A God in Ruins

A Novel

By: Kate Atkinson

Narrated by: Alex Jennings

Length: 16 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

The stunning companion to Kate Atkinson's number-one best seller Life After Life, "one of the best novels I've read this century" (Gillian Flynn).

"He had been reconciled to death during the war and then suddenly the war was over and there was a next day and a next day. Part of him never adjusted to having a future."

Kate Atkinson's dazzling Life After Life explored the possibility of infinite chances and the power of choices, following Ursula Todd as she lived through the turbulent events of the last century over and over again.

A God in Ruins tells the dramatic story of the 20th century through Ursula's beloved younger brother, Teddy - would-be poet, heroic pilot, husband, father, and grandfather - as he navigates the perils and progress of a rapidly changing world. After all that Teddy endures in battle, his greatest challenge is living in a future he never expected to have.

An ingenious and moving exploration of one ordinary man's path through extraordinary times, A God in Ruins proves once again that Kate Atkinson is one of the finest novelists of our age.

©2015 Kate Atkinson (P)2015 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"[N]arrator Alex Jennings is a master. From the opening lines, his impeccable British accent establishes the scene and captures the persona of the main character, Teddy, and the rest of the diverse cast. Jennings's clear diction and pace advance the action through richly detailed accounts of Teddy's adventures as a WWII bomber pilot as well as quieter dramas of his daily life and family relationships." (AudioFile)

Beautiful writing, but . . .

I love Kate Atkinson, have read everything she's published, and will continue to do so. This is beautifully written, and sections of it are extremely engaging and moving. I think I would have done better with this book had I read it instead of listened to it.

I wasn't thrilled with Alex Jennings' narration for two reasons: (a) his voicing of women, particularly Teddy's daughter Viola, and (b) his reading of quotations in the voice of the characters who said them. As in, when Teddy is thinking of something his wife or daughter said, it is spoken in his wife or daughter's voice. I understand the intent but found that it kept jarring me out of Teddy's thoughts. It gave the quotes an affected, somewhat sarcastic tone.

The book jumps around in time, particularly at the beginning, and that made it difficult for me to feel a strong connection to Teddy. I never really did, which is one of my problems with the book. He's a kind, sweet, moral man, but I didn't find him very interesting. His daughter Viola is such a pill that it's hard to believe anybody could be this unpleasant, and I found the voicing of her difficult to listen to. There's only so much time one wants to spend listening to this kind of person! The sections dealing with Teddy's war and his bombing raids are marvelous, as is the section about Teddy's grandson Sunny's childhood.

Some of the book's characters resemble archetypes more than people; their actions and personalities are so extreme and without redeeming factors. Viola, her husband Dominic, and Dominic's mother are difficult to swallow as real people.

Great author but Not this author's best

We all loved Life After Life in my book group. Several of the members suggested Atkinson's mysteries. I listened to Case Histories by her. It was fantastic. This one however was not interesting. None of the characters were likable.

Interesting twist at the end.

I wasn't expecting that. The flight imagery was beautiful. Actually all the imagery was intense.

Kate Atkinson is one of my favorite authors.

This book, along with its companion piece, Life After Life, is a splendid study of Britain just before, during, and in the years after WWII. I recommend it to anyone interested in this period.

Outstanding!!!

This is an extraordinary book! It really should be read with it’s companion book - Life After Life , although it can stand on own. The narration in both is exceptionally good. I am so sorry to have come to the end! Give it a try - Ursula and Teddy will stay with you for a very long time.

Perfection!

Listening to both “Life after life” and “A god in ruins” has been such a transforming experience. I have loved Ms Atkinson’s other books, but these companion books just blew me away! There aren’t enough words ( or, it would take pages ) to describe how they made me feel, think and expand after listening to them. My recommendation - listen to them one after another! Fantastic story, writing and narration!

Masterful follow-up to "Life After Life"

What made the experience of listening to A God in Ruins the most enjoyable?

Atkinson is a literary writer of the highest caliber, a magician with words and story. When I heard there was a follow-up to her supremely artful and wondrous "Life After Life," I RAN to Audible. A GOD IN RUINS is yet another feast for lovers of carefully culled words, and deeply developed characters. My only complaint is that, at 16 hours, it STILL wasn't long enough for me.

What other book might you compare A God in Ruins to and why?

Obviously, it is Atkinson's LIFE AFTER LIFE, where we first fell in love with Teddy Todd, now the protagonist of A GOD IN RUINS. But I also put this book in a the same category as Anthony Doer's ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE, as well as any of Pat Barker's brilliant WWI books, and also Louisa Young's MY DEAR, I WANTED TO TELL YOU, and LOVE AND TREASURE. I might even add to that UNBROKEN.

What does Alex Jennings bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

You can tell that Kate Atkinson puts great and careful thought into each word she chooses to put on the page. Alex Jennings does honor to the author by beautifully voicing each character--and not getting in the way.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I did. I listened in a two-day period. All the while thinking, "Don't listen. Stay away. Let it last."I'm taking a week off and then starting it over. Unlike a fine wine that is gone once it's been consumed, I can thankfully listen to A GOD IN RUINS over and over.

Any additional comments?

I really loved the fact that at the end of this book, Atkinson actually discusses how she came to do a follow-up to LIFE AFTER LIFE, and then why she put it into the format she did. She explained her desire to write a book specifically about the British bombing raids of WWII. If you have not read LIFE AFTER LIFE, you might still enjoy this book. But if you read this book first, I am almost positive you'll want to then go back and read LIFE AFTER LIFE.I am so grateful to have read this touching, introspective, thought provoking look at the moral dilemmas of those fighting "the good war." I wish I could give it ten stars.

Good but sad

I almost stopped the book because it made me so sad. Teddy was such a great character that was going through the motions of life not necessarily enjoying any part of it

Well-written, but annoying storyline

I loved the first book, LIFE AFTER LIFE, and the diction in both books, but the characters in this book were mostly depressing and with few redeeming qualities. Teddy, who seemed so charming, hopeful and... touched by goodness... was pathetic and weak in this book. Maybe that's the point. Maybe it's the reality of life as one grows up, that things aren't always so pretty or gifted or "touched". I found his marriage, his children and his entire post-war life so... sad. I want to give this book 3 ☆ because I didn't like the people, but that's probably not fair. Any book that elicits a strong reaction to characters and plot is a good book with good writing, no? Everything about this book, subject matter, research, word choice, flow, structure, diction, everything is very good. I just didn't like the people as I thought I would. Though the ending was almost a relief, in response. So 4☆.

Another Atkinson home-run.

Be prepared to cry your eyes out during the last hour of this book. I have listened to "Life after Life" over and over again since it came out and I imagine I will do the same with "A God in Ruins". Both readers were excellent and Kate Atkinson has become my very favorite writer in the last decade. In particular, these two books prove to me that Atkinson is a magical thinker.