A God in Ruins
Description
The stunning companion to Kate Atkinson's #1 bestseller Life After Life, one of the best novels I've read this century (Gillian Flynn). He had been reconciled to death during the war and then suddenly the war was over and there was a next day and a next day. Part of him never adjusted to having a future. Kate Atkinson's dazzling Life After Life explored the possibility of infinite chances and the power of choices, following Ursula Todd as she lived through the turbulent events of the last century over and over again. A God in Ruins tells the dramatic story of the 20th Century through Ursula's beloved younger brother Teddy -- would-be poet, heroic pilot, husband, father, and grandfather -- as he navigates the perils and progress of a rapidly changing world. After all that Teddy endures in battle, his greatest challenge is living in a future he never expected to have. An ingenious and moving exploration of one ordinary man's path through extraordinary times, A God in Ruins proves once again that Kate Atkinson is one of the finest novelists of our age.
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About the Author
Alex Jennings, a distinguished two-time Olivier Award winner, has starred in numerous Royal Shakespeare and National Theatre productions; his films include The Four Feathers, The Wings of the Dove, and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Reviews
"Gorgeous, thought provoking...Once again, Atkinson explores the concept of paths not taken versus those that are. Her hero's journey has its trials...but also joys and deep love. Quiet, humble Teddy is easy to root for. At the end of this tender story (a weeper, by the way), you won't want to let him go."
-- "Good Housekeeping""[A] dazzling novel."
-- "People""Atkinson writes the way LeBron dunks or Stephen Hawking theorizes; she can't help but be brilliant."
-- "Entertainment Weekly""Atkinson is a master at the top of her game. A quiet, moving portrait of a guy navigating life's small pleasures and painful failures."
-- "Marie Claire""Only as the book unfolds is each character more fully revealed. Ms. Atkinson's artistry in making this happen is marvelously delicate and varied."
-- "New York Times""Disillusioned by war and haunted by the fact that he survived when so many did not, Teddy tries to reconnect with his poetic nature. Atkinson is an unparalleled storyteller who conveys the repercussions of Teddy's life choices in dazzling prose."
-- "BookPage""As in Life after Life, Atkinson isn't just telling a story: she's deconstructing, taking apart the notion of how we believe stories are told. Using narrative tricks that range from the subtlest sleight of hand to direct address, she makes us feel the power of storytelling not as an intellectual conceit, but as a punch in the gut."
-- "Publishers Weekly (starred review)""Transpose Ambrose Bierce's 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge' to the skies over Europe in World War II, and you'll have some idea of the territory in which Atkinson is working...[The novel] quietly, sometimes dolefully looks in on the players as, shell-shocked by a war that has dislocated whole generations and nations, they go about trying to refashion their lives and, of course, regretting things done, not done, and undone...A grown-up, elegant fairy tale, at least of a kind, with a humane vision of people in all their complicated splendor.
-- "Kirkus Reviews (starred review)""Fortunately for the listener, narrator Alex Jennings is a master. From the opening lines, his impeccable British accent establishes the scene and captures the persona of the main character, Teddy, and the rest of the diverse cast. Jennings's clear diction and pace advance the action through richly detailed accounts of Teddy's adventures as a WWII bomber pilot as well as quieter dramas of his daily life and family relationships. Although this work is a companion to Atkinson's Life after Life, the story is thoroughly enjoyable on its own. Winner of the AudioFile Earphones Award."
-- "AudioFile""A must-listen! A God in Ruins gives fiction lovers reason to proclaim that the demise of the novel has been greatly exaggerated...Beautifully written."
-- "Library Journal""Atkinson's masterful followup to her epic Life After Life is honestly breathtaking. It's difficult to put into words how amazingly she creates character after character--even someone we meet just once!--and fills them with such life...Prepare to feel bereft once it's over, as we wait for Atkinson to write another masterpiece."
-- "RT Book Reviews (41/2 stars, Top Pick!)"
