Reviews

Year of Wonders, by Geraldine Brooks

ashaliving's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

elizowen12's review against another edition

4.0

Dense and arguably slow. Still, this was immersive and delightful, if not eerily reminiscent of our own COVID pandemic and its social consequences. Continue to love everything Brooks writes.

hillersg7's review against another edition

5.0

I am not usually a fan of historical fiction. This book (recommended by a friend) drew me in immediately into the relationships - individuals and community - of seventeenth century England. A very particular situation, the time and horrors of the plague, and also themes that are not time-dependent of what and who to trust, of love and wisdom. Brilliant.

dkrueger34's review against another edition

5.0

Couldn't put it down! Love this author.

emeraldcityreader's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Child death and Child abuse

Minor: Alcoholism

iambeccawilde's review against another edition

adventurous dark medium-paced

4.5

ehmatthews's review against another edition

4.0

I really enjoyed this book - it was another recommendation from my mother's book club. It was nice to see Anna grow into her role as a caretaker and to see how she handled such unspeakable grief. I love that she ended up in the middle east - it seems so improbable yet so wonderful for her to end up in a land of such color and bustle. Especially with her two little girls.

katemarie's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

lpotocky's review

dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

Good grief. I'm not sure how to review this book. The ending put me in mind of the finale of 'Game of Thrones': no mad, Nazi-esque queen burning a city atop her dragon, but just as baffling, batshit crazy, and seemingly unshackled from any concern for maintaining cohesive characters. Given how carefully crafted the bulk of the novel was, the ending left me dazed and confused. 

skigirl1689's review against another edition

2.0

The ending was wildly out of character with the first 200 pages. I questioned if I was reading the same novel. I don't understand what the author was trying to attempt with that ending. The prose was lovely, but the ending ruined this book for me.