Turn Again Home

by Carol Birch

Book by Carol Birch

Genres: Fiction, Historical Fiction, British Literature, Literary Fiction

405 pages, Hardcover

First published January 5, 2003

About the author

Carol Birch is the author of eleven previous novels, including Turn Again Home, which was long-listed for the Man Booker Prize, and Jamrach’s Menagerie, which was a Man Booker Prize finalist and long-listed for the Orange Prize for Fiction and the London Book Award.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The cover put me off a little, but I was keen to read more of Carol Birch and this certainly did not let me down. This is exactly what it says it is - a family saga - but it is beautifully written with the perfect blend of subtlety, description and observed exploration of family, relationships and characters. There is as much that is only implied or not said at all as there are the words on the pages, and together they create something deep and compelling. There is not a plot exactly, just the story of one family in one small place during a momentous period in British history which somehow never takes over from the bigger reality of 'little people's lives.

[Tom Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 4th book that I've read by Carol Birch - as with the others, as the read went on, the book just got better and better - so much of the story touched on my own life (not 3 months to 65 I am) - the ending was a real go - now what do I read? - more than "touched" - more like gobsmacked - the generations passing - the dogs - life measured out in so many family pets (forget the coffee spoons) - missed chances, 2nd chances - on & on

[Siobhan Markwell · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's hard to write autobiographical fiction or faction when you're deeply involved. Loved Jamrach's Menagerie and parts of Turn Again Home. The impressionistic parts that spray paint Manchester lower-middle/working class life over the page are deftly written but the repetitive imagery and phases irritated me every so often. The life of a Northern English jazzman and war in Malaya gave wider historical relevance alongside the mess and myth of four generations of family life (only two in depth) but I wanted more or a bigger theme than the ups and downs of married life. It improves as it goes on. You need to persist beyond the first 120 pages to find the jewels in the middle. The dysfunctional marital and family relationships came off better than the warm and loving ones and the characters struggle for life and often fail to inspire any investment by the reader.

[Helbob · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really absorbing read spanning three generations of an ordinary Manchester family. Yet making them
seem extraordinary in a way that makes you realise everybody’s life is extraordinary. Touching, infuriating and melancholy. Just a great story.

[E A M Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not really my kind of book, but I found it an easy and pleasant read.

[Coreen Balley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deeply nostalgic
Accurately portrayed
Undynamic and distant in style
Intersecting for those who know East Manchester
I failed to connect with the characters

[Susan Kavanagh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the second book I have read by Carol Birch and it was completely different from Jamrach's Menagerie, a Victorian pastiche. Turn Again Home is an extremely well written family saga that was long-listed for the 2003 Booker prize. This story of an extended family set between WWI and the 1970's portrays the historical changes that affect the family in both subtle and direct ways. A very good read. 4.5

[Tiffany · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are many characters in this multi-generatational saga but I don't feel like I ever got to know any of them well.

[Sara]

o3 longlisted for booker prize

[Paul French · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great recreation of Britain between the wars

[Isaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

like the people in this book as in life nobody is perfect

[Christine Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apart from being an excellent book, I should think there is some nostalgia there for anyone.