So in my many forays into “having too many hobbies” I have founded/maintained for the last two years a book club, Y.A.W.E.R.S. (YAY! Adults Who Enjoy Reading Still formally known as Young Adults Who Enjoy Reading Still).
Here’s my review of our May read…
Doomsday Book by Connie Willis
Synopsis:
It is the not so exciting future (other then… you know time travel) where historians are the new Indiana Joneses, the bell crazed British are sending historians back to the past, by themselves, to chronicle history. Shenanigans occur. One part historical fiction, one part sci fi, another part medical drama. A pretty surprising multifaceted book, that despite long sometimes frustrating inner monologues will keep you guessing (and you’ll find you were probably right) and interested until the end.
Thoughts:
I liked this book. It wasn’t what I expected (mostly because I’m bad at reading back covers/reviews). It really has a little about everything and keeps you interested. Connie Willis’ view of the future is not super exciting (then again it’s only 50 years from now) but the time travel aspect adds a twist. She in my opinion cops out though with the book’s universe rule that you can’t travel back in time and effect the past because “the net” that takes you back won’t let you go if you can screw it up. Really takes a lot of balls to trust in that one.
The characters aren’t SUPER endearing but they are likeable enough. The parts in the past both anglicize the people of the time and forces the point that its not the fairy tale era that SCA members day dream about. Apperantly she did her research though (didn’t travel back in time though… :/ Where’s the commitment?) as best as she could and its pretty accurate to the 1300s.
One sometimes frustrating and sometimes interesting aspect of the book was Connie Willis’ ability to really get in the head of the unreliable narrators. Large stretches of the book are spent with the characters listing what they needed to do full of self doubt or full hardy promise. Made me stress and urge them a long. It wasn’t Grapes of Wrath in length of description though so it was barable. The way she stretches on inner monologues also is mirrored in her plot reveals. Good twists but I guessed them 50-100 pages before as there is very obvious lead up.
Rating:
3 out of 5 penguins for gumption!
Read On – S