Sebastian Faulks

Sebastian Faulks wrote the very popular (in England anyway) Birdsong. Most people I know loved this novel but I simply liked it. Then I read Human Traces which was enormously promising but turned out to have structural problems. Now I'm reading Engleby and I'm admiring it and enjoying it. Lots of philosophical observations about people, politics and England from 1973 onwards.

Any comments?

I've never read Birdsong, but have intended to for a long time. I had high hopes for Human Traces because the topic really interested me ... but I was very disappointed in it. I might have to add Engleby to my list. Thanks for the recommendation!

I read Birdsong and thought it was quite good, mostly I think because I learned about WWI from a British perspective. I liked Charlotte Gray a bit less. I have The Girl at the Lion d'Or on my TBR pile but am not sure when I'll get to it.

I swallowed up the trilogy of Birdsong, Girl at the Lion D'Or and Charlotte Gray - all of which I loved. Charlotte Gray seemed the saddest to me. I also read his nonfiction account of Three Englishmen, which was quite good - but his forte is fiction.

His Human Traces needed a good edit and was a dissappointing follow-up after his intial successes although the medical emphasis did hold my attention. I have Engleby and hope to read it soon. He has great talent, I think.

>4 kiwidoc:: karenwardill, I did not realize Birdsong, Girl at the Lion D'Or, and Charlotte Gray were a trilogy. Is that also the order they are meant to be read? If so I skipped the middle one ...

Lindsad - I think they are loosely related and classified as a trilogy as they follow a time period from the first to second world war. I liked them all - esp Charlotte Grey - although I think Birdsong is his considered masterpiece.

Hello.

Here's some interesting news about Sebastian Faulks:

Faulks pens new James Bond novel

#7 ck: interesting that he would write a James Bond book - not sure what I think about that. I wonder if it is a money issue, as then he would have screen rights when the film is made? Maybe they have run out of books to make into movies -

I'm such a suspicion person.......

Well, I know I am in a minority but I thought Birdsong was a not very good book, and really didn't like Girl at the Lion D'Or. I have been told to give On Green Dolphin Street a go, but if if I didn't like the other two, is it worth it?

WELL - there you go - that is what makes the world go around. I thought Birdsong was excellent. I really liked his writing style. I think some people did not enjoy the 'war' aspects of this book.

He may be a bit of an inconsistent writer and I haven't heard great things about his latest book Engleby - but if we all liked the same things..............the world would be a boring place.

I think that Engleby might be his best work yet. (Only an opinion)