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slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is one of the slowest, most boring books I've ever read. When the plot does finally start (last 100 pages) its incredibly pretentious.
I honestly found the whole book quite creepy and pathetic
I honestly found the whole book quite creepy and pathetic
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Colonisation
Moderate: Body horror, Confinement, Drug use, Blood, Cannibalism, Alcohol, Classism, Deportation
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
After seeing the reviews and reading the blurb, I really wanted to love The Ministry of Time, as it seemed like a novel that I would really enjoy, as it apparently combined history, time travel and romance into one novel. I thought we would get to explore some complex topics, such as colonialism and morally grey ethics, such as taking people outisde of their time period. Unfortunately, this was not what I encountered when reading this novel and it left me a little disappointed.
The Ministry of Time follows an unnamed woman who has recently started a new job as a 'bridge' within a government department conducting an experiment focussed on time travel. The main character is tasked with helping Commander Graham Gore, a member of the failed Franklin expedition, adjust to modern life, whilst reporting back to the department. Along the way, the narrator struggles to reconcile her feelings for Gore with the actions she undertakes for the governement. As the novel progresses, she discovers that she may not been told the complete truth of what is going on and she must decide between her career, her morals and her heart.
On paper, that sounds like a great novel but in practice it devolved into a frustrating experience. Firstly, the novel couldn't work out whether it wanted to be a time-travelling themed sci-fi story, an espionage themed thriller or a romantic tale about two people with opposing world views. The Ministry of Time tries to be all three of these and then struggles to give each plot thread the attention it deserves. Instead of getting a fully fleshed out plot, satisfying character development or interesting romantic relationship, ithe book rushes through each of these threads, becoming tropey in places. I feel like if the book had been fleshed out by another 100 to 200 pages, it might have been a more satisfying read.
My other issue was the main female character. I did not like her. In fact, I loathed her. She was a hypocrite, self centered and very stupid, something that was pointed out by multiple characters in the book. I also had an issue with her relationship with Gore. For most of the novel, it did not feel like her feelings would be reciprocated and in fact, I thought Gore had more chemistry with another character, Arthur, than he did with the narrator. In addition the power dynamic with her being in charge and Gore having basically been kidnapped, made me feel like their relationship was not romantic at all but actually quite toxic. I just did not feel any sort of connection with the main character nor did I feel any symapthy for her.
That being said, I loved a number of the other characters, in particular the ones that were brought to the present: Graham Gore, Arthur and Maggie. I found all three very endearing and I wished that we spent more time with them, experiencing their journey navigating modern society. I feel like a story told through their perspective would have been a more engaging and entertaining experience.
Overall, The Ministry of Time had an interesting premise which it did not quite deliver. The supporting characters were more interesting than the main character, the romantic subplot was unnecessary and the opportunity to explore the ethics of tearing people away from their time periods was missed. The Ministry of Time was an OK read that had promise but at times was frustrating.
The Ministry of Time follows an unnamed woman who has recently started a new job as a 'bridge' within a government department conducting an experiment focussed on time travel. The main character is tasked with helping Commander Graham Gore, a member of the failed Franklin expedition, adjust to modern life, whilst reporting back to the department. Along the way, the narrator struggles to reconcile her feelings for Gore with the actions she undertakes for the governement. As the novel progresses, she discovers that she may not been told the complete truth of what is going on and she must decide between her career, her morals and her heart.
On paper, that sounds like a great novel but in practice it devolved into a frustrating experience. Firstly, the novel couldn't work out whether it wanted to be a time-travelling themed sci-fi story, an espionage themed thriller or a romantic tale about two people with opposing world views. The Ministry of Time tries to be all three of these and then struggles to give each plot thread the attention it deserves. Instead of getting a fully fleshed out plot, satisfying character development or interesting romantic relationship, ithe book rushes through each of these threads, becoming tropey in places. I feel like if the book had been fleshed out by another 100 to 200 pages, it might have been a more satisfying read.
My other issue was the main female character. I did not like her. In fact, I loathed her. She was a hypocrite, self centered and very stupid, something that was pointed out by multiple characters in the book. I also had an issue with her relationship with Gore. For most of the novel, it did not feel like her feelings would be reciprocated and in fact, I thought Gore had more chemistry with another character, Arthur, than he did with the narrator. In addition the power dynamic with her being in charge and Gore having basically been kidnapped, made me feel like their relationship was not romantic at all but actually quite toxic. I just did not feel any sort of connection with the main character nor did I feel any symapthy for her.
That being said, I loved a number of the other characters, in particular the ones that were brought to the present: Graham Gore, Arthur and Maggie. I found all three very endearing and I wished that we spent more time with them, experiencing their journey navigating modern society. I feel like a story told through their perspective would have been a more engaging and entertaining experience.
Overall, The Ministry of Time had an interesting premise which it did not quite deliver. The supporting characters were more interesting than the main character, the romantic subplot was unnecessary and the opportunity to explore the ethics of tearing people away from their time periods was missed. The Ministry of Time was an OK read that had promise but at times was frustrating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Cannibalism
adventurous
challenging
funny
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A really good book with a fascinating premise, but quite uneven - sometimes utterly brilliant, other times mediocre and petering out towards the end.
Bradley is such a witty and evocative writer, she made me laugh out loud and hit me with pangs of emotion insight. But this same talent sometimes got in the way of the character and plot development.
I can’t wait to read what she writes next, as she masters her powers.
Bradley is such a witty and evocative writer, she made me laugh out loud and hit me with pangs of emotion insight. But this same talent sometimes got in the way of the character and plot development.
I can’t wait to read what she writes next, as she masters her powers.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
Moderate: Genocide
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I loved the different perspective on how it would actually feel to travel through time.
And I appreciated Kaliane using full artistic licence on a few words.
And I appreciated Kaliane using full artistic licence on a few words.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death, Homophobia, Racism, Cannibalism, Colonisation
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I struggled with the first 50% of this book. It really took me a while to wrap my mind around the plot and where the author was leading the reader.
Additionally, the writing was a challenge in more place than one - there were some forced metaphors and the writing isn't super accessible, even to those who are used to reading fantasy and sci-fi. The aggressive use of SAT style words led to overcomplicated and flowery prose that convoluted the meaning. The author was trying so hard to write a beautiful book that sometimes it was an incomprehensible book.
Now that we got the bad out of the way with - the back half of the book was what really had me stopping in awe more than once. There's a lot of set up, but if you can deal with the writing, the pay off is certainly worth it. I was impressed by the unique spin on the time travel trope - its done with a lot of precision and expertise, and the twists that you're treated to in the last 50 pages are really stunning and well done.
Our narrator and protagonist, the daughter of Cambodian immigrants, inadvertently finds herself working for a British spy agency that has embarked on a secret project to bring a collection of individuals from the past into modern-day Britain. She is assigned as a "bridge" - essentially a companion and cultural encyclopedia - to one of the time travelers. She must quickly confront a whole host of cultural complexities (gender, race, colonialism, romance, technology...) alongside the man she is tasked with protecting and defending. It made for a fascinating and sometimes complicated read, but when I think back over this book one thing that stands out to me is that I've never read anything like it and I doubt I ever will again!
Additionally, the writing was a challenge in more place than one - there were some forced metaphors and the writing isn't super accessible, even to those who are used to reading fantasy and sci-fi. The aggressive use of SAT style words led to overcomplicated and flowery prose that convoluted the meaning. The author was trying so hard to write a beautiful book that sometimes it was an incomprehensible book.
Now that we got the bad out of the way with - the back half of the book was what really had me stopping in awe more than once. There's a lot of set up, but if you can deal with the writing, the pay off is certainly worth it. I was impressed by the unique spin on the time travel trope - its done with a lot of precision and expertise, and the twists that you're treated to in the last 50 pages are really stunning and well done.
Our narrator and protagonist, the daughter of Cambodian immigrants, inadvertently finds herself working for a British spy agency that has embarked on a secret project to bring a collection of individuals from the past into modern-day Britain. She is assigned as a "bridge" - essentially a companion and cultural encyclopedia - to one of the time travelers. She must quickly confront a whole host of cultural complexities (gender, race, colonialism, romance, technology...) alongside the man she is tasked with protecting and defending. It made for a fascinating and sometimes complicated read, but when I think back over this book one thing that stands out to me is that I've never read anything like it and I doubt I ever will again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism
Moderate: Genocide, Gore, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Blood, Cannibalism, Cultural appropriation
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Pamačiau, kad šita knyga laimėjo goodreadsų metų sci-fi knygos apdovanojimą. Galvoju, ok, išbandom. Ir nebuvo ji bloga, idėja tikrai įdomi ir išpildyta visai tinkamai, knygoje netrūksta twistų, priverčiančių vis palaikyti mano dėmesį. Visas persikėlimo laiku konceptas ir jo padariniai buvo įdomiausia knygos dalis, puikiai išnaudota komedija bei atrasta vietos tinkamai įterpti socialinius komentarus.
Obettačiau, knyga nereikalingai per daug užsižaidžia romantinėse temose (neturiu nieko prieš, bet ar tai buvo itin reikalinga? turbūt ne), o ir šiaip kartais sunku suprasti, kuria kryptimi ji eina - ar čia sci-fi, ar čia romantinė knyga, ar čia detektyinis trileris, ar čia socialinių komentarų rinkinys. Kartais šie bandymai maišyti viską į vieną krūvą visai pavykdavo, bet daug dažniau buvo kiek nuobodoka skaityti. Bet, vis tiek, susiskaitė greitai ir visai smagiai, tai stiprūs trys iš penkių.
Obettačiau, knyga nereikalingai per daug užsižaidžia romantinėse temose (neturiu nieko prieš, bet ar tai buvo itin reikalinga? turbūt ne), o ir šiaip kartais sunku suprasti, kuria kryptimi ji eina - ar čia sci-fi, ar čia romantinė knyga, ar čia detektyinis trileris, ar čia socialinių komentarų rinkinys. Kartais šie bandymai maišyti viską į vieną krūvą visai pavykdavo, bet daug dažniau buvo kiek nuobodoka skaityti. Bet, vis tiek, susiskaitė greitai ir visai smagiai, tai stiprūs trys iš penkių.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Sexual content
Moderate: Racism, Cannibalism, Murder
Minor: Slavery, War
adventurous
funny
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Cannibalism
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
He’d always lived inside me, years before I’d known him. I’d been trained to love him.
Okay so I don’t get all the fuss.
For months now, I’ve heard endless explanations of how The Ministry of Time was a self-insert, plagiarized fanfic level mess; others fiercely rebutting by raving about its romantic, humorous blend of commentary, self-reflection, and deep-state subterfuge. I fall on neither extreme. While I went through the book quite fast, it didn’t blow me away - positively or negatively.
I’ll stick to positives. Kaliane Bradley is a good writer. Her narration maintains an engaging, witty tone throughout pretty much the entire page count, something I appreciate a lot since a not insignificant amount of the story was basically our MC and Graham Gore screwing around their safe-house (quite literally in the second half). There’s discourse to be had about the merits of the POV character being a deliberate blank slate beyond the scantest possible details, but I cannot deny that even during bits I wanted to throw my hands in frustration with her actions or political viewpoints, I was entertained. Particularly impressive was the sharpness with which Bradley deftly critiques Empire and the ever-present dynamic between colonizer and colonized. The MC’s (and Bradley’s) mixed British-Cambodian heritage informs much of her cynical, assimilationist approach to life and passive reaction to the outer world. Intergenerational trauma and paranoia that comes with being a daughter of a survivor of the Cambodian Genocide runs throughout the story and it is both heartbreaking and tragic the ways our MC’s cautious apathy completely unravels everything in the end. I won’t spoil it, but let’s just say Ms. Bradley made some interesting capital-C choices. A stunning presentation for a debut author. She will definitely be someone whose works I will look out for.
I’ll keep the negatives brief. I definitely get the confusion about the book’s genre marketing choices. For all that the ‘romance’ aspect is played up in reviews and blurbs, it only really comes into play more than halfway through the book and I’d argue, still not an aspect that holds the most interest IMHO. Personally, for me, I felt that the MC and Graham had a better emotionally resonant connection with Margaret and Arthur respectively, but it is what it is. I don’t mind the romance overall and I certainly don’t get all the handwringing over the “ethics” of depicting a fictional romantic/sexual relationship for a historical figure. For the love of god, this was like half of all historical fiction not too long ago. People need to calm down and get off their high horses. This is not the same as Harry Styles RPF fanfiction republished with the serial numbers filed off. I do, however, think Bradley would do better with a more restrained, focused genre approach to any future works. She’s decent with the individual genre traits she writes (soft sci-fi, slice of life, romance, observational), but this scattershot style didn’t quite stick the landing.
So yeah. This was fine
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Blood, Murder
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Cannibalism
Minor: Genocide, Rape, Slavery, Torture, Grief, Colonisation, War
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism
Moderate: Death, Slavery, Colonisation, War
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A friend didn’t like this book much so I wanted to see what she meant. Unlike her, I absolutely loved it from beginning to end, so I anticipate some great conversations between us ahead.
I loved the writing, the story, the characters, the mystery, the clash of people from other times being thrust, unknowing, into the 21st C. I’ve always been interested in the Franklin Expedition - all those men starved and / or froze to death and most disappeared forever without ever achieving their goal. I found having a member of the Expedition as a main character to be irresistible. I wanted more and more of his interactions with the narrator, his “bridge” to the 21st C.
I found it intriguing that we never learned the name of the narrator. We know so much else about her, her thoughts, her feelings, her hopes, her fears, but not her name. Why is that kept from us? She’s hired for the job because of her status as a “refugee” - and the people who come through the time machine are refugees from the past - but she never thinks of herself that way and doesn’t see the two situations related at all.
The thing with time travel is that current actions can change the future. The narrator’s timeline is changed at the end. What does that say for her future?
I loved the writing, the story, the characters, the mystery, the clash of people from other times being thrust, unknowing, into the 21st C. I’ve always been interested in the Franklin Expedition - all those men starved and / or froze to death and most disappeared forever without ever achieving their goal. I found having a member of the Expedition as a main character to be irresistible. I wanted more and more of his interactions with the narrator, his “bridge” to the 21st C.
I found it intriguing that we never learned the name of the narrator. We know so much else about her, her thoughts, her feelings, her hopes, her fears, but not her name. Why is that kept from us? She’s hired for the job because of her status as a “refugee” - and the people who come through the time machine are refugees from the past - but she never thinks of herself that way and doesn’t see the two situations related at all.
The thing with time travel is that current actions can change the future. The narrator’s timeline is changed at the end. What does that say for her future?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Murder, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism