Soldier SailorSoldier Sailor
What it's about
Claire Kilroy's novel follows a new mother, the Soldier, and her baby son, the Sailor, through the exhausting, isolating first years of motherhood, as her marriage strains under the weight. It's very moving and also very funny.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for the Women's Prize for Fiction and was named the Times Novel of the Year. Critics called it one of the finest novels of its year.
You'll love it if you liked
Sorrow and Bliss
The Bell Jar
Olive KitteridgeGood to know
It's short and intense. Many parents find it painfully recognizable.
By the numbers
- Readers70 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics25 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller5 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz51 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
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Quick answers
Is Soldier Sailor worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for the Women's Prize for Fiction and was named the Times Novel of the Year. It ranks #1,160 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 71.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Soldier Sailor about?
Claire Kilroy's novel follows a new mother, the Soldier, and her baby son, the Sailor, through the exhausting, isolating first years of motherhood, as her marriage strains under the weight. It's very moving and also very funny.
How long does it take to read Soldier Sailor?
About 5 hours (214 pages), or about 10 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Soldier Sailor?
If you liked it, try Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath or Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout.