... I thought about him a lot as I was reading Sebastian Faulks’ novel “Birdsong” in which the author vividly portrays what life was like for those who endured the trauma of service in the trenches. I hesitate to recommend the book to anyone as it is not a comfortable read. It is not for the ... Read review
Readers who are entranced by sweeping historical sagas will devourBirdsong, Sebastian ... more
Faulks' drama set during the first world war. There's even a little high-toned erotica thrown into the mix to convince the doubtful. The book's hero, a 20-year-old En...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Readers who are entranced by sweeping historical sagas will devourBirdsong, Sebastian ... more
Faulks' drama set during the first world war. There's even a little high-toned erotica thrown into the mix to convince the doubtful. The book's hero, a 20-year-old En...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Readers who are entranced by sweeping historical sagas will devourBirdsong, Sebastian ... more
Faulks' drama set during the first world war. There's even a little high-toned erotica thrown into the mix to convince the doubtful. The book's hero, a 20-year-old En...
Postage & Packaging: £2.75 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Readers who are entranced by sweeping historical sagas will devour Birdsong, Sebastian ... more
Faulks' drama set during the first world war. There's even a little high-toned erotica thrown into the mix to convince the doubtful. The book's hero, a 20-year-old E...
Postage & Packaging: refer to website Availability: Free!
1-5 of 22 reviews of Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
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Never to be forgotten
Advantages: Very informative, deeply moving narrative Disadvantages: Quite disturbing, not for the faint-hearted
On my bedside table is a sepia-tinted photograph of my grandfather, aged about 17, in his British army uniform, prior to his stint in France towards the end of the First World War. He was lucky; he returned. Had he not done so I would not be writing this now. I thought about him a lot as I was reading Sebastian Faulks’ novel “Birdsong” in which the author vividly portrays what life was like for those who endured the trauma of service in the trenches. ... ...it is not a comfortable read. It is not for the faint-hearted or anyone of a nervous disposition. It will shock all but the most desensitised of readers. At times I had to put it down as I was overwhelmed with tears, so powerful was the narrative. And yet I felt compelled to continue until I emerged at the end with a sense that I had at least grown a little in understanding as a result of reading it. I am glad that I was steered to read it by its ... more
On my bedside table is a sepia-tinted photograph of my grandfather, aged about 17, in his British army uniform, prior to his stint in France towards the end of the First World War. He was lucky; he returned. Had he not done so I would not be writing this now. I thought about him a lot as I was reading Sebastian Faulks’ novel “Birdsong” in which the author vividly portrays what life was like for those who endured the trauma of service in the trenches. I hesitate to recommend the book to anyone as it is not a comfortable read. It is not for the faint-hearted or anyone of a nervous disposition. It will shock all but the most desensitised of readers. At times I had to put it down as I was overwhelmed with tears, so powerful was the narrative. And yet I felt compelled to continue until I emerged at the end with a sense that I had at least grown a little in understanding as a result of reading it. I am glad that I was steered to read it by its inclusion in the recent “Big Read” program in which, incidentally, it was championed by William Hague.
The novel is structured in seven parts: the lengthier ones (approx 100 pages each) are set in France at different dates both before and during the Great War; these are interspersed with shorter episodes of more recent related events in England which provide the reader with some respite from the intensity of the wartime scenes. I found the first part which is set in France in 1910 a little tiresome as I did not take to the characters, could not get excited about such plot as there was, and thought it was too sexually explicit (for my taste) in places. I also found the author’s style a bit off-putting at times.
All that was destined to change as I plunged into part 2 - the first of the wartime passages. At first it seemed as if I was just starting to read a different book – the characters encountered were new, the whole writing more captivating, and only after a while did the connection with the first section become clear. And that surely is one of the points that is made very well in the book: that “normal life” and “trench life” were worlds apart for those caught up in either/both. Even as a reader, it felt strange being fast-forwarded to 1978 for the brief respite of part 3. In an odd way I looked forward to returning to the trenches in part 4, and again in part 6 after another short respite in modern day surroundings. Somehow the author had cleverly managed to mirror what the characters themselves felt as they had brief respites from the intensities of their front line experiences. The preoccupations of the characters in the 1970’s seemed so very shallow compared with those in the war.
The war-time characters also developed very convincingly over time in the novel, as those that survived became increasingly adept at coping and continuing to survive in the most horrendous life-threatening circumstances. Unless you cheat and look ahead, you can’t be sure which characters will survive at any time and after a while I did get attached to a number of them. The most moving part for me was when they each wrote a letter home on the day before they expected to make a major move forward, an offensive from which they knew only a proportion were likely to return. I could imagine my grandfather writing such a letter home and what it might say, and I, like the characters, could not predict which ones would survive.
The technical details in the book were quite fascinating in themselves and, I have to assume as I am no expert, were well-researched. I had never before thought about the practical difficulties of creating the trenches in the first place and of mining and building deeper tunnels, tasks that would be hard enough to achieve in peacetime without the added constant threat of enemy activity. The risk of being trapped in tunnels underneath enemy territory was very real for miners on both sides of the conflict.
How hard it must have been for any returning servicemen to adjust to “normal life” after the conflict ended! Some who failed to do so would be institutionalised for the rest of their lives; others would somehow manage to put it all behind them. These two extremes are both illustrated by characters in the book. Many like my grandfather chose “never to talk of those times”, at least not to my generation. Throughout the book there are glimpses of changes that were occurring in the rest of France. The various fates of the characters left behind in the first part of the book are discernable. The pre-war “normality” portrayed in those first 100 pages, however, could never be expected to return. A sombre visit to the area at a later date emphasises this. The modern-day episodes within the novel are contrived to illustrate many of the stark changes that have occurred in society as a whole during the twentieth century: changes in attitudes, in lifestyle expectations, and in the political climate. The ending felt a little contrived but helped to raise the spirit and point to the future.
Several weeks have passed since I read this book and yet it hasn’t faded from my memory. It has left me with a feeling of thankfulness about many things in life that it is all too easy to take for granted: a roof over my head, food and warmth, the companionship of loved ones, freedom to travel – to name but a few. For this reason alone, I recommend reading “Birdsong”. If you read it carefully then you will also appreciate why it is called "Birdsong".
Advantages: A wonderful, beautifully written novel Disadvantages: The detail is disturbing
...the First World War but Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks stimulated my interest and affected me the most in this terrible period of the twentieth century. Birdsong opens in France in 1910 with the arrival of twenty-year-old Stephen Wraysford at the house of the Azaire family. He is there to study the textile industry at the factory owned by Monsieur Adaire, who is a cold fish and a snob. His wife Isabelle is younger and it is obvious it is a marriage ... ...trying not to worry their loved ones.
I was held throughout by this wonderful and brilliant novel and effected by the strength of human spirit and the compassion that stayed with me throughout and still does.
Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
Published by Vintage
UK Ł6.99
ISBN 0-09-938791-3 ...
silver40 06.04.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
Advantages: Compelling, enlightening, and in places, shocking Disadvantages: Could give you nightmares.
A history teacher friend of mine recommended Sebastian Faulk's 'Birdsong' to me a number of years ago, on the basis that it had two main ingredients that I would find irresistible: a World War I setting combined with a endearing romantic vein running throughout. So, on his advise, I bought a copy of the book almost immediately, however, it stood on a shelf until two years ago, forgotten and completely unread.
One day I picked up the book by chance ... ...book for my second time. No mean feat I must point out, as it is seldom that I ever read a novel twice. My friend’s advice and its predicted appeal was uncannily accurate.
The story is based around Stephen Wraysford, a young English graduate who finds himself in pre-World War I France on a work-placement. He is staying with a French family, and falls hopelessly for his host’s wife Isabelle, eventually eloping with her, only to return home one evening ...
JonnyWigan 19.03.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
Advantages: Wonderfully written portrait of life at this terrible time Disadvantages: Quite disturbing
I considered myself a fairly informed person about the 1st World War, until I read this book. It is one of the most disturbing accounts of the effects of atrocities upon the human mind I have ever read. A friend of mine who is a psychiatrist, and specialises in the effects of shock on the mind, borrowed this from me and was impressed with the accurate portrayal of the reactions of humans to extreme stress.
The book starts some years before the war ... ...with a French family to gain work experience. He falls in love with the wife of the family and they start a passionate affair eventually leading her to leave her husband and children. After moving to a small town and living together for some time, she leaves him to return to her family and, finally he returns to England.Years later he finds himself back in France under more strained circumstances, in the mud of the trenches.
We follow Wraysford ...
indychick_uk 07.03.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
Advantages: An eye-opening, historical account Disadvantages: The modern sub-plot
There are some books, where after I have read them, I am compelled to consult my bookshelves and re-read another book that echoes the plot or style of the one I have just read.
After reading ‘Birdsong’, I re-read ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’. One of these, I concluded, is a great novel and the other I’m afraid, just falls short of greatness.
It is 1910, and Stephen Wraysford is visiting a small town in France on ... ...family, the Azaires’. During his stay he falls in love with Madam Azaire, and she reciprocates the feeling. They elope, but through guilt, fear and an unexpected pregnancy Madam Azaire runs away to her sister’s and Stephen is left with a proverbial broken heart. His life dramatically changes when war is declared and he enlists to join the British Army and fights on the front line in Flanders.
As a distraction to the events of war, halfway ...
HappyBunny 15.05.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
Advantages: Moving,well written,great sense of realism Disadvantages: None
Strangely I was first attracted to this book by the picture on the cover.It shows a soldier standing over a grave.As someone with an interest in military history, especially twentieth Century, I thought It may be of interest to me,
I later read a review of it in one of the national newspapers and having liked what I read, decided that I would give it a try.
I had not even heard of Sebastian Faulks before ,let alone read any of his other books.
... ...action and tales of bravery-what I got was so much more.
The books main character is Stephen Wrayford.The story begins in France 1910.A young man, Stephen is sent by his factory owning employer from England to France in order to try and learn some modern working practises that would help improve his employers companies prospects.He lodges with the owner of a French factory and his Family.
After a while Stephen and the wife of the factory owner ...
murky5 03.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
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Advantages: Nice Imagery Disadvantages: Not that easy to read
Having read and intensely enjoyed "Birdsong" by SebastianFaulks, probably the best book of the last ten years, I looked forward to reading another of his novels.
Set in the Jazz era in diplomatic circles in The United States, it tells the story of the wife of a disillusioned British diplomat and her romantic liaison with a disillusioned Newspaper reporter.
I don't like to read reviews that give too much of the story away and so I don't intend to give away too much of the story in writing this review.
The book concentrates on the difficulties that occur through alcoholism, deceit and feeling lifes opportunities have now passed by.
There are some brighter moments in the book, but these are outweighed by feelings of hopelessness and depression.
Quite a difficult read and I'm not sure even now if it was worth the perseverance. ...
Advantages: Highly readable tale of love and politics in 1950's America Disadvantages: Not quite as good as Faulks's other books
SebastianFaulks won fame as the author of Birdsong, a wonderful story about the horrors of the First World War which has been acclaimed all over the world.
Other novels like The Girl At The Lion D'Or and Charlotte Gray, about the Resistance, also focus on his beloved France in times of war.
On Green Dolphin Street, where the setting is Washington DC in 1959, marked new territory for Faulks and was not met with quite the same enthusiasm by the critics as his earlier works. But in its way it is almost as good .
This time, the war is a "Cold" one as America endures one of its most reactionary periods ever under Eisenhower. Enter Mary and Charlie van Linden, new in town and there courtesy of the British Embassy.
Charlie , unbeknown to his employers, has a serious drink problem . Thimgs get ...
Advantages: Excellent sister book to Birdsong Disadvantages: A little slow starting
Doing for the 2nd World War what he did for the 1st in "Birdsong", SebastianFaulks presents a wonderful picture of life in France during the war years.
Charlotte Gray is sent to Occupied France to run an errand for an undercover special operations unit. However she has a mission of her own - to find her lover, and airman lost in action over France.
She stays in France, against her orders, and settles in the small town of Lauverette whilst she tries to find information about her lover. Hiding her identity from the townspeople she suffers, along with them, at the hands of the occupying german army.She finds work and friendship with a cantankerous artist, Levade, whose son runs the local resistance unit.
Meanwhile her lover, Peter Gregory, injured and alone, is attempting to find a way back across the channel impeded by his ...
Set before and during the Great War, Birdsong captures the drama of that era on both a national and a personal scale. It is the story of Stephen, a young Englishman, who arrives in Amiens in 1910. His life goes through a series of traumatic experiences, from the clandestine love affair that tears apart the family with whom he lives, to the unprecedented experience of the war itself. See all Product Description
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