As far as the book is concerned, most of us really enjoyed it and Fiona really loved it. While this is nominally a sequel to Life After Life, Kate Atkinson created a beautiful story that stands on its own while still allowing the stories to work together. A God in Ruins found a way to have Teddy, the golden boy of the first book stand in as a symbol of Britain and its path before and after World War II.
The beloved young boy, connected with his future wife by the age of 10, growing up in the bucolic country becomes a grown man with many horrifying war experiences behind him, somehow drifting along in his life to its inevitable end. His family story intersects in many ways the major events of the early 20th century in England and so does its trajectory.
Teddy's daughter and her children take up a lot of real estate in the book, for better or worse. Viola is difficult to like but there is some sympathy for her in the revelations that Atkinson adds much later in the book, when the relationship between her and her father is set in the reader's mind. That she was shaped by her parents' experiences, without her understanding them, may be part of who she is.
The writing is so effective, so descriptive and precise in this novel. Atkinson's ability to describe a scene is incredible. The wartime bombing scenes were so convincing, so complete, they were hard to read. While the characters involved did not come to life as much as the main characters, none the less, their journeys and outcomes were wrenching.
As well, Atkinson's ability to pace the plot and tell a story is amazing. Whether we loved the characters, or the plot line, still we all felt it kept us turning the pages, and most of us had a strong emotional reaction, good or bad.
As far as the ending goes, we had no conclusion as to whether Teddy died in the war, or lived his life. The option opened the question of ones impact in the world and ended the story with ambiguity. What actually happened? What would have been different in that scenario? What was clear was that this book was definitely worth reading, and thank you Kate Atkinson.
On to our last read of the year (OMG!) for our November meeting. After some discussion, we have substituted A Marriage of Opposites by Alice Hoffman for our prior pick, At the Water's Edge by Sara Gruen. Our next meeting will be November 16 at Ashley's. (Thank you Ashley!)
Our last meeting of the year is our annual Christmas Book Swap, tentatively scheduled Dec. 14, pending input from the group. We are scheduled to come to my house right now. Susan Victoria offered to host if her new place is ready in Church Hill, thank you Susan!
Weigh in if you want on the book or the conversation, so glad to have us all together!
