A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson
I love all of Kate Atkinson’s books and have reviewed a fair few of them on this blog. Life After Life is one of my favourite books ever, so I was very pleased to see A God in Ruins, which is described as a ‘companion book’ to Life After Life.
A God in Ruins is the life story of Teddy, beloved younger brother of Ursula from Life After Life. Teddy is a fighter pilot in World War II, a husband, a father and a grandfather.
The story moves backwards and forwards through Teddy’s life. The sections where he is flying in World War II are riveting and terrifying and give a real feel for the life of a fighter pilot. The death of his wife, Nancy, is moving and his difficult relationship with his daughter, Viola, is both sad and frustrating. But it is his perhaps the stories of his relationship with his grandchildren which are the most moving of all.
By anyone’s standards, A God in Ruins is a very, very good book. But I’m going to stick my neck out and say it’s not as good as Life After Life, which is a very special book and on a whole different level from pretty much any novel ever.
I enjoyed A God in Ruins more and more as it unfolded. It doesn’t contain a lot of twists, it’s much more of a straightforward life story, but there’s a twist at the end which brings it much closer to its ‘companion book’.
If you enjoy books about family and don’t mind a hefty read (it’s over 500 pages), I would definitely recommend this book. You don’t have to have read Life After Life to enjoy it or understand it, but I would recommend you read it too, just because it’s brilliant!
I think I’m going to put life after life on my list and read it after the bones of you, which I should start really 🙂
You will definitely love Life After Life! Let me know what you think of The Bones of You too. I’m already into my second book since Disclaimer!
I completely agree with you! Life After Life is one of my all time favourite books. It is very special and actually nothing could ever compare so I’m glad in a way that she wrote A God In Ruins as a ‘normal’ book if that makes sense. It was lovely to read more about Teddy. I grew such a soft spot for him in Life After Life!
I read Kate Atkinson’s first book and really loved it. I should read more, am adding your two suggestions to my reading list 🙂
#ReadWithMe
You definitely should! She is an amazing writer and I love all of her books.
I’ve not read anything from this author before so thank you for the recommendation!! Thanks for sharing with #ReadWithMe
She really is an amazing author and I would definitely recommend any of her books.
Hmm sounds like I need to look at Life After Life first 🙂 #ReadWithMe
It’s a brilliant book, definitely worth a read!
I remember reading Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson years ago. I don’t manage to find much time for grown up books at the moment but will definitely add these recommendations to my wish list. #readwithme
I couldn’t live without grown up books! Behind the Scenes at the Museum is another amazing book.
I’ve not read any books by Kate Atkinson. Sounds like another to add to my list #readwithme
She’s such a brilliant writer. Definitely worth reading any of her books!
I have heard of Kate Atkinson but never read any of her books – one to add to my tbr pile I think! xx
#readwithme
I have heard of Kate Atkinson but never read any of her books – one to add to my tbr pile I think! xx
#readwithme