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kirsty's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars.
The heat of the book is what happens after the moon hits the earth. Prior to that, I found the book dragging, but it's worth persevering for the post calamity section which is much more compelling.
The heat of the book is what happens after the moon hits the earth. Prior to that, I found the book dragging, but it's worth persevering for the post calamity section which is much more compelling.
jay_hobday's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lprnana6572's review against another edition
4.0
Written in 1939, this book explores what happens to humanity when the moon hits the earth and lands in the Atlantic Ocean (interesting concept). At first, those remaining work in harmony and create and rebuild as those with a promising end in sight. Does the world continue in this manner or does greed and hatred take over from despotic leaders???
reenelim's review against another edition
4.0
4.5stars
at first, i was very uninterested to read about a character who was very full of himself, and willingly detached himself from anyone else because he is just that much better. but, as the story progresses, he developed into a more understanding and accepting person.
the story itself was fantastic. i wouldn’t say the pacing was slow, but it did take its time to explain things of detail that would later build into a bigger plot line.
and the plot line was remarkable. i liked to read about before, during and after the cataclysm. i think that it was splendidly done.
this book made me think, as a book does with war / apocalyptic settings. and it was insightful to see different perspective, albeit this one from Edgar Hopkin.
however, the only reason it wasn’t 5 stars was that there was very little women in the book, and if there were they were slow witted and/or bred to be a housewife. taking into account that this was published in 1939, i still think this doesn’t deserve the .5 stars.
at first, i was very uninterested to read about a character who was very full of himself, and willingly detached himself from anyone else because he is just that much better. but, as the story progresses, he developed into a more understanding and accepting person.
the story itself was fantastic. i wouldn’t say the pacing was slow, but it did take its time to explain things of detail that would later build into a bigger plot line.
and the plot line was remarkable. i liked to read about before, during and after the cataclysm. i think that it was splendidly done.
this book made me think, as a book does with war / apocalyptic settings. and it was insightful to see different perspective, albeit this one from Edgar Hopkin.
however, the only reason it wasn’t 5 stars was that there was very little women in the book, and if there were they were slow witted and/or bred to be a housewife. taking into account that this was published in 1939, i still think this doesn’t deserve the .5 stars.
onefinestein's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
slow-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? Yes
5.0
titrateinconvenience's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
donnaehm's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
harpweaving's review against another edition
4.0
I learned about this book in a NY Times article which described its genre as “cozy catastrophe” and thought “sign me up”. Originally published in 1939 and recently rereleased, it tells the story of a small British town preparing for an apocalypse (the moon has left its orbit and is gradually hurtling towards the Earth) in the most humdrum fashion possible, told through the eyes of a retired teacher and prize chicken breeder who is at turns outrageously petty and quietly heroic. There are many amusing parts but it’s ultimately a dark story about humanity’s — particularly the West’s — commitment to a fantasy about its own superiority even in the face of its certain annihilation. As in most apocalyptic tales, the survivors of the initial disaster are usually their own worst enemies.
dougb's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.0