Birdsong

I actually found the erotic scenes laughable, but maybe that's just me. On the other hand, not to ruin the story or anything, but toward the end I did become more claustrophobically immersed. I question the dual-timeframe of the narrative, since I think the modern-day framing didn't add a great deal to the journey. Themes of regeneration and genetic success could have been implied more effectively, rather than being graphically delivered.

I read this because it was one of just a few titles I'd never heard of that appeared on the World Book Day Favorite 100 books as chosen by people in UK, and I was intrigued that it ranked high in several different demographic groups.

Most compelling book I have read in a long time. Yes it is about WWI, like Moby Dick is about a whale as saying goes. Opening chapters, set before war, as erotic as war years brutal. Suspenseful too: who will survive the war?who won't? how will they die?

It's no easy feat to portray the agony of the First World War so long after it finished. There are so many magnificent contemporary accounts that this was a piece of pure cheek - but Faulks pulls it off with style and aplomb. A wonderful read.