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Doomsday Book
Group Reads Discussions 2011
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"Doomsday Book" Initial Impressions *no spoilers*
I read this. . . um. . . must be over a decade ago by now. But bits of it are still crystal-clear in my memory, and I'm looking forward to discussion jogging other bits clear. :)(Wish I had time for a reread, but I don't. . . have to read Blackout & All Clear!)
Phoenixfalls wrote: "have to read Blackout & All Clear!"You'll get no argument from me on that! I highly recommend both of those novels (best if read back to back).
Jon wrote: "You'll get no argument from me on that! I highly recommend both of those novels (best if read back to back)."Oh absolutely! It was absolute agony to have Blackout on my shelf all those months and not read it because I was waiting for All Clear to be released. . . and then, of course, because whims are contrary, as soon as I had my copy of All Clear the mood passed. . .
I will read this. Soon, hopefully.
I read this a few years ago. I'm not going to reread it now as it is slated as another book group read later in the year, so if I do reread, I'll do it then. I'm looking forward to the discussion all the same.I read Blackout when it came out, but want to reread it before going on to All Clear as I don't remember much. I've learned my lesson and won't read half a book again without having te second half. (The reason I own by haven't read Robin McKinley's Pegasus.) I just don't know when I'll fit them in.
Oh and Jon, you need to go in and close your spoiler tag. The rest of the discussion is trapped inside it. Thanks.
Kerry wrote: "Oh and Jon, you need to go in and close your spoiler tag. The rest of the discussion is trapped inside it. Thanks."Sorry, the bolding was causing a problem with the spoiling.
I'm currently reading it - about 100 pages in - and quite enjoying it. There was an initial hitch with some of the americanised language, but seen as it's set in futuristic Oxford I can cut it some slack! It's my first Connie Willis and I've heard a lot of good things about her so my expectations are set high!
I will start reading tonight :-)
Just started yesterday and I'm loving it. I read To Say Nothing of the Dog awhile back and it was fantastic so I'm enjoying reading another work by Ms. Willis
I finally read Doomsday Book early last year and absolutely loved it, as I've loved everything Ms. Willis has written.
Read this book long since, when it came out and will join in discussion if I feel I have something positive to contribute.
I read it almost a year ago. I was in bed, ill, for a month and a half and I fell in love with To Say Nothing of the Dog. After that I read Doomsday Book. I loved it too. I'd love to join the discussion.
I just re-read it a few months ago. It still got me.
I just started this...probably not more than 50 pages in. However, I am enjoying it immensely. I'm a little confused on what exactly 'the fix' is, but I think I have working understanding of it. I thought in the beginning, the author was trying too hard to make the characters sound British...it came off like someone putting on a fake British accent rather than being genuine.I'm looking forward to getting deeper in it. :)
Michelle wrote: "I thought in the beginning, the author was trying too hard to make the characters sound British...it came off like someone putting on a fake British accent rather than being genuine..."Really? I'm British and I thought all the characters sounded far too American (not even fake British!), which was a little off-putting initially. I know this is supposed to be futuristic England, but I'm not sure Oxford professors are ever likely to adopt the term 'vac' for the Christmas holidays and I'm very aware of the fact that I am reading an American author. Putting my fussiness on that point aside however...
Oh, see I saw the word 'vac' and thought, "I don't know anyone who says that word," and assumed that it was the author trying to come up with slang that would make the characters seem more 'foreign' and British. It sounded not even American but fake to me. I could be completely wrong, of course. The other instances I thought where it sounded forced were the many 'do come and sit down's in the first chapter. It could just be me being fussy as well. :)
Perhaps we are both being a little fussy Michelle! Doomsday Book was published 1993 and is set in 2054. That's a 61 year gap and language can change dramatically in even that short time, let alone 700 hundred years as Willis later demonstrates. I accepted that the characters might sound a bit American to me as a lot of Americanisms have slipped into British usage in the last 50 years, as I'm sure 'Britishisms' have into American English.
We don't speak no 'british' here, lil lady. We speak ENGLISH.
Sheesh.
Sheesh.
Ala wrote: "We don't speak no 'british' here, lil lady. We speak ENGLISH.Sheesh."
Barely. Depends on if we're texting or not.
I prefer to take the lift to my office and my kids live in flats. But my schedule still sounds hard.
But, seriously, I'm glad Amanda piped up on how authentic the Oxford residents 'sounded' in this novel. Never having left the continental United States, and living dead center in the State of Kansas, I have limited exposure to anything British.
I do adore, however, my local Leavenworth 'consulate' in the form of Queen's Pantry where I go once or twice a month to purchase loose tea (no tea bags for me) and scones.
I watch Doctor Who and Being Human, so that's about the sum total of my British language lessons.
But even with only that, I can 'hear' fake british now and then(in books/on tv) and it annoys me.
It's not too prominent here, I take it?
But even with only that, I can 'hear' fake british now and then(in books/on tv) and it annoys me.
It's not too prominent here, I take it?
I've just started reading, but I'm already drawn in.
I love how the American concept of Britishness is more British than the British are, but it is an unfortunately comedic effect!
I've never read Connie Willis before, so I appreciate the talk about her other books, which I have put on my "to read" list now. I am really enjoying the story so far. Kivrin hasn't quite gotten going in medieval wherever, but my first impression is sheer pleasure at discovering a previously unknown (to me) author. It's thoroughly enjoyable. I love poor Mr. Dunworthy, with all his good intentions and dour predictions. It reminds me a little of In the Garden of Iden series in that it seems like big advances in time travel don't always go well.
There are actually quite a few similarities between Baker's time travel and Willis'. . . they're both examples of useless time travel, as Jo Walton put it. :D
Just picked it up from the library and will begin when I have a good moment to spare ( a good moment is a moment where I can be sure of no sudden interruptions, ah life with children ;)) But I'm looking forward to it, it will be the first book discussion I will be joining after signing up for goodreads :)
Phoenixfalls wrote: "There are actually quite a few similarities between Baker's time travel and Willis'. . . they're both examples of useless time travel, as Jo Walton put it. :D"Ooh. Do you have a link to wherever it is that Jo Walton discussed Baker and Willis? Three wonderful authors in one sentence.
About 180 odd pages in and enjoying it so far.I've read the short story "Fire Watch" and her related novel To Say Nothing of the Dog.
So far this feels akin to those connected stories, with much the same slightly whimsical style, and oh so very slightly ridiculous characters.
Being English, not too far removed from Oxford, I must say the language of circa 2050 doesn't jar with me, especially as I often find myself bemused (confused) by the current pace of change of the spoken word here, Old Git that I am.
Really must get round to grabbing Blackout and All Clear as I thoroughly enjoyed "Fire Watch".
Sarah Pi wrote: "Ooh. Do you have a link to wherever it is that Jo Walton discussed Baker and Willis? Three wonderful authors in one sentence. "She wasn't actually talking specifically about those two authors. . . she just did a series of reviews of books with what she called "useless time travel" and I really enjoyed that phrase.
Though, searching through Tor's archive, Walton did actually have a post about To Say Nothing of the Dog in that series. . . it's here.
And if I recall correctly, Walton has mentioned enjoying Baker a couple times. . . I just don't think she's reviewed any of the books. . .
I'm just about to start this book. I haven't read it before, but I have enjoyed other works by Connie Willis, so I have high hopes. I'm setting aside some other books I am partway through, at least until I get started. I usually have at least three books going at once, unless I find one that demands to be finished, NOW!
Finally got into this book. I'm into chapter 7 now, and have a few impressions:
1) it doesn't really come off all 'british' to me. Then again, I tend to americanize whatever I read. The last thing that came off as brit was HG2G.
2) It's a bit slow, so far. But still interesting.
3) Gilchrist is a douche. I'd really like to beat him to death with a phone.
1) it doesn't really come off all 'british' to me. Then again, I tend to americanize whatever I read. The last thing that came off as brit was HG2G.
2) It's a bit slow, so far. But still interesting.
3) Gilchrist is a douche. I'd really like to beat him to death with a phone.
I started reading it last night. After having 2 friends recommend the series to me over the past month and now we're reading it, I think the universe is telling me something. :)
I'm currently reading it too. Just over 100 pages in so far. At this point, I'm struck by what total idiots the academics are. I'm particularly thinking of (was it Gilchrist?) mentioning that the Medieval contemps were so used to death that they couldn't possibly feel grief. Really? Are you serious?
Gilchrist is such a tool I'm wouldn't be surprised if he thought NO ONE could feel anything but him.
One of the hallmarks of a Willis story is how utterly clueless most of her academics are about anything outside of their area of expertise. . . I spent enough time in academia to find it really funny, but I can see how it might be off-putting if you aren't expecting it. . .
Here! (responding to the roll call.) I just picked it up from the library, will start soon if I can distract the kids with the electronic babysitter. Looking forward to it.
I cleared a spot on my list to begin this just now. I too read To Say Nothing of the Dog which I know is not really the same type of tale.
I listened to this book as an audiobook some years ago and it really stuck in my head. Very interesting and exciting! The audiobook had one drawback (to me on some chapters) when I was really involved I couldn't jump ahead a few pages because I was too excited to wait to find out what was going to happen! It will be nice to see what everybody thinks about this book.
I'm only 30 pages in. But so far I like it. I'm not sure if I would have noticed the Britishisms so much, had I not read a bit of this discussion before starting the book, but it did annoy me a bit at first. Also what's with the mufflers? But I'm starting to get into the story and I'm enjoying it now that things have started rolling a bit more. I was a bit fed up of all the scholarly chat, I was more intrigued with the actual jump. But overall good first impression, though slightly stuffy...
Tanja wrote: "what's with the mufflers?..."I had to ask my partner what a muffler was and he wasn't sure either, but we eventually decided it was what we commonly in Britan a scarf...
Yes, a muffler is a wool scarf for cold weather, not the silk kind.
Richard wrote: "Yes, a muffler is a wool scarf for cold weather, not the silk kind."Ah hah, I have learnt something! Personally I've never heard anyone I've come across make that distinction, what kind of scarf is usually obvious from the context. Is muffler a common word in America?
I have one on my car. :) But it doesn't keep it warm. :)
From what I've found muffler is an English term that seems to have fallen out of common usage but it's definitely English.
I think it dates back to a time before scarves could be fashion statements. Still, how many teens are thrilled by a scarf for a gift?
Actually, my daughter loves it when I crochet her scarves: http://mossjon314159.wordpress.com/20...[image error]
Kim wrote: "From what I've found muffler is an English term that seems to have fallen out of common usage but it's definitely English."
Could also be a regional thing. When I was a kid in the North-East it was in use, but my Yorkshire friends of the same age have always used the term scarf.
Could also be a regional thing. When I was a kid in the North-East it was in use, but my Yorkshire friends of the same age have always used the term scarf.
Jon wrote: "Actually, my daughter loves it when I crochet her scarves: http://mossjon314159.wordpress.com/20..."
That's so attractive! Point made.
I'm so nearly finished with this book, but I'm too afraid to look at any of the spoilers!
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Books mentioned in this topic
To Say Nothing of the Dog (other topics)To Say Nothing of the Dog (other topics)
To Say Nothing of the Dog (other topics)
To Say Nothing of the Dog (other topics)
All Clear (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Connie Willis (other topics)Connie Willis (other topics)
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