Review of Still Life by Sarah Winman

Sarah Winman, a British writer with a knack for heartfelt stories, first caught readers’ attention with her debut When God Was a Rabbit. Her fourth novel, Still Life, published in 2021 by Fourth Estate, has won praise for its rich, emotional storytelling and was shortlisted for awards like the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Set mainly in Florence after World War II, the book follows Ulysses Temper, a young British soldier, and his unlikely circle of friends over four decades. Winman, once an actor, brings a sharp eye for human bonds, inspired by her love for Italy’s art and culture. The book’s big idea is that life’s true beauty lies in everyday moments of love, resilience, and chosen family, no matter what hardships come.

It’s a wake-up call to see the ground reality of how connections make life meaningful, not just big achievements. Everyone should pick up this book because it celebrates the small joys that tie us together, told in a way that feels like a friend sharing a heartfelt story over chai. For Indian readers, especially young ones facing society’s pressures, it’s a nudge to find meaning beyond rigid rules. This novel is a warm reminder to cherish the messy, beautiful moments that shape who we are.

Still Life kicks off in 1944 Florence, right in the middle of war’s chaos: “The bombs had stopped, but the city was still trembling” (Winman, 2021, p. 3). Ulysses Temper, a young soldier, meets Evelyn Skinner, a 64-year-old art historian, in a chance encounter that changes their lives. “It was chance, wasn’t it? A moment that changed everything” (p. 15). The novel argues that love and community, built from unexpected moments, give life its depth, using the stories of Ulysses, Evelyn, and their quirky circle as proof.

After the war, Ulysses heads back to London’s East End, running a pub with his mate Col: “The pub was our anchor, our place to rebuild” (p. 45). His wife, Peg, has drifted away and has a daughter, Alys, with another man: “Peg looked at me like I was a stranger, but Alys was mine in every way that mattered” (p. 67). When Ulysses inherits a house in Florence from an Italian he saved, he takes a leap: “A house in Florence? It felt like a dream we didn’t deserve” (p. 89). He moves there with Alys, Col, and others, creating a chosen family: “We weren’t related by blood, but we were family all the same” (p. 102).

Evelyn’s story runs alongside, reflecting on art and love: “Art is the conversation between the heart and the world” (p. 120). Her past romance with a woman shapes her outlook: “Love doesn’t care for rules, does it?” (p. 135). Florence becomes their sanctuary: “Florence was where we learned to live again” (p. 150). The story stretches over decades, capturing highs and lows: “Life was a series of moments, some bright, some unbearable” (p. 175). A talking parrot, Claude, brings a bit of fun: “Claude squawked Shakespeare at the worst times” (p. 190).

The novel celebrates bouncing back: “We carried the war in us, but we built something new” (p. 210). Community is the glue: “It was the people around the table who made the house a home” (p. 225). Alys grows into an artist, finding herself: “Alys found her voice in paint, in the colors of Florence” (p. 240). Evelyn, in her later years, thinks about what she’ll leave behind: “I wanted to leave something behind, a trace of beauty” (p. 260). The book questions society’s rules: “Society tells us who to love, but the heart has its own ideas” (p. 280).

The way forward is to live in the now: “The trick is to live in the moment, not the shadow of what was” (p. 300). The story ends on a hopeful note: “We were ordinary people, and that was our miracle” (p. 320). Winman weaves in real events, like Florence’s 1966 flood, and lively characters to show that ordinary lives, held together by love, become extraordinary. “Every life is a canvas, painted with choices” (p. 290) captures the book’s heart, urging readers to find beauty in the everyday.

Still Life stands out for its warm, vivid writing and focus on human ties. Winman’s acting background gives the dialogue a real feel: “It was chance, wasn’t it? A moment that changed everything” (p. 15) hits like a friend sharing a big moment. The book’s strength is its love for chosen family: “We weren’t related by blood, but we were family all the same” (p. 102) speaks to anyone who’s found home in unexpected places. Florence itself feels alive: “Florence was where we learned to live again” (p. 150), painted so richly you can almost smell the coffee. Real history, like the 1966 flood, grounds the story: “We carried the war in us, but we built something new” (p. 210).

The characters, from Ulysses to Claude the parrot, keep things lively: “Claude squawked Shakespeare at the worst times” (p. 190) adds a chuckle to heavy moments. The way love is shown, “Love doesn’t care for rules, does it?” (p. 135), feels open, covering queer and friend-based bonds. The book’s warmth, “It was the people around the table who made the house a home” (p. 225), makes it cozy, like catching up with a friend. It speaks to everyone, anywhere, with its focus on sticking together and bouncing back.

On the flip side, the story can move slowly: “Life was a series of moments, some bright, some unbearable” (p. 175) stretches out at times, unlike faster tales like Atonement. It doesn’t dive deep into things like caste or class, which matter a lot in India, even though it touches on love’s freedom: “Society tells us who to love, but the heart has its own ideas” (p. 280). The focus on Florence might feel far-off for some readers; it’s all very European, missing broader contexts. The big cast, while colorful, can thin out some stories: “Alys found her voice in paint, in the colors of Florence” (p. 240) doesn’t get as much space as Ulysses’s arc.

All in all, Still Life is a lovely, moving read for those who enjoy stories about people and their bonds. It’s not for those who want fast action, but it’s perfect for soaking in life’s little joys. Its heart and wisdom make it a gem.

Why Indian Youth Readers Must Read This Book

For Indian youngsters caught up in the madness of board exams, JEE prep, and family hopes, Still Life feels like a warm pat on the back from a friend who gets it. The push to score 98% or land an IIT seat is like the rigid rules the book questions: “Society tells us who to love, but the heart has its own ideas” (p. 280). Cramming textbooks for marks kills creativity, much like the war’s weight in the story: “We carried the war in us, but we built something new” (p. 210). This book’s a wake-up call to find joy in small moments, like laughing with friends, over chasing scores.

The job hunt, with lakhs scrambling for top roles, mirrors the characters’ post-war struggles: “The pub was our anchor, our place to rebuild” (p. 45). For kids from smaller towns or lower castes, the idea of chosen family, “We weren’t related by blood, but we were family all the same” (p. 102), hits home, showing you can find support beyond society’s walls. The focus on resilience, “The trick is to live in the moment, not the shadow of what was” (p. 300), pushes back against “log kya kahenge” and nudges youth to try paths like painting or writing, often sidelined for engineering.

For girls, who face extra pressure to fit in, “Love doesn’t care for rules, does it?” (p. 135) feels like a quiet rebellion, urging them to chase dreams over early marriage. Alys’s journey, “Alys found her voice in paint, in the colors of Florence” (p. 240), speaks to finding yourself despite family demands. The book’s warmth, “It was the people around the table who made the house a home” (p. 225), echoes Indian family dinners, full of chatter and love.

Let’s talk ground reality: India’s schools often care more about marks than finding yourself, leaving kids playing catch-up with their real passions. “We were ordinary people, and that was our miracle” (p. 320) says it’s okay to find meaning in everyday things, like helping a sibling with homework. The humor, “Claude squawked Shakespeare at the worst times” (p. 190), is like sharing memes to laugh off exam stress. Still Life tells youth to build their own “family,” live in the now, and find beauty in life’s ups and downs, making it a guide for India’s high-pressure world.

Still Life is a warm, beautiful story that celebrates love, art, and sticking together through life’s challenges. For Indian youth, it’s a mirror to the grind of exams, jobs, and society’s rules, urging them to cherish the little things. This book is a soft push to live fully, perfect for anyone wanting a tale that warms the heart.