A Book Truly Worth The Whitbread Prize, 15 Oct 2008
I first read this book in 1996 after a lovely friend bought it for me, and I remember thinking what a good book it was. A couple of months ago this book was given to me as `this months book' at my local library reading group - by the bottom of page 1 I was absolutely hooked. I'd only remembered odd bits from over 10 years ago but after reading it a second time I think it will stick with me for a lifetime. It's very well written both in style and grammar and is packed full of all emotions possible. The storyline is written in a `double style', with Ruby (being the main character) being in present time and going back to her grand-parents in war-time. The two timelines meet up, in that the `older generation' are also included in Ruby's younger years. There's so much sadness, humour, regret and secrecy that there's something for everyone in this wonderful story.

I got so much more out of it second time round and would recommend this book to anyone and everyone, it really is a fabulous read.


Highly recommended., 02 Aug 2008
Not many novels begin while the narrator is still in the womb, but "Behind the Scenes at the Museum" is that rare book. It tells the story of Ruby Lennox, right from the very moment of her conception, and the story, too, of her family: her disillusioned mother, Bunty; her two, very different, sisters; and, futher back, her grandparents and great-grandparents.
Atkinson perfectly balances the different narratives - we not only follow Ruby and her sisters through childhood and adolescence, but see Bunty's youthful ideals become tarnished, and empathise with Nell, Bunty's mother, and her family. The tragedies and comedies of the older stories are movingly and simply told; the portraits of women during the First World War, in particular, are well-researched and very revealing.
Throughout the novel, in fact, Atkinson acheives a superlative blend of tragedy and comedy; the poignant moments balanced against the light-heartedness of some of Ruby's stories. Anecdotes like the "World cup wedding" and the "holiday from hell", especially, are brilliantly and wittily told, and Ruby's extended family is populated by perfectly-crafted bizarre characters.
It is at the end of the book, however, where Atkinson's talent really shows. All the pieces of Ruby's life and identity finally slot together: we finally see what really happened to Nell's mother Alice; the end of everybody's stories; and, most, importantly, the central mystery of Ruby's life, revealed so cleverly that you wonder why you hadn't worked it out before. A modern classic.

An amazing first novel , 18 Jan 2008
I read this book about 10 years ago on a friend's recommendation and can remember thinking it was an amazing debut novel at the time. I decided to read it again recently, and had completely forgotten the story and so it was like reading it for the first time. I still think it's a great read and so well written that I still find it hard to believe it was Kate Atkinson's first novel. It's very funny and insightful. The story of Ruby Lennox's life, although sometimes tragic, is told in a very humourous way and it's the type of book that makes you want to carry on reading to the end to find out what happens to everyone as the characters are so well developed and really seem like real people. I would definitely recommend this novel and I think I'll be reading some more of Kate Atkinson's books.

A lovely book, 19 Dec 2007
I have read one Kate Atkinson novel previously and did not find it that grabbing, but this book was recomended to me by many close friends and I loved it!! The story it's self is not a very fast paced one, but the characters are so beautifuly brought to life, that you have to keep reading to find out what happens to them all (there are many characters).

Although the ending was not particularly heart breaking, I found my self having a little sob, as I felt like I'd been with the characters through their heart break, especially Ruby.

I recomend it highly

Like a good old family gossip , 15 Nov 2007
I love this book: the characters are so warm and alive and it's a wonderful evocation of the period (at least I feel like it is, based on my mum's tales of a 50s/60s Yorkshire childhood!). It's like sitting down with several generations of your family with everyone telling stories about their lives, dragging a few skeletons out of their closets along the way. The quirky style and wry humour just add to its charm.

A Book Truly Worth The Whitbread Prize, 15 Oct 2008
I first read this book in 1996 after a lovely friend bought it for me, and I remember thinking what a good book it was. A couple of months ago this book was given to me as `this months book' at my local library reading group - by the bottom of page 1 I was absolutely hooked. I'd only remembered odd bits from over 10 years ago but after reading it a second time I think it will stick with me for a lifetime. It's very well written both in style and grammar and is packed full of all emotions possible. The storyline is written in a `double style', with Ruby (being the main character) being in present time and going back to her grand-parents in war-time. The two timelines meet up, in that the `older generation' are also included in Ruby's younger years. There's so much sadness, humour, regret and secrecy that there's something for everyone in this wonderful story.

I got so much more out of it second time round and would recommend this book to anyone and everyone, it really is a fabulous read.


Highly recommended., 02 Aug 2008
Not many novels begin while the narrator is still in the womb, but "Behind the Scenes at the Museum" is that rare book. It tells the story of Ruby Lennox, right from the very moment of her conception, and the story, too, of her family: her disillusioned mother, Bunty; her two, very different, sisters; and, futher back, her grandparents and great-grandparents.
Atkinson perfectly balances the different narratives - we not only follow Ruby and her sisters through childhood and adolescence, but see Bunty's youthful ideals become tarnished, and empathise with Nell, Bunty's mother, and her family. The tragedies and comedies of the older stories are movingly and simply told; the portraits of women during the First World War, in particular, are well-researched and very revealing.
Throughout the novel, in fact, Atkinson acheives a superlative blend of tragedy and comedy; the poignant moments balanced against the light-heartedness of some of Ruby's stories. Anecdotes like the "World cup wedding" and the "holiday from hell", especially, are brilliantly and wittily told, and Ruby's extended family is populated by perfectly-crafted bizarre characters.
It is at the end of the book, however, where Atkinson's talent really shows. All the pieces of Ruby's life and identity finally slot together: we finally see what really happened to Nell's mother Alice; the end of everybody's stories; and, most, importantly, the central mystery of Ruby's life, revealed so cleverly that you wonder why you hadn't worked it out before. A modern classic.

An amazing first novel , 18 Jan 2008
I read this book about 10 years ago on a friend's recommendation and can remember thinking it was an amazing debut novel at the time. I decided to read it again recently, and had completely forgotten the story and so it was like reading it for the first time. I still think it's a great read and so well written that I still find it hard to believe it was Kate Atkinson's first novel. It's very funny and insightful. The story of Ruby Lennox's life, although sometimes tragic, is told in a very humourous way and it's the type of book that makes you want to carry on reading to the end to find out what happens to everyone as the characters are so well developed and really seem like real people. I would definitely recommend this novel and I think I'll be reading some more of Kate Atkinson's books.

A lovely book, 19 Dec 2007
I have read one Kate Atkinson novel previously and did not find it that grabbing, but this book was recomended to me by many close friends and I loved it!! The story it's self is not a very fast paced one, but the characters are so beautifuly brought to life, that you have to keep reading to find out what happens to them all (there are many characters).

Although the ending was not particularly heart breaking, I found my self having a little sob, as I felt like I'd been with the characters through their heart break, especially Ruby.

I recomend it highly

Like a good old family gossip , 15 Nov 2007
I love this book: the characters are so warm and alive and it's a wonderful evocation of the period (at least I feel like it is, based on my mum's tales of a 50s/60s Yorkshire childhood!). It's like sitting down with several generations of your family with everyone telling stories about their lives, dragging a few skeletons out of their closets along the way. The quirky style and wry humour just add to its charm.

Breathtakingly pleasing read, 01 Dec 2007
I am an ardent admirer of Kate Atkinson's work, but must confess to being a little reluctant to read a collection of short stories as I most love her ability to expand and deliver storylines form the smallest intrigue within her novels. I should not have been so reticent to read this work however as the stories beautifully collide with characters, themes and much more. Never before have I been lead to re-read a book immediately after finishing it the first time, but this I have done with Not the End of the World with great relish. Not only would I wholeheartedly reccommend this book to anyone but I have just bought copies for many friends and relations for Xmas!

Such a good read..., 13 Dec 2006
I loved this book: read it in the space of twenty-four hours, and then went back to dip into all my favourite bits again, and make some more connections. People who have not enjoyed this book should brush up on their Greek myths, and on the short story as a genre, rather than blame Kate Atkinson!

Beautifully crafted, satisfyingly interwoven, wittily plotted...need I say more?

Simply Brilliant, 07 Mar 2006
This is one of my all time favourite books. While many of the stories have little substance or even a proper ending, the entire book is masterfully told.

I particuarly like the way that, unlike other short story books, the characters are all connected in one way or another. Subtle details in one story will give you alternative insights and opinions of characters in another.

The greek mythology is simply hilarious, and creates the sense that the book is set in its own haphazard, unpredictable world.

If you enjoy the weird and wonderful, then I definitely reccomend this masterpiece to you. However, a sense of humour is required.

Read it for the storytelling not the story, 01 Sep 2004
I have read much of Kate Atkinsons other stories and as with this book I found that the real pleasure to be had is in the telling rather than the story itself. Her language and sense of humour are wonderful, her metaphors and descriptions are original and stick in the mind long after you have finished reading them.

However the only drawback I would say is you do get the feeling often that she has come up with a wonderful idea for a story, started off writing, got halfway through and then not known how to finish it (and it was highlighted here in the short stories where presumably she had to get in, tell the story and get out again in as few pages as possible!!)

If you can suspend the need to have a neatly tied up ending and can just enjoy the way the story was told these short stories are an interesting way to pass a few minutes without demanding too much headspace to follow a plot and I would say go for this. If you hate stories that just hang at the end, or suddenly take a turn for the absurd then best opt for something else!

Not the end of the world - just a major disaster., 29 Jul 2004
The excellent reviews on the cover and inside made better reading than the book itself but the Latin introductions to each piece - pretentious, moi? - would be very useful to any ancient Romans that read it.

The "stories" are dire: odd characters put together with a few things happening but no sense of plot, coherent narrative or depth of character. Pointless, and without any sense of direction or purpose, the pieces just faded away because the author was too lazy to think of an ending, or - just as likely - got bored with them. I did, too.

The publishers of this rubbish should be ashamed of cashing in on Kate Atkinson's name and publishing third rate dross like this. Possibly the worst collection of "short stories" by a published author that I have read.