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The Uncommon Life of Alfred Warner in Six Days
Approaching 80, frail and alone, a remarkable man makes the journey from his sheltered home in England to Berlin to meet his granddaughter. He has six days left to live and must relate his life story before he dies...
His life has been rich and full. He has witnessed firsthand the rise of the Nazis, experienced heartrending family tragedy, fought in the German army, been interred in a POW camp in Scotland and faced violent persecution in peacetime Britain. But he has also touched many lives, fallen deeply in love, raised a family and survived triumphantly at the limits of human endurance. He carries within him an astonishing family secret that he must share before he dies... a story that will mean someone else’s salvation.
Welcome to the moving, heart-warming and uncommon life of Alfred Warner.
His life has been rich and full. He has witnessed firsthand the rise of the Nazis, experienced heartrending family tragedy, fought in the German army, been interred in a POW camp in Scotland and faced violent persecution in peacetime Britain. But he has also touched many lives, fallen deeply in love, raised a family and survived triumphantly at the limits of human endurance. He carries within him an astonishing family secret that he must share before he dies... a story that will mean someone else’s salvation.
Welcome to the moving, heart-warming and uncommon life of Alfred Warner.
442 pages, Paperback
First published February 23, 2017
72 people are currently reading
1146 people want to read
About the author
Juliet Conlin
6 books43 followersJuliet Conlin was born in London and grew up in England and Germany. She holds an MA in Creative Writing from Lancaster University and a PhD in Psychology from the University of Durham. She works as a writer and translator and lives with her husband and four children in Berlin. She writes in both English and German. Her novels include SISTERS OF BERLIN, THE LIVES BEFORE US, THE UNCOMMON LIFE OF ALFRED WARNER IN SIX DAYS and THE FRACTURED MAN.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
June 13, 2020
Closure
There is an endearing and captivating experience listening to an elderly person reflect on the events and moments they witnessed during their life. When those events include world wars or other major historical moments, then be prepared to sit up all night long listening or reading. When the writing is as good as Juliet Conlin’s, you will be immersed in the life of Alfred Warner. It is a very sentimental and poignant story of reflection, loss, love, and a family secret Alfred must pass on.
Alfred Warner arrives back in Berlin, after living in the UK since the end of the Second World War. His purpose in travelling back to Germany is to meet his estranged grand-daughter Brynja before he dies. These are the last 6 days of his life and when he meets a stranger, Julie, on his travels, he confides with her. As she befriends him and takes the role of another narrator of the novel, she feels a sense of necessity to help him locate his grand-daughter. This is not a spoiler as we pretty much know the finale from the title, however, the journey is enthralling. The story of Alfred’s life interacts and touches on the rise of the Nazi party, the persecution of the Jews, the time spent as a soldier and as a PoW in Scotland. There is also a special gift Alfred possesses and he must explain this to Brynja before he dies.
The events, the family losses, and the torments in his life are described in wonderful detail with periods of deep sadness but times of uplifting happiness, and always with the help of something extremely special. The structure and flows of the story are very interesting from 3 different perspectives: Alfred’s life story is told chronologically which is really well matched with Julie’s perspective as she steps through the 6 days, and finally Brynja’s narrative as she steps back in reverse chronology from 2005.
A great book that I highly recommend. Many thanks to Black & White Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC version of the book in return for an honest review.
There is an endearing and captivating experience listening to an elderly person reflect on the events and moments they witnessed during their life. When those events include world wars or other major historical moments, then be prepared to sit up all night long listening or reading. When the writing is as good as Juliet Conlin’s, you will be immersed in the life of Alfred Warner. It is a very sentimental and poignant story of reflection, loss, love, and a family secret Alfred must pass on.
Alfred Warner arrives back in Berlin, after living in the UK since the end of the Second World War. His purpose in travelling back to Germany is to meet his estranged grand-daughter Brynja before he dies. These are the last 6 days of his life and when he meets a stranger, Julie, on his travels, he confides with her. As she befriends him and takes the role of another narrator of the novel, she feels a sense of necessity to help him locate his grand-daughter. This is not a spoiler as we pretty much know the finale from the title, however, the journey is enthralling. The story of Alfred’s life interacts and touches on the rise of the Nazi party, the persecution of the Jews, the time spent as a soldier and as a PoW in Scotland. There is also a special gift Alfred possesses and he must explain this to Brynja before he dies.
The events, the family losses, and the torments in his life are described in wonderful detail with periods of deep sadness but times of uplifting happiness, and always with the help of something extremely special. The structure and flows of the story are very interesting from 3 different perspectives: Alfred’s life story is told chronologically which is really well matched with Julie’s perspective as she steps through the 6 days, and finally Brynja’s narrative as she steps back in reverse chronology from 2005.
A great book that I highly recommend. Many thanks to Black & White Publishing and NetGalley for an ARC version of the book in return for an honest review.
April 13, 2017
”But if I were in a state of sin, do you think the Voice would come to me?” - Joan of Arc
Alfred Warner is on his way to meet his granddaughter Brynja for the first time, knowing it’s only a matter of time before he won’t have this chance. He has to do this, no matter how difficult it seems to overcome his fears, he must go to her, tell her everything he knows, everything she needs to know, all of his secrets, the family secrets. He already knows his days are numbered.
He arrives at Berlin’s central train station, Hauptbahnhof, where Brynja is supposed to pick him up. He’s waited, been sitting, waiting, hoping she’d arrive soon, which is where and when he meets Julia. Alfred’s talking to his voices, and Julia asks if she can help him. Soon he’s off to the lavatory while this woman who was a stranger moments ago watches his bag for him, and keeps a watch for a young woman, maybe blonde – he can’t recall – who might be looking for him. Julia takes him under her wing for a bit, helping him to get to Brynja.
He really must speak to Brynja, she needs to understand. He really must let her know.
Alfred is a charming, if seemingly befuddled, man approaching 80 years of life lived on this planet, and he has a story to share. After a time, he starts to worry about not being able to share it with Brynja, about not having enough time, and so he feels compelled to share his story with Julia. Just in case.
This story wanders back and forth through time, and place. Alfred has lived a full life, born in Germany, was not much more than a child when Hitler’s presence began to be felt, and eventually fought for the Germans, briefly. He was interred in Scotland at a POW camp, and following all that, he marries, raises his own family, following the end of the war. He leads his life.
His journey through life, his journey with his voices, is at the heart of this story, how it affected him, how it affected those he loved, and hopefully how, in the end, it will help Brynja. In a similar vein to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Alfred is one of those captivating, charming literary characters, but this really is a bit more than just a sweet, if seemingly baffled and bewildered older gentleman on a questionable quest. This covers mental health issues (or people who hear voices of non-living people, depending on your viewpoint), national issues, and international issues. Death: losing parents, losing siblings, losing children… Loss. So much loss in one lifetime – but this is told in such a way that your focus is never really off of Alfred’s quest for long.
Juliet Conlin is a natural at storytelling, if this book is any indication. I was a bit reluctant to read this at first, I loved Ove, I loved Harold Fry, but I didn’t want a retelling of their stories with a new person. Colin really brings us a unique voice and a unique story, a little darkness, a little light, some heartbreaking moments and some heartwarming ones, as well.
Published: 23 Feb 2017
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Black & White Publishing
Alfred Warner is on his way to meet his granddaughter Brynja for the first time, knowing it’s only a matter of time before he won’t have this chance. He has to do this, no matter how difficult it seems to overcome his fears, he must go to her, tell her everything he knows, everything she needs to know, all of his secrets, the family secrets. He already knows his days are numbered.
He arrives at Berlin’s central train station, Hauptbahnhof, where Brynja is supposed to pick him up. He’s waited, been sitting, waiting, hoping she’d arrive soon, which is where and when he meets Julia. Alfred’s talking to his voices, and Julia asks if she can help him. Soon he’s off to the lavatory while this woman who was a stranger moments ago watches his bag for him, and keeps a watch for a young woman, maybe blonde – he can’t recall – who might be looking for him. Julia takes him under her wing for a bit, helping him to get to Brynja.
He really must speak to Brynja, she needs to understand. He really must let her know.
Alfred is a charming, if seemingly befuddled, man approaching 80 years of life lived on this planet, and he has a story to share. After a time, he starts to worry about not being able to share it with Brynja, about not having enough time, and so he feels compelled to share his story with Julia. Just in case.
This story wanders back and forth through time, and place. Alfred has lived a full life, born in Germany, was not much more than a child when Hitler’s presence began to be felt, and eventually fought for the Germans, briefly. He was interred in Scotland at a POW camp, and following all that, he marries, raises his own family, following the end of the war. He leads his life.
His journey through life, his journey with his voices, is at the heart of this story, how it affected him, how it affected those he loved, and hopefully how, in the end, it will help Brynja. In a similar vein to The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Alfred is one of those captivating, charming literary characters, but this really is a bit more than just a sweet, if seemingly baffled and bewildered older gentleman on a questionable quest. This covers mental health issues (or people who hear voices of non-living people, depending on your viewpoint), national issues, and international issues. Death: losing parents, losing siblings, losing children… Loss. So much loss in one lifetime – but this is told in such a way that your focus is never really off of Alfred’s quest for long.
Juliet Conlin is a natural at storytelling, if this book is any indication. I was a bit reluctant to read this at first, I loved Ove, I loved Harold Fry, but I didn’t want a retelling of their stories with a new person. Colin really brings us a unique voice and a unique story, a little darkness, a little light, some heartbreaking moments and some heartwarming ones, as well.
Published: 23 Feb 2017
Many thanks for the ARC provided by Black & White Publishing
May 15, 2017
A really lovely, special and heartwarming book. What is it about old men and their stories that is so appealing? I truly was lost in this book.
Alfred Warner is on an urgent mission - to visit his granddaughter that he has never met. He has something special to tell her but he is running out of time. He must get to her. He just must.
The book alternates between timelines of Alfred in these important modern days and his entire life story. Hence the book title and it's done seamlessly! I enjoyed both knowing Alfred from a child right up to his lovely elderly endearing self (I wanted him to be my Grandfather too).
Alfred was born German but fate leads him to end up in a Jewish orphanage after the footfalls of war and the marching of Hitler's men cause grief and heartache. This in itself is an exceptional tale. Poor little Alfred. What would life hold for him now?
Much!
This book delves into characters very deeply, it raises every human emotion on the spectrum and you really get a sense of knowing many characters intimately. There is a twist in this book that borders on the magical, the supernatural that is the very core of the plot and links so many people to Alfred. I can't tell, but it's quite unexpected.
Alfred makes choices in life - not always the best ones and he is so darn human! He is flawed, imperfect but I so loved him all the way through. I was moved by parts of his life and challenged by others.
Not for one minute was I bored. I enjoyed books like The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and A Man Called Ove for similar reasons. The human heart. An old man's heart and all it experiences.Even in mundane days during Alfred's life it was a joy to be there next to him. I laughed and I cried. A magical story to escape into.
Because I knew what was coming at the end of the book I was desperate to take in all that I could and I'm so glad I met Alfred Warner and heard of his life in six days. I'm a better person for it.
4.5 stars for this novel that will appeal to many - especially if you love a strong character driven story with a good twist. Very enjoyable!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. All reviews are honest and opinions are unbiased.
Alfred Warner is on an urgent mission - to visit his granddaughter that he has never met. He has something special to tell her but he is running out of time. He must get to her. He just must.
The book alternates between timelines of Alfred in these important modern days and his entire life story. Hence the book title and it's done seamlessly! I enjoyed both knowing Alfred from a child right up to his lovely elderly endearing self (I wanted him to be my Grandfather too).
Alfred was born German but fate leads him to end up in a Jewish orphanage after the footfalls of war and the marching of Hitler's men cause grief and heartache. This in itself is an exceptional tale. Poor little Alfred. What would life hold for him now?
Much!
This book delves into characters very deeply, it raises every human emotion on the spectrum and you really get a sense of knowing many characters intimately. There is a twist in this book that borders on the magical, the supernatural that is the very core of the plot and links so many people to Alfred. I can't tell, but it's quite unexpected.
Alfred makes choices in life - not always the best ones and he is so darn human! He is flawed, imperfect but I so loved him all the way through. I was moved by parts of his life and challenged by others.
Not for one minute was I bored. I enjoyed books like The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and A Man Called Ove for similar reasons. The human heart. An old man's heart and all it experiences.Even in mundane days during Alfred's life it was a joy to be there next to him. I laughed and I cried. A magical story to escape into.
Because I knew what was coming at the end of the book I was desperate to take in all that I could and I'm so glad I met Alfred Warner and heard of his life in six days. I'm a better person for it.
4.5 stars for this novel that will appeal to many - especially if you love a strong character driven story with a good twist. Very enjoyable!
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. All reviews are honest and opinions are unbiased.
February 9, 2018
When I started this book I was so taken with Alfred I imagined I would read it very fast, however as the story developed it became apparent that this book needed a bit of time and thought. It is the story of Alfred’s life, and told in different ways. His early childhood & youth in Germany as WW2 approaches, his life in Britain as a POW and then his settled sedate life as a gardener in England. It covers so many topics, the main one in my view being mental health and how one copes with the challenges when faced with “voices”. Alfred himself manages very well to adapt from a very early age to the ongoing conversations he hears in his head, his son and granddaughter less so. It is an emotional read and a book which I am finding difficult to review !
March 1, 2017
Elderly Alfred Warner, is on the way to visit his granddaughter, Brynja, for the first time in Germany. Upon arrival, there is no-one there to meet him. Sitting on a bench deciding what to do next, he is helped by good Samaritan Julia, who offers him a lift to Brynja’s flat.
When they arrive at the building, they discover that Brynja is in hospital after jumping from her balcony. With nothing else to do, Julia takes Alfred home with her, and has him stay there.
Brynja is in a serious condition, and is in a coma. Discovering that she is unlikely to wake up within the next six days, Alfred asks Julia to do him a very big favour. He wants her to listen to his life story, and then to tell his granddaughter, as he will be dead in six days and won’t get to tell her himself.
The Uncommon Life of Alfred Warner, is a mesmerising, empathetic, gripping story, quite often heart-wrenching too. When I agreed to read the book, I wasn’t too sure whether I would like it or not, but boy I was mistaken. I loved every minute of it!
Starting off as a young boy, living in Germany with his family, Alfred tells the story of how he came to hear women speak to him, though not in real life, but in his head. How they first helped save his baby sister. The voices play a big part in his life, right the way up until his death.
Alfred is a captivating character, one you instantly fall in love with. He certainly led a full life, including both hard and amazing times. You are taken through various emotions, as you stand shoulder to shoulder with Alfred throughout his life story. From feeling pity and sadness, as he suddenly became an orphan, to love and joy when he married the woman of his dreams. Your emotions will be all over the place.
I looked forward to picking the book up each day, and I can’t remember the amount of people that I have told to read it. I would go as far to say it has been my favourite read of 2017, and it’s going to take one hell of a book to surpass it. Not only was this a unique, spell-binding novel, Juliet has an amazing way with words. She makes you feel at ease throughout this book, even with some of the difficult, emotional scenes.
This is a book that you will take into your heart and never let it go. Alfred’s story needs to be heard, and you need to hear it.
Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
When they arrive at the building, they discover that Brynja is in hospital after jumping from her balcony. With nothing else to do, Julia takes Alfred home with her, and has him stay there.
Brynja is in a serious condition, and is in a coma. Discovering that she is unlikely to wake up within the next six days, Alfred asks Julia to do him a very big favour. He wants her to listen to his life story, and then to tell his granddaughter, as he will be dead in six days and won’t get to tell her himself.
The Uncommon Life of Alfred Warner, is a mesmerising, empathetic, gripping story, quite often heart-wrenching too. When I agreed to read the book, I wasn’t too sure whether I would like it or not, but boy I was mistaken. I loved every minute of it!
Starting off as a young boy, living in Germany with his family, Alfred tells the story of how he came to hear women speak to him, though not in real life, but in his head. How they first helped save his baby sister. The voices play a big part in his life, right the way up until his death.
Alfred is a captivating character, one you instantly fall in love with. He certainly led a full life, including both hard and amazing times. You are taken through various emotions, as you stand shoulder to shoulder with Alfred throughout his life story. From feeling pity and sadness, as he suddenly became an orphan, to love and joy when he married the woman of his dreams. Your emotions will be all over the place.
I looked forward to picking the book up each day, and I can’t remember the amount of people that I have told to read it. I would go as far to say it has been my favourite read of 2017, and it’s going to take one hell of a book to surpass it. Not only was this a unique, spell-binding novel, Juliet has an amazing way with words. She makes you feel at ease throughout this book, even with some of the difficult, emotional scenes.
This is a book that you will take into your heart and never let it go. Alfred’s story needs to be heard, and you need to hear it.
Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
February 15, 2017
The Uncommon Life of Alfred Warner is a very special book. We meet an elderly Alfred as he is sitting in a railway station waiting for his granddaughter Brynja to pick him up. He has never met Brynja, doesn’t even really know what she looks like except from a photo she has sent him. As he sits and waits, he is befriended by Julia who is worried about the old man and takes him to her home. For reasons I’m not going to mention here, it isn’t possible for Alfred to meet Brynja properly at this time but he has a story he must tell her, a story he feels will save her life. Alfred is also convinced that he will die in six days so tells his story to Julia so she can then pass it on Brynja.
I absolutely loved this book. It is really unusual in its structure. Some chapters are told from Julia’s point of view over the six days she listens to Albert’s story. Some recount Alfred’s extraordinary life from an orphaned child in German, through being in the German army, being held a prisoner-of-war in Scotland then his life with his wife and child. Alfred’s life story is told chronologically. Brynja’s chapters by contrast, work backwards through her life, from just before when she is about to meet Alfred. This was really interesting as both she and Alfred share a family secret (which again I’m not going to reveal to you!) but are affected by it in very different ways. For Alfred, it is a very positive influence in his life but for Brynja, it is the opposite and affects her mental health badly.
This is a book which had me enthralled as I lived Alfred’s life with him through all the amazing experiences he had. It was a book which made me feel profound sadness for him at times but also great joy. Juliet Conlin is a natural storyteller and it almost felt as though Alfred was talking directly to me. His story was incredible not just because of all he had seen and done but because of what influenced him throughout his life. Alfred is a wonderful character who you will take to your heart. Brynja was harder to like initially, though I could understand why she was as she was. Julia has a more minor role but was a character I really became fond of. It was heart-warming that she would take a complete stranger into her home, look after him, listen to him and, more importantly, believe his almost unbelievable tale.
Alfred most definitely has had an uncommon life and his story is one which had me glued to the pages, keen to find out what had happened to him, what would happen to him and whether his story could indeed help Brynja. It is a memorable tale of hope and shows that being a little bit different isn’t always a bad thing.
I absolutely loved this book. It is really unusual in its structure. Some chapters are told from Julia’s point of view over the six days she listens to Albert’s story. Some recount Alfred’s extraordinary life from an orphaned child in German, through being in the German army, being held a prisoner-of-war in Scotland then his life with his wife and child. Alfred’s life story is told chronologically. Brynja’s chapters by contrast, work backwards through her life, from just before when she is about to meet Alfred. This was really interesting as both she and Alfred share a family secret (which again I’m not going to reveal to you!) but are affected by it in very different ways. For Alfred, it is a very positive influence in his life but for Brynja, it is the opposite and affects her mental health badly.
This is a book which had me enthralled as I lived Alfred’s life with him through all the amazing experiences he had. It was a book which made me feel profound sadness for him at times but also great joy. Juliet Conlin is a natural storyteller and it almost felt as though Alfred was talking directly to me. His story was incredible not just because of all he had seen and done but because of what influenced him throughout his life. Alfred is a wonderful character who you will take to your heart. Brynja was harder to like initially, though I could understand why she was as she was. Julia has a more minor role but was a character I really became fond of. It was heart-warming that she would take a complete stranger into her home, look after him, listen to him and, more importantly, believe his almost unbelievable tale.
Alfred most definitely has had an uncommon life and his story is one which had me glued to the pages, keen to find out what had happened to him, what would happen to him and whether his story could indeed help Brynja. It is a memorable tale of hope and shows that being a little bit different isn’t always a bad thing.
February 20, 2017
Even after just one chapter of the book I knew that my next few days reading were going to be enjoyable.
Alfred Warner’s life was certainly not your average. The book takes us over many years from when Alfred was just a little boy to when he is an elderly man. We are able to see where his life journey took him, we travel to many locations from Berlin to Ayr in Scotland and more. As he shares with us his life story it is heartbreaking at times and uplifting too. It touches on many heart-wrenching topics including the Holocaust, losing a child and death. The root of the book is loss and how Alfred copes. Alfred shows us how he deals with every important event in his life. We see how the different people that Alfred meets in life and the roads they chose for him, map out his future destination. How meeting one person for just a short while can have such an effect on Alfred’s life.
We also hear Brynja’s story. A young girl fighting an internal battle. Again she too deals with loss. A girl trapped and under control by “Others”. Can Alfred save her? Possibly, but not by himself.
A chance meeting on a train station platform engages one unsuspecting person into Alfred & Brynja’s lives. Her part in Alfred’s story being invaluable.
I didn’t want this book to end. It gripped my heart and held tight. Juliet Conlin writes the book in such a way that it is easy to flow from one character to the next with ease. The book is like a jigsaw all the pieces laid out and gently we got to put the whole thing together and the end result being you close the book, tears streaming down your face and you wish there was more.
I know that this book will be in my top ten reads of 2017, no questions asked. It’s in the same high esteem as The Book Thief by Mark Zusak and The Storyteller By Jodi Picoult. Both of which I continue to think of even all these years later. I know that I will think of Alfred fondly and remember the personal life lessons his story taught me. We learn that it’s so important that we communicate with people who mean something to us. To tell them their worth and that we love, like them it doesn’t matter which just so long as the people know they matter.
I recommend this book with my heart and soul. If you want to be taken on a journey then order it today. It’s life changing!
Check out my blog ~ https://lovebooksgroupblog.wordpress....
Alfred Warner’s life was certainly not your average. The book takes us over many years from when Alfred was just a little boy to when he is an elderly man. We are able to see where his life journey took him, we travel to many locations from Berlin to Ayr in Scotland and more. As he shares with us his life story it is heartbreaking at times and uplifting too. It touches on many heart-wrenching topics including the Holocaust, losing a child and death. The root of the book is loss and how Alfred copes. Alfred shows us how he deals with every important event in his life. We see how the different people that Alfred meets in life and the roads they chose for him, map out his future destination. How meeting one person for just a short while can have such an effect on Alfred’s life.
We also hear Brynja’s story. A young girl fighting an internal battle. Again she too deals with loss. A girl trapped and under control by “Others”. Can Alfred save her? Possibly, but not by himself.
A chance meeting on a train station platform engages one unsuspecting person into Alfred & Brynja’s lives. Her part in Alfred’s story being invaluable.
I didn’t want this book to end. It gripped my heart and held tight. Juliet Conlin writes the book in such a way that it is easy to flow from one character to the next with ease. The book is like a jigsaw all the pieces laid out and gently we got to put the whole thing together and the end result being you close the book, tears streaming down your face and you wish there was more.
I know that this book will be in my top ten reads of 2017, no questions asked. It’s in the same high esteem as The Book Thief by Mark Zusak and The Storyteller By Jodi Picoult. Both of which I continue to think of even all these years later. I know that I will think of Alfred fondly and remember the personal life lessons his story taught me. We learn that it’s so important that we communicate with people who mean something to us. To tell them their worth and that we love, like them it doesn’t matter which just so long as the people know they matter.
I recommend this book with my heart and soul. If you want to be taken on a journey then order it today. It’s life changing!
Check out my blog ~ https://lovebooksgroupblog.wordpress....
April 25, 2017
This is an unusual story. It follows the life of Alfred Warner, nee Werner he was born in Germany. He has been witness to the persecution of Jews and the rise of the Nazi party. He was a POW in a camp in Scotland and has lived in the UK up until 6 days before his death when he arrives back in Germany. The journey is for the purpose of meeting his granddaughter Brynja, the two have never met. The narrator of the story is Julia, she comes across Alfred while he is a little confused and lonely. She helps him in a way she could never have imagined. She is the teller of his story and,will be the one who shares his family's secret.
It's a story that relates Alfred's' time in this world from his childhood through and up to his death. It leads from the just before Julia meets Brynja back to Brynja's childhood. Also the six days that Julia will know both of them. this story has a good balance of several emotions, good and bad ones, as well as some of regret, it is heartwarming as well as heartbreaking. It is all the things that a person would go through in life, with the exception that Alfred has a little something extra in his life.
This is a beautifully written book, the author is a great storyteller. The style of writing has a good flow as it passes backwards and forwards through the characters histories. It gripped me almost instantly, and easily held my attention, and when I found myself nearly a the end of the book i didn't want it to end. I knew what the end was for Alfred, but he had become such a likeable person I didn't want to say goodbye to him. But is was wonderfully written with a sympathetic and touching feeling to it.
This is a book I would have no issues recommending to other readers. Look forward to reading more by this author.
It's a story that relates Alfred's' time in this world from his childhood through and up to his death. It leads from the just before Julia meets Brynja back to Brynja's childhood. Also the six days that Julia will know both of them. this story has a good balance of several emotions, good and bad ones, as well as some of regret, it is heartwarming as well as heartbreaking. It is all the things that a person would go through in life, with the exception that Alfred has a little something extra in his life.
This is a beautifully written book, the author is a great storyteller. The style of writing has a good flow as it passes backwards and forwards through the characters histories. It gripped me almost instantly, and easily held my attention, and when I found myself nearly a the end of the book i didn't want it to end. I knew what the end was for Alfred, but he had become such a likeable person I didn't want to say goodbye to him. But is was wonderfully written with a sympathetic and touching feeling to it.
This is a book I would have no issues recommending to other readers. Look forward to reading more by this author.
June 30, 2017
a fairly short but engaging read following 3 main pov with the blurb describing reasonably well the storyline
while I got the book a while ago based on a review somewhere I haven't really opened it until now when having a few hours wait somewhere and only a few new books on my phone, I started browsing and this novel just hooked me from the first page and I couldn't stop reading until the end
while I got the book a while ago based on a review somewhere I haven't really opened it until now when having a few hours wait somewhere and only a few new books on my phone, I started browsing and this novel just hooked me from the first page and I couldn't stop reading until the end
October 19, 2023
This is a novel about mental health and a family secret. Alfred, now approaching eighty years of age, travels by train to Berlin to meet his granddaughter Brynja. When she does not appear, he tells his life story to a kind stranger, Julia. There are three rotating narratives, one for each of these three main characters. Alfred’s life story is powerful and compelling, covering the loss of his parents in his youth, his experiences in World War II, the voices in his head, marriage, and his later life in Scotland and England. The other two stories were not of the same quality. Brynja’s chapters are told in reverse chronological order and contain a great deal of disturbing content. Julia serves the role of witness, as she takes Alfred into her home and listens to his life story. For me, this book could have been entirely focused on Alfred and I probably would have loved it. Brynja’s part contains more graphic content and abuse than I could handle, and it seemed unnecessary. Alfred’s story deserves 4 or 5 stars, but the other two could have been shortened and incorporated into the main story.
May 3, 2017
I really loved this warm unusual story
August 26, 2020
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From cover to cover, this story gripped my heart and did not let go. I was so taken with the vivid storytelling by author Juliet Conlin. The story follows a non-linear timeline through Alfred's life as he works to recount the lessons his own life has taught him in an effort to connect with his granddaughter. The struggles of Alfred's life are recounted in striking detail and take the author across Europe and back again. There is a touch of magical realism in this book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Alfred is on a mission to recount his life experiences of internment, persecution, grief, family struggles, and an exceedingly interesting familial gift.
Alfred is an incredibly well-developed character and I am glad to have 'met' him. The other characters throughout the novel are accessible and believable. I enjoyed the bit of suspension of belief that takes place and I found the pacing to be excellent. This is absolutely a candidate for a book club read and would be appropriate for anyone who enjoys a detailed, emotional journey through a lifetime. Fantastic overall read and I am so glad to be along for this tour! Thank you to Love Books Tours and Juliet Conlin for having me along for this tour!
From cover to cover, this story gripped my heart and did not let go. I was so taken with the vivid storytelling by author Juliet Conlin. The story follows a non-linear timeline through Alfred's life as he works to recount the lessons his own life has taught him in an effort to connect with his granddaughter. The struggles of Alfred's life are recounted in striking detail and take the author across Europe and back again. There is a touch of magical realism in this book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Alfred is on a mission to recount his life experiences of internment, persecution, grief, family struggles, and an exceedingly interesting familial gift.
Alfred is an incredibly well-developed character and I am glad to have 'met' him. The other characters throughout the novel are accessible and believable. I enjoyed the bit of suspension of belief that takes place and I found the pacing to be excellent. This is absolutely a candidate for a book club read and would be appropriate for anyone who enjoys a detailed, emotional journey through a lifetime. Fantastic overall read and I am so glad to be along for this tour! Thank you to Love Books Tours and Juliet Conlin for having me along for this tour!
May 21, 2020
I would say that I read a lot. I read a lot of book reviews and try to write a few myself. This particular theme sounded akin to “the secret pilgrimage of Harold Fry, “A Man called Ove” “ the secret charms of Arthur Peppar” etc. All books that I really enjoyed. However, I considered it a bit of a gamble as although the reviews were very good, there wasn’t a high volume of reviews. Having just completed it, I’m flabbergasted why this isn’t right up there with those ‘best selling’ novels. I love life affirming books and this was one of the best I have ever read. Absolutely fantastic. Initially, I was slightly put off by the hearing of voices, however, this was an important part of the story. It brings the whole story into a sense of reality in that life is never easy and mental health is often overlooked (Just think of Eleanor Olliphant). Having said this, please don’t be put off by this aspect. Embrace it as the whole story is fascinating and will move you through every emotion. I loved the story and it really makes you think just how short life is and in the grand scheme of things, the things that matter most to us. I highly recommend it and just hope it gets the accolades it truly deserves. Absolutely brilliant!
April 8, 2018
A fictional story of an urgent, end-of-life quest being undertaken by Alfred Warner. Almost 80 years old now, he believes he has just six days left to live, and in that time he must meet the grand-daughter he didn’t even know existed, and pass on a vital family secret.
Summary:
Alfred Warner (ne Werner) has seen the 20th century unfold, and lived through some of its most torturous moments. Born in Germany, conscripted in Berlin at 18, and ending up in an Old Folks home in Scotland, this books follows his life’s journey, and struggles, as he battles racism, persecution and deep family tragedy, but find joy in his own family, his work, and the lives he touches. Throughout, he must come to terms with his gift, passed down through the family genes.
Main Characters:
Alfred: Born in 1920’s Germany, we follow his life’s journey from Berlin to Scotland and, eventually, back to Berlin. Alfred has a peculiar gift which helps him at times, but which also proves to be as much of a curse.
Julia Kruger: A 30-something Berliner who helps Alfred early on at the train station, then becomes the receptacle for his story.
Brynja: Alfred’s grand-daughter, who possesses the same gift, but cannot handle it as Alfred does.
Minor Characters:
Isobel: Alfred’s Scottish wife, whose sheltered upbringing leaves her emotionally unprepared for some of life’s troubles.
John: Alfred’s son, who also carries the gift.
Plot:
The narrative is told throughout from a couple of viewpoints, first-person for Julia & Brynja, third-person for Alfred and the rest.
We meet Alfred on the train to Berlin, where Brynja fails to show up, and Julia steps up to take care of an obviously frail, and disorientated old man. Byrnja, we discover, has mental health issues, and is comatose in hospital.
This is worrying for Alfred, who needs to impart advice to his troubled grand-daughter before he dies (as he believes he will, within six days). Alfred then begins to confide his life story to Julia, making her promise to tell Byrnja if/when she wakes up. We learn about his early family life in the pre-war era, which seemed ordinary and happy, the tragedy that befell his parents, and how the family got broken up.
Alfred, because of his gift, is refused entry to a German hostel for children, and instead must stay in a Jewish home. These turn out to be the happiest years of his childhood, but also a time when he comes to terms with his unusual power.
He eventually finds his older sibling Johanna, and she gets him hired as a servant boy in the house where she lives. They live like this until the final days of the war, when Alfred is conscripted, becomes a POW, and is shipped off to Scotland.
He stays here through the end of the war, and ultimately ends up applying for British citizenship. Through his POW work (he learns to become a gardener, and progresses with his English studies, and although a POW is generally accepted by those he works with) he meets, woos and wins Isobel, daughter of a local pastor. He tries and fails to locate his lost German siblings.
They marry and have a family, though personal tragedy does befall them as well. They also become persecuted by anti-Nazi sentiment, and it’s useless to explain he was only in the Wehrmacht. One fortuitous meeting later, they move to take up a job offer, and Alfred eventually becomes Head Gardener at March House.
They have a son John, and Alfred’s relationship with him is fraught, especially as he hits the teenage years. John eventually disappears, Isobel leaves to find herself, and Albert loses himself in his work.
While we are learning all about Alfred, we also have a shorter but parallel insightful story about Brynja, starting from when she got admitted to hospital, and stepping back through her life.
A more mature John arrives back, fleeing a failed relationship, and puts things right with his father (who I think failed him by not explaining the gift to him, the way Alfred’s mother explained it), but then leaves again.
Isobel eventually dies, and Alfred is forced to go to a home, for his own safety. Somehow, Brynja (daughter of John) found and contacted him (forwarded letter), and Albert makes travel plans.
The paths all eventually cross at Brynja’s hospital bedside, with Julia being Alfred’s faithful friend all through the six days it took him to tell the story.
What I Liked:
The characters were warm, and well-written. They came across as if written from real-life.
The structure of the book – breaking up the narrative viewpoints with the timelines worked well.
The overall story – persevering when times get tough, the value and importance of work and working hard, and stoic acceptance of your situation (as opposed to being resigned to it – completely different mindset!!).
What I Didn’t Like:
The particular gift was unusual, and saved his life at certain points throughout the book. It needed a suspension of belief, and also ignoring the current prevalent social treatment of it – not everyone would be as accommodating as Julia Kruger!
His lack of understanding for his son didn’t ring true with the rest of his relationships and selflessness of actions in the book (e.g. saving the neighbour’s child from the fire), especially when he suspected the son may carry the gift as well.
Overall:
An excellent read, with believable characters in authentic settings. The prose is excellent, and makes for a fast, easy read.
It would be a great book club novel, given the variety of subjects it touches on (mental health through to the Holocaust through to societal integration), and so comes with a warm recommendation.
Summary:
Alfred Warner (ne Werner) has seen the 20th century unfold, and lived through some of its most torturous moments. Born in Germany, conscripted in Berlin at 18, and ending up in an Old Folks home in Scotland, this books follows his life’s journey, and struggles, as he battles racism, persecution and deep family tragedy, but find joy in his own family, his work, and the lives he touches. Throughout, he must come to terms with his gift, passed down through the family genes.
Main Characters:
Alfred: Born in 1920’s Germany, we follow his life’s journey from Berlin to Scotland and, eventually, back to Berlin. Alfred has a peculiar gift which helps him at times, but which also proves to be as much of a curse.
Julia Kruger: A 30-something Berliner who helps Alfred early on at the train station, then becomes the receptacle for his story.
Brynja: Alfred’s grand-daughter, who possesses the same gift, but cannot handle it as Alfred does.
Minor Characters:
Isobel: Alfred’s Scottish wife, whose sheltered upbringing leaves her emotionally unprepared for some of life’s troubles.
John: Alfred’s son, who also carries the gift.
Plot:
The narrative is told throughout from a couple of viewpoints, first-person for Julia & Brynja, third-person for Alfred and the rest.
We meet Alfred on the train to Berlin, where Brynja fails to show up, and Julia steps up to take care of an obviously frail, and disorientated old man. Byrnja, we discover, has mental health issues, and is comatose in hospital.
This is worrying for Alfred, who needs to impart advice to his troubled grand-daughter before he dies (as he believes he will, within six days). Alfred then begins to confide his life story to Julia, making her promise to tell Byrnja if/when she wakes up. We learn about his early family life in the pre-war era, which seemed ordinary and happy, the tragedy that befell his parents, and how the family got broken up.
Alfred, because of his gift, is refused entry to a German hostel for children, and instead must stay in a Jewish home. These turn out to be the happiest years of his childhood, but also a time when he comes to terms with his unusual power.
He eventually finds his older sibling Johanna, and she gets him hired as a servant boy in the house where she lives. They live like this until the final days of the war, when Alfred is conscripted, becomes a POW, and is shipped off to Scotland.
He stays here through the end of the war, and ultimately ends up applying for British citizenship. Through his POW work (he learns to become a gardener, and progresses with his English studies, and although a POW is generally accepted by those he works with) he meets, woos and wins Isobel, daughter of a local pastor. He tries and fails to locate his lost German siblings.
They marry and have a family, though personal tragedy does befall them as well. They also become persecuted by anti-Nazi sentiment, and it’s useless to explain he was only in the Wehrmacht. One fortuitous meeting later, they move to take up a job offer, and Alfred eventually becomes Head Gardener at March House.
They have a son John, and Alfred’s relationship with him is fraught, especially as he hits the teenage years. John eventually disappears, Isobel leaves to find herself, and Albert loses himself in his work.
While we are learning all about Alfred, we also have a shorter but parallel insightful story about Brynja, starting from when she got admitted to hospital, and stepping back through her life.
A more mature John arrives back, fleeing a failed relationship, and puts things right with his father (who I think failed him by not explaining the gift to him, the way Alfred’s mother explained it), but then leaves again.
Isobel eventually dies, and Alfred is forced to go to a home, for his own safety. Somehow, Brynja (daughter of John) found and contacted him (forwarded letter), and Albert makes travel plans.
The paths all eventually cross at Brynja’s hospital bedside, with Julia being Alfred’s faithful friend all through the six days it took him to tell the story.
What I Liked:
The characters were warm, and well-written. They came across as if written from real-life.
The structure of the book – breaking up the narrative viewpoints with the timelines worked well.
The overall story – persevering when times get tough, the value and importance of work and working hard, and stoic acceptance of your situation (as opposed to being resigned to it – completely different mindset!!).
What I Didn’t Like:
The particular gift was unusual, and saved his life at certain points throughout the book. It needed a suspension of belief, and also ignoring the current prevalent social treatment of it – not everyone would be as accommodating as Julia Kruger!
His lack of understanding for his son didn’t ring true with the rest of his relationships and selflessness of actions in the book (e.g. saving the neighbour’s child from the fire), especially when he suspected the son may carry the gift as well.
Overall:
An excellent read, with believable characters in authentic settings. The prose is excellent, and makes for a fast, easy read.
It would be a great book club novel, given the variety of subjects it touches on (mental health through to the Holocaust through to societal integration), and so comes with a warm recommendation.
November 23, 2017
When I had not read a great book in a while I found this gem of a book. Taking us through the life of the main character Alfred from childhood in Nazi Germany to the UK and throughout an amazing life. For the second half of this book I could not put this down, did not want to go to work and was immersed in a fascinating tale of a man who had voices but also his own interesting life. The voices were not seen in a negative way and was well written. The only negatives would have been societies expectations. Even cried on the train at one point of this story. One of the top reads for 2017.
July 14, 2017
Sometimes you can be drawn to a book without entirely knowing why. The Uncommon Life of Alfred Warner in Six Days was one of those books for me. Although the blurb sounds completely fascinating, this is not the kind of book I normally read and the length of the book is a bit longer than someone like me with a million books to read would then choose to read. But like I say, there was really just something about this book that drew me in and I knew I had to read this book. I knew Alfred Warner was a character I had to meet, and honestly I am so glad I picked up this book because Alfred is one of the most exceptional characters I have ever read about.
Alfred is nearly eighty years of age, and the voices in his head are telling him he only has six days left to live. Which is why, when his granddaughter doesn’t show up on the day he is supposed to be meeting her for the first time, he knows he has to find another way of telling her the story of his life, which contains a secret that will impact on her life forever. It took me about half a page maximum before I knew Alfred was a character who was going to keep me on my toes throughout eager to learn more about him and the life he has lived. There are interesting characters and then there is Alfred, a person who has lived one heck of a life which had me absolutely captivated, practically glued to the pages, as we unfold the layers of his character and the amazing stories he has to tell.
This is a book that captured my heart. It had me feeling every emotion under the sun. I laughed and I shed tears and I found parts to be heart-breaking and other parts to be thoroughly heart-warming. I smiled at the happy moments of his life and sympathised with him at others. Alfred has lived such a life that, despite me not normally having an attention span that will keep me reading a book longer then about 400 pages, made me want a book about double that size because I believed he had lived a life with so many more stories to tell.
Juliet Conlin has really written such a wonderful character in Alfred, but there were two other characters in this book that I enjoyed getting to know as well. The first one was Julia, a woman who lets Alfred into her home and befriends him through her concern. She isn’t the most pivotal character in this book but I really warmed to her straight away as her caring nature was really appealing. She listened to Alfred and cared for his stories, and I found her a really genuine, likeable character. Then there is Brynja, Alfred’s granddaughter, who I found to be really engaging too. I was fascinated by her character from the moment she is first supposed to meet Alfred but doesn’t. Though this is Alfred’s story to tell, the other characters helped to make this book what it is, an incredibly touching and unmissable treat of a novel.
The structure of this book is an unusual one which I thought I would find difficult to get into and yet I found it the complete opposite. The format of the six days of the story sees the book switch in perspective between Alfred, Julia and Brynja, whilst the chapters switch between the various and utterly absorbing experiences that Alfred has lived. Ranging from tales of the Holocaust to tales of his marriage and family life, the storytelling in this book covers multiple locations and multiple decades and there was not one single part of Alfred Warner’s life that did not move me. The Uncommon Life of Alfred Warner in Six Days is absolutely fantastic, and truly a book you simply must read.
Alfred is nearly eighty years of age, and the voices in his head are telling him he only has six days left to live. Which is why, when his granddaughter doesn’t show up on the day he is supposed to be meeting her for the first time, he knows he has to find another way of telling her the story of his life, which contains a secret that will impact on her life forever. It took me about half a page maximum before I knew Alfred was a character who was going to keep me on my toes throughout eager to learn more about him and the life he has lived. There are interesting characters and then there is Alfred, a person who has lived one heck of a life which had me absolutely captivated, practically glued to the pages, as we unfold the layers of his character and the amazing stories he has to tell.
This is a book that captured my heart. It had me feeling every emotion under the sun. I laughed and I shed tears and I found parts to be heart-breaking and other parts to be thoroughly heart-warming. I smiled at the happy moments of his life and sympathised with him at others. Alfred has lived such a life that, despite me not normally having an attention span that will keep me reading a book longer then about 400 pages, made me want a book about double that size because I believed he had lived a life with so many more stories to tell.
Juliet Conlin has really written such a wonderful character in Alfred, but there were two other characters in this book that I enjoyed getting to know as well. The first one was Julia, a woman who lets Alfred into her home and befriends him through her concern. She isn’t the most pivotal character in this book but I really warmed to her straight away as her caring nature was really appealing. She listened to Alfred and cared for his stories, and I found her a really genuine, likeable character. Then there is Brynja, Alfred’s granddaughter, who I found to be really engaging too. I was fascinated by her character from the moment she is first supposed to meet Alfred but doesn’t. Though this is Alfred’s story to tell, the other characters helped to make this book what it is, an incredibly touching and unmissable treat of a novel.
The structure of this book is an unusual one which I thought I would find difficult to get into and yet I found it the complete opposite. The format of the six days of the story sees the book switch in perspective between Alfred, Julia and Brynja, whilst the chapters switch between the various and utterly absorbing experiences that Alfred has lived. Ranging from tales of the Holocaust to tales of his marriage and family life, the storytelling in this book covers multiple locations and multiple decades and there was not one single part of Alfred Warner’s life that did not move me. The Uncommon Life of Alfred Warner in Six Days is absolutely fantastic, and truly a book you simply must read.
April 7, 2020
I picked up this book because I read a tweet from the author, Juliet Conlin, saying she was moving to Scotland for six months. I idly looked up her novels and The Uncommon Life of Alfred Warner in Six Days caught my attention for some reason I now cannot recall. I thought I would give it a whirl. Whenever I start reading a book that hasn’t been recommended to me I go in with an open mind but low expectations. It was such a lovely surprise to be charmed by the book, and to read it compulsively during one of those spells in my life where I hadn’t been doing too much reading because it felt like I didn’t have the time.
The novel opens with different fragments of narratives using a range of voices, geographical and temporal settings, but very quickly I began to root for the main character, Alfred. I think one way this is achieved is by meeting him as an old man and as a child, the stages in a man’s life when he is maximally charming and minimally threatening. The story of Alfred’s early life is really hard-hitting. One minute I was swept along by the love story between Alfred’s parents and the next this rural German idyll is abruptly halted. It is an emotional ride.
One thing I loved about the book was its unusual perspective on wartime Germany, which feels important to consider now that the UK has decided to leave the EU and our relationship with other European countries is under review. Alfred is a clear-cut victim of the Nazi regime, who is forced to join the army when he becomes an adult and ends up in a British prisoner of war camp. I imagine most British readers will have grown up on a diet of war films and have inherited a mid-twentieth century representation of Germans as villains or weaklings for following the orders of the fascist regime. There are so many jokes about Germans in British culture, coloured by the history of the first half of the twentieth century. What is unusual about The Uncommon Life of Alfred Warner in Six Days is that it provides a sensitive portrayal of a German who is a victim of the Nazis. What’s more, Alfred decides to stay on in Britain and marry a Scottish woman and the couple struggles with anti-German sentiment. The whole premise is very interesting and dramatically it is handled well by the author.
The other thing I found fascinating about the novel is the central theme of people hearing voices. While this phenomenon is most commonly associated with psychosis, and therefore represented negatively, in the novel a counterpoint is presented. Alfred hears voices but is generally untroubled by them. Moreover, the voices help and guide Alfred through life, seemingly able to predict the future and help Alfred avert trouble. This conception of hearing voices is starkly different from the troubling symptoms people with schizophrenia often struggle with, and it is therefore quite a romantic viewpoint. However, the novel presents both sides of the coin, by describing characters whose voices torment them as well as others with a more positive experience. I found echoes of another novel that deals with mental illness, Human Traces by Sebastian Faulks, which develops a theory that voice-hearing may have served an adaptive purpose earlier in human history. Whatever the truth of the matter, there is plenty of food for thought in Conlin’s novel.
In sum, this novel was a really pleasant surprise. It is a page-turner, well written and with some very interesting themes. I look forward to reading more by Juliet Conlin, who has a new novel called Sister of Berlin coming out this year.
The novel opens with different fragments of narratives using a range of voices, geographical and temporal settings, but very quickly I began to root for the main character, Alfred. I think one way this is achieved is by meeting him as an old man and as a child, the stages in a man’s life when he is maximally charming and minimally threatening. The story of Alfred’s early life is really hard-hitting. One minute I was swept along by the love story between Alfred’s parents and the next this rural German idyll is abruptly halted. It is an emotional ride.
One thing I loved about the book was its unusual perspective on wartime Germany, which feels important to consider now that the UK has decided to leave the EU and our relationship with other European countries is under review. Alfred is a clear-cut victim of the Nazi regime, who is forced to join the army when he becomes an adult and ends up in a British prisoner of war camp. I imagine most British readers will have grown up on a diet of war films and have inherited a mid-twentieth century representation of Germans as villains or weaklings for following the orders of the fascist regime. There are so many jokes about Germans in British culture, coloured by the history of the first half of the twentieth century. What is unusual about The Uncommon Life of Alfred Warner in Six Days is that it provides a sensitive portrayal of a German who is a victim of the Nazis. What’s more, Alfred decides to stay on in Britain and marry a Scottish woman and the couple struggles with anti-German sentiment. The whole premise is very interesting and dramatically it is handled well by the author.
The other thing I found fascinating about the novel is the central theme of people hearing voices. While this phenomenon is most commonly associated with psychosis, and therefore represented negatively, in the novel a counterpoint is presented. Alfred hears voices but is generally untroubled by them. Moreover, the voices help and guide Alfred through life, seemingly able to predict the future and help Alfred avert trouble. This conception of hearing voices is starkly different from the troubling symptoms people with schizophrenia often struggle with, and it is therefore quite a romantic viewpoint. However, the novel presents both sides of the coin, by describing characters whose voices torment them as well as others with a more positive experience. I found echoes of another novel that deals with mental illness, Human Traces by Sebastian Faulks, which develops a theory that voice-hearing may have served an adaptive purpose earlier in human history. Whatever the truth of the matter, there is plenty of food for thought in Conlin’s novel.
In sum, this novel was a really pleasant surprise. It is a page-turner, well written and with some very interesting themes. I look forward to reading more by Juliet Conlin, who has a new novel called Sister of Berlin coming out this year.
April 14, 2017
This review originally appeared on Joyful Antidotes.
I was contacted by the publisher of The Uncommon Life of Alfred Warner to review this book. They thought I might like it as I live in Berlin and tweet a lot about mental health. I thought the same. What happened was that I actually ended up LOVING this book.
The Uncommon Life of Alfred Warner begins with 80-year-old Alfred travelling from England to Berlin to meet his granddaughter for the first time. He has a family secret his must share in order to save her, and it must be told before he dies in 6 days time.
Where to begin? Let’s start with the main character, Alfred. I couldn’t help but love Alfred, in a granddaughter/grandfather type of way. He is first introduced as a wee boy and I warmed to him even then. I admired his sense of family and his morals. But he was also a character I felt slightly confused. *Spoiler Alert* Alfred spends some time enlisted as a Nazi soldier, not out of choice and it is certainly not a cause he believes in. Everything in life to this point told me is that people associated with Nazism should not be liked or forgiven. Yet I loved Alfred. A nice life complexity thrown in by the author, I think.
Although Alfred stood out to me, there were some other great characters in this book: Isobel, Julie, John, Alice. However, they never really came into their own when I would like to have known more about them. Nevertheless, they play their part well in the story, as catalysts of Alfred’s story.
The structure of the book was pretty unusual, but I liked it. Alfred’s story is told chronologically but by different narrators: himself, Julie and his granddaughter, Brynja. The narrators tied together very well and brought all periods of life together: Alfred’s past, his impending death and Brynja’s future.
Most of all, I loved how this book dealt with the notion of mental health. This book dealt with voice hearing, but, for me, it could have been removed and replaced by any mental health issue. What was important was that it showed any number of people could be dealing with the same illness, but how they handle it and how it affects them is completely different. It showed the reader how one solution does not suit all, and how important it is to help people believe they are not ‘crazy’, in want of a better word. I love Juliet Conlin for doing this.
This was probably the hardest book review I ever had to write. Not because I didn’t like the book, but because I loved it way too much. I don’t think Joyful Antidotes can do the story justice. All I can recommend you to do is buy the book for you and all your friends.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I was contacted by the publisher of The Uncommon Life of Alfred Warner to review this book. They thought I might like it as I live in Berlin and tweet a lot about mental health. I thought the same. What happened was that I actually ended up LOVING this book.
The Uncommon Life of Alfred Warner begins with 80-year-old Alfred travelling from England to Berlin to meet his granddaughter for the first time. He has a family secret his must share in order to save her, and it must be told before he dies in 6 days time.
Where to begin? Let’s start with the main character, Alfred. I couldn’t help but love Alfred, in a granddaughter/grandfather type of way. He is first introduced as a wee boy and I warmed to him even then. I admired his sense of family and his morals. But he was also a character I felt slightly confused. *Spoiler Alert* Alfred spends some time enlisted as a Nazi soldier, not out of choice and it is certainly not a cause he believes in. Everything in life to this point told me is that people associated with Nazism should not be liked or forgiven. Yet I loved Alfred. A nice life complexity thrown in by the author, I think.
Although Alfred stood out to me, there were some other great characters in this book: Isobel, Julie, John, Alice. However, they never really came into their own when I would like to have known more about them. Nevertheless, they play their part well in the story, as catalysts of Alfred’s story.
The structure of the book was pretty unusual, but I liked it. Alfred’s story is told chronologically but by different narrators: himself, Julie and his granddaughter, Brynja. The narrators tied together very well and brought all periods of life together: Alfred’s past, his impending death and Brynja’s future.
Most of all, I loved how this book dealt with the notion of mental health. This book dealt with voice hearing, but, for me, it could have been removed and replaced by any mental health issue. What was important was that it showed any number of people could be dealing with the same illness, but how they handle it and how it affects them is completely different. It showed the reader how one solution does not suit all, and how important it is to help people believe they are not ‘crazy’, in want of a better word. I love Juliet Conlin for doing this.
This was probably the hardest book review I ever had to write. Not because I didn’t like the book, but because I loved it way too much. I don’t think Joyful Antidotes can do the story justice. All I can recommend you to do is buy the book for you and all your friends.
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2018
I found this a very immersive read. Its one of the more memorable novels I've read, certainly recently. It is heartwrenching - I think sobering is perhaps the best term to use. It was a very thought provoking read, particularly given the way the world is heading these days, in terms of how some people regard asylum seekers/immigrants. I felt sorry for the protagonist in some regards, while also feeling irritated/annoyed towards other characters. I won't go in to any more specific details so as not to spoil the plot but it is quite a thorough life story told and I found myself immersed in the world of the protagonist, Alfred. He is written in such a way that made him very lifelike and believable in my mind.
I found it to be an engrossing read. I often struggle to read books much over 400 pages long but I managed to read this, while on holiday, in a little over 48 hours, which isnt bad going for a book of 437 pages long.
The author dealt with numerous themes, (including war, identity and family life), in a sensitive manner. This is a read which it might help if you have some tissues to hand although I wouldn't say that its all negative in tone. There is a bleakness to it but the author seemed to make a point of adding a bit of optimism as well, which I appreciated.
It maybe sounds a bit cheesy or sentimental but personally (and of course I can only speak for my own personal thoughts and feelings about it as a book) I thought the story was very well done and I enjoyed reading it. Having finished it, I feel like I could imagine the protagonist and that I know them to an extent - which must be the sign of a good book. It wouldn't be unusual for me to get either a bit tired of a sad story or/and lose interest in it given how long it is, pagination wise, but I didn't - I feel I enjoyed it as a read overall and so I'd recommend it on that basis.
All I can think to say, in terms of criticisms, is that the chronology does move about a fair bit in between different sections and could confuse readers but the section headings state what year said section is based in, so you just have to keep an eye on that. Some aspects of the plot aren't fully explained until the very end but then suppose you expect that?. Otherwise, I can't think of anything bad I can say about this and I'm open to reading more books from this author. I recommend this read.
I found it to be an engrossing read. I often struggle to read books much over 400 pages long but I managed to read this, while on holiday, in a little over 48 hours, which isnt bad going for a book of 437 pages long.
The author dealt with numerous themes, (including war, identity and family life), in a sensitive manner. This is a read which it might help if you have some tissues to hand although I wouldn't say that its all negative in tone. There is a bleakness to it but the author seemed to make a point of adding a bit of optimism as well, which I appreciated.
It maybe sounds a bit cheesy or sentimental but personally (and of course I can only speak for my own personal thoughts and feelings about it as a book) I thought the story was very well done and I enjoyed reading it. Having finished it, I feel like I could imagine the protagonist and that I know them to an extent - which must be the sign of a good book. It wouldn't be unusual for me to get either a bit tired of a sad story or/and lose interest in it given how long it is, pagination wise, but I didn't - I feel I enjoyed it as a read overall and so I'd recommend it on that basis.
All I can think to say, in terms of criticisms, is that the chronology does move about a fair bit in between different sections and could confuse readers but the section headings state what year said section is based in, so you just have to keep an eye on that. Some aspects of the plot aren't fully explained until the very end but then suppose you expect that?. Otherwise, I can't think of anything bad I can say about this and I'm open to reading more books from this author. I recommend this read.
February 22, 2017
Unique idea, intriguing. Should have wide appeal and feels like a ‘sleeper’ hit, like an Ove or a Hundred Year Old Man.
An old man travels to Germany to see the granddaughter he’s never met, but she fails to meet him at the station – she’s attempted suicide and is in hospital. Another young woman takes Alfred under her wing, and in doing so learns his rather sensational story and why she must pass this on to his granddaughter, as he will be unable to do it – he knows he will die in six days.
The majority of Alfred’s story IS his story, his life, as a child in a poor farming house, his tragic removal and adolescence in a city torn apart by war. His adult life in England. And the voices he’s heard all his life, that he suspects his granddaughter hears too.
I’m usually not a fan of supernatural stories, but I didn’t mind at all with this, I really enjoyed the nature of the females that accompany Alfred through his life, family struggles and how they manifest with him and his granddaughter.
It’s quite a life and a story, and at the end I wished to learn more of his grand-daughter both before and after Alfred’s visit, as well as the young woman who he permanently changes by telling his tale to.
Sad, unusual, a really moving read. It may not have excitement or thrills, but that shoudn’t put anyone off. It is hard to put a finger on why I liked it so much but it’s one of the most memorable of my recent reads.
With thanks to the publisher for the advance reading copy.
An old man travels to Germany to see the granddaughter he’s never met, but she fails to meet him at the station – she’s attempted suicide and is in hospital. Another young woman takes Alfred under her wing, and in doing so learns his rather sensational story and why she must pass this on to his granddaughter, as he will be unable to do it – he knows he will die in six days.
The majority of Alfred’s story IS his story, his life, as a child in a poor farming house, his tragic removal and adolescence in a city torn apart by war. His adult life in England. And the voices he’s heard all his life, that he suspects his granddaughter hears too.
I’m usually not a fan of supernatural stories, but I didn’t mind at all with this, I really enjoyed the nature of the females that accompany Alfred through his life, family struggles and how they manifest with him and his granddaughter.
It’s quite a life and a story, and at the end I wished to learn more of his grand-daughter both before and after Alfred’s visit, as well as the young woman who he permanently changes by telling his tale to.
Sad, unusual, a really moving read. It may not have excitement or thrills, but that shoudn’t put anyone off. It is hard to put a finger on why I liked it so much but it’s one of the most memorable of my recent reads.
With thanks to the publisher for the advance reading copy.
March 5, 2017
An excellent book, Alfreds story is sad, happy and enthralling. The book kept me interested and wanting more. So upset to finish it I just had to read it again. The author is a great storyteller with everything in it that marks it as an excellent read
March 17, 2017
This is another 5 star read for me. Quite a unique idea for a book. Alfred has only 6 days left to live. He knows this because the voices in his head, which have been there since he can remember, have told him so. He has to travel back to his home in Germany to meet the grand-daughter he never knew he had. He meets another lady at the train station who he has to relate his story to as his grand daughter doesn't turn up, and it is important that the grand-daughter understands the story. A very different take on the second world war and Alfred's fight for survival.
February 4, 2019
Great read
A page turner of a book. Strong storyline and good characterisation, by the end of the book you are completely caught in Alfreds life story!
A page turner of a book. Strong storyline and good characterisation, by the end of the book you are completely caught in Alfreds life story!
July 28, 2020
This a wonderfully written end-of-life memoir a little in the style of “A Man Called Ove” and “The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry”, with interesting and unusual twists.
Alfred Warner hears voices and at the end of his life he becomes desperate to meet his grand-daughter, Brinja, so she can understand the joyful side of the curse that also afflicts her. He is rescued by a young woman, Julia, who meets and befriends him when Brinja fails to meet him at Berlin main train station. It’s not clear why Julia takes this lonely, old man in for his last few days, but you get the impression she has her own troubles and Alfred’s curious story is a distraction during his pilgrimage around Christmas. Their short story is tenderly told.
Juliet Colin effortlessly uses multiple narrators to move between Alfred and his remarkable story of growing up in a rural farm community in 1930’s Germany, orphaned and rescued by Jews in Berlin, his subsequent life in a changing post-war Britain and the modern-day anguish of Brinja. Julia’s character carries the practicalities and she becomes increasingly involved, as we do, in Alfred’s story and why it so important to him and his grand daughter. In many ways this telling has much of the suspense of a thriller.
The poverty and growing threat to those around him as a child are brought to life in the early chapters. Alfred begins to hear voices when young, he finds it’s something he shares with his mother and previous generations of her Icelandic family. Through his life these voices are guardian angels, friends and bullies, the author guides us through the stages of denial, then caution on to acceptance and embrace as Alfred accepts these interlopers into his life, allowing him to live a largely normal and content life and apparently protecting him from the psychological impact of his early years. This normalisation of his mental health is in contrast to the impact of the same phenomenon on the more troubled, modern-day Brinja.
The story is well paced, as Alfred escapes from the things that oppress him externally and emerges into a comfortable life in post-war Scotland and England, we move with him through the trials of his life, including the early death of his first child and the later estrangement of his son, Brinja’s father, who is also visited by the voices. With the younger generations suffering with more malign voices, Alfred is compelled to tell his story to Julia in a hope to show his granddaughter the more helpful ways to interpret them.
A beautifully written, heartbreaking yet heartwarming tale that I would highly recommend
August 16, 2020
Wow! What a wonderful man Alfred Warner was! I was engrossed straight away by his eventful and dramatic tale! This book follows his life from beginning to end and the story constantly changes between his past life to the present when he goes to meet his granddaughter he has never met.
This is not just a story of an old man reliving his life, it is also a story with a bit of a magical element to it as Alfred has always heard voices in his head since he was six years old. These voices are of three ancient sisters who guide him through life. It does sound quite odd, but it really makes the story so unique and interesting. Alfred realises his granddaughter is troubled by the same voices in her head and he wants to help her understand that the voices are a gift.
Whilst reading from mainly Alfred’s point of view it does change between his granddaughter’s and his new found friend he meets in Berlin; Julia who he ends up telling his life story to. I loved how multi layered the story is. The author really makes it all work well to bring a great conclusion to the story.
Alfred’s story itself is thoroughly entertaining, from living in Germany and the death of his parents at a very young age to living with Jewish orphans during the outbreak of the war filled me at times with such deep sadness. We all know how terrible Nazi Germany was and to read about a little boy trying to survive really touches you. He eventually ends up in Scotland in a POW camp where his life takes some twists and turns that will take you through all kinds of emotions.
This book doesn’t dwell too much on the political side of what was happening during the war but more about Alfred’s feelings and others that come into his life. It also touches on a lot of poignant themes such as mental illness, suicide, loss and self harm which I feel the author writes in a sensitive manner. There are however a lot of light, heart warming moments and great characters who come in and out of his eventful life.
The author puts Alfred across as quite a flawed character but still very likable and believable so that I really felt attached to him. The writing just flows so easily from chapter to chapter that before I knew it, I had finished the book.
This is a remarkable and memorable story of a quirky, special man who certainly led an uncommon and full life. It is an immersive story that I think most readers would really treasure and I am sure would love Alfred as much as I did.
This is not just a story of an old man reliving his life, it is also a story with a bit of a magical element to it as Alfred has always heard voices in his head since he was six years old. These voices are of three ancient sisters who guide him through life. It does sound quite odd, but it really makes the story so unique and interesting. Alfred realises his granddaughter is troubled by the same voices in her head and he wants to help her understand that the voices are a gift.
Whilst reading from mainly Alfred’s point of view it does change between his granddaughter’s and his new found friend he meets in Berlin; Julia who he ends up telling his life story to. I loved how multi layered the story is. The author really makes it all work well to bring a great conclusion to the story.
Alfred’s story itself is thoroughly entertaining, from living in Germany and the death of his parents at a very young age to living with Jewish orphans during the outbreak of the war filled me at times with such deep sadness. We all know how terrible Nazi Germany was and to read about a little boy trying to survive really touches you. He eventually ends up in Scotland in a POW camp where his life takes some twists and turns that will take you through all kinds of emotions.
This book doesn’t dwell too much on the political side of what was happening during the war but more about Alfred’s feelings and others that come into his life. It also touches on a lot of poignant themes such as mental illness, suicide, loss and self harm which I feel the author writes in a sensitive manner. There are however a lot of light, heart warming moments and great characters who come in and out of his eventful life.
The author puts Alfred across as quite a flawed character but still very likable and believable so that I really felt attached to him. The writing just flows so easily from chapter to chapter that before I knew it, I had finished the book.
This is a remarkable and memorable story of a quirky, special man who certainly led an uncommon and full life. It is an immersive story that I think most readers would really treasure and I am sure would love Alfred as much as I did.
July 23, 2020
I recently read another book where the main character was an elderly man telling his life story and I LOVED it so I just knew this was going to be something I enjoyed and it excelled all my expectations! Firstly I LOVE the cover such a statement cover and so so powerful!
So After Alfred discovers he only has 6 days left to live he quickly travels back to Berlin to meet his Granddaughter Brynja. He wants to tell her all of his and their family secrets and to get it all off his chest!
While he is waiting to be picked up by his granddaughter he meets a complete stranger called Julia. Julia very quickly decides to help Alfred find Brynja. BUT when he realises that he is probably not going to make it through to tell Brynja he decides to tell Julia instead!
This is SUCH a mesmerising life story, where Alfred talks about many big historic events and personal events in this life some horrible and some lovely including the war, becoming a prisoner of war and right the way through to becoming a gardener in England.
His story covers love, general life, friendship and lots of loss and it is truely heart warming. Alfreds story is incredibly captivating and I found him to be so so charming and endearing!
I thoroughly enjoyed the twist in this book which took me by complete surprise as I just totally didn’t expect it.
Same as the other book which I read that told a life story I LOVE how it flicks between the present day and Alfreds past! It kept the book interesting and kept me engaged!
I LOVE how this book focuses on mental health and I think Juliet Conlin has done a fantastic job of easing in to this subject without making it to too hard hitting and too emotional to read! It was just right!
After finding this story so so gripping, emotional, heart warming and just truely amazing I would like to give this book 5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️. This is the second book of hers that I have had the pleasure of reading and I definitely look forward to more!
Thank you for another AMAZING book!
So After Alfred discovers he only has 6 days left to live he quickly travels back to Berlin to meet his Granddaughter Brynja. He wants to tell her all of his and their family secrets and to get it all off his chest!
While he is waiting to be picked up by his granddaughter he meets a complete stranger called Julia. Julia very quickly decides to help Alfred find Brynja. BUT when he realises that he is probably not going to make it through to tell Brynja he decides to tell Julia instead!
This is SUCH a mesmerising life story, where Alfred talks about many big historic events and personal events in this life some horrible and some lovely including the war, becoming a prisoner of war and right the way through to becoming a gardener in England.
His story covers love, general life, friendship and lots of loss and it is truely heart warming. Alfreds story is incredibly captivating and I found him to be so so charming and endearing!
I thoroughly enjoyed the twist in this book which took me by complete surprise as I just totally didn’t expect it.
Same as the other book which I read that told a life story I LOVE how it flicks between the present day and Alfreds past! It kept the book interesting and kept me engaged!
I LOVE how this book focuses on mental health and I think Juliet Conlin has done a fantastic job of easing in to this subject without making it to too hard hitting and too emotional to read! It was just right!
After finding this story so so gripping, emotional, heart warming and just truely amazing I would like to give this book 5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️. This is the second book of hers that I have had the pleasure of reading and I definitely look forward to more!
Thank you for another AMAZING book!
July 25, 2020
This is a timeslip novel that is quite unique. It's a story of a brave elderly gentleman taking his first flight to visit his long lost granddaughter that he's never met. Alfred Warner has lived a life that has taken him from war torn Germany, to Scotland and to the English countryside. It isn't difficult to be charmed by Alfred, he's a quirky old man but he's on a mission to tell his story and that of his granddaughter's heritage before it's too late.
Alfred manages to get to Germany but cannot find his granddaughter anywhere, a chance encounter with a kindly stranger opens up an unlikely partnership that was to become crucial for both Alfred and his plight to get to his granddaughter.
Alfred has a unique skill to some but a hinderance to others, he can hear voices in his head, these voices throughout his life have helped him immensely but they have also brought considered anxiety and confusion. As Alfred entrusts his story with this kindly stranger we travel back in time to Germany when life was about to change for all and there was a deep feeling of uncertainty. Hearing Alfred's childhood, the devastation through hardship, tragedy and uncertainty broke me many times. For a child to experience such heartbreak is unimaginable but I felt a steely strength and hope within young Alfred. Even till his last breath he never gave up.
The author takes us on a journey with both elderly Alfred and young Alfred, we travel with him as he tackles all that life has thrown his way and it is one eventful life that you wouldn't wish on anyone. But it is also a life that many would have experienced back in WWII, children had to grow up overnight and find an inner strength to survive. Alfred had his own personal 'friends' to help him along his way. As we learn more about Alfred we discover his ability to hear voices is not uncommon and this is a little reassuring for Alfred and he hopes he can pass on some guidance and support.
At times the story is very raw and honest and the pain and heartache feels very real. However, there are moments in Alfred's life that is pure joy and the author balances out the pain with wonderful charming scenes.
Alfred manages to get to Germany but cannot find his granddaughter anywhere, a chance encounter with a kindly stranger opens up an unlikely partnership that was to become crucial for both Alfred and his plight to get to his granddaughter.
Alfred has a unique skill to some but a hinderance to others, he can hear voices in his head, these voices throughout his life have helped him immensely but they have also brought considered anxiety and confusion. As Alfred entrusts his story with this kindly stranger we travel back in time to Germany when life was about to change for all and there was a deep feeling of uncertainty. Hearing Alfred's childhood, the devastation through hardship, tragedy and uncertainty broke me many times. For a child to experience such heartbreak is unimaginable but I felt a steely strength and hope within young Alfred. Even till his last breath he never gave up.
The author takes us on a journey with both elderly Alfred and young Alfred, we travel with him as he tackles all that life has thrown his way and it is one eventful life that you wouldn't wish on anyone. But it is also a life that many would have experienced back in WWII, children had to grow up overnight and find an inner strength to survive. Alfred had his own personal 'friends' to help him along his way. As we learn more about Alfred we discover his ability to hear voices is not uncommon and this is a little reassuring for Alfred and he hopes he can pass on some guidance and support.
At times the story is very raw and honest and the pain and heartache feels very real. However, there are moments in Alfred's life that is pure joy and the author balances out the pain with wonderful charming scenes.
July 24, 2020
Alfred has six days left to live, and needs to tell his story. He sets off to Berlin to meet his granddaughter, but when things don’t quite go to plan, he knows he still has to tell his story. His story that will help someone special…
The story takes us through Alfred’s life from a small toddler to the 79 year old man he is today. He tells us of his experiences of war, growing up, his losses, falling in love, the prejudices that he has faced and the family secret that he must share before it’s too late.
This is so heartwarming and moving; I adored Alfred from the beginning and only loved him more by the end. It’s an emotional rollercoaster going through his life with him, but it’s a beautiful tale, hearing Alfreds memories. I’m a sucker for listening to elderly people’s stories, especially the experiences they’ve had so this book was perfect for me, and it made me feel like Alfred was real. Having finished, it’s still with me; I feel like I’ve actually sat and listened to Alfred tell me his life story.
The depth to Alfred is fantastic, and the things he goes through show’s us that he’s only human. His family secret is a fantastic twist, and the plot weaves intricately around this. Knowing that Alfred is coming towards the end of his life is emotional; although I wanted to get to the end of his story, I didn’t want it to end and didn’t want to have to say goodbye to a character I had come to love so much.
This isn’t a fast paced book, it’s a gentle and enjoyable telling of Alfred’s life with many things to think about. The story is told through various timelines from Alfred’s past to the present, and Conlin has done a brilliant job of making sure it still flows beautifully and keeps you hanging on.
I honestly adored this book, and would happily read it again. If you’re looking for something beautiful, that will take you on a moving and emotional rollercoaster, will keep you hooked but in an unusual way and is a joy to read, then you check this out. Highly recommended by me.
The story takes us through Alfred’s life from a small toddler to the 79 year old man he is today. He tells us of his experiences of war, growing up, his losses, falling in love, the prejudices that he has faced and the family secret that he must share before it’s too late.
This is so heartwarming and moving; I adored Alfred from the beginning and only loved him more by the end. It’s an emotional rollercoaster going through his life with him, but it’s a beautiful tale, hearing Alfreds memories. I’m a sucker for listening to elderly people’s stories, especially the experiences they’ve had so this book was perfect for me, and it made me feel like Alfred was real. Having finished, it’s still with me; I feel like I’ve actually sat and listened to Alfred tell me his life story.
The depth to Alfred is fantastic, and the things he goes through show’s us that he’s only human. His family secret is a fantastic twist, and the plot weaves intricately around this. Knowing that Alfred is coming towards the end of his life is emotional; although I wanted to get to the end of his story, I didn’t want it to end and didn’t want to have to say goodbye to a character I had come to love so much.
This isn’t a fast paced book, it’s a gentle and enjoyable telling of Alfred’s life with many things to think about. The story is told through various timelines from Alfred’s past to the present, and Conlin has done a brilliant job of making sure it still flows beautifully and keeps you hanging on.
I honestly adored this book, and would happily read it again. If you’re looking for something beautiful, that will take you on a moving and emotional rollercoaster, will keep you hooked but in an unusual way and is a joy to read, then you check this out. Highly recommended by me.
October 1, 2019
Approaching 80, frail and alone, a remarkable man makes the journey from his sheltered home in England to Berlin to meet his granddaughter for the first time. He has six days left to live and must share his life story before he dies to save his granddaughter.
It was an emotional read. I fell in love with Alfred. My heart instantly clutches on him when he was struggling on his own to meet his granddaughter whom he has never met before. Alfred is special. He could hear voices in his head - sort of ancient phenomenon in certain cultures. The truth behind it is still a mystery. For Alfred it’s a gift, for some it’s a torment. In the modern era, one might perceive it as mental illness. I choose to challenge the logic and see it in a different perspective.
The book wanders back and forth travelling through time to unravel Alfred’s stories of life. There were events that are painful and my heart just sinks in..(okay,no spoiler 🤧)
Alfred taught me that even at our lowest point in life when we feel like nothing could get us out of this dark tunnel we are lost inside; at one definite moment, we will creep out of the tunnel and see the light. Even if we had to crawl and scratch using our bare hands. It’s what make us human: we endure, forget and ultimately we survive.
Forgetting is a bliss. It’s like our super power. This unique flaw of us that allows us to forget all the pain and loss that lingers inside. It takes time but we will be okay. We will always make new memories and even when the details of the past aren’t vivid to us anymore, the feelings are always true and crystal clear.
January 2, 2018
Gentle, moving, absorbing
This is a gentle, poignant tale which explores the phenomenon of hearing voices and how its impact on the hearer varies from individual to individual, from being regarded as a friend and a beneficial early warning system to an enemy causing despair and suicidal thoughts.
If all this sounds heavy going, it is actually incorporated quite naturally into the fascinating narrative of Alfred's life, gradually revealed both in his own words from his childhood and via the viewpoint of an acquaintance from the start of his visit to Berlin as an elderly man. These two view points are intertwined with a third, whose identity is not immediately apparent. No spoilers here, so you are free to read on! The multiple viewpoints are used to great effect in creating and maintaining suspense and in no way impede the creation of Alfred as a believable character. The voices theme may also lead the reader to consider exactly who it is in the story who has the mental health problems and whether all of the narrators are reliable, adding further depth to the novel. A thoroughly satisfying and enjoyable read.
This is a gentle, poignant tale which explores the phenomenon of hearing voices and how its impact on the hearer varies from individual to individual, from being regarded as a friend and a beneficial early warning system to an enemy causing despair and suicidal thoughts.
If all this sounds heavy going, it is actually incorporated quite naturally into the fascinating narrative of Alfred's life, gradually revealed both in his own words from his childhood and via the viewpoint of an acquaintance from the start of his visit to Berlin as an elderly man. These two view points are intertwined with a third, whose identity is not immediately apparent. No spoilers here, so you are free to read on! The multiple viewpoints are used to great effect in creating and maintaining suspense and in no way impede the creation of Alfred as a believable character. The voices theme may also lead the reader to consider exactly who it is in the story who has the mental health problems and whether all of the narrators are reliable, adding further depth to the novel. A thoroughly satisfying and enjoyable read.
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