The Age of Miracles in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Sep 23, 2012 Rae rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: other-fiction, 2012

What would happen if the earth's rotation slowed down enough to add minutes to our days?

It's hard to believe that there was a time in this country--not so long ago--when thick almanacs were printed every year and listed, among other facts, the precise clock time of every single sunrise and every single sunset a year in advance. I think we lost something else when we lost that crisp rhythm, some general shared belief that we could count on certain things. (96)

And what if you were just entering a What would happen if the earth's rotation slowed down enough to add minutes to our days?

It's hard to believe that there was a time in this country--not so long ago--when thick almanacs were printed every year and listed, among other facts, the precise clock time of every single sunrise and every single sunset a year in advance. I think we lost something else when we lost that crisp rhythm, some general shared belief that we could count on certain things. (96)

And what if you were just entering adolescence when it happened? What would your memories of that time be?

This was middle school, the age of miracles, the time when kids shot up three inches over the summer, when breasts bloomed from nothing, when voices dipped and dove. Our first flaws were emerging, but they were being corrected. Blurry vision could be fixed invisibly with the magic of the contact lens. Crooked teeth were pulled straight with braces. Spotty skin could be chemically cleared. Some girls were turning beautiful. A few boys were growing tall. I knew I still looked like a child. (43)

Walker's book was launched with quite a lot of hype and critical reviews that were positive enough to make me want to read it. I was initially enthralled but then this coming-of-age-story-during-turbulent-times lost its appeal. For all that was happening on earth (solar storms, earthquakes, tidal changes, periodic panic, lengthening days), there sure wasn't much sense of urgency for the reader. I felt like the author was trying to write both a science fiction novel and a coming-of-age story, but couldn't quite figure out how to do both justice.

I would have enjoyed a bit longer book (not unlike the days that were gradually adding minutes) with more scientific causation and information about what was happening in the actual world--not just Julia's. The author introduced an intriguing plot possibility with the friction between those who stayed on 24-hour clocks and those who lived by the earth's time. But then she didn't do much with it.

I do realize that Julia is the protagonist here, but she is also writing her memories of her childhood as an adult. Therefore, the author could have broadened her world a bit for the sake of this reader. I would have been more satisfied in the end.

This book reminded me a lot of Life As We Knew It by Susan Pfeffer, a similar story series written for young adults.

...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 21, 2012 Abby Johnson rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: grownup_books

When, inexplicably, the Earth's rotation begins to slow drastically, 11-year-old Julia must deal with all the post-apocalyptic changes to her world in addition to navigating the choppy waters of middle school.

I picked up this book because I was fascinated by the premise and I was hoping it would have crossover appeal to teens. The premise is definitely interesting. The book is a look at how society begins to disintegrate in the face of apocalyptic changes to the planet. Each person has a differ ...more

Like · see review

Jul 01, 2012 Jess rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read-2012

Oh. Just oh :(
(view spoiler)
I've noticed that a lot of the reviews about this book mention being unconvinced by the narration - they feel that more should have been revealed or explained, that a wider scope should have been portrayed ...more

1 like · Like · see review

May 06, 2013 Alvin rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook

I was disappointed with the way the story unfolded. The reason I gave it 3 stars is only because like all dystopian books, I love the way this book examines how humans would react if something devastating, like The Slowing, happened. In some odd way, this book reminded me of World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War. I would have liked this book a little bit more if this it had more of the documentary tone that made WWZ a superior book. If I wasn't such a science geek, I don't think this bo ...more

Like · see review

Jul 07, 2013 Cheryl rated it really liked it

This was a really powerful, unforgettable, haunting book. A coming of age story during an uncertain time when the Earth has slowed it's rotation and people/society are struggling to cope with the changes that feel and could be apocalyptic. The book sounds like sci-fi but it's not. I am not sure how I felt about the ending of the book. Highly recommend however. This book reminded me somewhat of the movie Melancholia which I also recommend. ...more

Like · see review

Sep 20, 2012 Anne rated it really liked it

I liked the portrayal of adolescence. I don't care that the premise of the book might seem far-fetched to some people, because Karen Thompson Walker pulls it off, as far as I'm concerned. ...more

Like · see review

Oct 30, 2012 gwen g rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: ya

This story of time slowing down and the world having to adjust to it somehow chilled me to the core. Something about the dreamy voice and lack of specifics about the science behind it -- which I know drove critics crazy -- made it entirely realistic to me, and I thought about it every single morning when the sun rose reliably at the same time. So, obviously, I'd say this book is compelling and immensely readable, although I found the ending disappointing.

(Is this supposed to be a YA book? God. I ...more

Like · see review