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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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:
Complicated
Contrary to some other reviews, I happened to like the ending... what can I say, I enjoy a happy ending now and then; I feel like I don't get that so much in most of the books I read
Apparently I read this back in 2019 according to this app. Weirdly I have no recollection and having come across this on the Waterstones tables time and again, I decided to pick it up again. In 2019, I gave this book 2 stars. Isn't it weird how time, mood and experience can change a reading. Since then we've lived through a pandemic. I don't remember giving this book 2 stars but I'm sorry I did. It's wonderful. It gets inside the psyche of plague-stricken Eyam with horror and empathy, pulling flesh and blood characters from the mists of history. I loved it. I wonder whether living through a pandemic has changed my view of this novel. Either way, I'm very glad I picked it up again.
Story is 5 stars - narration, 2 stars, but I won't reflect that in my rating. The narration is clear but read by the author in a breathy, soft, voice. Almost all the books I read are audiobooks, and I almost never criticize the narrator - but most are narrated by professionals, as this story should have been.
Awesome reflection of the customs of the times, and SO relevant now in the context of the covid epidemic, that some passages could apply to current situations. Think of the anti-vaxxers, the people taking horse-dewormer and being caught up by conspiracy theories and superstition and pseudoscience. So similar in this story - humanity doesn't change much, and sadly, doesn't learn from past failures.
What I loved about this book was the skepticism displayed by more than one of the central characters, who fought for evidence-based decision-making, and questioned their faith and superstition. Yes, there have been rationalists throughout history, as demonstrated here.
Several other reviews have commented on and been disappointed by the strange ending, but it didn't upset me in the least. As Anna learned, other cultures and beliefs are no stranger (and many times more rational) than our own.
Awesome reflection of the customs of the times, and SO relevant now in the context of the covid epidemic, that some passages could apply to current situations. Think of the anti-vaxxers, the people taking horse-dewormer and being caught up by conspiracy theories and superstition and pseudoscience. So similar in this story - humanity doesn't change much, and sadly, doesn't learn from past failures.
What I loved about this book was the skepticism displayed by more than one of the central characters, who fought for evidence-based decision-making, and questioned their faith and superstition. Yes, there have been rationalists throughout history, as demonstrated here.
Several other reviews have commented on and been disappointed by the strange ending, but it didn't upset me in the least. As Anna learned, other cultures and beliefs are no stranger (and many times more rational) than our own.
Really humanized The Plague™. Lots of Middle English /ish that made it a bit confusing
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Intense, sad but also fascinating exploration of Plague-era England
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism, Child death, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Pandemic/Epidemic
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Enjoyed the historical aspect. Was a quick listen and easy to get into. Something about it was just kind of “blah”. I can’t really put my finger on it.
This book is not a good time. But I don't mean that in a fun way?
Look, if you put a plague doctor on the cover of your book, I'm going to expect something metal. I have a plague doctor tattoo FFS. But Year of Wonders doesn't bring the tension or horror that I was looking for.
What I got was a bunch of unlikeable characters, social distancing, and a short-lived witch hunt. So basically, 2020 with more horses.
I think the audiobook also soured my experience because it was read by the author herself, not a professional voice actor- and you can tell. Not all authors are meant to read their own works and that's not a bad thing. It's just a matter of staying in your lane. There is some beautifully descriptive prose in here, so Brooks clearly has talent as a writer.
Look, if you put a plague doctor on the cover of your book, I'm going to expect something metal. I have a plague doctor tattoo FFS. But Year of Wonders doesn't bring the tension or horror that I was looking for.
What I got was a bunch of unlikeable characters, social distancing, and a short-lived witch hunt. So basically, 2020 with more horses.
I think the audiobook also soured my experience because it was read by the author herself, not a professional voice actor- and you can tell. Not all authors are meant to read their own works and that's not a bad thing. It's just a matter of staying in your lane. There is some beautifully descriptive prose in here, so Brooks clearly has talent as a writer.