has anyone read BIRDSONG?

[tiredemma]

is it worth a read? i have it hanging around and keep meaning to start it.

any good?

[hoxtonchick]

it's fantastic, though quite harrowing. i read it years ago so can't really remember but definitely enjoyed it.

[Issymum]

Excellent. It's a long while since I read it, but I recall it as one of those books whose fictional world seemed more compelling than the real one. Also it made me cry on the Tube!

[bundle]

gosh, that's a blast from the past. from what i remember it was v good. hello hc

[hoxtonchick]

hi b! are you still at work?

[mrsflowerpot]

Yes it's excellent - read it a few years ago but it's one of the books that actually sticks in my mind quite vividly. Utterly absorbing.

[tiredemma]

thanks...will dig it out now and start it!

[phatcat]

definitely worth it - it would be up there in my top 10 books of all time. Very moving. There's a fantastically written sex scene (in mine and all my female friends who've read it opinion anyway) - though I recall for some reason it did win a 'bad sex' award!

[bundle]

yes, worst luck, just a bit of scripting and then i'm offski! had to leave early a couple of times to pick up girls as dh editing frenzy too...all done i think now

[hoxtonchick]

hooray. see you tomorrrow. xx

[whatsername]

I've read it too, harrowing is the right word. It's quite difficult to read in terms of graphic descriptions and very vivid mental images of what it must have been like, but well worth it. I read it while I was working night shifts, and it was one of those I couldn't put down.

[donnie]

parts of this novel are excellent: the war scenes and especially the sequence where they get trapped in the tunnels are brilliant, breath holding drama. Agreed that the sex scenes are very naff though! ( and don't add anything of interest or value).It's quite popular in the WW1 option paper in English lit A level so somebody up there must rate it!

[zebra]

I hated it, got very bored.

[FrenchGirl]

couldn't finish it as I never went beyond the boring beginning with loads of cliches and bad sex...
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.............
but dh loved it

[NotQuiteCockney]

I liked it ok. I didn't adore it.

Actually, I'm not sure I can tell it apart from any other Sebastian Faulks.

[Prufrock]

I remember liking it. I read it on holiday and can remember lying in a hammock being quite annoyed that I had to go off and dive, but having read a lot of WW1 literature I can't actually remember much about it - it's become sort of jumbled with the Pat Barker and Sasson stuff. So I suppose that's a bit of a mixed review - sorry.

[loudmum]

it is fab fab fab ... so good that I have bought it for loads of people .... great great bath read

[unicorn]

yep.. fab read it...

another one recently read is Private Peaceful- Micheal Morpurgo... blubfest.. and can't recommend it highly enough (don't care if it is a kids book!)

[yoyo]

I read it the week before giving birth to DD2 so was feeling pretty emotional. I remember not being able to put it down. Never got further than the first few pages with Charlotte Grey though.

[roisin]

Unicorn, I also loved Private Peaceful (and the stunning sexy matt black cover). You may be interested to know that Michael Morpurgo has another 'war' book coming out next month - The amazing story of Adolphus Tips

If you're very keen you can also download the first 20 pages or so as a PDF file here! You have to scroll down a bit to MM

I do occasionally read adult books too and loved Birdsong. I really ought to re-read it.

[albosmum]

I read it found it hard work - but If I remeber from the top 100 best books it was William Hagues favourite which I think put me off

[Frizbe]

Yep have read it, its fantastic, absorbing and harrowing in places, but well worth the read.

[swedishmum]

Took me a long time to get into. Really enjoyed another of his books - something like On Green Dolphin Street - set in JFK time. Much more page-turning. I hate to admit it but I find Michael Morpurgo very dull - though I often read it to the children as I feel I should. Sometimes it seems written to so much of a formula that it's designed to be analysed by kids (hint to MM - too many "saids" in Long WAy Home).

[roisin]

Swedishmum - I love living in a diverse world, it would be boring if we were all the same
I found Green Dolphin Street tediously dull, and was very disappointed in myself for slogging through to the end in anticipation of an improvement! Personally it just didn't compare to the other two.

And MM is my all-time hero: I think his work is inspirational, and such a refreshing change to a lot of the children's "literature" out there.

[swedishmum]

roisin, you've prompted me to run to the bookshelf and grab The Wreck of the Zanzibar. I admit he's a good storyteller - maybe my bias comes from spending too long analysing his books doing y6 cover? I should blame the NC... Maybe I'm just having a stroppy day, but I stand by the "said" thing. However I totally agree on the general standard of "literature" for children these days - especially hard to find things for my able 11 year old with no sex in. At one time I'd have been happy to send her into Waterstone's with £10 but have you seen what's on the young adult shelves? Off to try out my new Gabriel Garcia Marquez. Happy reading to all.