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tosta's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
doritobabe's review against another edition
5.0
4.5/5
I picked this up at a thrift store a few years back. I am a sucker for older thrifted books.
I was pleasantly surprised by Willis's Bellwether; it is a light, self contained read that is simple in execution and wraps itself up nicely. The characters aren't horribly static and have enough depth to them to remain satisfying even though this book is shorter than most.
Bellwether, at a high level, is a story about scientists working for a large company all angling to receive, and maintain, special grant funding (with a fairy-tale like twist). Sandra Foster studies fads (sociologist) and the book introduces summaries of popular fads at the beginning of each chapter. I particularly enjoyed this touch. Foster navigates a chaotic work environment and her research, but learns a lot about herself in the process while attempting to determine what STARTS fads. She is surrounded by characters that are at times perplexing to her, and who she thinks about from a scientific perspective, and whom ultimately aid her in her research and the discovery of "universal" bellwethers.
This book is ultimately about the scientific method and determination. Willis drops nice little hints (bread crumbs/evidence) throughout the novel that can be glanced over as minute details leading nowhere, but that in fact wrap up nicely at the end. A pink bow on top (reference in the story), if you will, for readers.
This book isn't filled with DRAMA, like some books that have character self discovery. It's humorous and light and a feel good story with a drop of romance to sweeten the pages. I would love to pick up something else by Willis in the future.
I picked this up at a thrift store a few years back. I am a sucker for older thrifted books.
I was pleasantly surprised by Willis's Bellwether; it is a light, self contained read that is simple in execution and wraps itself up nicely. The characters aren't horribly static and have enough depth to them to remain satisfying even though this book is shorter than most.
Bellwether, at a high level, is a story about scientists working for a large company all angling to receive, and maintain, special grant funding (with a fairy-tale like twist). Sandra Foster studies fads (sociologist) and the book introduces summaries of popular fads at the beginning of each chapter. I particularly enjoyed this touch. Foster navigates a chaotic work environment and her research, but learns a lot about herself in the process while attempting to determine what STARTS fads. She is surrounded by characters that are at times perplexing to her, and who she thinks about from a scientific perspective, and whom ultimately aid her in her research and the discovery of "universal" bellwethers.
This book is ultimately about the scientific method and determination. Willis drops nice little hints (bread crumbs/evidence) throughout the novel that can be glanced over as minute details leading nowhere, but that in fact wrap up nicely at the end. A pink bow on top (reference in the story), if you will, for readers.
This book isn't filled with DRAMA, like some books that have character self discovery. It's humorous and light and a feel good story with a drop of romance to sweeten the pages. I would love to pick up something else by Willis in the future.
mika_4516's review against another edition
funny
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
hapgood's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
mary_elizabeth's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
dale_in_va's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book very much. It fed into the geek in me who loves science and intellectualism.
I read this book without knowing anything about it, so I kept waiting for something big to happen, but nothing big does happen. (lol, kind of like in life!) The joy of the book is centered in the daily ponderings of Sandra and her observations of the people and happenings around her. In her life as a researcher, Sandra encounters foils in the form of "management", Flip the lazy office assistant and the paperwork necessary to fund her research project.
The book seems on the surface seemingly cynical, but it is quite the opposite. It takes the tedium of daily life and turns it on its head. In her search to determine the cause of "fads", Sandra examines her friends and colleagues and contemplates their actions and interactions and tries to understand the roots and motivations behind their behaviors. And the book develops as our expert Sandra, discovers that perhaps her expertise is more limited than she thought.
Fun and silly this is a refreshingly light read on heavy topics.
I recommend reading the review by my friend Rebecca Tversky. She wrote a very good review of this book.
I read this book without knowing anything about it, so I kept waiting for something big to happen, but nothing big does happen. (lol, kind of like in life!) The joy of the book is centered in the daily ponderings of Sandra and her observations of the people and happenings around her. In her life as a researcher, Sandra encounters foils in the form of "management", Flip the lazy office assistant and the paperwork necessary to fund her research project.
The book seems on the surface seemingly cynical, but it is quite the opposite. It takes the tedium of daily life and turns it on its head. In her search to determine the cause of "fads", Sandra examines her friends and colleagues and contemplates their actions and interactions and tries to understand the roots and motivations behind their behaviors. And the book develops as our expert Sandra, discovers that perhaps her expertise is more limited than she thought.
Fun and silly this is a refreshingly light read on heavy topics.
I recommend reading the review by my friend Rebecca Tversky. She wrote a very good review of this book.
h3dakota's review against another edition
5.0
Picked this one up because it was listed as humorous sci-fi. Definitely funny, I laughed quite a bit through the whole thing. Sci-fi in that it's fiction and it's about science, but not what I really consider sci-fi. Still, I'm so happy that I came across it, it's one of the rare books that I can see myself reading again. It's geeky, full of trivia and science goodness.
mpclemens's review against another edition
3.0
A fast, light read, not entirely unpredictable but not unenjoyable for it, with enough in-story parallels and references to keep the reader entertained and amused all the way through. Fun.
rebcamuse's review against another edition
3.0
What do thirty sheep, a disheveled chaos theorist, and a statistician have in common? Everything, according to this very eccentric love story from [author: Connie Willis].
I found myself waiting for "something" to happen, yet being interested enough in the characters not to put the book down. While a bit repetitive in driving home its chaos theory-related/serendipity-is-the-mother-of-invention points, the book is unique it is approach to romance running through the lines of scientific dialogue.
Willis creates vivid characters who border on the absurd, but not in a fictional way. The reader will laugh out loud in recognizing co-workers, friends, and probably even family members in the characters in the novel.
An unusual and fun reading experience recommended for scientists, animal lovers and everyone in between.
I found myself waiting for "something" to happen, yet being interested enough in the characters not to put the book down. While a bit repetitive in driving home its chaos theory-related/serendipity-is-the-mother-of-invention points, the book is unique it is approach to romance running through the lines of scientific dialogue.
Willis creates vivid characters who border on the absurd, but not in a fictional way. The reader will laugh out loud in recognizing co-workers, friends, and probably even family members in the characters in the novel.
An unusual and fun reading experience recommended for scientists, animal lovers and everyone in between.