David Carter cannot help but wish for more: that his wife Eleanor would be the sparkling girl he once found so irresistible; that his job as a museum curator could live up to the promise it once held; that his daughter's arrival could have brought him closer to Eleanor. But a few careless words spoken by his mother's friend have left David restless with the knowledge that his whole life has been constructed around a lie.
So Many Ways to Begin
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Review
`A close reading of ordinary lives ... tender and often
beautifully poetic' -- Stephanie Merritt, Observer
`Both compelling and convincing. A deeply rewarding read, serious
and often beautiful' -- Good Book Guide
`McGregor is a brilliant prose stylist, and here he excels at
making the provincial and the ordinary seem extraordinary' -- Sunday Times
`This is a wonderful novel; low-key but beautifully paced,
scattered with extraordinarily intense moments' -- Tom Boncza-Tomaszewski, Independent on Sunday
`This is an unforgettable novel' -- David Isaacson, Daily Telegraph
beautifully poetic' -- Stephanie Merritt, Observer
`Both compelling and convincing. A deeply rewarding read, serious
and often beautiful' -- Good Book Guide
`McGregor is a brilliant prose stylist, and here he excels at
making the provincial and the ordinary seem extraordinary' -- Sunday Times
`This is a wonderful novel; low-key but beautifully paced,
scattered with extraordinarily intense moments' -- Tom Boncza-Tomaszewski, Independent on Sunday
`This is an unforgettable novel' -- David Isaacson, Daily Telegraph
From the Publisher
Jon McGregor was shortlisted in the Best Newcomer category in
the 2004 British Book Awards and is winner of the Betty Trask Award and the
Somerset Maugham Prize. So Many Ways to Begin was longlisted for the 2006
Man Booker Prize.
the 2004 British Book Awards and is winner of the Betty Trask Award and the
Somerset Maugham Prize. So Many Ways to Begin was longlisted for the 2006
Man Booker Prize.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
49 of 50 people found the following review helpful
By JH
Format:Paperback
Having been utterly captivated by Jon McGregor's prose style in 'If nobody speaks of remarkable things', I opened 'So many ways to begin' with delicious anticipation. It does not disappoint. Whilst it does not have the instant panache of the beginning pages of his first novel, it beguiles and builds in a different way. The story of David Carter's journey through life works its way to and fro through memorabilia, building an intimate portrait of his marriage,his childhood passions and his not so brilliant career, and his search for his real birth mother. McGregor's prose is beautiful,poetic. I particularly enjoyed the interposing of alternative thoughts and behaviours that may or may not have happened, at key moments. They make you pause and consider, without stopping the flow of narrative or feeling heavy-handed. A lovely, lyrical book about everyday life.
43 of 44 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I loved Jon McGregor's critically acclaimed debut so it was with nervous excitement that I awaited this follow-up. It is a different book: meandering but with the same clarity of expression which made `If Nobody Speaks...' such a privilege to read. The story follows Museum-Curator and adopted son David Carter through the course of his life. It is at once a paean to forgotten times and a celebration of the course of post-war British history. Through mementos from his life, David gradually integrates the past with the present and carries the reader along with the persistent tug of time. In many ways it reminded me of John Banville's Booker winning novel `The Sea'. It has that same longing, the same concepts of remembering and forgetting. But this is a superior novel. Jon McGregor is effortlessly poetic; this is easy-to-read and full of everyday occurrences rendered with the author's razor-sharp observation. Jon McGregor is an emerging gem of an author and this book will see his reputation continue to rise.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I loved "If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things" and rushed to buy this book as soon as it was published. It didn't disappoint. It is easier to understand and has a real "unputdownable" quality; the characters and their lives are beautifully drawn and revealed gradually as McGregor "drip feeds" his reader using literary, unpretentious language. I particularly like the way he withholds judgement or blame in this novel, thus posing hidden questions for his readers to answer. I found this to be a sad book in many ways, but also filled with hope, a particularly good choice for anyone born in the 40's or 50's perhaps!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful
McGregor makes the ordinary absolutely extra-ordinary. I particularly liked his sensitive and perceptive depiction of love and sex in a long-term marriage - not a feature of many... Read more
Published 1 day ago by Elaine Hepple
4.0 out of 5 stars
A book review. c.2013
The book tells the story of David Carter. Being a museum curator, it is told in chapters related to artefacts from David's life: photos, a model boat, a torn piece from a... Read more
Published 4 days ago by Lorna
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautifully Written
This is the second of Jon Gregor's books I have read and I loved them both. He writes with such beautiful descriptive words that just flow. Read more
Published 4 days ago by S. H. Bartlett
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great read
Jon Mcgregor writes in a unique way and this book is very human touching on all the frailties and strengths of life.
Published 1 month ago by Annie Chave
4.0 out of 5 stars
So many ways to begin
Having read another Jon Mcgregor novel , If no-one speaks of remarkable things (?) which I found intriguing, I was eager ti read another. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Elizabeth Puddick
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just loved it
There's so much to like about this book; the unflinching determination to be honest about how complex our lives are - no judgments, just how it is, told with tenderness. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Skeoghman
3.0 out of 5 stars
It's well written but a bit ho hum
I found it all a bit dull I'm afraid. The characters were just a bit flat and grey as was the plot. I think this was intentional - ie it was a story about ordinary folk leading... Read more
Published 4 months ago by JMV
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another great book from john mcgregor
Nicely written with rich descriptions and an unusual structure. An ordinary story with ordinary characters that the author manages to turn into an addictive and moving book.
Published 4 months ago by emma
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely superb!!
I hope Jon McGregor will continue to write these superb books. I have read two books by him and am enthralled by the way he appears to be telling an ordinary enough tale then... Read more
Published 6 months ago by S. Butterworth
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautifully observed
If someone had asked me when I was about 50 pages into this I might have said what some other reviewers have - it's boring, I'm going to throw it in the bin. Read more
Published 14 months ago by D. Saltiel
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