Scan barcode
therafa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
ms_yall's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.5
rexsavior's review against another edition
3.0
I will echo what others here have already said:
-If the two volumes could have been one
-If the characters spent less time speculating about their circumstances (i.e. excessive internal hand wringing)
-If the focus of the book had shifted away from these worrisome main characters and instead highlighted the vivid historic scene setting and secondary characters
Well, that would have been quite a book. Even with all that, the last few hundred pages of the second volume are riveting and the ending is quite satisfying. I wish I could tell my friends it was worth the slog to get there. I almost can. Ok, maybe I can.
-If the two volumes could have been one
-If the characters spent less time speculating about their circumstances (i.e. excessive internal hand wringing)
-If the focus of the book had shifted away from these worrisome main characters and instead highlighted the vivid historic scene setting and secondary characters
Well, that would have been quite a book. Even with all that, the last few hundred pages of the second volume are riveting and the ending is quite satisfying. I wish I could tell my friends it was worth the slog to get there. I almost can. Ok, maybe I can.
runner5's review
5.0
I am amazed at how Willis not just created but maintained the unending anxiety of the Blitz and the V-1/V-2 attacks and also simultaneously portrayed the banalities of life between those moments of terror. Twice, I had to take a break just to release the tension.
Without spoiling, I got angry at a certain plot point, but it was redeemed, and then it made another point even more impactful.
Without spoiling, I got angry at a certain plot point, but it was redeemed, and then it made another point even more impactful.
bennought's review against another edition
5.0
A clever, beautiful, and entirely enthralling boo, and a nearly perfect conclusion to the story of Polly, Eileen, and Michael's travel back to World War II England. Even though you frequently know what is about to happen, or what is happening, you still find yourself riveted, and hanging on Willis's every word. My one complaint, and it is fairly minor, is the revelation at the end of the book. It has little bearing on the rest of the book, but is merely one of those neat little contrivances which so often litter fiction, especially historical fiction, and which really aren't at all necessary.
Perhaps even more impressive, though, is the performance by Katherine Kellgren, the woman who read the Audible version of the book. Kellgren has created a unique voice for every character, and the main ones are distinct enough to recognizable. She manages, quite superbly, accents from across the British Isles, as well as several American accents and even a German-accented English. The pacing of the reading is perfect, and Kellgren's able to replicate the emotions of the characters and narration to a 'T' without being melodramatic or campy.
Perhaps even more impressive, though, is the performance by Katherine Kellgren, the woman who read the Audible version of the book. Kellgren has created a unique voice for every character, and the main ones are distinct enough to recognizable. She manages, quite superbly, accents from across the British Isles, as well as several American accents and even a German-accented English. The pacing of the reading is perfect, and Kellgren's able to replicate the emotions of the characters and narration to a 'T' without being melodramatic or campy.
mpclemens's review against another edition
2.0
So. This series is really two books. But not the two they're divided into.
One book is "a you-are-there retelling of parts of World War II, especially the Blitz." The other is "a twisty time-travel book set in parts of World War II, especially the blitz." Unfortunately, the two books are battling for the reader's attention throughout. Only within the final quarter of All Clear does the pair of novels pay off, but after being bombarded by near-endless amounts of character movement without character growth, I feel like it came too little, too late. There's not enough interest in the core characters to sustain a full limited-third-person style narrative and keep it compelling for the duration of the timeline that Willis has chosen.
Spoiler section:
One book is "a you-are-there retelling of parts of World War II, especially the Blitz." The other is "a twisty time-travel book set in parts of World War II, especially the blitz." Unfortunately, the two books are battling for the reader's attention throughout. Only within the final quarter of All Clear does the pair of novels pay off, but after being bombarded by near-endless amounts of character movement without character growth, I feel like it came too little, too late. There's not enough interest in the core characters to sustain a full limited-third-person style narrative and keep it compelling for the duration of the timeline that Willis has chosen.
Spoiler section:
Spoiler
Endless repetitions of characters stating the "rules" of time travel -- historians can't alter events -- becomes practically grating at times, and I feel that there were far more interesting things to set the characters to do other than endlessly run from point to point, trying to find a "drop" to their own home timeline. Far more interesting are when the characters simply accept the point and time in which they are working, and actually allow themselves to become part of history.camp45's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
aforeman's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
wanderingreader's review
adventurous
emotional
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? No
4.5