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katiescho741's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a strange one. It's almost a novelisation of social history, as opposed to simply a novel.
I think this book is a great choice for fans of history who would like a story woven into it.
John and William are brothers who catch the plague and have six days to live. They are offered a choice to live each day 99 years in the future. They get a look at 1447, 1546, 1645, the Victorian age, and the Blitz, and we get to see the modern wonders through their eyes.
After the brothers wake up each day there's a detailed description of what they see and experience. I think this is a useful way to get the reader immersed in the world but it does slow the story down. The plot is a bit thin because there's not much that can happen in a day. But, it makes you think about themes like progress and the human condition.
It's a story about how things change yet stay the same. There's a lot about religion because that's how our two medieval time travellers interpret the world.
I wouldn't recommend reading this one if you're looking for a time travel book, but if you're a history nerd then this one is for you!
I think this book is a great choice for fans of history who would like a story woven into it.
John and William are brothers who catch the plague and have six days to live. They are offered a choice to live each day 99 years in the future. They get a look at 1447, 1546, 1645, the Victorian age, and the Blitz, and we get to see the modern wonders through their eyes.
After the brothers wake up each day there's a detailed description of what they see and experience. I think this is a useful way to get the reader immersed in the world but it does slow the story down. The plot is a bit thin because there's not much that can happen in a day. But, it makes you think about themes like progress and the human condition.
It's a story about how things change yet stay the same. There's a lot about religion because that's how our two medieval time travellers interpret the world.
I wouldn't recommend reading this one if you're looking for a time travel book, but if you're a history nerd then this one is for you!
lottali's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child death, Rape, and Suicide
jessietherose's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
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? Yes
4.0
hbakertec's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
3.75
hcitation's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
testaroscia's review against another edition
2.0
Damn, damn. I really like Ian Mortimer's Non-Fiction "Time Traveller" series which I find eminently readable, interesting, and with good flow. I also loved the basis of this novel; The idea of time travelers going back in time are plenty but sending the POV character forward is rarer. However in the end this book did not work for me. It was a bit of a plod morality tale instead of what could have been. The erudition is there and it is not laid on so thickly to be an impediment to the plot, it is just that, for me, the plot fell a bit flat and was episodic.
offbrandmusclemilk's review against another edition
4.0
beautifully written, but it just seems to be lacking something essential. in some ways I agree with other reviewers that it's missing a plot, but I can live with what plot it has. I can live with the morality twist at the end even though we saw it coming. there's just something about this book that feels like could have been the last push to making it a masterpiece. I'll be damned if I know what that is, though.