desirosie's review against another edition
I ….
Look, the description just really doesn’t give you a sense of the scope of this book and I was unprepared. I thought it was going to be an adventurous sort of romp, heavy, but not too heavy.
Wrong wrong wrong.
I am in no way saying it was a bad book.
It is as if it were magnetized and of all the books I browsed on the library shelves this week, this one stuck. I honestly had no idea how closely connected it is to Weather, Tje Parable of the Sower, AND Notes from an Apocalypse. Clearly I am broken and my soul is a dark place and this book knew it. Damn.
Look, the description just really doesn’t give you a sense of the scope of this book and I was unprepared. I thought it was going to be an adventurous sort of romp, heavy, but not too heavy.
Wrong wrong wrong.
I am in no way saying it was a bad book.
It is as if it were magnetized and of all the books I browsed on the library shelves this week, this one stuck. I honestly had no idea how closely connected it is to Weather, Tje Parable of the Sower, AND Notes from an Apocalypse. Clearly I am broken and my soul is a dark place and this book knew it. Damn.
veelaughtland's review
2.0
I just don't know what to make of this novel. I definitely didn't enjoy it, but I also didn't hate it? Once I got used to the narrative voice, it was quite easy to fly through this (I read it in under 24 hours across two days), so it does have that going for it.
But I just feel like this flew a bit over my head? I get that it's sort of apocalyptic, and it's a major commentary on climate change with a common theme of the older generation fucking over the younger generation, but the way it was executed felt so sloppy to me. Way too many characters with little to no characterisation, cringy 'young person' dialogue, and completely unbelievable in terms of the more 'realistic' things - specifically the depiction of all the parents. It might as well have had the subtitle 'okay boomer'.
I did however quite like Jack's character in this - his innocence and way of looking at the world, especially the combination of religion and science, was quite interesting to read. I also liked the nature writing when it presented itself, Millet definitely has a way of words. So it's not all bad! But honestly, I didn't really get anything out of this.
But I just feel like this flew a bit over my head? I get that it's sort of apocalyptic, and it's a major commentary on climate change with a common theme of the older generation fucking over the younger generation, but the way it was executed felt so sloppy to me. Way too many characters with little to no characterisation, cringy 'young person' dialogue, and completely unbelievable in terms of the more 'realistic' things - specifically the depiction of all the parents. It might as well have had the subtitle 'okay boomer'.
I did however quite like Jack's character in this - his innocence and way of looking at the world, especially the combination of religion and science, was quite interesting to read. I also liked the nature writing when it presented itself, Millet definitely has a way of words. So it's not all bad! But honestly, I didn't really get anything out of this.
nicoleaffleck's review against another edition
4.0
A tale of a climate fallout Book of Revelations seen through the eyes of resilient youth. Remarkably clever & important
kateraed's review against another edition
5.0
Haunting. Pushes climate fiction forward by making it ultra-relevant to our time -- the world is entirely identifiable as our own, and the unfolding of the day-by-day transition into the next era of humanity (post-humanity? post-civilization humanity?).
bookish_brain1's review against another edition
4.0
Probably my favorite book this past month, most excellent, loved it! The author was a finalist for the Pulitzer and this book was on a summer reading list from Obama. The premise follows angsty teens with a disdain for their parents (who hasn't been there, on either side!). I will say, the parents are pretty despicable. I didn't really know anything about it, so reading it was a surprise as things unfolded in ways I did not foresee. The book does take on climate change and religious eschatology. Symbolism runs throughout the novel. Critics found it unrealistic, which I find an interesting critique in a work of fiction, but to each their own. My favorite character was Jack and I loved his interpretations of the stories in the Bible that another parent had gifted him. When asked to summarize the first story, he said "It's like, if you have a nice garden to live in, then you should never leave it." He also claims he solved the riddle of the Bible - "God is a code word meaning nature, and how nature gets misinterpreted, and it's full of symbols, and Jesus is science and the Holy Ghost was art, or all the things people make." The book is hard to describe exactly and not give spoilers, so I'll just say I found it delightful.
christinajleaf's review against another edition
4.0
Sort of a strange book—the plot shifted around a fair amount. It some parts quite funny. Had some Leave the World Behind vibes as well as Secret History vibes.
erinhoward's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
maevemillen's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
oldmansimms's review against another edition
3.0
Decent apocalypse-adjacent fiction. Given the prominence of the "Child's Bible" in the text (and title) it did feel like it was very preoccupied with being allegorical but a lot of the time I couldn't quite figure out the references, if there were any.