alyssalillian's review
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
nerdyrev's review against another edition
4.0
I read this for the Canada Reads selection and I am glad they brought it to my attention as I would have overlooked this one. It is love, time travel, the refugee story, indentured service, and all told from Polly’s perspective.
It is slow at times, but overall a good read.
It is slow at times, but overall a good read.
caryambler's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Thea Lim & Goodreads Giveaways for the chance to read An Ocean of Minutes.
It's a pandemic, dystopian, time-traveling, love story rolled into one.
It was a very good read and kept me interested through out. Can't wait to see what other books Thea Lim will write.
It's a pandemic, dystopian, time-traveling, love story rolled into one.
It was a very good read and kept me interested through out. Can't wait to see what other books Thea Lim will write.
cdeane61's review against another edition
3.0
A bit slow for my taste, but on reflection maybe that's part of the point.
If Polly's time in America is slow for me, and that was little more than a year's time, think what the time between 1981 and 1993 (but really 98) must have been like for Frank.
I liked the writing fine, and the setting was fascinating, just seemed to drag a bit.
If Polly's time in America is slow for me, and that was little more than a year's time, think what the time between 1981 and 1993 (but really 98) must have been like for Frank.
I liked the writing fine, and the setting was fascinating, just seemed to drag a bit.
briaraq's review against another edition
2.0
I love the concept but this was incredibly boring to me.
vee_q's review against another edition
1.0
I generally don't enjoy dystopian novels and this one, apparently, is not the exception. Beautiful writing, terrible plot.
angelbecc's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to this book as an audiobook so this may have affected my overall thoughts on the book.
The book centers around Polly, who signs herself away to be routed to the future by a company to save her boyfriend, Frank, at the time as he had the flu. Polly throughout the book is timid and allows people to walk all over her - which is relatable. She’s naturally confused as the future is a completely different world where The United States and America is separated, money comes in the form of a life balance, freedom of movement is limited, etc. Polly has to balance her job, adjusting to the “future”, and trying to find Frank.
The concept was very intriguing, which lead to me reading this book. However, the book included unnecessary fluff in areas and I wish that the author would have elaborated further on how Polly navigates her present in the future. The ending was very anticlimactic and upsetting.
The book centers around Polly, who signs herself away to be routed to the future by a company to save her boyfriend, Frank, at the time as he had the flu. Polly throughout the book is timid and allows people to walk all over her - which is relatable. She’s naturally confused as the future is a completely different world where The United States and America is separated, money comes in the form of a life balance, freedom of movement is limited, etc. Polly has to balance her job, adjusting to the “future”, and trying to find Frank.
The concept was very intriguing, which lead to me reading this book. However, the book included unnecessary fluff in areas and I wish that the author would have elaborated further on how Polly navigates her present in the future. The ending was very anticlimactic and upsetting.
curiousnoel's review against another edition
4.0
This is the kind of book that will put a bruise on your heart, and then keep poking that bruise chapter after chapter after chapter. (In the best way, of course.)
kari_f's review
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
This book does a bit of a genre-bend, blending elements commonly found in dystopian, time travel, and pandemic literature. I’ll be honest in saying that I was expecting more of a sci-fi adventure, but what I got was perhaps even better: a deep look at the immigrant experience. Our protagonist is a time-traveling-refugee-turned-indentured-servant, at the lowest part of the bottom of the socio-economic ladder. We witness the displacement she feels as she is thrust into a world very different than the one she left behind, having to deal with the consequences of a bargain she didn’t fully understand.
She clings to the hope of reunion as she works to repay her debt, though it feels like all the cards are stacked against her in a system where she can never get ahead. She is pretty naïve in how she deals with people,and it’s painful to see her learn the hard way that others will take advantage of that.
Overall I enjoyed the book and found the premise to be quite unique! It’s raw and dark at times, with many ideas that caused me to pause and reflect. I enjoyed the time travel element, even if it wasn’t what I was expecting. Don’t come into this book expecting a quick-paced, action-heavy adventure. Come into it expecting an insightful speculative fiction story that is full of raw emotion, bleak circumstances, and resilient hope.