A few days ago, on the train, I finished reading Kate Atkinson’s first book, Behind the Scenes at the Museum. This was an impulse buy in Waterstones when a third book on the 3 for 2 offer was needed, and given that, a choice that worked out very well indeed!
It tells the story of Ruby Lennox by Ruby Lennox, all the way from conception well into her grown up life. Amidst this story she flits back and forth to the lives of her ancestors. Both stories are very well told and full of so many characters that you would think the writer would struggle to keep them all three dimensional — but she doesn’t struggle at all! Each character is clearly its own, and realistically none of them are wholly good or wholly bad. The story of Ruby’s life, and her family’s keeps you hanging, as you realise that something is slightly awry with what you’re reading.
This is the first book in a long time that I have tried to eke out and to savour. I didn’t want it to end, at all. So much so that, having finished it, I went out and bought another Kate Atkinson book, Human Croquet. It’s eminently readable, and full of lovely touches like anthropomorphism of teddy bears and pre-birth narration. Overall this book is lovely, touching, and well worth a read!
2 Comments
July 8, 2009 at 3:54 pm
I read Behind The Scenes about ten years ago and loved it, particular the twist in the story towards the end which I just didn’t see coming. I haven’t read any of her recent books as she seems to have gone in for detective stories which aren’t a particular favourite of mine.
July 8, 2009 at 3:56 pm
I’m not particularly into detective stories either, but I thought this was such a good book that I’d give some of her other work a shot!