Levels of Life
Ratings13
Average rating3.8
“You put together two things that have not been put together before. And the world is changed...”
This is my second book by Barnes and I think I have to accept incompatibility and move on from this author. His prose always leaves me bored and unmoved.
It is, how one review aptly describes, an examination of grief. I could sympathise but that's all I felt.
I would have liked to give this book a five star rating, but people are different - and although the description of death and grief is touching, I don't know if I can regognize it - thankfully.
The most interesting part: How Julian Barnes grapples with loss, and how he handles all those helpless souls trying to comfort, help, distance themselves or whatver they do to meet the author in his sorrow.
For photographers, the first part of the book is a must read, as it's all about Nadar, the great 19th century portrait and aerial photographer.
Julian Barnes bared his tortured soul in the final third of this tiny book. He is a gifted and beautiful writer (even if I didn't particularly find the ballooning part of the novel very interesting.)