MY FAVOURITE AUTHOR | MARCH 2018

MY FAVOURITE AUTHOR | SEBASTIAN FAULKS 

After reading Birdsong for the first time I knew that I wanted to invest in more of Sebastian Faulks' work. So for Christmas I received A Week In December and then I bought myself Charlotte Gray in January. Birdsong, for me was hugely unexpected that I enjoyed it so much; I was expecting the story to be hugely about World War I but part of the plot was a romance and the struggle of war, with the parallel to more of a modern world with Stephen's (the main character in Birdsong) granddaughter. Due to enjoying it so much I am starting to re-read it and find myself so entranced with it and its characters. Sebastian Faulks has a gift of writing that just clicks with me, I become so involved with the novel and the characters; in other words the characters really related to me (very cheesy I know). Each character, even the most annoying ones like Monsieur Berard in Birdsong is described so well that I connect with the text so much. Not many books that I read make me want to read more books by the same author, but I'm so glad I got two more books by Sebastian Faulks because they didn't disappoint. The most recent read was Charlotte Gray, which I've said before historical fiction is my favourite genre and always probably will be. I absolutely loved it, not as much as Birdsong but the character and themes in the novel was so complex throughout. The relationships between characters and how they bring the closer even if they are miles apart from each other. Similarly to Birdsong it's set predominantly war time France, this time it was World War II, where the Nazis were surrounding them and occupying most of France. You obviously get more of a connection with a book if a character relates to you. Sometimes you don't really get a connection with any character, for e.g. I didn't enjoy Emma by Jane Austen because the language and any character I couldn't relate to or connect with. But Sebastian Faulks, for me always makes a character have the traits that you want a character to have, of course the flaws as well. Since I've read most of the 'France Trilogy' I appreciate the reference to France and the inter-textuality of French language, and culture. 

What I also like is that with every character, the detail of psychological and emotions 

Sebastian Faulks has also written a variety of books; from non-fiction to other fiction. I think everyone has certain writers that they adore their work, and I've definitely found mine. I want to read more of his work, especially his non-fiction work. He has a way of writing that entices everyone in; especially descriptively. No wonder that his works have been best-selling, it really entices a reader in to the world that he has created; that's all I wish for in a book. 

Happy Reading 
Rose x