Déjà vu is the sense of a feeling that one has lived through the present situation before.
Many of us have surely experienced this unexplainable feeling at some point in our lives. But what if someone feels very strongly that they have certainly lived through this situation and they can alter their actions to change their future?
Author: Kate Atkinson
Genre: Historical Fiction
Reading Level: Intermediate
Published Date: 14 March 2013
Pages: 624
Language: English
Something similar is happening with Ursula, in Life After Life. Born and raised in the British countryside, in her family home “The Fox Corner” with her siblings, Ursula has died more than six times. Every time getting resurrected back to life on the snowy winter night in February 1910.
After growing up, in her teenage years, Ursula could strongly sense when something dreadful was going to happen to her.
“I feel as if I’m waiting for something dreadful to happen, and then I realize it already has.” - Ursula in Life after Life by Kate Atkinson
Acting on the impulse of her dreadful feeling, she is forced to take drastic steps to avoid her death. It makes it really difficult for her to explain her actions to her family, due to which she lands up at a Psychiatry clinic. During her counseling, is when she is introduced to the idea of Amor fati.
Having this premonition, she can change the course of her actions to avoid certain situations or people or being at a particular place, will Ursula be able to make the right decisions? Can her actions result in saving the world from its horrifying future?
“Become such as you are, having learned what that is.” - Kate Atkinson in Life after Life
Would like to highlight that this book contains emotional triggers, of rape and domestic abuse. In one of the lives that the protagonist led, her life takes a turn for the worst as she succumbs to these horrifying incidents. However, in her next life, she takes strong actions and puts up a good fight in those situations.
You embark on a journey with Ursula as she lives her life through two of the devastating wars the world has seen. And we get to experience the alternate course her life can take based on her decisions.
It is really interesting to see how the next new life pans out each time. however, felt the book was slow at some places but it really picks up the pace when Ursula enters her teenage years. The character development is very well written. the book has some very endearing family bonds and values.
It’s a fascinating read, the plot is really compelling with interesting characters.
Pick up this book for a nice slow summer read if you like historical fiction, alternate history related to the world war, stories set up in the London countryside, family drama mixed with quirky light humor.
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