Arrived today from a fellow paperbackswap member.

Ursula Todd, born in 1910, undergoes many near-death experiences in her life. Well, actual death in some cases. We cringe as "darkness falls" again and again. But that's not all.

She lives different lives. The same people, in general, enter it, but in different ways. It seems like she is trying out different ways to live the same life, wondering how much is inevitable.

Inventive, yes. I found it a little annoying, though. I really wanted her to live just one life that I could get behind and cheer her through. This stopping and starting again made me seasick and a longing for something more.

Added to booklady331's CD-only bookbox.

Glad to find this in the box because I got a copy of this book from the library but had to return it before I could finish. I had gone through only 3 discs or so, and found it very interesting. Though it does take a lot of concentration to listen, as Ursala keeps starting a new life in a blink... so it takes quite a few back tracking.

Now I can finally get to finish the book without having to worry about the library deadline. Thanks!

The beginning of the book was a bit confusing, as Ursala didn't live very long. Blink, and you miss her death and rebirth. However, as the book continues, Ursala, supposedly having learnt from her previous "mistakes" improves her lifespan, and the story gets more interesting. Set in WWII, the lives described is excellent historical fiction in itself.

Ursala doesn't seem to exactly remember her past lives, except for some premonition that nudges her to a better path, not like books like "Replay", where the character gets rich "predicting" the stock market and derbies. However, towards the end, I am not sure if Ursala's many rebirths and experiences earn her Nirvana though. Seems like she is on a hamster wheel. I kind of felt like, leave the poor girl along already!

Off to KathyB it goes!!

Received today from Azuki - thanks!