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| Source: amazon.com |
Publisher: Redhook
Publication date: April 8, 2014
Category: Literature/Fiction
Source: I received this e-galley from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Yes, the blog has been kinda quiet - quieter than usual. But I've been working my tail off finishing my teacher portfolio, wrapping up grades, and dealing with the Seniors' graduation projects. And in between all that, reading a really good book! Not only good, but the longest book I've ever read completely on my Kindle - and fiction at that. (Breaking all kinds of records for myself here...typically mid-sized nonfiction is my Kindle fare).
The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August caught my eye because the summary (and title) talks about a man who dies and is born again, repeating the process of death to birth over and over, unable to die. I loved Kate Atkinson's Life After Life and so I didn't hesitate to jump on this one.
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| Source: goodreads.com |
Also unlike Ursula, Harry is not alone. There are numerous of his kind, usually living quiet lives so as not to disturb the regular flow of the world. But there are others who live for their own purposes, regardless of the havoc it may cause around them. At the end of his 11th life, a little girl (one of his kind, recently restarting another life) approaches Harry with a message - the world is ending. How? Why? What is Harry to do with this information in his next life? As the Amazon summary says, "This is the story of what Harry does next, and what he did before, and how he tries to save a past he cannot change and a future he cannot allow."
If you liked Life After Life, you should read this. If you didn't, read this one anyway. It's different in set up, purpose, and writing style.
Did you like Life After Life? Aren't you curious how two novels on the same topic would compare?
I loved Life After Life, recommended it to everyone I know! I am curious what Ursula would have done if she'd figured out what was happening a little faster. Im excited to add this one to my TBR pile!
ReplyDeleteThat's what I was thinking! The books are different enough and both enjoyable in their rights, but I definitely couldn't help thinking what each of them would do (how their stories would change) if placed in the other character's story.
DeleteThis sounds great!! There's another one with "Greta Wells" in the title but can't think of it completely.
ReplyDeleteI will hunt it down. It would be cool to have read a collection of books on this topic. Just to see how various authors perceive it. And even how much they can possibly come up with!
DeleteIt's Kelly, by the way! (on my husband's account somehow)
ReplyDeleteI've been seeing Life After Life around for quite some time but never picked it up... I now want to read both that and this book thanks to your review! Thanks for sharing your thoughts - I found this comparison style post to be quite interesting.
ReplyDelete:-)
Bits & Bobs
Awesome! Hope to eventually see a review on either or both on your blog!
DeleteOkay, you caught me. Now I have two more have-to reads. Great review.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!
DeleteThis one sounds great! Reincarnation stories suck me in.
ReplyDeleteMe too. I think it's partially because it's unfathomable and partially because I want to see what the author is going to do with it.
DeleteI have Life after life but I still haven't read it, so I will add this one to the list if I like Atkingson's novel :)
ReplyDeleteCool. This one is a bit more action packed and the character Harry tells a while lot more about himself and his travels than Ursula in Life After Life, but I loved them both.
DeleteThis looks good! I've JUST started 'Life After Life', it seems promising!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with Spread the Love!
Can't wait to see what you think of Life After Life!
DeleteI have been eying this one as it has the prettiest cover. Still I am not sure if I would like it. I can still get annoyed thinking of Life After Life.
ReplyDeleteYea, that could be a turn off. What annoyed you about Life After Life?
DeleteYou know I loved Life After Life! That was the one thing that I didn't love - that Ursula had no idea that she was being reborn each time. Things became vaguely familiar but I so wished it was an active thing she had more control over. I'm excited to see that someone has taken that spin on the rebirth thing! Adding it to my list! Also, great covers.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, it made it more action packed I think. The character had to be more careful and it naturally added suspense for the reader.
DeleteI still need to read Life After Life, so I will keep this one in mind if I end up liking that one. But it sounds good.
ReplyDeleteIf you read both, it gives a great example of how two authors can work the same idea in different ways.
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