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Levels of Life
Levels of Life | Julian Barnes
Part history, part fiction, part memoir, Levels of Life is a powerfully personal and unforgettable book, and an immediate classic on the subject of grief. Levels of Life opens in the nineteenth century with balloonists, photographers, and Sarah Bernhardt, whose adventures lead seamlessly into an entirely personal account of the author's own great loss. "You put together two things that have not been put together before. And the world is changed..." Julian Barnes's new book is about ballooning, photography, love and grief; about putting two things, and two people, together, and about tearing them apart. One of the judges who awarded him the 2011 Man Booker Prize described Barnes as "an unparalleled magus of the heart." This book confirms that opinion.
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BrewingStory
Levels of Life | Julian Barnes
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Mr. Barnes explanation of love makes me wonder if I ever had such pure love in my life or all of it was just attraction, attachment and lust

1 like1 stack add
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BrewingStory
Levels of Life | Julian Barnes
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That book is lit af 🔥🥺

wanderinglynn Welcome to Litsy 👋🏻 4y
2 likes2 comments
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CarolynM
Levels of Life | Julian Barnes
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Pickpick

3 essays. The 1st stories of 19th century ballooning and attempts at aerial photography. The 2nd the tale of Fred Burnaby, soldier, adventurer, "balloonatic" and spurned lover of Sarah Bernhardt. The 3rd a moving evocation of the author's experience of grief in the years following the death of his wife, much of it expressed in analogies taken from the stories in the earlier essays. The writing is beautiful and the emotion resonated deeply with me.

Lcsmcat Sounds like a good read. Stacked! 4y
Freespirit He writes beautifully💕 4y
69 likes4 stack adds2 comments
blurb
erzascarletbookgasm
Levels of Life | Julian Barnes
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On one level, this book is about 19th century hot air balloonists but in its heart, it‘s about love - Barnes‘ dedication of love to his wife, and about his grief, when his wife died of brain tumour.

#JulyColdPlay #Up&Up #UpUp

Eggs Sounds good! 💗🎶📚💗 5y
73 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Anna40
Levels of Life | Julian Barnes
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Pickpick

Barnes starts his book with two essays on his metaphors: ballooning (love and grief) and photography (memory). I almost felt lulled in by the historical context and love story between Sara Bernhardt and Fred Burnaby. But then came the last part of the book: a very intimate, personal and insightful look at his own grief, love for his wife and his Sehnsucht for her. I saw that the book received a low rating on Litsy and cannot understand why.

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EyeEssBeeEn
Levels of Life | Julian Barnes
Pickpick

I‘m surprised so few would recommend this book. Maybe it was just timely for me to read. I loved the reflection on the history of photography and ballooning. Then coupled with the loss of a loved one.

catiewithac I love everything by Julian Barnes! 6y
Anna40 I agree! Loved it 5y
2 likes2 comments
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erzascarletbookgasm
Levels of Life | Julian Barnes
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Mehso-so

Part memoir, part essay, part fiction, Barnes wrote about his own grief after the death of his wife. He wrote about the highs and lows in life - of two people being together; being apart; and then the enduring of loneliness.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
#getmovin #levels

Cinfhen Sounds really sad😭well played ❤️ 6y
Kalalalatja Sounds so sad! 6y
eanderson Awwww.... 🙁 6y
83 likes1 stack add3 comments
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GeorginaCrossAuthor
Levels of Life | Julian Barnes
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The best escapism. #reading #writing #bookquotes

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GinaF1003
Levels of Life | Julian Barnes
Mehso-so

Picked up steam a third of the way in. Compelling but slow.

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Michelle_mck
Levels of Life | Julian Barnes
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Mehso-so

The first 2 essays are ok and the third is amazing talking about the impact of losing his wife - it is magical a overall the book is ok - the final essay is why you read it

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Michelle_mck
Levels of Life | Julian Barnes
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Love already

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Smarkies
Levels of Life | Julian Barnes
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You put together two people who have not been put together before; and sometimes the world is changed, sometimes not. They may crash and burn, or burn and crash. But sometimes something new is made, and then the world is changed.

5 likes2 stack adds