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Life After Life

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Life After Life

By: Kate Atkinson
Narrated by: Fenella Woolgar
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About this listen

What if you had the chance to live your life again and again, until you finally got it right?

During a snowstorm in England in 1910, a baby is born and dies before she can take her first breath. During a snowstorm in England in 1910, the same baby is born and lives to tell the tale.

What if there were second chances? And third chances? In fact an infinite number of chances to live your life? Would you eventually be able to save the world from its own inevitable destiny? And would you even want to?

Life After Life follows Ursula Todd as she lives through the turbulent events of the last century again and again. With wit and compassion, she finds warmth even in life’s bleakest moments, and shows an extraordinary ability to evoke the past. Here is Kate Atkinson at her most profound and inventive, in a novel that celebrates the best and worst of ourselves.

©2013 Kate Atkinson (P)2013 Random House Audiobooks
20th Century Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Romance Women's Fiction England

Editorial reviews

Life After Life is the latest release audiobook by master of contemporary fiction, Kate Atkinson and narrated by English actress Fenella Woolgar. The story follows that of Ursula who is given infinite chances at life. Most would believe that the value of life would be lost should the chances to live it were endless but it is with this profound gift that Ursula sees how desperate the need is to protect Earth from human destruction. This is a story that is so cleverly constructed in its plot and deep in its meaning you will be enchanted from the opening words. Available now from Audible.

What listeners say about Life After Life

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Life after life

Don't be like me; I don't like to read the dust-jackets of books in case they give too much away. However in this instance I should have! This is a beautifully written and wonderfully performed book but I got confused with various lives starting and re-starting in the story. My mistake!

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A new favourite

Where does Life After Life rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is one of the best books I've listened to! I've been subscribed for over 2 years but Fenella Woolgar has been one of my favourite narrators. She really brings the characters to life. I loved every moment of this and couldn't stop listening!

What did you like best about this story?

I am a big fan of metaphysical narratives which are well written. This reminded me of David Mitchell novels. It was complex and many layered and beautiful to read.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

The part about the Blitz really stayed with me.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Superb.

Wonderful story - rather KM Peytonesque but with extra punch. Favourite book since A Gentlemen in Moscow. Oh, and brilliantly read too!

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beautiful touching story

very well written story almost forgot it was fiction. The narrotor spoke wonderfully

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Brilliant story

Loved the performance from Fenella Woolgar! Absolutely perfect. Also liked the story a lot but the ending was really ... just annoying to be honest! It should have ended several pages earlier rather than where it did. Anyway. I still deeply enjoyed this book.

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Wonderful

Interesting and clever, I’ve really enjoyed “life after life”. Highly recommended. Pay attention, you will not be disappointed.

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Life After Life

Wonderful, so compelling, many times brought me to tears. Can’t wait to read another Kate Atkinson
Excellent narration!

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Superb

Very well written novel based on Nietzsche's ideas concerning reincarnation and The Eternal Re-Occurence of the Same. Our heroine journeying and re-journeying through time endlessly always from the same point. The narrative is engaging and the variations on fate and free will constantly surprise the reader. Because of the looping nature of the story it can be a little difficult to follow at times but careful reading and attention to who is doing what and when will get the reader through. The narration is excellent from an accomplished actress.

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Just wonderful.

I don't read many books twice but this I want to listen to again. beautifully written and read.

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Thought provoking

A brilliant read. One family and so many different outcomes. Ursula is an amazing character.

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