Behind the Scenes at the Museum

by Kate Atkinson | Literature & Fiction |
ISBN: Global Overview for this book
Registered by Random-Poet of Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on 2/22/2006
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2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by Random-Poet from Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Wednesday, February 22, 2006
This book had never appealed to me but then I read her book of short stories, which I loved. So when I found this copy (in good condition)in the office bookswap, I just had to pick it up.....

I loved this to start with, witty and moving at the same time. However as I went on I got a little tired of the narrative voice, confused by the to-ing and froing with different time frames and characters (please a family tree would have helped!) and the overuse of coincidence and terrible tragedy. Its worth reading but nowhere near as good as the authors short stories.


Released 17 yrs ago (5/12/2006 UTC) at Royal Museum, Chambers Street in Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom

WILD RELEASE NOTES:

RELEASE NOTES:

I'll probably release this in the foyer, near the fish tanks.

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Journal Entry 3 by CarlaM from Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Friday, May 12, 2006
I was quite surprised to find this book sitting on a bench in Edinburgh Museum, and a little suspicious at first (who would be so kind as to leave free books, after all?) But very interested in the blurb, so happy to take it home with me (to Melbourne, Australia). Hope you don't mind it going so far. Will then pass it on at home, in Bookcrossing style... stay tuned for its future adventures!

Journal Entry 4 by CarlaM from Melbourne CBD, Victoria Australia on Thursday, May 25, 2006
I had never read any of Kate Atkinson's stuff before, but really enjoyed this book. I can see what the previous reader meant about the use of coincidence and tragedy - I do find it implausible that all of these things could happen within one family in reality. However, this didn't occur to me while I was reading it - it is a work of fiction, after all. The constant crossing between generations was confusing at first - I had to constantly remind myself of who was who - but once I learned the names of characters well, it wasn't a problem.
The story was moving, and the author's style witty, clever, and thankfully never soppy or overly sentimental. Having previously said that it's a lot to happen to one family, I did find the characters accessible, and real. The title 'Behind the Scenes at the Museum' also appealed to me, as it gave me a glimpse of the lives of women in my mother's, grandmothers', and great-grandmothers' generations.

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