What this book is about:
On a seemingly ordinary Saturday in a California suburb, Julia and her family awake to discover, along with the rest of the world, that the rotation of the earth has suddenly begun to slow. The days and nights grow longer and longer, gravity is affected, the environment is thrown into disarray. Yet as she struggles to navigate an ever-shifting landscape, Julia is also coping with the normal disasters of everyday life—the fissures in her parents’ marriage, the loss of old friends, the hopeful anguish of first love, the bizarre behavior of her grandfather who, convinced of a government conspiracy, spends his days obsessively cataloging his possessions. As Julia adjusts to the new normal, the slowing inexorably continues.
I finished this book in one day because I fell into an easy rhythm of Julia's story and for the most part is was pretty simplistic. When I finished it, my reaction was just one of eh, that was okay but nothing remarkable really happened. I mean, yes, Earth's rotation slowed down, and gravity really put the big bad spell on everyone, but the author never conveyed the sense of any urgency that I felt the story called for . And for me that was clearly something I needed in order to buy the whole scenario that was proposed.....URGENCY and CERTAIN DOOM!!
Recommend? If you're a fan of dystopian novels then I think you may just enjoy this one. I did really like Julia and I thought the story could have been stellar had the author ramped up the seriousness of the whole situation. Everyone just acted as if this happened every day, no biggie! I needed more intense repercussions from the slow down, maybe some violence..real and gritty. So, I'm on the fence with my recommendation. However, there are many bloggers on this tour, so please do yourself a favor and make sure you add some other reviews into the mix!
Source: TLC Book Tours
Genre: Dystopian Fiction
Pages: 288
Published: June 26, 2012
Genre: Dystopian Fiction
Pages: 288
Published: June 26, 2012
About Karen Thompson Walker
KAREN THOMPSON WALKER holds an M.F.A. from Columbia University and is an editor of fiction and non-fiction at Simon & Schuster. The Age of Miracles is her first book.
For more information about Karen and The Age of Miracles, please visit the book’s website, www.TheAgeofMiracles.com, and Facebook page.
Review Book #16
© 2011, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
© 2011, Staci of Life in the Thumb. All Rights Reserved. If you reading this on a site other than, Life in the Thumb or Staci's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.
I think, like you, I would need more urgency with the earth's rotation slowing down. That would only make sense to me.
ReplyDeleteAs much as this book initially caught my attention, it's just a bit out of my comfort zone. I'll leave this one to the dytsopian fans out there who will more than likely enjoy it very much. Nice job on the review, Staci!
ReplyDeleteNope, this one would not be for me:(
ReplyDeleteThis one hasn't called to me. I think I'm going to pass.
ReplyDeleteWell, it's nice when a book grabs you and drags you in. Your earth rotation must have slowed down as you read. Funny that it left you kind of blah in the end though.
ReplyDeleteHmmmmmmmmmm... not thinking this would be my cup of tea!
ReplyDeleteDystopian novels are just not my thing, so I'll pass...
ReplyDeleteI never feel compelled to read this genre - maybe it's my age?
ReplyDeleteDystopia's not my genre so when I do read it I need it to be extra special. I probably won't look for this one.
ReplyDeleteI agree. The sense of urgency just wasn't there and for end-of-the-world type novels, you sort of expect it.
ReplyDeleteQuite a lot to handle - personal problems plus planetary ones. In real life, I guess the personal problems would just disappear in the face of that kind of earthly catastrophe!
ReplyDeleteThe premise sounds interesting. I might pick it up and see what I think.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this one is for me, but the blurb sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteI have been hearing good things about this book. I will probably read it at some point.
ReplyDeleteI was intrigued about this novel learning it was dystopian. But, I agree there has to be more urgency and possible doom are a must!
ReplyDeleteI'm a Dystopian fan but I'm with you, in those circumstances urgency is called far ... not 'meh'
ReplyDeleteThanks though, maybe a library read since I love the genre :)
Sounds different from the dystopia books I have read and that is what I want in the end
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, right after finishing this I got "The Last Policeman" for review, and it had so many of the things we all missed from this one. I definitely prefer a better depiction of what the effects on people would be like....
ReplyDeleteI just kind of skimmed your thoughts as I'm reading this one soon. I'm curious to see what I'll think of it now.
ReplyDeleteI don't read too many dystopians, but you'd think there'd me more urgency here. I think I'll pass on this one.
ReplyDeleteI think dystopian is just a little bit too much out there right now. Everybody and their dog seems to want to write one. I just finished reading a great one, but most are just so so.
ReplyDeleteInteresting ... I wonder if I'd react to the story in the same way.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to read and review this for the tour.
I'm really intrigued by the reviews I have been reading for this book. I love a good dystopian read so I'm adding this one to the TBR list now. Thanks for sharing about it!
ReplyDeleteWell, I'd be freaking out! I think urgency would be necessary.
ReplyDelete