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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a difficult novel to rate, because it's split into two strikingly different parts, though it's not a sharp divide. In the leisurely first section of the book, which I found to be the stronger part, we are introduced to the year 2021, a quarter-century after human births ended as sperm counts fell to zero. We're also introduced to the key characters, most notably history professor Theo Faron, his cousin Xan Lyppiat, and a small group of discontented citizens each with her or his own complaints. This is a thoroughly imagined world, and the characters placed in it feel like real people.
Where the book falls short is the second half, in which most of the action occurs. Perhaps because it seemed like the pace should have quickened as the novel went on, this part of the book seemed to me to drag.
Where the book falls short is the second half, in which most of the action occurs. Perhaps because it seemed like the pace should have quickened as the novel went on, this part of the book seemed to me to drag.
This is the kind of story that sets you up with an amazing premise, but can't *quite* deliver on the goods when it counts.
P.D. James paints a detailed picture of a world on the brink of apocalypse. There's nothing terribly dramatic about it, though; no natural disasters, nuclear explosions, alien invasions... The human species has simply become infertile. The world ends with a whimper, not a bang. As readers, we get to experience the denial, hopelessness, apathy, and purposelessness that has swept the remaining populations of the world.
Our protagonist, Theo, is a very interesting character. Emotionally detached and sardonic by nature, he makes for an ideal surrogate into this world. He's able to intimately describe the decline of societal institutions and the breakdown of the human condition without bogging us down with depression and sadness; he talks about it with an intellectual, almost academic curiosity. That's also why the story beats in the later half of the book don't make a lot of sense to me, since they are predicated on a bunch of unearned emotional attachments that he inexplicably develops.
This leads me to my critique of the structure of the story in general. While the first half is largely introspective and based in part on diary entries, the second half devolves into a fugitive road trip story that is honestly kind of boring. For all of the world-building and intriguing setup that is provided in the beginning, I expected a more consequential story to follow. I did very much enjoy the ending, to the point that it *almost* made up for the 100-or-so pages that preceded it, but by then my passion for the book had noticeably waned.
Aside from Theo, the only other memorable character in the story was his cousin Xan, the self-appointed Warden of England and the closest thing the story has to a villain. For the most part, he is only mentioned by other characters, featuring in just two short moments of the book (excluding some childhood flashbacks), but these moments are memorable and entertaining. He appears to be Theo's intellectual equal, though he falls more on the sociopathic side of the spectrum. I would have liked to see more of him, instead of the Five Fishes group we're forced to spend half the book with.
All five of these characters (with the exception of Miriam, perhaps) are either weak and barely developed or they're obnoxious and stupid to the point of absurdity. Julian, the person Theo supposedly develops strong feelings for, is one of the worst characters I've ever encountered in a fiction story. She is at the epicenter of a colossal mess of poor writing and bad decisions, and becomes impossible to root for- which is too bad, because the emotional impact of the ending relies heavily on your connection to the character.
Overall, "The Children of Men" is an exercise in squandered potential. The story's universe is so well-realized that I would love to see sequels that expand on it and take the story in more exciting directions. There is a more powerful story hidden in here somewhere, and if anyone wanted to try creating it I would be the first in line to read it. I give the book 6.5 out of 10 stars.
P.D. James paints a detailed picture of a world on the brink of apocalypse. There's nothing terribly dramatic about it, though; no natural disasters, nuclear explosions, alien invasions... The human species has simply become infertile. The world ends with a whimper, not a bang. As readers, we get to experience the denial, hopelessness, apathy, and purposelessness that has swept the remaining populations of the world.
Our protagonist, Theo, is a very interesting character. Emotionally detached and sardonic by nature, he makes for an ideal surrogate into this world. He's able to intimately describe the decline of societal institutions and the breakdown of the human condition without bogging us down with depression and sadness; he talks about it with an intellectual, almost academic curiosity. That's also why the story beats in the later half of the book don't make a lot of sense to me, since they are predicated on a bunch of unearned emotional attachments that he inexplicably develops.
This leads me to my critique of the structure of the story in general. While the first half is largely introspective and based in part on diary entries, the second half devolves into a fugitive road trip story that is honestly kind of boring. For all of the world-building and intriguing setup that is provided in the beginning, I expected a more consequential story to follow. I did very much enjoy the ending, to the point that it *almost* made up for the 100-or-so pages that preceded it, but by then my passion for the book had noticeably waned.
Aside from Theo, the only other memorable character in the story was his cousin Xan, the self-appointed Warden of England and the closest thing the story has to a villain. For the most part, he is only mentioned by other characters, featuring in just two short moments of the book (excluding some childhood flashbacks), but these moments are memorable and entertaining. He appears to be Theo's intellectual equal, though he falls more on the sociopathic side of the spectrum. I would have liked to see more of him, instead of the Five Fishes group we're forced to spend half the book with.
All five of these characters (with the exception of Miriam, perhaps) are either weak and barely developed or they're obnoxious and stupid to the point of absurdity. Julian, the person Theo supposedly develops strong feelings for, is one of the worst characters I've ever encountered in a fiction story. She is at the epicenter of a colossal mess of poor writing and bad decisions, and becomes impossible to root for- which is too bad, because the emotional impact of the ending relies heavily on your connection to the character.
Overall, "The Children of Men" is an exercise in squandered potential. The story's universe is so well-realized that I would love to see sequels that expand on it and take the story in more exciting directions. There is a more powerful story hidden in here somewhere, and if anyone wanted to try creating it I would be the first in line to read it. I give the book 6.5 out of 10 stars.
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Infertility, Suicide, Murder
Minor: Infidelity, Rape, Vomit, Pregnancy
I really enjoyed The Children of Men. It's a dark read, and really made me think about what people are capable of when faced with their own death and the death of their entire species. The horror of knowing that you're growing older but there is no child or grandchild to follow after you. In The Children of Men, that knowledge has driven some women mad, as they transfer their maternal instincts to dolls and pets. James' future is chilling but utterly believable.
As for the writing itself, I enjoyed the combination of the first person narrative and the third person narrative. The stream of consciousness entries from Theo's diary allowed greater insight into his character, and also allowed James to provide the history necessary for the reader to develop an understanding of Omega without it reading like a "Here's what you need to know" section. I also appreciated James' descriptive skill. The imagery wasn't overly graphic, she didn't focus on the blood and gore, and yet it was still truly disturbing.
The Children of Men is a book that I'd like to read again one day and certainly one that I'd recommend to other readers.
As for the writing itself, I enjoyed the combination of the first person narrative and the third person narrative. The stream of consciousness entries from Theo's diary allowed greater insight into his character, and also allowed James to provide the history necessary for the reader to develop an understanding of Omega without it reading like a "Here's what you need to know" section. I also appreciated James' descriptive skill. The imagery wasn't overly graphic, she didn't focus on the blood and gore, and yet it was still truly disturbing.
The Children of Men is a book that I'd like to read again one day and certainly one that I'd recommend to other readers.
An interesting view on what gives our lives purpose, and how we might respond should the future be uncertain for the generations after us. Particularly interesting from the perspective of someone (me!) who is fairly ambivalent about having kids of my own. I think this future could exist in some form - more likely in the form of our planet becoming inhabitable for humans, or humans being basically wiped out by something, and found myself wondering what it would feel like to live in a world that might not exist 50 years from now. Anyway - a great read full of things to think about.
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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:
Yes
dark
reflective
slow-paced
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes