Reviews

A Children's Bible by Lydia Millet

meganalovejoy's review against another edition

adventurous dark funny tense medium-paced

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

3.0

alcazarz's review against another edition

3.0

quite good, along the same lines as Oryx and Crake, but more near future

whitjobo's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

3.75

A Children’s Bible fizzled for me at the end. Beautifully written. In the first half I really deeply felt the kid logic going on but as the book got more tense I felt more distant from the characters. I mostly felt sad at the end and unsure of where the world was going next. Beautiful language, but not a must-read for me. 

bethanie22's review against another edition

3.0

This book was neither here nor there for me. It was a nice take on the end times but a few confusing moments happened for, like the electricity not fully shutting off, the availability to Google, the endless supply of cocain. Over all it was worth reading but idk if I'd recommend it

myqz's review against another edition

3.0

Liked the story, but had a hard time connecting with the voice of the narrator. The plot hooked me, and I read this one quickly. Thought the way the narrative traced the biblical narrative was clever, but wasn't sure what Millet was trying to suggest in this connection. In a book that feels so critical of humankind's cyclical notion to punt the responsibility of change to the next generation, the locus of hope felt too centered on exactly just that (and a deus ex nature or two)- leaving me feeling lukewarm.

citylif's review against another edition

dark medium-paced

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

4.25

kpdf's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense fast-paced

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

3.0

karin_reads's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny mysterious fast-paced

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

5.0

shelbyegaines's review against another edition

4.0

An interesting perspective on the end of the world (maybe?). The story is almost written like a bad dream as Eve’s attention is pulled in different directions and little fanfare is made out of (what I think) are major events and characters. For example, the omniscient owner quickly arriving and then disappearing with no context read like a fever dream.

I also enjoyed how the author presented the teenager / parent relationship. The disconnect between the two generations and lack of respect that accompanies teen years displayed itself naturally across the pages. Definitely sent me back in time (except these parents seemed objectively inadequate).

⭐️4/5

tnanz's review against another edition

5.0

What an incredible book. All I’m gonna say plot-wise is that it’s an eerily real feeling near future dystopia that pretty much captured all my fears and made me feel all the things. Very reminiscent of Parable of the Sower (though less religious) and some giant vampire book I’m not remembering the name of that I read in the last two years. When I searched for the stream of conscious words I remembered from the vampire book the fifth result was helpfully “find that book.” Thanks google. Anyway, I feel like the more I talk the more I’ll give things away that are better read. Go on and get yourself this book. I will say that as I read I texted multiple people saying that my timeline for moving to Maine and basically becoming a doomsday prepper moved WAY up after reading this book. I think I like my terrifying dystopias to feel a little more futuristic and less like they could happen any day now.