Thursday, January 01, 2015

First Book of the Year 2015!

Happy New Year!

I am once again participating in Book Journey's First Book of the Year meme, hosted by Sheila.

My first book of 2015 was supposed to be my last book of 2014, but I haven't finished it yet. End or beginning, it doesn't matter. It is a great way to start off my new reading year because it is such an amazing book!



I'm reading Life After Life by Kate Atkinson, one of 2013's hottest books (I am always behind), and it is living up to my high expectations. It's about a woman who is reborn - back to her original birth date in February 1910 - every time she dies. It happens again and again, and each time she lives a slightly different life. She doesn't remember her past lives, but she gets feelings of deja vu and sometimes, at the moment of a significant turning point or cause of death, she gets a strong feeling to act in a certain way (thus, hopefully, preventing the same death as the last time).

I love plots like this, in part because they are so endlessly thought-provoking. What if it happened to you? How could your life have turned out differently? What seemingly trivial decisions are actually major turning points? It reminds me in many ways of my favorite book of all time, Replay by Ken Grimwood, in which a man keeps replaying his adulthood, going back to 18 when he dies.

Like I said, I am loving this book! I find myself thinking about it at odd moments (always the sign of a great book!), and I can't wait to find out what happens to Ursula this time. In fact, I think this will be my only online activity today so I can devote some of my New Year's Day to reading!

What is your First Book of the Year?

Have a happy new year filled with wonderful books!

3 comments:

  1. I haven't read this one! I've heard it's good. I've had the flu this week and am down for the count....so I may not participate this year in First Book of the Year. Thanks for the picture!

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  2. I've read great reviews for this book. You have me really curious about it now. Happy New Year!

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  3. This sounds very good. I enjoyed Replay but this sounds quite different since she doesn't realize it's happening. I'm adding it to my ever-growing list.

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