Play Book Tag discussion

Birdsong: A Novel of Love and War by Sebastian Faulks - 5* - My Review

Beautifully written novel about life, love, friendship, and war. It begins with Englishman Stephen Wraysford’s life prior to the start of World War I. He is sent to work in Amiens, France, where he falls in love with the factory owner’s wife. It then moves forward to France in 1916. Stephen is a lieutenant in the British Army, which is engaged in trench warfare. The last part is based in the 1970s. Stephen’s granddaughter, Elizabeth, is attempting to track down what happened to her grandfather after discovering several journals he wrote during the war.

Faulks’s elegant writing is filled with vivid imagery. We follow Stephen to the battlefield, experiencing the sights, sounds, and horrors of war. There is a scene in which Stephen and another soldier are trapped in an underground tunnel. I experienced a sense of claustrophobia that was almost palpable. We also accompany Elizabeth as she visits a veteran in an asylum many years later, showing him the tenderness and compassion that he has missed in his isolated environment.

This book contains seven sections and three time periods. It explores a wide variety of themes, including love, heartbreak, loneliness, fear, and courage. It also takes a look at the psychological effects of war and the attempt to maintain some semblance of humanity under excruciating conditions. It is a difficult read in many places, but also feels authentic. The book examines the futility of war and the deep wounds it leaves on society. It also includes a hopeful note about remembrance and the circle of life. The characters seem so genuine that I missed them when I finished the book. I simply loved it and am adding it to my list of favorites.

This one is on my favorite list! I read it many years ago and I didn’t write a review for it, but it definitely stuck with me. Plus WW1 stories seem to be less common than WW2. So glad to see someone else read it and appreciate it.

Great reveiw, Joy. I think< I may have this on my tbr. If I can only find it.

Shelly wrote: "This one is on my favorite list! I read it many years ago and I didn’t write a review for it, but it definitely stuck with me. Plus WW1 stories seem to be less common than WW2. So glad to see someo..."
Glad to see you loved it too!

Booknblues wrote: "Great reveiw, Joy. I think< I may have this on my tbr. If I can only find it."
Thanks! I've had a copy for years and finally got around to reading it.