On a scale of 1-5 stars (with 5 being the best) how do you rate Birdsong?
***** (Loved it)
50%
[ 5 ]
****
20%
[ 2 ]
***
10%
[ 1 ]
**
10%
[ 1 ]
*
0%
[ 0 ]
Gave up on it
0%
[ 0 ]
Didn't read this one
10%
[ 1 ]
Total Votes : 10
Author
Message
lisa2062 Administrator
Joined: 05 Jul 2007 Posts: 919 Birthday: 23rd December
Location: Dorset, UK
Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 3:00 pm Post subject: October's Book - Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
Discuss your thoughts on the book here as soon as you have finished reading it. Did you (not) enjoy it? Anything that struck you or maybe someone else can answer if you have a question? We're not really looking for in depth discussions...just tell us what you think of it!
For those who have finished it, please choose a star rating for the book based on how much you liked it. What did you think of it? Do you have any questions based on the book?
If you do have something to post that reveals plot details which could ruin others' enjoyment of the book, please use the spoiler function (details: http://onlinebookclub.myfreeforum.org/about12.html)
Lisa x
_________________ Currently Reading - Want to Play? By P.J Tracy (again)
Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 510 Birthday: 23rd April
Location: Manchester UK
Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 9:53 am Post subject:
As much as I would have liked to have had some light relief in the form of Cold Comfort Farm after reading Half of a Yellow Sun, I have taken the plunge and gone for Birdsong as my next read instead. _________________ Current reading: The Last Temptation, Val McDermid ~ 40 @2009
Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 510 Birthday: 23rd April
Location: Manchester UK
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 8:58 am Post subject:
Still reading this one, but last night there was a quote that caught my eye:
the topic seemed too large, too fraught and too remote for her to take on at the moment p. 248
Which I guess sums up my knowledge/experience/ understanding of WWI- something in the past, something terrible and sad... but can any of us peace-time civilians appreciate what it was like at all ?
Reading Birdsong makes me think that I'm going to bawl my eyes out on 11/11 rather than the traditional silent observance.
I think a trip to the Imperial War Museum (North) is also in order when I finish reading it. _________________ Current reading: The Last Temptation, Val McDermid ~ 40 @2009
Joined: 03 Sep 2006 Posts: 232 Birthday: 30th March
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:47 am Post subject:
I really should start this seeing as it was my nomination...I've been really busy this last week or so though and havent even had chance to pick up a book
Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 510 Birthday: 23rd April
Location: Manchester UK
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 12:21 pm Post subject:
I'm quite surprised at how much I've managed to read of it- my previous read was 448 pages so I was a bit daunted by another whopper (503 pages) but I'm 64% thru so hope to have it finished by next week _________________ Current reading: The Last Temptation, Val McDermid ~ 40 @2009
Joined: 29 Jul 2006 Posts: 4137 Birthday: 12th December
Location: Cumbria
Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 6:54 pm Post subject:
I love this book and have read it a couple of time and hope to read it again. Its a real eye opener on what went on in WWI. I have wanted to go France to the war graves ever since I read it but I know I will cry my eyes out when or if I do.
I have just made a mistake when voting. I meant to press 'loved it' but seem to have managed to give it only two stars!
Joined: 11 Feb 2007 Posts: 2509 Birthday: 19th July
Location: Dorset, UK
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:23 pm Post subject:
I too have visited the war graves in France, on a school trip when I was a teenager and even then I was very moved, without really having a full understanding of it. The crosses just seem to go on forever.
And a great book, but I've to many others waiting to do a re-read!
Joined: 10 Oct 2007 Posts: 538 Birthday: 12th November
Location: In the Land of Pies and Piers
Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 12:31 pm Post subject:
I have visited the war memorials in northern France and have travelled through the places mentioned in Birdsong. To simply 'enjoy' this book is to do it a dis-service....it is profound, thought provoking and ultimately heart breaking....it's one of my all time great reads and sits on my keeper shelf as a testimony to the bravery of those young men in 1914-18..
I've decided that I am only going to read 'Books of the Month' if I already have them on TBR, and I havent got this one. I'm trying so hard not to acquire new books - my haul over the weekend is massive!
However, if I spot a cheap copy, I'll grab it and read it - cant promise when though! _________________ Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden
1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13
Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 510 Birthday: 23rd April
Location: Manchester UK
Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:49 am Post subject:
Stayed up last night to finish reading this. In the end I gave it 3/5, as although the topic itself is undeniable, I found the characters paper-thin. All Isabelle does is blush ! _________________ Current reading: The Last Temptation, Val McDermid ~ 40 @2009
I read this a few months ago. Gave it 4 stars for the war part but found the love affair part very average. The description of the trenches situation is harrowing and unforgettable. _________________ sarita
I read this is July and the war parts have really stuck in my memory but can't really remember what happened in between! I do remember them being a relief though when breaking up the harrowing descriptions of the war. I loved this novel and it is one I plan to re-read. _________________ Currently Reading: Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 510 Birthday: 23rd April
Location: Manchester UK
Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:18 am Post subject:
sarita wrote:
I read this a few months ago. Gave it 4 stars for the war part but found the love affair part very average. The description of the trenches situation is harrowing and unforgettable.
I agree I really could have omitted both of the love stories
Spoiler:
Stephen & Isabelle & then Jeanne and also the Elizabeth Robert/ Stuart lame love triangle
There's a 'sex scene' later on which talks of a hot gushing of liquid ... it just made me think she'd wet herself ! _________________ Current reading: The Last Temptation, Val McDermid ~ 40 @2009
Joined: 03 Sep 2006 Posts: 232 Birthday: 30th March
Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 11:41 am Post subject:
Well Im just a few chapters into this at the mo and I have to say it isnt quite what I expected so far...just a little slow for my liking but we shall see how I carry on with it.
Joined: 03 Sep 2006 Posts: 232 Birthday: 30th March
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 12:44 pm Post subject:
Spoiler:
So far I am still really disappointed with this, I am around 60-70 pages in and it is just going on about a flimsy love story that I dont care less about. Perhaps its just one of those situations where I had expectations that were too high, Im not sure but there is nothing driving me to pick this up at the moment.
I read it a couple of years ago and wont be re reading it as I didn't like it.
Spoiler:
I was expecting a war story on the lines of All Quiet on the Western Front (which I'd read not long before). What I got was a love story, and I don't do romances. I was really disappointed by it, as others have said the characters were weak and I wasn't too impressed with the love story.
_________________ Kill the tbr - currently 124
Currently reading:
War and Peace - Leo Tolsty
Wild Swans by Jung Chan
The Golden Notebook - Doris Lessing
Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Posts: 510 Birthday: 23rd April
Location: Manchester UK
Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:46 am Post subject:
smiler07 wrote:
Spoiler:
So far I am still really disappointed with this, I am around 60-70 pages in and it is just going on about a flimsy love story that I dont care less about. Perhaps its just one of those situations where I had expectations that were too high, Im not sure but there is nothing driving me to pick this up at the moment.
Ah well...I'll continue to plod with it.
Hey Smiler, the actual War stuff starts about 100+ pages in- Part 2 ... maybe just skip ahed to it, or are you not a skipper ? _________________ Current reading: The Last Temptation, Val McDermid ~ 40 @2009
Joined: 03 Sep 2006 Posts: 232 Birthday: 30th March
Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:50 pm Post subject:
wonderlake wrote:
smiler07 wrote:
Spoiler:
So far I am still really disappointed with this, I am around 60-70 pages in and it is just going on about a flimsy love story that I dont care less about. Perhaps its just one of those situations where I had expectations that were too high, Im not sure but there is nothing driving me to pick this up at the moment.
Ah well...I'll continue to plod with it.
Hey Smiler, the actual War stuff starts about 100+ pages in- Part 2 ... maybe just skip ahed to it, or are you not a skipper ?
No Im not a skipper at all!! Lol! I cant even not finish books, I persevere until the bitter end with nearly all my books otherwise I know I will always wonder what happened.
...read a pathetic two chapters of this last night Still no better!
Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 676 Birthday: 2nd November
Location: Watford, Herts
Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:07 pm Post subject:
I've just started this, and it hasn't opened as I expected. However I'm determined to sit down with it and some quality time to get a good chunk of reading done.
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Still no better!