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mrs_bonaventure's review against another edition
5.0
Continues the narrative from The Dust that Falls from Dreams and in fact veers off into a very realistic account of what happens when a marriage slowly goes wrong and a person walls themselves up behind fear and regret.
The central character becomes Daniel Pitt, rather than Rosie who took up the most space in the previous book, and through his connection with the wider family we see everyone’s lives span out beyond the Second World War. A worthy sequel.
The central character becomes Daniel Pitt, rather than Rosie who took up the most space in the previous book, and through his connection with the wider family we see everyone’s lives span out beyond the Second World War. A worthy sequel.
didactylos's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Profound, panoramic, moving. One of those books I did not want to end. One of those books that speaks truthfully about the human condition.
leslielu67's review against another edition
5.0
Loius is my hands-down favorite author, and not because of Captain Corelli's Mandolin. This book follows The Dust that Falls From Dreams, which should be read first. Narrators were excellent.
gilmoreguide's review against another edition
4.0
(4.5)
Daniel, a young man in his early thirties, manages a tea plantation in Ceylon in the early 1920s. He moved there from England with his wife, Rosie, and daughter Esther, after his friend, another RAF pilot in the Great War, got him the job. It is a new start for them, not just because of the war, but because their marriage is deeply troubled. Daniel hopes that a complete change will be good for all of them, but
Now he and Hugh, and the rest of those who had survived, had so much life left over that it was sometimes hard to cope with. Some became drunks; others fell quiet and imprisoned themselves inside themselves…others returned to what they had been before, and turned the war into the memory of an outrageous dream from which they had at last awoken.
It is this mindset of an incomplete life that fills author Louis de Bernières new novel, So Much Life Left Over. It’s a portrayal of one family living in Southeast Asia and Great Britain throughout the years following World War I and preceding World War II. de Bernières superbly handles a widespread cast of characters, many of whom fit well into the description quirky. The novel is infused with dry British humor—a stiff upper lip at its best without negating what are difficult times. I highlighted pages and pages for making me laugh out loud.
The rest of this review is at The Gilmore Guide to Books: https://gilmoreguidetobooks.com/2018/08/so-much-life-left-over/?doing_wp_cron=1533940256.7297420501708984375000
Daniel, a young man in his early thirties, manages a tea plantation in Ceylon in the early 1920s. He moved there from England with his wife, Rosie, and daughter Esther, after his friend, another RAF pilot in the Great War, got him the job. It is a new start for them, not just because of the war, but because their marriage is deeply troubled. Daniel hopes that a complete change will be good for all of them, but
Now he and Hugh, and the rest of those who had survived, had so much life left over that it was sometimes hard to cope with. Some became drunks; others fell quiet and imprisoned themselves inside themselves…others returned to what they had been before, and turned the war into the memory of an outrageous dream from which they had at last awoken.
It is this mindset of an incomplete life that fills author Louis de Bernières new novel, So Much Life Left Over. It’s a portrayal of one family living in Southeast Asia and Great Britain throughout the years following World War I and preceding World War II. de Bernières superbly handles a widespread cast of characters, many of whom fit well into the description quirky. The novel is infused with dry British humor—a stiff upper lip at its best without negating what are difficult times. I highlighted pages and pages for making me laugh out loud.
The rest of this review is at The Gilmore Guide to Books: https://gilmoreguidetobooks.com/2018/08/so-much-life-left-over/?doing_wp_cron=1533940256.7297420501708984375000
hanneke22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
It’s been awhile since I read ‘the dust that falls from dreams’ and I didn’t remember all of the characters who were quite casually dropped in this novel. The story focuses mostly on Daniel, and I didn’t really like his character most of the time. I could understand some of his motives, but wasn’t really happy with them.
Loved the writing and the use of the title and the interpretations the author gave.
4 ⭐️
Loved the writing and the use of the title and the interpretations the author gave.
4 ⭐️
lpats82's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
shellb's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jessicawoofter's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
irfoxwriter's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I enjoyed this second instalment much more than the first - the audiobook is really fantastic. I find them particularly engaging because they take place in so many locations that have a personal significance for me. I particularly loved when Dr Yiannis from Captain Corelli’s Mandolin made an appearance, and Esther’s death was a real emotional sucker-punch that brought tears to my eyes. . De Bernieres will always be one of my favourite authors.