The Post-Birthday World

The Post-Birthday World
Author: Lionel Shriver

postbirthdayworld

Irina McGovern is an American children’s book illustrator living in London with her long-time boyfriend Lawrence that might as well be her husband. He is a solid, dependable man who isn’t very romantic or passionate. They have their routines and that’s pretty much what their life has become–a series of routines. That includes having dinner with another couple each year on the husband’s birthday. He’s a famous snooker player in London who is almost past his prime named Ramsey. Lawrence is fascinated with snooker and Ramsey. Irina is pretty bored by the annual dinners until one year after Ramsey gets a divorce and Lawrence is out of town on a business trip, he convinces Irina to keep the annual birthday dinner date with Ramsey. Ramsey is passionate about snooker, drinking and life. After a night of  a bit too much flirting and drinking, it comes down to a moment where Irina could kiss Ramsey or leave before things can’t go back to how they were.

That is where the book splits to follow what happens depending on the decision Irina makes in that one moment. From there on out, each chapter alternates between the two different paths.  I was surprised how each chapter veered so wildly from one another, but each version would still end up at the same big events throughout the years in Irina’s life.

I could not decide which life was better. All of the characters were so well written. They were fully formed with quirks and flaws. You would love a character one moment and then couldn’t stand him or her the next.  I would think one choice was the best one, but then there would be a downside to the situation Irina would find herself in. Then the other one would seem better, but it would also have downsides. No one choice seemed like the best one and the ending brought both sides together in a way that completely made sense. It was a great character book and I highly recommend it.

Grade: A

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