Birdsong RC 329 Audio

Rating:
Summary: "Thought provoking"
Review: I have chosen this book for my A-level coursework, I have never studied any aspect of the war before I only had knowledge from films such as "saving private Ryan" Anyway it truly opened my eyees to the sacrifices that were made in the war. Faulks' captivating and distressing prose plays on the heart strings, contrasting love and the evil that man is capable of. The suffering that took place should NEVER have to occur again . I think this book makes you appreciate your own situation more, and because of this quality, its a very influential read.

Rating:
Summary: interesting time period, poor character development
Review: I was very interested in the romantic setting, I enjoyed learning about WWI, but I felt NOTHING for the characters. It also tends to be a bit too sappy in parts...

Rating:
Summary: You won't be sorry
Review: I have been a life long reader, from Leon Uris and Barbara Kingsolver to Isabel Allende and James Clavell. This book is one of the best! It was incredibly moving and very well written. I learned a lot about World War I - the fighting, the pain, the death. Intertwined is the love story between Stephen and Isabelle and his attempt to understand what happened to him physically and emotionally in the relationship. This book might be one that I can't give away....I'll just keep re-reading the rich passages and soulful prose.

Rating:
Summary: outstanding
Review: This is one of the most outstanding books i have ever picked up. I was gripped from beginning to end. It moved me to tears in many places and i pray that Charlotte Gray is as wonderful. Thank you Mr Faulks for telling the story of these heroes.

Rating:
Summary: Birdsong: A Novel of Love and War
Review: This is a very moving account of the effect that WW1 had on individuals directly and indirectly involved. I was rivetted, not because the story was dramatic, but because it was told in a simple, matter of fact way that was in fact extremely overwhelming. Still ponder over it 18mths after reading!

Rating:
Summary: Aye
Review: The first one hundred pages of this novel are absolutely incredible. The sexual tension between Isabelle and Stpehen is built up to a very powerful and erotic climax - you will be awed-over. In my opinion, it declines slightly, after that, with its multiple storylines, but only slightly. The tale of war is superb and contains the kind of characters that, when they die, you actually feel like you have lost a friend. It's that good. It's a brilliant novel and just must be read. You owe it to yourself.

Rating:
Summary: Adultry and War. How could you go wrong?
Review: This was not a book based on the simple fact of adultry and war. It was a novel that encaptured the heart. It was one of the greatest books I have ever read. It kept me on the edge of my seat, always wondering what was going to be the outcome. The parts in 1978 were a wonderful idea, they helped you learn about what happened in the past in an intriguing way.

Rating:
Summary: Good and Bad
Review: Birdsong is a different novel, but worthy of reading. Duel storylines was the only large mistake made by Faulks. (note to author: stick with one story unless you can handel two.) One other problem with the storylines was that they could have been turned into two entirely different books. For the total of pages Faulks gave Elizabeth she may as well have not been in this novel. The one aspect of this novel that held my attention was the early and old Stephan during the war. That was a good storyline that should have stood by itself.

Rating:
Summary: Work past the beginning and you will be captivated
Review: I was expecting a love story but instead found myself reading about a soldier's experience of war. The opening chapters focus on Stephen and Isabelle, a pair whose 'everlasting devotion' is terminated when Isabelle has a sudden and inexplicable change of heart. However, if you persevere past this point the rest is captivating. I can't remember the last time I was so caught up in a story, as when Stephen braves the battlefield and the underground. I am not a fan of war stories, but recommend Birdsong as an interesting read.

Rating:
Summary: A vivid, powerfully written look back at The Great War
Review: Along with The Killer Angels, Cold Mountain, and The Triumph and the Glory, Sebastian Faulks' Birdsong is an outstanding novel of war, among the best that has been written in the last ten years. I know I'm leaving one or two out but these four come to mind if one wants to experience war fiction at its best.