To not watch part 2 of Birdsong?

[threestepsforward]

Seriously. The war bits were very compelling. But his rubber-lipped-ness, especially in the love scenes, just made my stomach churn. I don't think I can watch the second part. I loved the book, but I think you have to be comfortable with the main character. And I'm not, gah, I'm just not. Who the hell is he? I can't believe they couldn't have cast someone less rubber lipped better? And actually, don't get me started on her. Who is she? Her face was winding me up as much as his by the end of it...

Sigh, I know I am probably being unreasonable. It's okay, I can take it. Just pissed off as I'd kept it saved it up on Record for so long

In my defence, I have to say 2 characters faces have never caused me to stop watching something before.

I loved the book, and was disappointed with the first part, but the second part concentrated on the war and I found it incredibly moving.
I think you should try it.

Oh! I'm wavering now... I won't hit delete yet...if I do watch it and it's pants I shall blame you LadyBeagleEyes [stern]

No harm in giving it a go. Agree that Eddie Redmayne would not have been my first choice as leading actor, bur the whole romantic bit left me a bit cold in the book too.
The subject was powerful enough, and Faulke's description of the Battle of the Somme has no equal in my opinion in literature, and I really think that part was done well, it had me in tears anyway. But like many books turned into films/tv series it's always hard, to accept what you had in your imagination.

I think the battle scenes didn't ( couldn't?) convey the enormity of the loss of life. It seemed too small scale. Nor did I feel the terrible claustrophobia of the tunnel scenes, except the one at the very beginning of the first episode. Must read the book again. Great book

I went through phases of watching it and thinking (about Redmayne) "I would give him one" and "Eugh the lips THE LIPS" I am undecided.

Thought the book was dog-pump and excruciatingly badly written.

I am amazed anyone thought watching Part One was worth wasting an evening of their lives on.

What prompted me to read the book was a trip to this area (Amiens) a few years ago. You can actually stand and walk in the trenches and the barbed wire is still there. It is so incredibly upsetting and moving. We saw every exhibition and visited every museum about the War in the area over the course of a week and my mind was completely blown.

One of the most shocking things for me was one of the gift shops adjoining a museum selling all sorts of things recovered from the battle grounds (flasks, tags, helmets etc.). Seemed very ghoulish and unpleasant.

I will take a deep breath and watch part 2, less of the 'lurvin' and less of the lips hopefully. (Found myself thinking he was the sort of person who collects and keeps breakfast in the corners of his mouth for the rest of the day, ew!)

at dog-pump!

I have part two recorded as well and can't bring myself to watch it. Those lips! Glad I am not alone in this, can't watch anything with Charlie Boorman in for the same reason.

I loved the book but was bored by part 1, cba to watch part 2.

YANBU

At a loss here, having read such few books in my days, yet, wishing to think that my age compels me to consider the characters? long eye contacts and mutual stares just as expressive, profound and eloquent as the romantic dialogues made famous in Jane Austen?s novels. He, with his innate, weird, mysterious look in his eyes, she, with the most jovial and adoring eyes bestowed upon a young woman, in movies, or real life.

The war scenes were compelling, a bit long and distracting from the theme at hand: an illicit love affair.