Birdsong |
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Sebastian Faulks
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Pages: 528 (Paperback)
ISBN: 0099387913
Pub: Vintage
Pub date: 1994-07-18
Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 273
Editorial Review:
Readers who are entranced by sweeping historical sagas will devour Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks' drama set during the first world war. There's even a little high-toned erotica thrown into the mix to convince the doubtful. The book's hero, a 20-year-old Englishman named Stephen Wraysford, finds his true love on a trip to Amiens in 1910. Unfortunately, she's already married, the wife of a wealthy textile baron. Wrayford convinces her to leave a life of passionless comfort to be at his side, but things do not turn out according to plan. Wraysford is haunted by this doomed affair and carries it with him into the trenches of the war. Birdsong derives most of its power from its descriptions of mud and blood, and Wraysford's attempt to retain a scrap of humanity while surrounded by it. There is a simultaneous description of his present-day granddaughter's quest to read his diaries, which is designed to give some sense of perspective; this device is only somewhat successful. Nevertheless, Birdsong is a rewarding read, an unflinching war story and a touching romance.
Reader Reviews:
Good enjoyable read, but could have been so much better (0/0 people found this helpful)
I bought this book before a recent holiday and was hoping that it would be gripping and entertaining. I did enjoy it a lot and to be honest couldn't put it down, but that was more because I wanted to reach the end than because I wanted to savour every word.
DISAPPOINTMENTS:
I was looking forward to a gritty step by step account of how life was during the first world war, and although this book did recount a lot about the state of mind of the character, it doesn't quite have enough to keep war history enthusiasts gripped. For example, in the 'over the top' scenes, so much detail is skipped. One minute they've gone over the top and the next they're in the middle of no-man's land with not enough detail of how they got from a to b.
The other big disappointment was the VERY LONG peacetime love affair at the beginning which could have been recounted more briefly. Also I was disappointed with the way the story skipped around from era to era with, for example, the romance story from the most recent era seeming a little perfunctory at times.
All in all I did very much enjoy this book but all I would say is if you are looking for a decent war story think about looking somewhere else.
A magnificent novel (0/0 people found this helpful)
I think this novel is a masterful achievement. It conveys something of the horror of the World War One trench warfare, and it also details a passionate love affair, both experienced by the Englishman Stephen Wraysford, who falls in love with Madame Azaire whilst staying with the Azaire family in Amiens on business in 1910, and who then fights in France during WWI.
Wonderfully written, difficult to read at times but not in the way I had expected; the language is beautiful but not over-complex. The difficulty is in the horrific moments that Stephen endures during the years of devastating warfare in France, it is gripping and must be read. It has stayed with me days after finishing it. The fear of the soldiers is palpable, and the sadness and senselessness of the huge loss of lives makes this a sad read, where you start to fear for the characters who you are just getting to know. I found the ending nail-biting, especially how long it lasts until we know what happens - to me this really conveyed the sense of being 'trapped', and I felt the claustrophobia just reading it!
It made me interested to look back into historical facts and information about WWI beyond just what the novel touches on and how Faulks has interpreted it, to find out more about the actual battles, and surely that is a worthwhile accomplishment, that we should continue to be reminded and to remember.
Wonderful evocative writing (1/1 people found this helpful)
Certainly the best first world bar based novel I have read, for me this far excels Pat Barker's Regeneration or All Quiet on the Western Front. The emotional power of the writing, especially during the long underground sequence near the end, is enormous. A stunning read.
You must read this before you die! (0/1 people found this helpful)
Quite simply the most moving and thought provoking novel I have ever read. Be open minded to an experience you will not forget.........breath taking!
Reads like a brilliant symphony! (0/0 people found this helpful)
Why I say it reads like a symphany is because it starts of quite peaceful and then has incredible moments that carry you along in the same manner as a piece of exciting music like Handel's The Resurrection and then some calm before the next spine tingling chapter. I have never love a book so much that I felt started off weak but that helped to emphasise the brilliance of the novel. Its exciting, horrific, heart warming and heart breaking and I beleive I will be thinking about this book for some time to come. Definately in my top five reads of all time. Absolutely brilliant.
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Categories
Amazon.co.uk places this book into the following categories:
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> Authors, A-Z -> F -> Faulks, Sebastian
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> General
Books -> Subjects -> Fiction -> Contemporary Fiction: 1970 Onwards -> Popular Fiction
Books -> Refinements -> Language (feature_browse-bin) -> English
Books -> Refinements -> Age (feature_two_browse-bin)
Books -> Refinements -> Format (binding_browse-bin) -> Paperback
Books -> Refinements -> Condition (condition-type)