Book Review: ‘Again And Again: A Novel’ By Jonathan Evison

Eugene Miles, aka Geno, lives in a nursing home, is 105 years old, but in reality he’s over 1000 years old. Every time he dies he comes back to live as another person, or in one case a cat. He remembers most of his previous lives, and hopes that one day he will meet back up with the love of his live, Gaya, from his first birth into this world. No one believes him, and thinks he’s just an old man, until one day Angel comes into his life. He is the new cleaner of his room every night, and they strike up a quick friendship, and he tells him stories from his past lives. We follow along as he recounts the story of Gaya and Spain, his time as a cat, and Gladys, the women he loved years ago as Geno. It’s an intense story, that you don’t want to put down, and you want to learn these stories as much as Angel, and others do in the book. Author Jonathan Evison never writes a bad book, and this one is right up there with his previous novels Lawn Boy and Small World. Beware, you may need some Kleenex while you’re reading it.

You can pick Again And Again in stores on Tuesday, November 7th from Dutton.