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Submitted by Anonymous 
(May 18, 2003)This was definitely the best book I have ever read. I had to read it for an English project at school and I thought the way Sebastian Faulks wrote the novel was fantastic. My favourite part was the trench scenes because the scenery was depicted so clearly that I felt I was really there. The beginning was slightly hard to get into at first but once I was over the initial introduction of the characters, I really got into it. The only thing I didn't like as much as I had hoped was when Sebastian Faulks kept jumping through time. I would give this book 5 out of 5 for originality and entertainment and I will definitely be looking out for more by the same author.
Submitted by Chris Hawes 
(Apr 04, 2003)Hmm. I had to read this book for my A-Level English Literature Coursework unit, so it was not out of choice. To be totally honest, the start bored me senseless, and I began to resent my teacher for choosing it. After agonizing over the slow tempo, I skipped the rest of part one and moved on to part two. From then I was hooked. The war chapters are incredible, and to be honest Sebastian, I think you should have just written the novel within a war scenario, and revealed Stephen's past through his memory. Then there are the 1970's sections, oh dear. After all Stephen has been put through and the journey that we have experienced with him, we end the book with a random called Elizabeth. What's up with that? A strange book, painted with brilliance but hindered by the author's desire to complete the story for us, I would have preferred an open ending, leaving us to wonder what happened to him. Peace.
Submitted by Sara Blank
(Jan 19, 2003)This was the first book by this author that I read, and afterwards I went out and got the other two in the trillogy. I too struggled with his style of jumping back and forth between stories initially, but as I got into the book I found I enjoyed it more because of it. I began to feel as though I was reading more than one book, and I developed deep interest in all of the characters. And I must say that when you get to the end of one of his novels, you are totaly blown away by the beautiful and intricate way the characters and events come together. His writing is so descriptive, but doesn't go overboard or become boring like many authors who attempt this level of complexity. He hooked me early in the book and didn't let me go until the very last word! I loved it.
Submitted by Felicity. R. Spence 
(Dec 12, 2002)This book gives us a fantastic insight into the First World War, it epitomises the pity of this terrible time and shows that war can affect anyone at any time. I can guarantee that anyone who reads this novel will be deeply moved by it.
Submitted by Robyn Moorcroft
(Jun 04, 2002)I thought that this book was brilliant. It had all the things a good book needs, and more. The trench scenes were brilliant, the description was great, just one problem... I hated the fact that it kept jumping to different times. I had just got into the beginning, when all of a sudden, I had to read another story to continue! It would have been ok if it was jumping forward, then back, but not in each of the stories!
However, this book was great, but I don't intend to read any more of Sebastian Faulks' books!
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