In 1910 on a cold, snowy night in England, baby Ursula is born with the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck and does not live. But, on the next page, Ursula is saved by the Doctor who this time made it despite the snow.
This is how Kate Atkinson plays with time, reincarnation, life, and death. Choices made influence the outcomes of Ursula's life, but despite many deaths Ursula seems to always get a chance to retry.
Ms. Atkinson does not attempt to give reason why this is happening to Ursula, but does imbue her character with a hazy understanding of what is happening to her. This is the true beauty of the story, along with the lack of moralizing and effort to prove there is only one correct way for Ursula to live her life.
My only quibble with the story is I felt the addition of a life that included first hand encounters with Hitler during WWII was a bit overwrought. Otherwise, a fantastic read for this rainy weather.