A God in Ruins: A Novel (Todd Family #2) [S0018]

2016 PB with minor wear. The "magnificent" (NPR) companion to Kate Atkinson's #1 bestseller Life After Life, A God in Ruins is "nothing short of a masterpiece" (Paula Hawkins). "He had been reconciled to death during the war and then suddenly the war was over and there was a next day and a next day. Part of him never adjusted to having a future." Kate Atkinson's dazzling Life After Life explored the possibility of infinite chances and the power of choices, following Ursula Todd as she lived through the turbulent events of the last century over and over again. A God in Ruins tells the dramatic story of the 20th Century through Ursula's beloved younger brother Teddy--would-be poet, heroic pilot, husband, father, and grandfather-as he navigates the perils and progress of a rapidly changing world. After all that Teddy endures in battle, his greatest challenge is living in a future he never expected to have. An ingenious and moving exploration of one ordinary man's path through extraordinary times, A God in Ruins proves once again that Kate Atkinson is one of the finest novelists of our age. Named one of the Best Books of the Year by TIME, NPR, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Christian Science Monitor, Seattle Times, Kansas City Star, Kirkus Reviews, Bookpage, Hudson Booksellers, and AARP.

From Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "Atkinson's Life After Life (LAL) was so brilliant and inventive that I wondered what she would do to follow it up - that book is one hard act to follow even for an author as gifted as she is. A God in Ruins (AGIR) isn't as challenging to read as LAL, but I think in its own way, it's just as brilliant, moving and beautifully written. AGIR is written so that it's enjoyable even if you haven't read LAL, but for a richer experience, I recommend reading LAL first, especially since they have many characters in common."; "What I like best about Atkinson's work is her sense of humor about the tragedies of human life. She is a wonderful storyteller on the order of a Bruegel painting: large canvas, detailed figures not all doing the good and great thing. She gives us history, and we see the now, but we also get potential for the future. She does not leave us feeling that the thoughtful or erudite must be gloomy or humorless. With this two-book fiction, she gives us enough distance to see possible outcomes of decisions made now, and we always have the sense that we can change the outcomes if we don't like where we're headed. Character is malleable! We can change.";"Kate Atkinson is more addictive than crack. She's a wordsmith of the first order. I've yet to read Life After Life, the companion predecessor to A God In Ruins, but I had no trouble immersing myself in Atkinson's universe. I was somewhat taken aback by Atkinson's depiction of love and attachment. Many of her characters are pragmatic about coupling and seem hardily stoic when it comes to infidelity, divorce and/or death. Maybe that's the British way. The stiff upper lip. Or maybe that's Atkinson's personality pushing through. Either way, I found it added to the wonderful ambiance of the novel. No forced sentimentality here. Teddy's non-linear progression through the stages of his life gave me pause. I could see a bit of myself in his character, and it made me a little sad. Time, like a good novel, seems to pass far too quickly. I'm looking forward to more of Atkinson's pennings; she has officially captured my interest."