Rating: 
Summary: A book of two halves...
Review: Having read 'All Quiet on the Western Front', 'A Farewell to Arms' and 'Goodbye To All That', I snapped up Birdsong as soon as I saw it... The books mentioned above provoked many different reactions and emotions in me; mainly sadness, anger and frustration that such a senseless conflict between governments and empires could result in so much bloodshed and suffering. Here are my thoughts on Birdsong.Faulks' tale of life in the trenches is everything a WW1 novel should be; graphic, moving, explicit, disturbing and compelling... with an intriging and passionate love story chucked in for good measure, and in this respect it reminded me of Hemmingway's 'A Farewell To Arms'; but the comparision ends there. The author describes trench life with great detail that leaves nothing to the imagination (sometimes a little vividly so), but this has the knock on effect of drumming the images of war, and the turmoil it creates, into your mind - it's a powerful realisation of human suffering that is hard to expel from your thoughts. The flashbacks to the 1970's are, however labourious in the extreme (it takes a lot of willpower to plod through them until you reach the next chapter of mud and bombardments, which are far more more involving), but they are mercifully few and far between. While Birdsong tends to touch on some of the horrific cliches of WW1 and life in the trenches, the author treats his subject with compassion and respect, and skillfully weaves them into the story to create a book that I found difficult to put down, and images that will stay with me for some time. If it were'nt for the flashbacks, this could be a classic.
Rating: 
Summary: thrilling
Review: A fantastic and thrilling book that every book lover should read. The novel is writting in such a way that you cannot stop, you have to read on and on untill this marvelous book is finished, only to start all over again.... The picture of the story becomes more clear with every page you read, the exicting storyline flicers your imagination into a world that I've never been before, a world that you cannot escape from...Although English isn't my native tongue, this is the most marvelous book I have ever read in my young life!
Rating:
Summary: So sad... heartbreaking.
Review: I had to call in sick to finish this book. I just couldn't put it down. I could still hear the sound of battlefields when I finished. The sights I saw in the book were obsessive and I couldn't get away. I was ashamed that, for being as Japanese, I have not known much of the WW1 and the damages in Europe. I have only known the war crimes Japanese were involved. This book dragged me to the different world and slapped me by my ignorance. Genuinely great.
Rating:
Summary: An amazing and moving book.
Review: I had this book a week before I really started reading it but when I did start reading I couldn't put it down. It brings you into the characters world to such a degree that you feel every emotion of the main character. It's a big book but so enjoyable and well worth reading for the very moving ending. Excellent
Rating:
Summary: alright
Review: Yea its ok but there is to much love in it and it doesn't show the feeling of the enemy
Rating: 
Summary: Literary pretensions with a few good bits
Review: Birdsong did not do it for me. Many American friends have told me that the book was almost unreadable garbage, while my British friends seemed to think it was a good piece of fiction, or even literature. Mmm. I would have to say that both are correct IN CERTAIN WAYS. The book is competently written but about half of it is redundant.. The central character is a WWI soldier and the sections of the book where he is present show WWI in all its pointlessness are vivid, crisp, and saddening. These bits of the book are the only ones worth reading and show the slaughter, misery and ruin that we should all remember from WWI, plus the fact that we should continue to commemorate Armistice Day. The rest of the book is an insipid story about the main character's descendant and her search for his history. This is boring, pedestrian, and makes the reader keep asking, "Why?". I can see why many Americans find this unreadable; it is. If you are given a copy, I would recommend reading the WWI sections only, because the rest of the book is unnecessary verbiage with literary pretensions. For £6.99 (Canada $14), you could get a much better read!
Rating:
Summary: Splendid
Review: This book is rather rocking for lots of reasons. For one it DOES have a plot (i mean, WW1 is enough isn't it?) and for another, Stephen is such a complex character, to be honest, you don't need many other characterisations. One thing i don't get is the love between Stephen and Isabelle. Surely it's not love but lust. Then again, i'm naive. Oh and the war scenes: if they were shown in a cinema they'd be touching on Saving-Private-Ryan-esque. Rather spiffing, one might say, old chap.
Rating:
Summary: The best read I have ever had !
Review: Sebastian faulk's BIRDSONG is without doubt the most absorbing book I have ever read. His powerfull description of the horrors of trench warfare leave you numb with admiration and pity for the men who endured the misery of this hellish war.I could not put this book down and now judge all others by this benchmark piece of literature..nothing has yet come even close ! It would be a hard person indeed who would not be moved to tears during certain parts of this wonderful novel,I emplore you to read it.. Thankyou Mr Faulks for writing this GREAT book.
Rating: 
Summary: Um, Mr. Faulks? A "Novel" Requires A Plot!
Review: Lovely descriptions, (and decent steamy scenes), but for heaven's sake, where's the story, and why do I care? A handful of lovingly described events combined with inconsistently developed characters does not a good plotline make. It's a boring mishmash.
Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable!
Review: For a person who is not a fan of literary or cinematic depictions of war, I found myself gripped by the stunning narrative and characterisations in this book. I loved the way the novel has been separated in parts that are inextricably linked and meaningful. I spent much of my time reading and then reflecting on my own values and conceptions of love, loss and war. I recommend this novel to anyone with an interest in people and with learning more about themselves. This novel seduces and tests its reader at the same time and the author has managed to avoid subscribing to predictable and safe formula. This novel is easy to read intellectually. On an emotional level it is both challenging, yet rewarding.
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