A seventeen-year-old book blog offering book reviews and news about authors, publishers, bookstores, and libraries.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Life Class
Life Class, Pat Barker’s first novel since 2004, begins on the eve of England’s entry into World War I, a time period Barker knows well and one she covered admirably in her prize winning WWI trilogy published between 1990 and 1995 (Regeneration, The Eye in the Door and Ghost Road). Naturally, mainstream critics have compared Life Class to the earlier books but they have unfortunately come to the conclusion that it is inferior to that trio. Though that might be the case, readers should not be put off by that opinion because Life Class still has much to offer.
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Sam - It was good to read your thoughts on Pat Barker's latest. I liked it too. Not every work of an artist can be as comprehensive and singular a masterpiece as the Regeneration trio, but this one was a substantive and interesting novel - I agree. I'm a big Barker fan.
ReplyDeleteIt must be difficult for someone like Pat Barker, Ted, who sets the bar so high for herself that others criticize her for not reaching that level every time out. I suppose in a way that's a nice problem to have...
ReplyDeleteAnother one I am looking at longingly...
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly worth a look, Danielle. I'm happy that it didn't get past me. :-)
ReplyDelete