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Behind the Scenes at the Museum

by Kate Atkinson

Behind the Scenes at the Museum Cover

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Ruby Lennox begins narrating her own life at the moment of her conception, and from there takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of the twentieth century as seen through the eyes of a girl determined to learn more about her family and the secrets it keeps.

Review:

"Stunning....[A] treasure chest bursting with the painful, pitiful, sad, always fascinating details of the most ordinary of lives." The Los Angeles Times

Review:

"Well received in England, where it won the Whitbread award, Behind the Scenes at the Museum... marks the debut of a distinctive new voice that should appeal to readers who enjoy the panache of a Fay Weldon or the witty inventiveness of a Carol Shields. And it strikes a nice balance between fantasty and reality." Christian Science Monitor

Review:

"Remarkable...full of the grimness, grit, and grandeur of Yorkshire life...one of the funniest books to come out of Britain in years." The New York Times Book Review

Review:

"This first novel is, as far as I can tell, perfect. Behind the Scenes at the Museum is a marvelously constructed, well-writeen, fast-moving chronicle of four generations of women in a Yorkshire family....It's hard to do justice to this lovely novel....Funny, engrossing, passionate." Ann Waldron, The Trenton Times

Review:

"Breathtaking...Atkinson's luminescent imagery is sure and sophisticated, poetic and darkly comic. That such an ambitious and brilliantly realized novel is also the author's first is absolutely astonishing." Amanda Heller

Synopsis:

National Bestseller

 
Winner of the Whitbread Book of the Year

 

Kate Atkinson’s dazzling debut novel is a deeply moving story of family heartbreak and happiness.

 

Ruby Lennox begins narrating her life at the moment of conception, and from there takes us on a whirlwind tour of the twentieth century as seen through the eyes of an English girl determined to learn about her family and its secrets.

Synopsis:

Ruby Lennox begins narrating her own life at the moment of her conception, and from there takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of the twentieth century as seen through the eyes of a girl determined to learn more about her family and the secrets it keeps.

About the Author

Kate Atkinson is the author of a short-story collection, Not the End of the World and five critically acclaimed novels including Case Histories and One Good Turn. She lives in Edinburgh, England.

What Our Readers Are Saying

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Average customer rating based on 3 comments:
stephen anderson, March 29, 2009 (view all comments by stephen anderson)
One of the most compelling books I've read in years, the characters and situations are so real.....you begin to realize how seemingly unrelated events bring you to this world.
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(6 of 9 readers found this comment helpful)
Lucy Little, August 19, 2007 (view all comments by Lucy Little)
This book flowed for me. I love her writing style. It was funny, poignant and heartbreaking at different times and all it once. My book club was divided in half with loving this book or not caring for it. I was enthralled from beginning to end with the characters and Atkinson's way with words. I still haven't figured out the meaning of the title, but the book is one of my favorites.
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(10 of 23 readers found this comment helpful)
hornbecksmith, July 21, 2007 (view all comments by hornbecksmith)
I haven't loved a narrator like I love Ruby Eleanor Lennox in a very, very long time.

Kate Atkinson has written such a little treasure here. The book is hilariously funny, but the tragedy of Ruby's family is breathtaking. Atkinson sneaks up on you and takes you by surprise. You imagine that you are along for the fun of it (and what a lot of fun it is!) and then you realize how deeply you care about this girl, her mother, her mother's mother, and so on.

I'm smitten! I have Case Histories by the bed to read next, and I can't wait to be swept away again.
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(11 of 26 readers found this comment helpful)
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780312150600
Author:
Atkinson, Kate
Publisher:
Picador USA
Location:
New York :
Subject:
General
Subject:
Women
Subject:
Family
Subject:
England
Subject:
Gay
Subject:
Historical fiction
Subject:
Yorkshire (England) Fiction.
Subject:
General Fiction
Subject:
Domestic fiction
Copyright:
Edition Number:
1st Picador USA ed.
Edition Description:
First
Series Volume:
no. 97-329
Publication Date:
November 1999
Binding:
Paperback
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
333
Dimensions:
8.30x5.54x.87 in. .68 lbs.

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