Search - Birdsong: A Novel of Love and War

I found this novel to be dissapointing. The relationship between Stephen and Isabelle was more about lust, curiosity, and escape. It was finished before it even began. Most of the story is about the details of WWI, which was fine, but the exaggeration of details made this book drag. Too many characters and not enough character build-up. The ending seemed rushed, therefore, fell flat. The story could have gone along without the character of Elizabeth. Not an impressive novel in my opinion.

This book has been on my TBR shelf for almost 4 years. I finally decided to read it when I heard that a BBC adaptation of the novel is scheduled to be aired on PBS' Masterpiece. The first part of this was shown last weekend and the conclusion this coming Sunday (I have my DVR set to record). Anyway, I thought the novel was wonderful telling the story of a young British man, Wraysford, who finds love in France prior to WWI. He falls for the wife of a man who he is staying with in France to learn about the fabric trade. Then the novel throws the reader into the midst of the horrors of the Great War. Faulks is very graphic in his descriptions of both love and war. The novel then shifts between the horrors of the trenches to the 1970s and Wraysford's granddaughter who is trying to find out more about her grandfather and what it was like during WWI. Overall, I would highly recommend this novel, especially to anyone interested in learning more about WWI, and I'm looking forward to watching the BBC adaptation.

Just could not get into it.

I have to agree with reviewers who struggled with this book or found it disappointing. I too, thought the romance between Stephen & Isabelle was not too believable. I liked that Stephen's granddaughter was searching to know more about him, and the scene with Stephen's former comrade from the trenches, the old man in the rest home, is very moving. The WWI scenes are excellent and the soldiers and the situation that Faulks creates are very "real". Therefore, I found the novel somewhat uneven - half great; half not very good. Maybe if he'd jettisoned the romantic affair, it would actually have been a better novel (for me).

Very powerful, poignant novel set mostly in France just in the years before and during WWI. Evokes memories of All Quiet on the Western Front and For Whom the Bell Tolls. Wonderfully-drawn characters of men and women. A memorable book well worth the read.

I just couldn't get started on this book. I tried several times to begin reading it, but found it's only attribute to be the ability to lull me to sleep immediately. Sorry, I'm sure it is probably a sleeper, but I just didn't have the patience.