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alemaria99's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.5
sarah1001's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
belinda1979's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting topic, considering what we are currently experiencing. I found it quite hard going though and was pleased to come to the end of the book
yarm's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
A very interesting story based on history of a real village that voluntarily isolated itself to prevent the spread of the plague to other villages. Very I pressed that even though this book was written before COVID pandemic, so many of the strategies used to prevent spread of the bacteria in 1665, were used to prevent spread of Coronavirus in early 2020s. Interesting also was that the mental health impact and social consequences similar. Has the human race changed much?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Medical content, and Domestic abuse
ellipsiscool's review
4.0
I had been wanting to try out Geraldine Brooks for a long time and this was the book I had on my shelf, so I picked it up and started reading knowing nothing except that it had to do with a plague village in 1666.
Brooks has a very to the point style of writing without large amounts of embellishment. Her narrator, Anna, is a widow with two young boys who is working as a maid and taking care of her children. It was interesting to read about a 17th century single mom. She manages her meager household, raises her children, works outside the home, and tends to a flock of sheep and chickens on her own. I knew right off the bat that this woman would take matters into her own hands. She is the embodiment of "Keep Calm and Carry On" as the village swallowed by a plague that takes two thirds of the villagers.
I found the story as a whole rather fascinating. Brooks characterizes grief through the villagers as they deal with the situation. It's a fantastic study in the effects of disaster and how different people react in different ways.
I am undecided on whether or not I liked the ending of this book. It seemed to wrap up too quickly. Characters who showed extreme strength throughout the entire book, suddenly revealed dark sides within 20 pages or so near the end. On one hand I can justify this because the story is told through Anna and if she missed something in another character than we would have missed it as well. But on the other hand, as a reader, I needed a little foreshadowing to make this transition believable.
Overall, I recommend this book whole-heatedly. Anna is a worthy human. She makes a story that could have been absolutely depressing and lends perseverance, goodwill, and hope to the equation.
Brooks has a very to the point style of writing without large amounts of embellishment. Her narrator, Anna, is a widow with two young boys who is working as a maid and taking care of her children. It was interesting to read about a 17th century single mom. She manages her meager household, raises her children, works outside the home, and tends to a flock of sheep and chickens on her own. I knew right off the bat that this woman would take matters into her own hands. She is the embodiment of "Keep Calm and Carry On" as the village swallowed by a plague that takes two thirds of the villagers.
I found the story as a whole rather fascinating. Brooks characterizes grief through the villagers as they deal with the situation. It's a fantastic study in the effects of disaster and how different people react in different ways.
I am undecided on whether or not I liked the ending of this book. It seemed to wrap up too quickly. Characters who showed extreme strength throughout the entire book, suddenly revealed dark sides within 20 pages or so near the end. On one hand I can justify this because the story is told through Anna and if she missed something in another character than we would have missed it as well. But on the other hand, as a reader, I needed a little foreshadowing to make this transition believable.
Overall, I recommend this book whole-heatedly. Anna is a worthy human. She makes a story that could have been absolutely depressing and lends perseverance, goodwill, and hope to the equation.
mgedington's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
jennyluwho's review
4.0
I may have just docked this book a star bc of two long sermons/monologues that were kinda helpful for the greater theme (re: what the fuck is the point of it all and is God the author of good or bad or nothing at all?!) but made me bored/want to hop over lines. But most of the book I read as if ravished, and while the topic of ‘plague’ sounds like a downer, it was definitely more thoughtful vs. depressing.