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Life After Life BBC2 Tuesday 9pm

107 replies

KatieKat88 · 16/04/2022 20:49

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

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woodhill · 04/05/2022 17:05

I'm going to reread the book, got it from library

woodhill · 04/05/2022 17:06

Ursula's voice was grating though

User237845 · 04/05/2022 17:46

ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 04/05/2022 16:16

I'd forgotten that, what happened?

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MINI SPOILER.......

He says the same opening line in the street but she is in a more successful life and screams protractedly in his face! Quite comic at the time, though that life is quite sad too.

herecomesthsun · 04/05/2022 17:50

I also rooted for her slapping Howie second time around, after all the grief he caused her in a previous life.

It was in a way very Mumsnet (don't let the bastard near you, let alone leave him)

Clawdy · 04/05/2022 21:08

Was the meeting Derek for second time in the tv version? Feel as if I missed it.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 04/05/2022 22:11

KatieKat88 · 18/04/2022 08:21

@eddiemairswife

I'm currently re-reading; not sure they will manage the 're-starts'. Have decided to re-read all her books, they are in a pile by my feet. Her latest book is out in September.
I'd already starting re-reading A God in Ruins too Grin

I gave "A God in Ruins" away* - wish I hadn't now.

I love Kate Atkinson.

*Lent it out and never got it back . . .

Ulysses · 04/05/2022 22:14

Clawdy · 04/05/2022 21:08

Was the meeting Derek for second time in the tv version? Feel as if I missed it.

It’s near the beginning of the last episode.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 04/05/2022 22:25

ouch321 · 29/04/2022 08:47

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.

She's wonderful!

Not just her Jackson Brodie books (which are superb!)but her others too - the first I read was "Emotionally Weird" and I was captured! I've owned and read every one -absolutely captivating author.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 04/05/2022 22:28

OverByYer · 01/05/2022 19:01

Isn’t Anatomy of a Scandal good?

It's bliddy fantastic!

Also - if you have Prime, watch "The Escape Artist" with David Tennant.

RaininginDarling · 05/05/2022 08:50

KatieKat88 · 04/05/2022 05:54

I'm halfway through re-reading GIR and already bracing myself for the end, it really got to me the first time!

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Yeesh! I'm re-reading too! My partner and I like to read books to each other. I read LAL to him last year and starting GIR again now because I really, really want to see his reaction!

RaininginDarling · 05/05/2022 08:52

ouch321 · 04/05/2022 15:25

For those of you who are jealous of people, such as myself, who are new to her writing, you could always, you know, die and be re-born and get to discover them all over again.

Grin

Sorry, couldn't resist...

😁😁😁

woodhill · 05/05/2022 10:46

There is such detail in the book that the series can't convey

Love the geographical detail as I know the areas well

Also the idioms like liberty hall

orangeisthenewpuce · 05/05/2022 14:05

I watched a bit of the first episode and couldn't get into it. But reading this thread has made me want to give it another shot

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KatieKat88 · 06/05/2022 13:53

I caved and watched the last one, the life with Freida broke me 😭

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LethargeMarg · 06/05/2022 16:59

I know I've said it earlier in the thread but I still feel leaving Nancy out of the tv version has spoilt it a bit . She is one of the many bleak bits of the howie/ derek life and the alternative Nancy story is when she has a sense of needing to change things : it also shows ia dark side to the otherwise idyllic countryside they live in . also Nancy is a big part of teddy's life . I don't remember the car bit with Izzy from the book so think that may have been added which they could have left out and put Nancy in

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KatieKat88 · 06/05/2022 17:29

LethargeMarg · 06/05/2022 16:59

I know I've said it earlier in the thread but I still feel leaving Nancy out of the tv version has spoilt it a bit . She is one of the many bleak bits of the howie/ derek life and the alternative Nancy story is when she has a sense of needing to change things : it also shows ia dark side to the otherwise idyllic countryside they live in . also Nancy is a big part of teddy's life . I don't remember the car bit with Izzy from the book so think that may have been added which they could have left out and put Nancy in

I agree but I think they'd need more episodes to add that in - the Izzie car bit was pretty short (and yes pretty sure there's no car death in the book) and they wouldn't be able to do the Nancy stuff justice in that amount of time. Also more of what happens to Hugh (think he had a different ending in this?) and the impact on Sylvie of Teddy's death. But you'd have to add quite a few episodes to really include everything and I think they need a decent job of streamlining it overall.

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LethargeMarg · 06/05/2022 18:03

Yes very true . I think for me it was always Nancy that stuck in my head and was one of the most memorable storylines (as well as the Germany ones I'd say) so it felt like a vital part was missing the whole time . I still loved it especially as a stand alone series - had I not read the book (like my husband who watched it with me) I'd have thought it was perfect .

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KatieKat88 · 06/05/2022 18:13

LethargeMarg · 06/05/2022 18:03

Yes very true . I think for me it was always Nancy that stuck in my head and was one of the most memorable storylines (as well as the Germany ones I'd say) so it felt like a vital part was missing the whole time . I still loved it especially as a stand alone series - had I not read the book (like my husband who watched it with me) I'd have thought it was perfect .

Yes I feel like it wasn't perfect but they did a great job within the parameters they had! I want a GIO follow up now, you could get your Nancy fix there Grin

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eddiemairswife · 06/05/2022 18:56

I'm now re-reading Case Histories, the first Jackson Brodie. I'm enjoying it as much as the first time round.

woodhill · 06/05/2022 19:50

In the book I've just got to a bit about Hugh turning 60

Also Ursula's affair with older guy in the FO not included

bleepo · 09/05/2022 22:17

Wow they missed so much out. I do think it's probably one of the most unfilmable books though, but they gave it a good go! I loved the casting.

EufyProsser · 10/05/2022 09:45

It's my favourite book ever. I would happily have watched a 12 part adaptation, to keep in the Nancy storyline, Izzy's scandalous backstory (which makes the Adventures of Augustus even more poignant), a few flashes of Sylvia's history and her own slightly mysterious life, Ursula's affair with the Ministry boss, etc etc. The colour and texture and clever looping references balance out the sadness - DH (who hasn't read the book) is looking increasingly shell shocked at the constant avalanche of misery Ursula has to endure.

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KatieKat88 · 10/05/2022 16:48

EufyProsser · 10/05/2022 09:45

It's my favourite book ever. I would happily have watched a 12 part adaptation, to keep in the Nancy storyline, Izzy's scandalous backstory (which makes the Adventures of Augustus even more poignant), a few flashes of Sylvia's history and her own slightly mysterious life, Ursula's affair with the Ministry boss, etc etc. The colour and texture and clever looping references balance out the sadness - DH (who hasn't read the book) is looking increasingly shell shocked at the constant avalanche of misery Ursula has to endure.

That's such a good point - I definitely felt a lot bleaker watching it compared to reading it because there's space for more light and shade in the book. Hadn't thought about it that way!

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herecomesthsun · 10/05/2022 17:47

Yes, I felt that the afterlives were rather oppressive in the series - coming back for more misery - but didn't feel that with the book.

User237845 · 10/05/2022 20:39

<whispers> I can't remember the Nancy story line in the book? Can anyone enlighten me? I remember her in God in Ruins I'm sure (features fairly majorly?)