Life After Life BBC2 Tuesday 9pm

[KatieKat88]

Anyone else excited for this? I've literally just finished re-reading the book, really hope they do a good job with it!

I'll have to reread book

What was thenMillie storyline please?

Yes I agree, and Teddy's girlfriend. When I wrote my post above I hadn't watched them all.

I think it's Millie's sister I'm thinking of actually - Nancy - teddy's friend who has a sinister storyline which should have been in episode two - this storyline comes up through the book and in some lives Ursula saves her and some she doesn't with out giving too much away

I enjoyed the book.

It does seem rather exhausting, having to relive your life over and over, though it would help if you could be born as 1 child of 5 siblings in an idyllic childhood, with all the possibilities suggested.

Being reborn as a slave or a scullery maid 20 or so times would be less photogenic.

Rather frustrating, never to know whether your assassination attempt on Hitler was successful.

But very timely, with both a pandemic and a war in Europe in there.

I love the book and have watched the first one and a half episodes. I do like it but it feels a little bit flat so far. I think their house is far larger than it was in the book. I'd imagined it to be a large Victorian villa type house, not a giant mansion with huge grounds.

Thank you OP for this thread. Stumbled upon it and have just binge watched the series.
Excellent story with really good actors!

Binge watched it here too and loved it but I haven't read the book.
Would people recommend I read the book now that I've watched the TV show?

Oh Yes, Hallelujah. Read the book, and then get hold of 'A God in Ruins' to learn more about Teddy.

I loved the book (and some other Kate Atkinson books) and I enjoyed this series. I've watched it all. I felt a little cheated when they rushed through one part of it and skipped bits, but it was a while ago I read it, so most bits they've skipped I haven't noticed.

Added both to my wishlist!

Enjoyed it but yes, they should have included the Nancy storyline.

Definitely there's loads more that happens in the book that they've not included in the series (to be fair it would have needed a lot more parts to include it all) . Also the settings are beautifully described - it's a really lovely book to read and one I go back too a lot and enjoy every read. There's a lot of humour in the book as well which is missing in the tv series even though I have loved the series .

I'm loving this series esp the actresses playing Ursula. Isla Johnson who was in the first half of the second episode was also in The Queen's Gambit, I'm sure she is going to have a great career.

Case Histories fans, 2 series on Britbox with subtitles hurrah. Nowhere near the books for subtlety and wit but you can't have everything. Kate Atkinson is one of the most expressive - and oddly humorous in the gravest of situations - authors that we have. And she understands dogs.

Oh wow I LOVED the series and binged it yesterday and just finished the last episode. The mother was outstanding, what an actress!!

Shall I read the book?

Can I ask a question which hopefully isn't a spoiler...does she know that she is reborn? Can she remember her past lives? My DD caught a few seconds of an ad for this but I've not watched it yet so can't answer her questions

No, she has de ja vu in her lives which disturb her.

I had deja vu through most of that and then I googled it and realised I must have read God in Ruins at some point and that's why I knew the characters.

I much preferred Life after Life book to God in Ruins. Really didnt like the ending of GIR.

I loved this adaptation. Sure, it was heavily streamlined and, frankly, it could have stretched to 6 parts and included more of Ursula's lives (I really missed her MoD lover and her dealing with the Blitz) but it was so beautifully cast and was emotionally satisfying (although I don't know if that's because I know the story already and was projecting on to it). Each episode had me in tears. I really hope they dramatise GIR next as OP said: the later chapters really bring both books together.

Haven't watched this yet and read the book years ago but she must do because in one of the Spanish flu avoidance incidents she says "at least no-one fell down the stairs" which alludes to a previous life where she does something to avoid them all getting it.

Still only watched episode 1 but I think in the book she dreams of the past lives and then has horrible deja vu so knows sometimes to try to avoid/ do certain things next time? I don't think it's made 100% clear from memory.

This is one of the best TV dramas in a long time. (Watched full series already) This is what makes the licence fee worth it.

Though I think you could tell it was going to be a classy piece of television by the title introductory sequence.

Never come across author before this so now keen to explore what she's written.

That's my recollection. Don't remember her being that aware as they are suggesting in the series. Admittedly it's been ages since I read it so might have forgotten.

Finding the series a bit dull - it's just a bit flat and the characters lacking. Not enough to out me off watching though - just wish it has more substance. (I'm at TV pace - so see two episodes. )

You’re in for a treat