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Summary: This is not Farewell to Arms or the English patient
Review: This is a man's book. Women will not find the small love story aspect of it as compensation for the details about World War I.This ambitious author tried to write a book that weaved the thoughts, emotions and history of several generations. The attempt, however, made for more confusion on the part of the reader. While the subject matter of World War I was interesting, the middle portion with all the details associated with the project at the mines was tedious. Also, the love story seemed flat. The reader is not let on the secret of the married man's charm that would evoke such devotion. The ending with the birth of the baby seemed to project 2000 fatherly concern that would not have been present at the time depicted in this slow, moving novel. The writing about the war is the most graphic that I personally have experienced. Assuming that the writer wanted an emotional reaction to the horrors of war, he did indeed accomplish his mission.
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Summary: horrific yet educational account of trench warfare
Review: Birdsong was given to me by a colleague who said it was "a GREAT book". Judging by its subject matter (World War I) I wouldn't have normally touched it let alone read it (..war novels/films are either too depressing or a thin excuse for some flag-waving). Well I am delighted to have read Birdsong. It's not a great book (in my judgement); it doesn't cover new ground in re-telling the horrors of war. But it is well-structured, moving, and keeps focused on finite (and often forgotten) aspects of the Great War - specifically, trench warfare. Mr. Faulks leaves out nothing in describing the unspeakable horrors our forefathers (..from both sides) have suffered. Absolutely shocking and nausating, yet it's really compulsive reading. While Faulks succeeds in telling the human anguish of those who suffered during the war, he fails in one minor aspect of the novel when he "fast forwards" to scenes of the late 1970s where the granddaughter of a soldier feels compelled suddenly to learn more of her departed grandfather. While the author's heart was in the right place, this minor aspect of Birdsong comes off a bit contrived. Nonetheless I fully recommend Birdsong. It makes for gruesome reading, so it's not for the squeamish. But I hope others will give it a try and, like me, feel as though they learned something new by it.
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Summary: Sebastian Faulks has captured WWI
Review: Mr. Faulks puts his readers in the trenches. What impressed me about "Birdsong" was the frontline view I was given of WWI. I was unaware of the underground tunneling that went on on both sides. We are taught that WWI was "trench war." Reading this book made it very clear what a terrible thing "trench war" was. However, Mr. Faulk does not do as well with the flashbacks from the 1970's; I found these sections an annoying literary device. That is why I gave this book only four stars out of five. If Mr. Faulks removed the 1970 flashback sequences, I think this book could clearly be called a classic WWI novel! Faulks created believeable characters in extreme circumstances (except for the shallow and annoying characters he created for the 1970 flashback sections). His descriptions of the inner thoughts, feelings, and experiences of his main characters are breathtaking. I hope to read more from this author.
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Summary: A cry in the darkness........
Review: I must admit, I prepared to read 'Birdsong' with a certain amount of trepidation, I had heard so many conflicting assesments of the book. Well, after I had read to the ever so slightly melodramatic end (which still made me cry), I was assured that this book, while not a masterpiece, certainly deserved to stand as a truly great novel of the 90's. The story begins when Stephen, an Englishman with few connections and certainly no loves, arrives in the town of Amiens (ring a bell?) and discovers what passion truly is. When the war comes, Stephen is torn in so many ways, between love of his fellow men in the ghastly trench warfare of Flanders and knowing that if he does love then it will hurt him even more when the inevitable grim reaper comes. I won't spoil the ending for you, but beleive me, read this book and really READ it, otherwise you won't capture the beautiful understated eloquance and horror of both passion and war. Sebastian Faulks has produced a fitting testament to times that we are either ignorant of, or try to forget. This book, I am convinced, makes life a lot sweeter.
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Summary: Eye Opening
Review: Being born in the late seventies, I am of a generation that does not really hold much empathy with the First World War. I have no living relatives that suffered through it, or any information on one that may have been involved in it. At school we passed over it briefly in history classes, focusing more on the Second World War as it was more relevant to our lives now. Before I read Birdsong I don't think I could have truly imagined what went on, and just how many men really died. This book really opened my eyes. The book starts with the love story between Stephen and Isabelle, which unusually I enjoyed as it was pretty matter of fact (no Mills and Boons here, thank god) the book progresses into the war and you follow Stephen, his men (what's left of them) and a few other central characters through the trials, trepadations and tears of the trenches. I won't say anymore than that as you really need to read this book to understand it. Although this may not be classed as the best FWW book out there, I have not read many and found this to be an excellent piece of literature that dealt with the horrific nature of the story in a mature and conducive manner. I certainly would recommend this book to someone, especially those that have little or no knowledge of what took place on the fields of France in 1914-18.
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Summary: What a disappointment
Review: One of the joys of using Amazon.com is reading the customer reviews of books I'm considering--this, actually, is Amazon's strongest selling point, in my consideration. So, after seeing so many glowing reviews of this book, and having read The Girl at the Lion d'Or, I snatched this one and dove in. Ugh. Perhaps I have too high standards (Wallace Stegner has yet to be topped, Christopher Tilghman is coming along quite nicely, and there's always Flannery O'Connor) to be fair. This book is a drag. Yes, the battle scenes are engrossing, but go read Barbara Tuchman or the classic All's Quiet on the Western Front to get a grip on WWI. Romance? Stephen never demonstrates a deep understanding of what real love could be, except perhaps for his fellow lieutenant. And Faulks could have left the daughter out altogether, as she compares only with another annoying Brit, Bridget Jones. This book could have been so wonderful, yet all I could do was trudge through, hoping it might be a poor cousin to A Soldier of the Great War. Read that, and leave this on the shelf.
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Summary: eyes wide open
Review: This book takes you to places outside your own world. You sympathise with those you thought you never would. It changes your view on history. Dark, dark, dark, despairing, and very emotional... but well worth the journey. Not for the claustrophobic.
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Summary: An extrodinary book
Review: The novel moves from interesting insight to grand commentry at a pace that pulls the reader in. I had avoided reading this book for a long time but when I began I couldn't stop. The main character is so changed by what he experiences that the reader changes with him. I've since read Charlotte Gray and The Girl.... which expose the brilliance of this novel, in that they cannot match it for sheer scale. The other two are good but this one is by far the best. Read this as soon as you can, then The Girl...and then Charlotte Gray. Each is linked by the great wars but each has its own personality. Birdsong will undoubtedly leave you hungry for more, and will leave the biggest mark.
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Summary: beautiful read
Review: Why is it beautiful? The descriptions, the flow, the depth of characters and their needs, drive, resiliency. The novelty of reading about a war time I have never know much of, the living in trenches and underground tunnels, the love that humans show one for another, even while they hate for reasons beyond themselves or of their own making. 1. Stephen is trapped underground as retreating Germans blow up a tunnel of their own. He works to free himself and tunneler, Jack father to John who dies of diphtheria in England only to be found by Germans. When these men embrace underground in recognition of their common strengths it is also to come up and find the war front has finally moved on and the war over... 2. Jeanne is so good and caring to Stephen, even when her sister has not loved him for a long time 3. Stephen hangs on to goodness and kindness! 4. Elizabeth has a baby at the end and the honor of that gives a wonderful tied ending to and peace to the reader!
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Summary: One of the great novels about World War 1
Review: Mr Faulks has managed to contrast the sweetness of ordinary life with the horror of hell on earth, making each the more remarkable. Especially memorable is the claustrophobic atmosphere he renders when soldiers are buried alive - a lengthy, haunting and vivid sequence. There is also the common humanity and love that wends its way through the hearts of men from different classes forced together in war. Mr Faulks art and craft are quite up to the task of such a devastating 20th century event. His characterisation, emotional truth (Stephen Wraysford's hatred of the Bosch is one motivating survival technique that he maintains almost to the end)and stunning attention to detail, make the novel a moving experience.
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