In the first chapter, eva bumps into her future husband jim in 1958 when she punctures her bike tyre on a nail and he stops to help. In versions, barnett tells three alternate versions of a love story, spliced together in chronological order. This is what the english author laura barnett does in her debut novel, the versions of us, a captivating whirlwind of a book that offers readers three variations on one couples life. In 2014, barnett published advice from the players, collected advice from actors for those hoping to pursue a theatrical career. It is published in the usa in by houghton mifflin harcourt. Read extracts, journalism, download short stories and view author events. In the unraveling of the tale of a single relationship and all of its possibilities, the versions of us explores the wide net that our lives cast as we move or are moved by purpose and chance.
This is the question posed by laura barnetts first novel, which already looks set to become one of the summers big reads. With the versions of us, laura barnett has created a world as magical and affecting as those that captivated readers in one day and life after life. The versions of us is an outstanding debut novel about the choices we make and the different paths that our lives might follow. On the surface, its a little like anagrams by lorrie moore, too. So eva is plumping cushions while jims lover helena is cleaning, tidying in parallel but different stories as jim paints a triptych he calls the versions of us. The versions of us by laura barnett bookish bucket list. Mernie gilmore, daily express a clever, romantic debut barnett tells three outcomes of the same affair, a simple, effective metaphor for the paths love itself can take you on. Enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Barnett has also written a nonfiction book and a book of awardwinning short stories. Her first novel, the versions of us, will be published in english, german, spanish, italian, french, portuguese, czech, and mandarin. Laura s second greatest love, after literature, is music, and music from the rolling stones and talking heads to schubert and mozart also punctuates the lives of eva and jim in the versions of us. Posted on april 27, 2017 august 14, 2017 by carina. Newcomer barnett labels each chapter installment as version one, two, or three.
Download or read online the versions of us by laura. Feb 10, 2016 the versions of us, by laura barnett 4. In version three, eva marries the same lesser bloke but makes a course correction midbook. Elle a dazzling novel about the ways the smallest decisions give shape to our lives, the versions of us charts a relationship through three possible futures. The versions of us laura barnett poppy loves book club. Jun 07, 2016 versions is a little like the movie sliding doors. The oxford student oxfords biggest student newspaper, produced by and for. They fell wildly in love, or went their separate ways. And, most crucially, what if an author decided it was a good idea to tell three versions of the same story. Laura barnetts debut novel is now available in paperback, ebook and audio. The versions of us ebook by laura barnett rakuten kobo. Read online or download the versions of us by laura barnett book for free hello fellow readers. In bitesized alternating chapters, evas and jims lives spin along, apart and intersecting, together and fraying, over the next 56 years. May 28, 2015 the versions of us is well written, deftly crafted and constantly surprising, in the way that chaotic real life is surprising.
How did you find reading the book in three simultaneous realities. Three variations on a couple track roads not taken, lives unlived. The versions of us by laura barnett extract scribd. The versions of us by laura barnett extract free download as pdf file. Jim and eva had strong connections with their parents throughout their lives. The versions of us by laura barnett a little blog of books. This is writing at its best in terms of the authors ability to evoke a mood, an atmosphere, a life, and a character within those settings.
Laura barnett is a writer, journalist, and theatre critic. The versions of us by laura barnett, paperback barnes. Jun 23, 2017 laura barnetts debut novel the versions of us was a huge hit when it was released in 2015, enchanting readers and topping bestseller charts. The versions of us audiobook, written by laura barnett. Sunday times the versions of us is well written, deftly crafted and constantly surprising, in the way that chaotic real life is surprising. What if the romantic path you choose turns out to be a misstep. Barnett has that rare talent, like curtis sittenfeld or kate atkinson, of building up the mundane aspects of everyday life until they acquire meaning the times barnett excels herself in this mesmerising ballad. Greatest hits by the versions of us author laura barnett. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the versions of us. Get your kindle here, or download a free kindle reading app. The versions of us by laura barnett it is 1958 and eva, an english undergraduate at cambridge university, is cycling along a path when she swerves.
Do you think you could read the book by reading one reality at a time, all the way through. The versions of us by laura barnett book club discussion. Barnett s willingness to look beyond romance to the mechanics of relationships bodes well for her career as a novelist. The versions of us is a tale of possibilities and consequences that rings across the shifting decades, showing how even the smallest choices can define the course of our lives. A thoughtprovoking tale turns into the cliches of us. What i think put me off was the tragedy because it felt like it was multiplied by three and, told in third person, it felt like the tragedies were events. Eva is injured in a cycling accident after swerving to avoid a dog and from this point onwards, there are three versions of their story. Barnett has written for the guardian, the observer, the daily telegraph and time out. In the unraveling of the tale of a single relationship and all of its possibilities, the versions of us explores the wide net that our lives cast as. Download our free nook app escape into a good book things to do at home next. On the surface, its a little like anagrams by lorrie moore, too in versions, barnett tells three alternate versions of a love story, spliced together in chronological order.
Barnett renders an irresistible concept in sweet, cool prose a bit like a chooseyourownadventure book in which you dont have to choose. Book club questions for the versions of us by laura barnett part of the richard and judy spring 2016 bookclub. Apr 27, 2017 35 stars the romance follows eva and jim, a writer and an artist studying at cambridge, from the day they metor should have metthrough heartbreak, love, and loss in three alternating versions. May 03, 2016 this triplebraided structure builds poignancy, as the same 30th birthday party or funeral, populated by the same characters, unspools into different outcomes. Laura barnett is a writer, journalist and theatre critic. The pair meet in 1950s cambridge, when a dog runs in front of evas bicycle. Group reads fiction the versions of us by laura barnett june 2016 group fiction read comments showing 5 of 35 35 new post a comment. The reader is introduced to three versions of this first meeting. The versions of us follows the three different courses their lives could take following this first meeting. Barnett has also written a nonfiction book and a book of award. What if one small decision could change the rest of your life. The one thing thats certain is they met on a cambridge street by chance and felt a connection that would last a lifetime. Buy a cheap copy of the versions of us book by laura barnett.
The versions of us book by laura barnett thriftbooks. And, most crucially, what if an author decided it was a good idea to tell three versions. The versions of us offers three variations of eva and jims story, from their chance meeting in 1958 to the present day. Of the three alternative realities, in which do you think jim and eva were happiest. She has been on staff at the guardian and the daily telegraph, and is now a freelance arts journalist and features writer, working for the guardian, the observer, and time out london, as well as several other national newspapers and magazines. Eva is injured in a cycling accident after swerving to avoid a dog and from this point onwards, there are. She has been on staff at the guardian and the daily telegraph, and is now a freelance arts journalist and features writer, working for the guardian, the observer and time out, as well as several other national newspapers and magazines. An affecting and thoughtprovoking work, the versions of us will keep you gripped until the tearjerking conclusion. The versions of us is well written, deftly crafted and constantly surprising, in the way that chaotic real life is surprising. Laura s barnett s new book greatest hits is available for preorder now. She writes regularly for the guardian, the observer, and the daily telegraph. The versions of us by laura barnett joannes reading blog.
The versions of us charts a relationship through three possible futures. The novel was nominated in the best debut fiction category at the 2016 british book industry awards, and the us edition was selected. Laura barnett the versions of us laura barnett in one moment, two lives will be changed forever. Available on kindle ebook and can be read on any device with the free kindle. At times, the title could be the cliches of us so predictable are the. I closed this book very sorry to be leaving the multiple versions of jim and evas lives. The versions of us by laura barnett by orionbooks orion. The versions of us kindle edition by barnett, laura.
What point do you think the author is trying to make. May 23, 2015 widely touted as sliding doors meets one day, the versions of us by laura barnett tells the story of eva edelstein and jim taylor who meet as undergraduates at cambridge university in the late 1950s. Her debut novel, the versions of us, was nominated for the 2016 bbia award for debut fiction, and won the richard and judy spring 2016 book club. Here, you can listen to the soundtrack that underpins particular scenes in each version, moving, with the characters, from the 1950s right up to the present day. Book club questions for the versions of us by laura barnett. Then you can start reading kindle books on your smartphone, tablet, or. The versions of us by laura barnett by orionbooks published on 20150518t. Now, however, she is turning many heads with her debut fiction novel the versions of us.
They think they wont be able to, that they wont survive, but somehow one second slips into another, becomes an hour, a day, a week, and they are still living. Download or read online the versions of us by laura barnett. It is a tale of possibilities and consequences that rings across the shifting decades, from the fifties, sixties, seventies, and on to the present, showing how even the smallest choices can define. She has been on staff at the guardian and the daily telegraph, and is now a freelance arts journalist and features writer, working for the guardian, the observer and time out london, as well as several other national newspapers and magazines. Do you have any thoughts, questions or discussions about the versions of us by laura barnett. Laura barnett has already earned a name for herself as a journalist, often writing about art and theatre for newspapers such as the guardian and the observer, as well as a writer of nonfiction and awardwinning short stories. Pdf the versions of us download full pdf book download. Her first novel, the versions of us will be published in english, german, spanish, italian, french, portuguese, czech, and mandarin.
Oct 16, 2016 laura barnett was born in 1982 in south london, where she now lives with her husband. Dec 31, 2015 sunday times the versions of us is well written, deftly crafted and constantly surprising, in the way that chaotic real life is surprising. The versions of us by laura barnett readers digest. The uk hardback edition of the versions of us was waterstones fiction book of the month for june 2015, and the paperback won the spring 2016 richard and judy book club and was a waterstones book club choice. Yetauthor laura barnett doesnt just tell us an ordinary romantic story. Observer one of the most engrossing novels either of us has read in years. Hardcover published in 2015, kindle edition published in 2015, 0544634241 hardcover published in 2016, kindle edi. To ask other readers questions about the versions of us, please sign up. Katie hoare the versions of us is about eva and jim who meet by a brief encounter as students at cambridge, when she swerves to miss a dog on her bike.
Available on kindle ebook and can be read on any device with the free kindle app. The versions of us by laura barnett the independent us. Poetic in the way that the differences between the three versions are emphasized. Translation rights have been sold in 24 other countries so far, and the novel has been optioned for a tv adaptation by trademark films. Jun 03, 2015 barnetts willingness to look beyond romance to the mechanics of relationships bodes well for her career as a novelist. They are still alone, even in the middle of a crowd of people.
Read the versions of us by laura barnett available from rakuten kobo. The versions of us download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Laura barnett s debut novel the versions of us was a huge hit when it was released in 2015, enchanting readers and topping bestseller charts. This sliding doorsstyle romantic drama riffs on the chance encounters that can define a life.
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