Life After Life - BBC begins this evening

First time I'd seen this advertised tonight, that's my Sunday sorted!

It’s interesting to read the mixed opinions on this. When I first saw it was going to be a series I thought how difficult it would be to put it on screen and I thought they did a pretty good job, especially with the casting. They did, of course miss a lot of the book out. I wonder if they will follow up with A God In Ruins but I suppose it depends on the viewing figures. I’m interested that those who disliked it also disliked The Time Traveller’s Wife which is one of my favourite books. It wouldn’t do if we all had the same tastes.

Thanks for this.
I loved this book as well, and A God in Ruins, I never read Transcripions as it had such bad reviews.
Like so many of you, I started with
Behind the Scenes at the Museum, loved it, leant it to a friend who thought it was awful

Might give this one a go.
We are after something new to watch.

Just binge watched it all, loved it, especially episode four. It’s been a good while since I read the book, but will have to look it out for a re-read. The acting, the costumes, the cinematography were wonderful. There was definitely bits of the book totally missed out, but it still worked. Overall, imo, it more than did credit to the book.

Like Love to Paint, I started to read Life After Life but couldn't get on with it. (I loathed The Time Traveller's wife and soon gave up. I seem to recall that I found it rather snobby).

However, I decided to give this series of Life After Life a go and I absolutely love it. The acting is wonderful and the photography brilliant.

Only one episode to go and I hope the ending doesn't disappoint.

I think the only book of Kate Atkinson's that I read and enjoyed was Secrets of the Museum, which my friend got me for my birthday. Also I think Transcriptions, which I didn't enjoy.

Isn't it meant to be a meditation on the many lives that a person could have led?

I haven’t read the book but I quite enjoyed watching it last night.

I haven’t read the book and I found the first episode somewhat confusing. I had read about the dying several times, but I took that to mean they were showing various possibilities, different outcomes of events. So a suspension of belief. Ok. What I did not get was Ursula’s age. Born in 1910 would have made her four when war broke out, yet when her father left she was much older.

Thanks Calendar Girl for the info that the all of the episodes are now on iPlayer.

I think they must release them all after the first episode has aired. They definitely weren't available yesterday afternoon

I know what i will be doing tonight

I disliked 'Life after Life' intensely and am disappointed that they chose to film that one out of all her books most of which are terrific. 'A God in Ruins' is one of the best books I've ever read.

It is very rare that I don’t finish a book. In fact the only two that I can remember is Life After Life and the Time Travellers Wife. Got really fed up with the dying!!!! Still they will probably change it so at least I won’t wring my hands in frustration as I usually do when books I like or love are spoiled in this way.

Thanks for the explanations everyone who has read the book etc. I will persevere with it.

I gave up on it.

Joseanne

I'm a bit confused as to how many times she actually died?

From memory she dies a lot in the beginning of the book, particularly when as we saw her in the first episode, baby and child. Then if I remember rightly it was a case of if she took a certain path at various junctures of her life, how differently her life would have paned out and the interludes between the deaths get longer, I think?

I read the book quite a while ago, when it was first published, I realised I'd forgotten some of the finer detail, such as what an absolute shit horror Maurice was. I was dubious as to whether I would like the dramatisation, but thought it was very well done.

If this series is a success maybe it will be followed up with the sequel, A God in Ruins which was very much about Teddy particularly his young life as a fighter pilot in WW2.

I'm hooked already, loved the book will follow on iplayer.

I’m enjoying it so far and have set series report to make sure I don’t miss the next ones. I have read the book but cannot remember much but bits came back to me as I watched the programme.

Hmmm ... it's a good try. But the beauty of Atkinson's books is the slick verbal humour, which is not in the form of dialogue and cannot be replicated on screen.

Joseanne

I'm a bit confused as to how many times she actually died?

At birth, in the sea, falling from the window and from flu. I think that was it.

I enjoyed it too. Pretty true to the book apart from the omitted opening chapter which I think was a shame.

It fair romped along, maybe too quickly and in doing so misses some of the nuances of the book, for example, Sylvie Todd's attraction to George Glover dispensed with by Hugh's comment about her "liveliness" in the bedroom! A small criticism. 4/5

By coincidence, I read this book for your second time just after Christmas. Excellent and the dramatisation looks promising so far with the delightful Teddy and rather horrid Maurice

Joseanne

I'm a bit confused as to how many times she actually died?

She dies many times with different outcomes, don’t be distracted by the number of times, just enjoy the story.

I'm a bit confused as to how many times she actually died?

I loved it.

PinkCosmos

Just checked iPlayer. It doesn't look like I can binge watch. The BBC seem to be showing them just weekly. There are four episodes showing on the list.

All episodes on I player.

I thought that was very well done and all episodes are now on the iPlayer.

I also enjoyed Life After Life but preferred the sequel A God in Ruins. I see the BBC have listed Life After Life in their TV schedules as Sci-Fi!

I agree that Transcriptions was disappointing and look forward to a return to form in her next book.