Levels of Life by Julian Barnes
Over recent years I’ve been rediscovering my love of the writing of Julian Barnes; and so he’s made several appearances on the Ramblings, although pleasingly I still have plenty of his books unread. This is one of them, and I have no idea why I particularly felt the strong need to pick it up when I did. But I had that urge, in the middle of a crisis when I was undecided as to what to read next, and I’m glad I did. It’s an often painful read, and a powerful one; but beautiful and honest too.
“Levels of Life” is a non-fiction work, tagged on the back as “biography/memoir” and that’s a fairly accurate description. The book takes as its structure three levels – its sections are entitled “The Sin of Height”, “On the Level” and “The Loss of Depth” – and uses this construct to explore initially the lives of Nadar, a pioneer ballonist and aerial photographer; Colonel Fred Burnaby, another balloonist given here a fictional passion for Sarah Bernhardt (who was also a devotee of dirigibles); and then finally he exlores his own grief and emotions at the loss of his wife of 30 years, Pat Kavanagh.
Kavanagh died in 2008 from a brain tumour, 37 days after diagnosis of her illness. That bald statement alone reveals what a cruel, shocking and unimaginable time it must have been for Barnes to live through. Yet the writer in Barnes needs to explore not only his own emotions and his own loss, but also the human condition and what it means to love. Nadar cared tenderly for his wife for years after heart attacks and strokes; Colonel Fred here never really recovers from the love of Sarah; and Barnes was quite obviously devastated by the loss of the love of his life.
You put together two things that have not been put together before. And the world is changed. People may not notice at the time, but that doesn’t matter. The world has been changed nonetheless.
“Levels of Life” is obviously a raw and never easy read; Barnes is always honest and unflinching in his look at himself, his grief, his process of mourning and his reactions to others. It could perhaps be considered unusual to structure a book on your own personal grief this way, but I think Barnes was trying to make his story and his emotions more universal. And it’s as if he can only deal with the topic obliquely, skirting around his subject by exploring other people’s lives before approaching the autobiographical section from an angle. That’s understandable; a loss like this takes time to come through (if you ever really do), and although Kavanagh died in 2008, the book is dated at the end “20 October 2012” (four years to the day from her death).
Apart from “A Life with Books“, a lovely little pamphlet I read just over a year ago, my experience of reading Barnes has all been fiction. Branching out into his non-fiction works has been something I’ve wanted to do for such a long time; and although this was a hard book to read, it was also a beautiful and moving one. Barnes captured quite brilliantly that sense of loss of a close loved one; the fact that it’s not only their physical presence which has gone, but also the shared experiences, the personal in-jokes and the structure of a joint life lived. The initial sections of the book were fascinating and moving in themselves, and a clever way to approach Barnes’ exploration of his own loss.
The more I read of Julian Barnes’ work, the more I realise just what a wonderful writer he really is. To be able to take your grief and loss, and then turn it into a work of great beauty is very special; and apart from anything else, “Levels of Life” is a moving and emotional tribute to his wife and his love for her. Not an easy read, as I said; and selecting the right time to read it in your own life is important. But it’s a powerful and unforgettable work, and I’m glad I chose to read it right now.
katewilson79
Sep 01, 2020 @ 09:39:53
I really love Julian Barnes – hope you enjoy the rest of his writing too.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 01, 2020 @ 13:43:40
I love his work too – I’ve read some of his fiction which is excellent, but now I so want to explore his non-fiction writing.
katewilson79
Sep 01, 2020 @ 17:29:22
I’ve mainly read the fiction – I need to broaden my reading too!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 01, 2020 @ 19:26:55
His essays are certainly calling right now! 😀
JacquiWine
Sep 01, 2020 @ 10:30:37
Beautiful review, Karen. Grief is such a personal thing, and to be able to write about it in such a profoundly moving way takes real skill and judgement on the part of the author. I couldn’t help but be reminded of The Year of Magical Thinking, Joan Didion’s memoir on the loss of her husband John Gregory Dunne. Dunne’s death was very sudden; but that aside, there are many parallels, I think…
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 01, 2020 @ 13:43:06
Thank you Jacqui. It is indeed so personal and yet this never feels intrusive – he’s a very finely balanced author, I think, and the result is a moving work. I read The Year of Magical Thinking pre-blog, and I do see what you mean. Didion was perhaps more intense, but in both cases the loss was deep and profound.
heavenali
Sep 01, 2020 @ 10:48:42
Lovely review. This does sound like a deeply emotional read, raw and honest. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for Barnes to write this. Though perhaps it was cathartic.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 01, 2020 @ 13:41:46
Thanks Ali. It *is* very raw and I imagine you would have to pick your time to read it. But I did get the sense he *had* to write it and I do hope it helped him.
Tredynas Days
Sep 01, 2020 @ 10:55:21
This sounds very moving and beautiful. I also like JB’s fiction, and have one or two titles unread on the shelves, this post reminds me…
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 01, 2020 @ 13:40:53
It is indeed, and as wonderfully written as his fiction is. Always nice to have unread volumes knocking about from a favourite author… ;D
Calmgrove
Sep 01, 2020 @ 12:02:27
Not a writer I’ve yet tackled, but with this review you’re quite persuasive. And loss and its associated feelings is something that’s in many of our minds these days.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 01, 2020 @ 13:40:18
I love his writing, although I often have trouble explaining why. But I’ve read pretty much only his fiction and I do want to branch out into his non-fiction writing, as it seems excellent.
Cathy746books
Sep 01, 2020 @ 12:16:59
The last Barnes I read was The Sense of an Ending, which I loved. I must read more of his work.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 01, 2020 @ 13:39:25
I loved Sense too – he’s such a wonderful author, and fortunately I do have a number of his titles unread… 😀
Cathy746books
Sep 01, 2020 @ 13:43:17
I’m nearly sure I do too.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 01, 2020 @ 13:44:23
Excellent! 😀
Lisa Hill
Sep 01, 2020 @ 13:50:50
I read this when a dear friend had just lost her husband to brain cancer, and I believe it helped me to understand her loss…only a little, because I don’t think any of us really understand profound grief until it happens… and then, speaking for myself, I didn’t want to read about it at all.
That’s why I think it’s a good thing to have read a little about it in advance, as it were. It doesn’t prepare us for our own grief, because nothing can, but it stops us saying insensitive things to other people.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 01, 2020 @ 15:00:44
I think you’re right – I can imagine that reading this in the middle of a great loss myself might not necessarily have helped, although some time after it might allow you to rationalise your feelings. But if it helps with understanding, that must be a good thing.
ellenandjim
Sep 01, 2020 @ 15:58:35
After my husband died, I read many memoirs by people grieving, or more informative-advice non-fiction (by a doctor say), also more impersonally philosophic stories/essays. The third section of Barnes’s book came closest for me to telling core truths and offering comfort and strength.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 01, 2020 @ 16:00:35
I can imagine that – it struck me as a very real reaction to his grief and I’m glad I read it.
madamebibilophile
Sep 01, 2020 @ 16:19:48
I’ve never read Barnes’ non-fiction and this does sound an interesting way to try and convey something which must be completely overwhelming. There’s a lot of grief-lit out there but I can’t think of another that takes a similar approach.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 01, 2020 @ 19:27:43
Me neither, and it never feels maudlin or inappropriate – just somebody grappling with unexpected loss.
Julé Cunningham
Sep 01, 2020 @ 17:52:19
Like Jacqui, The Year of Magical Thinking immediately came to mind when reading your post. Julian Barnes is such a quietly effective writer and I’m thankful I have much of his work ahead of me.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 01, 2020 @ 19:26:33
That’s a good way of describing him – not necessarily flashy but he suddenly can write something which punches you in the gut.
buriedinprint
Sep 01, 2020 @ 18:37:54
Maybe I’ve read some essays, but I think, like you, the pull to Barnes has been to his fiction, for me, so far. But even there, you can tell that he is all about relationships and connections, so it would make sense that the loss of those would figure prominently in his thinking. I will keep this one in mind. Or, if I have the opportunity, will pick up a copy to have on hand.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 01, 2020 @ 19:24:40
I would say it’s a book worth reading, or having about. And after this I really want to explore his essay writing because I do love his prose…
Andrea Schwedler
Sep 01, 2020 @ 20:03:42
What struck me when I read this book was how discreetly Barnes wrote about his wife´s death – he seemed so very calm and composed. I can´t recall if he ever explained why he chose the other two historical figures. I couldn´t quite connect them with his own story of loss.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 01, 2020 @ 20:19:35
Indeed – he’s never gratuitous, which I admire him for very much, As for the way he wrote the story, I felt personally that he was unable initially to approach her death head-on. Instead, he had to find points of comparison with other people, other stories, maybe as a way of helping him deal with events. Whatever it is, it was very moving.
Hayley at RatherTooFondofBooks
Sep 01, 2020 @ 20:42:18
Lovely review. I’ve also only ever read fiction by him but this book sounds incredible. I find myself drawn to books about grief and other people’s experiences so I’m going to add this one to my wish list now.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 01, 2020 @ 20:47:53
Thanks Hayley. His fiction is excellent, and his writing is this is just as good but with that added moving element. I definitely recommend it.
Jane
Sep 02, 2020 @ 18:51:42
I’ve only read The Sense of an Ending but really loved it, I don’t know why I haven’t read more – another one to add to the TBR then!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 02, 2020 @ 19:49:00
Definitely! I love his writing!
1streading
Sep 02, 2020 @ 19:22:15
It’s interesting you talk about rediscovering Barnes as I read quite a few of his novels many years ago. I think the combination of non-fiction and memoir can be really powerful though it can be tricky to pull off.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 02, 2020 @ 19:48:34
I read a lot in the 80s when his books first started coming out and then a gap so I’m glad I went back to him. And if anyone can carry off the mix of fact and non fiction it’s Barnes! 😀
TravellinPenguin
Sep 03, 2020 @ 23:21:06
I’ve yet to read him but think I have something on my tbr shelves. I’m currently reading a book that is a travel tale and based on grief. It is hard to read at times but very good. More on it soon. 🤠🐧🌷
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 04, 2020 @ 14:22:12
He’s a wonderful writer – fortunately I also have plenty of him unread. It can be so painful to read about grief, but Barnes I felt handled his well.
cirtnecce
Sep 04, 2020 @ 07:44:12
What a wonderful review! I have never read Barns, always scared that his books, which seem to constantly have a tragic tone, will be too much for me. I feel, like you said, these are difficult books to read, though I am sure they are powerful and beautiful. One day I will gather some courage to read his works!
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 04, 2020 @ 14:20:39
Not all Barnes books are so tragic – and some his early fictions are probably much lighter, although it’s a while since I read them. Try him if you can – his writing is excellent!
Liz Dexter
Sep 05, 2020 @ 07:42:18
I’ve never been that keen on him, though I have read a few in earlier times, but I’ve never read his non-fiction. This sounds a bit disjointed and then harrowing for me but he of all people would be good at turning personal terrible experience into good prose with the necessary distance, I think.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 05, 2020 @ 08:39:16
No, perhaps not for you Liz. But as you say, he’s definitely the man to write this kind of work!
Simon T
Sep 08, 2020 @ 11:58:06
Gosh, this sounds wonderful and fascinating and hard. I’ve read a couple of his novels and have some of his essays unread, but this is calling to me – I find grief fascinating to read about.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 08, 2020 @ 16:19:10
It’s definitely a painful read in places, but the writing is marvellous – and so clever, because he aproaches the grief obliquely at first, building up a structure which doesn’t seem to relate to his subject at first but then does. I really do recommend it.
anna amundsen
Sep 11, 2020 @ 19:54:49
I would love to read this one. You write beautifully about it.
We’ve read A History of the World in 10½ Chapters at the university and it’s one of the books I am very fond of.
Apparently, I’ve read Flaubert’s Parrot – I have no recollection of reading it and The Lemon Table – I have no idea what it is about. But I do remember reading his essays, Through the Window, and enjoying them.
kaggsysbookishramblings
Sep 11, 2020 @ 20:58:02
Thank you – it’s certainly a very powerful and moving read. I read History and Parrot decades ago when they came out and loved them, and I’ve recently rediscovered his writing which is marvellous. I’m most keen to explore the non-fiction at the moment!
On My Book Table… 10 – a variety of external influences! | Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings
Sep 25, 2020 @ 06:30:10
A round up of December’s bookish arrivals! :D | Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings
Dec 26, 2021 @ 11:43:24
The entertaining adventures of a skyborne chair! #ReadIndies @RenardPress | Kaggsy's Bookish Ramblings
Feb 14, 2022 @ 07:00:39