The Post-Birthday World

ByLionel Shriver

Release Date: 2009-03-17
Genre: Family Fiction & Literature

Score: 3.5

3.5

From 40 Ratings

Description

“Complex and nervy, Shriver’s clever meditation will intrigue anyone who has ever wondered how things might have turned out had they followed, or ignored, a life-changing impulse.” — People (Critic's Choice)

This dazzling novel from the Orange Prize–winning author of the international bestseller We Need to Talk About Kevin takes a psychological and deeply human look at love and volition

Does the course of life hinge on a single kiss? Whether the American expatriate Irena McGovern does or doesn’t lean into a certain pair of lips in London will determine whether she stays with her smart, disciplined, intellectual American partner Lawrence, or runs off with Ramsey—a wild, exuberant British snooker star the couple has known for years. Employing a parallel-universe structure, Shriver follows Irena’s life as it unfolds under the influence of two drastically different men.

In a tour de force that, remarkably, has no villains, Shriver explores the implications, both large and small, of our choice of mate—a subject of timeless, universal fascination for both sexes.

Reviews

Incomplete Version
1
By AleFW
What the f@&$!!! I bought the book thinking that I was getting the whole book, but for my surprise the book finishes in the middle of the story...and I just found that because I was talking to a friend that read the paper version. If you sell part of the book, you should say so!!! And not mentioning when you sell it is the same as you stole part of the book.
Great but incomplete book
2
By smartistic
A friend recommended this book to me when I asked her for suggestions to stock my new iPad's library and I bought it without reading the reviews. Like others, my version was disappointingly incomplete, ending on page 438 (end of chapter 12). When I'd told her I'd finished the book and she asked what I thought of the ending, imagine my surprise when she started talking about the rest of the story! Please let me know where to write or how to request a completed version of this very good book.
iBooks Version of This Wonderful Book is Incomplete
5
By Citron Presse
I love love love this book and so when I saw it was on iBooks I had to have it and read it all over again. I was disappointed to see that the digital version is incomplete...leaving out a good 30-40% of the book and even ending mid-sentence! There doesn't seem to be anyone to contact about the problem and from another review posted in September of 2010 it seems as if it's gone un-rectified for quite some time. I'd love to get my money back or a complete version.

In short, skip the digital book, but this is definitely one to pick up on your next trip to the bookstore. A brilliant read!
Troubleshooting
1
By guime5
I'm very sad to inform that I can't give a fair ammount of stars to the content of this book, just because the technology you've invented is faulty. THE IPAD VERSION IS INCOMPLETE. There are at least 40% of the book missing. What in names's god had happened? You probably are not allowed to do this. You Applestore, is interfering in reader's opinion about a book, an author, and ultimately, on life. Please fix this, and make sure this is only happening on this title. This proves that real books are not dead, on the contrary, they're still reliable good and real life friends. I've learned this as a friend showed me her "old fashioned" paperback version.
Excellent and Enjoyable Read
5
By Chloe O'Brien
This was such a wonderful book - I didn't want it to end! It was easy to imagine myself in Irina's place, and I took in her passion and sadness with both of her alternate futures. I loved that this story took advantage of life's inevitable "what if?" question which few have actually pursued.