Official Review: The Age Of Miracles

[mmandy38]

The Age Of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker is an incredible story of love, loss, death, and betrayal with science fiction twisted into it. The book is about the Earth getting thrown out of its normal circadian rhythms. The Earth slows down its spin, for some unknown reason, and everyone and everything is affected by it. Things start dying and people start getting sick.

The story is told by Julia, a preteen girl who struggles to fit into the society as it is, much less after the world has changed. She faces friends leaving, people dying, as well as young love. It is a beautiful story that fits in many different genres- young adult, science fiction, and romance.

The author was so descriptive and intoxicating with her writing that at times, I was actually afraid to go outside because I forgot I was reading a book, and instead actually though the world was stopping. I also think she was brilliant in hinting that the story is not told by young Julia, but through older Julia looking back at her childhood.

I would rate this book a 4 out of 4 and recommend it to anyone.
How would you live if the world stopped spinning? Would you be a real timer?

[gali]

A great book indeed. I have read it as well and loved it.

[mmandy38]

I'm glad you enjoyed it as well, Gali. How would you live if you knew the world was slowing?

[gali]

I'm glad you enjoyed it as well, Gali. How would you live if you knew the world was slowing?

I think I will be a "real timer" and live according to the sun, ignoring clock time. You?

[mmandy38]

I'm not sure. I would want to live according to the sun, but not get blamed for everything just because I was a real-timer.

[DATo]

OK, you guys have piqued my curiosity. I have just placed The Age Of Miracles on my "to be read" list.

Nice review Mandy!

[mmandy38]

Thanks DATo! I hope you enjoy it!!!

[Anchortoemilie]

This dystopian, coming of age novel is one of the most unique of its style, as it is told in 11 year old Julia's point of view. The earth is slowing, the magnetic field is changing, people are sick, birds are dying, but Julia's family tries to live as normally as possible in a chaotic world. Church goers think it's the end of the world, scientists have vague explanations, nonconformists choose to live how they please. Days get longer and longer, the sun gets hotter and hotter. Clock time vrs. real time is a choice every family must make for themselves. Julia's story is endearing, heart wrenching, comical at times, but overall undoubtedly enthralling. Each page is a new adventure, a new catastrophe that altars the whole foundation of the earth, a new perspective. Each page leaves you guessing, forced to go on to the next. I give The Age of Miracles all the praise I have to offer and strongly recommend it to anyone yearning for a delightful yet somewhat unhappy adventure.