categal's review against another edition
1.0
Ugh. Oh, how I loved To Say Nothing of the Dog, and I bought this and Blackout and sent them along as gifts, and now have finally gotten around to reading them myself. They are TERRIBLE. These are the whiniest bunch of flat characters I have ever encountered, and no, you can't write a whole story as a serious of questions: what if there were discrepancies because of their actions? What if the drop never opened? But what if they couldn't get across town before the air raid sirens? If the drop opens and no one sees it, does anyone care?
I didn't give a fig about these characters, and finally just skimmed the last 400 pages of All Clear, and was very surprised to find (SPOILER ALERT!) that Polly and Eileen were supposed to be such tight friends - nothing from the hundreds of pages of them lying to each other and in general treating each other like nuisances led me to believe that they might miss each other if they got separated. Both these books could have been edited down into one novel, simply removing the word "but" would have knocked it down to 150 pages, and from there, we might have something worth reading. Oh, but this story has already been done soo much better, with characters to love and root for, and that is To Say Nothing of the Dog.
Sigh. Time to apologize to my sister and get her a real birthday present.
I didn't give a fig about these characters, and finally just skimmed the last 400 pages of All Clear, and was very surprised to find (SPOILER ALERT!) that Polly and Eileen were supposed to be such tight friends - nothing from the hundreds of pages of them lying to each other and in general treating each other like nuisances led me to believe that they might miss each other if they got separated. Both these books could have been edited down into one novel, simply removing the word "but" would have knocked it down to 150 pages, and from there, we might have something worth reading. Oh, but this story has already been done soo much better, with characters to love and root for, and that is To Say Nothing of the Dog.
Sigh. Time to apologize to my sister and get her a real birthday present.
davidcuen's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Connie Willis' "All Clear," complementing "Blackout," stands as an exemplary piece of historical science fiction. Her writing is impeccable, and the depth of her historical research into key WWII events like the Blitz and Dunkirk is nothing short of remarkable. The fusion of these meticulously researched historical details with a time travel narrative creates a rich, immersive experience.The return of familiar characters in the time travel setting is a particular highlight. Willis manages to weave their stories seamlessly into the larger tapestry of the war, offering a unique perspective on these historical events.A notable aspect of "All Clear" is the inclusion of the Hodbin characters, Alf and Binnie. Their presence adds a distinct flavor to the story, providing both comic relief and a poignant reflection of the resilience and resourcefulness of children during wartime. These characters embody the spirit of survival and adaptability, making them unforgettable additions to the narrative.While the overall story is engaging, a point of critique is the length of both "All Clear" and "Blackout." Some sections come across as redundant, which could have been condensed for a more streamlined narrative. However, this minor issue does not significantly detract from the overall enjoyment of the book.In summary, "All Clear" is a testament to Willis' talent for blending historical accuracy with compelling storytelling. The journey through WWII, along with the time travel elements and memorable characters like Alf and Binnie, makes for a fascinating read. Despite its length, the novel's strengths in storytelling and character development make it a noteworthy addition to the genre.
wordnerdy's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
5.0
mdunnbass's review against another edition
5.0
this is the second half of the book started with Blackout (which I reviewed here), and concludes here. It was a slightly bittersweet ending, but I found myself devouring the last 100 pages at such an astonishing clip. I had to physically cover the unread portions of the page to stop myself skipping ahead to find out what happens in excitement. This was a fun, powerful, phenomenal read. I saw a negative review on Goodreads where the person complained that it was about war, and I can't help but wonder what book they read! True, it is about people trying to survive hardship during wartime, but the war itself was not the point or plot of the book. The point of this book was the resilience and power of people determined to make the best of difficulty and harship. And it was powerfully moving. Very highly recommended, but it is absolutely vital that you start with Blackout before reading All Clear.
karieh13's review against another edition
4.0
I am crossing my fingers that “All Clear” is not the last book Connie Willis writes about the Oxford time travelers. “The Doomsday Book” is one of my all-time favorite books…and when I found out about “Blackout” and “All Clear” – I was simply thrilled.
However, because I am such a fan of Mr. Dunworthy and of the parallel time streams that made “Doomsday” so compelling – it was tough for me to stay stranded in World War II with the main characters of “All Clear” while having no idea what was going on in the future. (I understand that put me in the same situation as they - but hey, I’m greedy.)
And yet, I slowly grew to realize as Mike, Eileen and Polly did, that in World War II, the heroes weren’t only the ones we’ve read about in history books. The winning of that war depending on so many small things – so many heroic actions of people fighting for their lives not on the field of battle – but in their homes and in the streets.
“…there’d been a story about an old woman being dug out of the wreckage of what had been her house and the rescue crew asking her if her husband was under there with her. “No, the bloody coward’s at the front!” she’d said indignantly. He’d laughed when he read it, but now he wasn’t so sure it had been a joke. Maybe England was the front, and the real heroes were the Londoners sitting in those tube stations night after night, waiting to be blown to smithereens. And Fordham, lying there in the hospital in traction. And everyone on this train, waiting patiently for it to begin moving again, not giving way to panic of the impulse to call Hitler and surrender just to get it over with. He was going to have to rethink the whole concept of heroism when he got back to Oxford.”
And maybe, in a way, that is the harder fight. When on the battlefield, one is prepared to fight; one has (hopefully) been given the tools and support to fight. If the battle comes unexpectedly to a civilian, it’s a completely different and terrifying situation.
There is a sermon that a minister delivers at a funeral that really touched me. “We join the Home Guard and the ATS and Civil Defence, but we cannot know whether the scrap metal we collect, the letter we write to a soldier, the vegetables we grow, will turn out in the end to have helped win the war or not. We act in faith. But the vital thing is that we act. We do not rely on hope alone, though hope is our bulwark, our light through the dark days and darker nights. We also work, and fight, and endure, and it does not matter whether the part we play is large or small.”
I think the heart of this book is lovely – the idea of living the history that was unwritten – the history of the everyday people who will never be mentioned in any books.
But in the end, I read and liked this book because it was a book about time travel, and interesting characters, and Mr. Dunworthy…and the “what if” scenarios that I can’t get enough of.
And that is why my fingers are crossed that the net will open again and more travelers from Oxford in 2060 will step through.
However, because I am such a fan of Mr. Dunworthy and of the parallel time streams that made “Doomsday” so compelling – it was tough for me to stay stranded in World War II with the main characters of “All Clear” while having no idea what was going on in the future. (I understand that put me in the same situation as they - but hey, I’m greedy.)
And yet, I slowly grew to realize as Mike, Eileen and Polly did, that in World War II, the heroes weren’t only the ones we’ve read about in history books. The winning of that war depending on so many small things – so many heroic actions of people fighting for their lives not on the field of battle – but in their homes and in the streets.
“…there’d been a story about an old woman being dug out of the wreckage of what had been her house and the rescue crew asking her if her husband was under there with her. “No, the bloody coward’s at the front!” she’d said indignantly. He’d laughed when he read it, but now he wasn’t so sure it had been a joke. Maybe England was the front, and the real heroes were the Londoners sitting in those tube stations night after night, waiting to be blown to smithereens. And Fordham, lying there in the hospital in traction. And everyone on this train, waiting patiently for it to begin moving again, not giving way to panic of the impulse to call Hitler and surrender just to get it over with. He was going to have to rethink the whole concept of heroism when he got back to Oxford.”
And maybe, in a way, that is the harder fight. When on the battlefield, one is prepared to fight; one has (hopefully) been given the tools and support to fight. If the battle comes unexpectedly to a civilian, it’s a completely different and terrifying situation.
There is a sermon that a minister delivers at a funeral that really touched me. “We join the Home Guard and the ATS and Civil Defence, but we cannot know whether the scrap metal we collect, the letter we write to a soldier, the vegetables we grow, will turn out in the end to have helped win the war or not. We act in faith. But the vital thing is that we act. We do not rely on hope alone, though hope is our bulwark, our light through the dark days and darker nights. We also work, and fight, and endure, and it does not matter whether the part we play is large or small.”
I think the heart of this book is lovely – the idea of living the history that was unwritten – the history of the everyday people who will never be mentioned in any books.
But in the end, I read and liked this book because it was a book about time travel, and interesting characters, and Mr. Dunworthy…and the “what if” scenarios that I can’t get enough of.
And that is why my fingers are crossed that the net will open again and more travelers from Oxford in 2060 will step through.
brendaclay's review against another edition
5.0
Of the hundreds of books I've read, very few have moved me so much that I had to sit drying my tears and collecting myself after I finished. All Clear is one of those books. For that reason, I have to give it 5 stars, even though I had a couple of gripes which I'll get to in a minute. In this second half of the story, time-marooned historians Polly, Eileen, and Mike are still trying to get out of the London Blitz - with increasing urgency. Polly has been to WWII before as an ambulance driver, and if she can't get back to 2060 before her "deadline," she'll die. Eileen continues to be besieged by two annoying kids she cared for in her original assignment observing evacuated children. On top of that, each historian is secretly terrified that they've somehow altered events and lost the Allies the war. When their supervisor, Mr. Dunworthy, arrives in 1941, they think they're finally being rescued - only to find that the truth is even worse than they feared. Or is it?
My main, and serious, gripe with these novels is that we spend FAR TOO MUCH time in the characters' heads as they worry, speculate, and compare recorded bomb times to actual bomb times ENDLESSLY. For pages and pages. With more editing (and better communication between the characters), this story easily could have fit into one book. However, being party to all that does give you a sense of immediacy and how wearying the Blitz must have been, so maybe Willis did it on purpose. I started skimming over those sections after a while and didn't notice any ill effects.
Despite that, this story is a moving account of heroism in every form. It leans heavily on Shakespeare and Jesus and beauty of all kinds. It shows that wars are truly won by the persistent courageous acts of regular individuals. And at its root, as Polly eventually discovers, heroism is really about love. The sacrifices these characters, and their friends, make for one another are downright inspiring. Especially the sacrifices you don't really see until the end.
My main, and serious, gripe with these novels is that we spend FAR TOO MUCH time in the characters' heads as they worry, speculate, and compare recorded bomb times to actual bomb times ENDLESSLY. For pages and pages. With more editing (and better communication between the characters), this story easily could have fit into one book. However, being party to all that does give you a sense of immediacy and how wearying the Blitz must have been, so maybe Willis did it on purpose. I started skimming over those sections after a while and didn't notice any ill effects.
Despite that, this story is a moving account of heroism in every form. It leans heavily on Shakespeare and Jesus and beauty of all kinds. It shows that wars are truly won by the persistent courageous acts of regular individuals. And at its root, as Polly eventually discovers, heroism is really about love. The sacrifices these characters, and their friends, make for one another are downright inspiring. Especially the sacrifices you don't really see until the end.
interrowhimper's review against another edition
3.0
Call it 3.5. Much better and more eventful than book 1, but still takes a couple hundred pages to get interesting. It bothers me that the characters have no perspective from the 21st century to offer. They are strangers in 1944, but we don't know what their world is like at all. How did time travel change it?
red0nyou's review against another edition
5.0
"-¿Es una comedia o es una tragedia?
- Una comedia, mi señor."
- Una comedia, mi señor."
nthurman_dude's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is a challenging book for me to rate. On one hand, it's long (640+ pages... and the second part of another long book - Blackout) and takes its time to build to an engaging ending (the ending is worth the read, but don't expect it to move along). It also takes a bit of work to keep track of all of the characters. Without giving away too much, this is a novel about time traveling historians and they show up at different times, often with different names, interacting with different people. A part of me thinks this could have been shorter, but I'm also not sure the overall impact would have been the same. So, I'll leave it at that while noting the length and slow pace in many parts are the primary reasons I didn't give this a 5 rating.
Positives: It provides an interesting, informative depiction of life in London during the German blitzes. The author has done a lot of homework (including interviewing a lot of women who were there during the war) and it is reflected in the thoughts, events, reactions, and experiences we follow. I find myself pulling for the characters, even the "minor" ones, wanting them to succeed, sharing in their frustrations and disappointments along the way. There's a message that rises from the war (both in history and in the novel) that everyone has a part to play and it takes all of those little parts, working together, for Britain to succeed in the war. That becomes more evident toward the end, but I won't go any farther than that so as not to spoil it. Overall, I'm glad for reading the book, but now I'm going to need some recovery time with a little lighter fare.
Positives: It provides an interesting, informative depiction of life in London during the German blitzes. The author has done a lot of homework (including interviewing a lot of women who were there during the war) and it is reflected in the thoughts, events, reactions, and experiences we follow. I find myself pulling for the characters, even the "minor" ones, wanting them to succeed, sharing in their frustrations and disappointments along the way. There's a message that rises from the war (both in history and in the novel) that everyone has a part to play and it takes all of those little parts, working together, for Britain to succeed in the war. That becomes more evident toward the end, but I won't go any farther than that so as not to spoil it. Overall, I'm glad for reading the book, but now I'm going to need some recovery time with a little lighter fare.
chirson's review against another edition
4.0
FINALLY.
Parts were tedious, parts were amazing, the ending was sublime (or I'm easy). More to come.
Proper review below.
I took ages to read this novel, even though I heard about it the year it came out and found the premise immediately appealing. But even once I finally bought it, approximately a year ago (thank goodness for cheap secondhand books), sitting down and getting round to it wasn't easy. First, I wanted to read it in order after To Say Nothing of the Dog, but I've had several false starts with that. Secondly, I could see it would be quite a time investment: a ~1500-page behemoth divided into two volumes, not handy for carrying around, stationary and heavy and long, so I dithered and only got round to starting this autumn. And then even once I'd started, getting through it was a bit of a slog. Don't get me wrong, this is a very readable novel. It's also, once again, a novel I have little doubt could have been shortened by 1/3 without losing anything terribly relevant, and if one wanted to be really sparing, perhaps a full half of its length could have been cut.
But then, when it all falls into place, it feels so, so, so worth it. Its ending is sublime (even if I'd predicted most of it). And I even understand the significance of the length for the thematic resonance: you have to get through the whole experience for the ending to have its weight. This is, after all, what the protagonists (particularly Eileen) learn. Being there for the victory dance means nothing unless you've put in the work that makes that victory happen. That's what makes it count.
All the same, I'm not sure I need an sf novel to be that much like the Blitz (long, chaotic, confusing, repetitive, requiring a lot of effort) to tell me a meaningful story about the Blitz. I absolutely get the haters (like I don't get the haters when it comes to Doomsday - I will go down with that ship, covered in buboes) who found the first part (Blackout) and even half of All Clear tedious.
But let me stop with repeating the books mistakes by starting with a prolix introduction: let's get to the gist. Willis's novel shines where she usually shines (if I can say that based on two other novels and some stories): in showing the importance of human responsibility and connection. Blackout/All Clear is a beautiful novel about time travellers who turn from what they imagine historians should be (passive observers paralysed by fear of influencing events and yet incapable of preventing said influence from happening even when they try their hardest) into responsible humans living up to their role in history and in everyday life (who realise that regardless of some theoretical ethical dilemmas, when a person is drowning in front of you, the moral impulse is to save them and you worry about repercussions later). And networks of responsibility are what makes this novel great. Eileen's growing up and gradual shift from a person thrust into responsibility to one who embraces it. Mike's transformation from observer of heroes into a heroic human. Polly is great from the beginning, but she opens to others over time, learning to let them in, and that was amazing to witness, too.
It was also beautifully researched (though, I'm told and it seems to me, not flawless US/UK-wise or London topography-wise) and choreographed. There are so many well-used quotes, and aspects of everyday life during the war. As soon as Willis stops placing all the possible obstacles in the way of the characters and gets round to the later part of the plot, the characters and stories converge beautifully. All the pieces fall into their places.
What worked less well for me was the narrow context. It's a very white and American/British novel, and its focus on the plight of the "regular British person" means certain elisions. Such as the fact that not all Brits stood up bravely and took the right side. Or the horror expressed by historians at the reality of Blitz in London even before they actually go there: boy, would I like to see you hear about Warsaw. Or Jews and Roma (and other ethnic minorities, and Poles) in Poland. It's also pretty insistent on giving pretty much all the credit for winning World War II to Brits and Americans. It feels petty to demand representation in a historical science fiction novel, and of course each nation wants to toot its own horn, but... but.
Another aspect I'd nit-pick concerns the entire science-fictional device. I think the final construction doesn't fully convince me; I also think it quite simply works better when not examined too closely, and a little more vagueness would have served it well. The more the book tries to convince me continuum does something for a reason rather than "because it does" the less I enjoy it. Timey-wimey reasons. I get it. "Chaos theory negative positive consequences protecting the continuum" - nope, I am thrown out. But that's a personal preference, I suppose.
I think I'll put some more thoughts on the blog later, because they're very spoilery. For now: the last 300 pages of this novel deserve all the stars. The first 500 pages should have been streamlined, condensed, given less sprawl.
I love the Hodbins and their role in all of this. And that's it. I hope.
Parts were tedious, parts were amazing, the ending was sublime (or I'm easy). More to come.
Proper review below.
I took ages to read this novel, even though I heard about it the year it came out and found the premise immediately appealing. But even once I finally bought it, approximately a year ago (thank goodness for cheap secondhand books), sitting down and getting round to it wasn't easy. First, I wanted to read it in order after To Say Nothing of the Dog, but I've had several false starts with that. Secondly, I could see it would be quite a time investment: a ~1500-page behemoth divided into two volumes, not handy for carrying around, stationary and heavy and long, so I dithered and only got round to starting this autumn. And then even once I'd started, getting through it was a bit of a slog. Don't get me wrong, this is a very readable novel. It's also, once again, a novel I have little doubt could have been shortened by 1/3 without losing anything terribly relevant, and if one wanted to be really sparing, perhaps a full half of its length could have been cut.
But then, when it all falls into place, it feels so, so, so worth it. Its ending is sublime (even if I'd predicted most of it). And I even understand the significance of the length for the thematic resonance: you have to get through the whole experience for the ending to have its weight. This is, after all, what the protagonists (particularly Eileen) learn. Being there for the victory dance means nothing unless you've put in the work that makes that victory happen. That's what makes it count.
All the same, I'm not sure I need an sf novel to be that much like the Blitz (long, chaotic, confusing, repetitive, requiring a lot of effort) to tell me a meaningful story about the Blitz. I absolutely get the haters (like I don't get the haters when it comes to Doomsday - I will go down with that ship, covered in buboes) who found the first part (Blackout) and even half of All Clear tedious.
But let me stop with repeating the books mistakes by starting with a prolix introduction: let's get to the gist. Willis's novel shines where she usually shines (if I can say that based on two other novels and some stories): in showing the importance of human responsibility and connection. Blackout/All Clear is a beautiful novel about time travellers who turn from what they imagine historians should be (passive observers paralysed by fear of influencing events and yet incapable of preventing said influence from happening even when they try their hardest) into responsible humans living up to their role in history and in everyday life (who realise that regardless of some theoretical ethical dilemmas, when a person is drowning in front of you, the moral impulse is to save them and you worry about repercussions later). And networks of responsibility are what makes this novel great. Eileen's growing up and gradual shift from a person thrust into responsibility to one who embraces it. Mike's transformation from observer of heroes into a heroic human. Polly is great from the beginning, but she opens to others over time, learning to let them in, and that was amazing to witness, too.
It was also beautifully researched (though, I'm told and it seems to me, not flawless US/UK-wise or London topography-wise) and choreographed. There are so many well-used quotes, and aspects of everyday life during the war. As soon as Willis stops placing all the possible obstacles in the way of the characters and gets round to the later part of the plot, the characters and stories converge beautifully. All the pieces fall into their places.
What worked less well for me was the narrow context. It's a very white and American/British novel, and its focus on the plight of the "regular British person" means certain elisions. Such as the fact that not all Brits stood up bravely and took the right side. Or the horror expressed by historians at the reality of Blitz in London even before they actually go there: boy, would I like to see you hear about Warsaw. Or Jews and Roma (and other ethnic minorities, and Poles) in Poland. It's also pretty insistent on giving pretty much all the credit for winning World War II to Brits and Americans. It feels petty to demand representation in a historical science fiction novel, and of course each nation wants to toot its own horn, but... but.
Another aspect I'd nit-pick concerns the entire science-fictional device. I think the final construction doesn't fully convince me; I also think it quite simply works better when not examined too closely, and a little more vagueness would have served it well. The more the book tries to convince me continuum does something for a reason rather than "because it does" the less I enjoy it. Timey-wimey reasons. I get it. "Chaos theory negative positive consequences protecting the continuum" - nope, I am thrown out. But that's a personal preference, I suppose.
I think I'll put some more thoughts on the blog later, because they're very spoilery. For now: the last 300 pages of this novel deserve all the stars. The first 500 pages should have been streamlined, condensed, given less sprawl.
I love the Hodbins and their role in all of this. And that's it. I hope.