life depending on the choices she was given, the people she encountered and her environment. This book will definitely stick with me; I was absolutely compelled to keep reading at the end of each chapter. In her concluding chapters, despite their lack of chronological order, Atkinson manages to tie up the majority of loose ends yet also makes the reader re-think what they've read, to piece together certain aspects of the story, ensuring their satisfaction.
Submitted by Sarah
