A Life Eternal

Product Information

Before reading it, the idea of living forever, not growing old and not having to think about the inconvenience of dying seemed like it would be a perfect existence.

Life is simply a clutter of lines, moving in every direction.” (p99) and it’s was. How differently would we live life if we knew we couldn’t die? It's hard to give this story a genre; if pushed I would call it a thriller with a slice of grounded sci-fi. If you enjoy either of these then this book is for you. Whatever the genre is, though, it is simply all you could want from a book; something to take you out of the ordinary and the mundane and transport you into a world populated by characters you'll love (and hate). Condition: Very Good. Very Good condition. Shows only minor signs of wear, and very minimal markings inside (if any). This is not just another trite tale or formulaic adventure; it has clearly been written by someone with a particular story they want to tell, and Richard Ayre’s passion to tell it well is evident throughout. I found myself easily carried along on the main character’s incredible journey, sharing his experiences and emotions. The author’s knowledge as a history teacher also shines through, and Ayre is able to deftly summarise the stark realities of key events of the twentieth century through the eyes of his protagonist in a way that’s always plausible and interesting. And if the sense of time is – quite rightly – the star of the show, the sense of place also deserves a mention. From the wilds of Northumberland to New York, Paris, London and Berlin, and from those big cities to the remotest corners of Scotland, all of these environments are portrayed brilliantly. Actually, the first chapter is quite good, and there were several beautiful sentences I highlighted, which perhaps raised my expectations too high.

Praise for Haven Wakes

Is it a gift or a curse to be immune to death, to be chosen to live forever? An eternal life, unable to die, to be killed, to live on in perpetuity while all around you age and die... This fascination with endless life is what drew me into this story, and it was what kept me reading when I became a little weary of the main character. Rob Deakin is equal parts everyman and no-man, but is ultimately generally unlikeable and his “glass half-empty” personality made the times he lived through, and the people he interacted with more ‘history textbook’ and less ‘historical novel’. Rob comes off as mechanical and emotionless even before he is changed by his mysterious interaction with The Medic. This book truly shows the talents of Fullerton; a modern John le Carre mixed with a hint of Clive Cussler. All in all a fabulous, well-researched, gripping thriller. This book should be a movie; it has everything needed. Richard Ayre's A Life Eternal is a book that poses so many dilemmas. If you were able to live forever, how would you feel? Is it something to treasure or resent, the power of immortality.

An extraordinary novel with a simple philosophical premise. Who wants to live forever and if this were possible, would you wish for this, and how would it affect you and want would you do. So I'm a huge horror fan. It's my go-to genre. I love the adrenaline, I love the seemingly neverending fought against Evil and how all these characters overcome their plight. It seems the more intense the horror, the greater the cottage too overcome... But like with all good things you need a break. I wanted something to warm my heart, bring treats to my eyes, and yet keep my attention and interest. This book did just that. What if you knew you could never die? How different would your life be? How different would you be? This is a psychological study as well as a journey through the ages. It’s a sociological study as well. Rob’s experiences change him, sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse. It’s interesting to follow along and to wonder what turn he’s going to make next. It makes one wonder what they would do in his situation. It wouldn’t take him long to discover that the medic he met had imparted eternal life to him. He would never age and he would never die. He emigrated to America where he was involved in running rum during prohibition. He knew that he must keep traveling to hide his condition. He saw that people kept their distance from him. He pretended that it did not bother him and pretty soon, he began to realize that it really did not bother him. Through the years, he saw much of the world. He did many jobs. He learned several languages. He found lust and he found love.

Featured Reviews

The quest to find out how this eternal life came about ran along side chapters of his life, the sort we all have, the places we live ad the relationships we’re in, yet we know, with some certainty that it’s going to end at some point. A riveting and heart-breaking tale, simply and elegantly written in the first person, which puts a new spin on the classic themes of the immortality tale. Only after many years did he come to realize the truth. The truth about himself and his unique condition. He finally found the medic. The medic had become an old man. He was dying. How had that happened? A Life Eternal. To discover you are immune to death, to understand you have been chosen to live forever, an eternal life, unable to die, to be killed, to live on in perpetuity...A gift or a curse? As you do not physically age, but those who you love do and journey through their lives towards their own mortal ending.

The writing style is solid and again, very much like reading a first person interview. It reminded me of "Interview with the Vampire" by Anne Rice, in its style, but Rob’s unburdening of self is less story and more ‘police report”...”I did this, and then I did that, and then I went here...”. The ending is absolutely perfect and really touches your heart with true humanity. It is evident throughout the story Richard has deeply thought about immortality and his insights are very thought provoking. One of my favourite is from the very wise Madeleine: Forgotten the title or the author of a book? Our BookSleuth is specially designed for you. Visit BookSleuthThe characters are wonderful; not just Willow, but her new found companion Ruby, the mysterious Raven and Rev. Goddard. All of these come across as three dimensional and, good or bad, they are believable.