This book is about what would happen if the world started slowing; not something I’ve actually given much thought to… until now. I am seriously hoping for the Earth to never start slowing its rotation. Beautifully written (I have passages marked), and thoughtfully told from the perspective of a middle-schooler, this story does not wrap up in the tidy bows that I thought it would. That’s not to say that nothing works out, it’s to say that the book is realistic – Walker didn’t create a fairy tale, she’s telling a story. As if it actually happened… in the way it probably would happen. And if you think I’ve just given away the ending, you may be surprised to find out that I didn’t, well – not exactly.
As far as a conversation starter/ book club book, this is a good one to try – there will certainly be things to talk about.
Have you read it? What did you think?
Oh man, I LOVED this book. It was so quietly unsettling. I think the juxtaposition of the slowing Earth and the trials and tribulations of growing up is brilliant. At times, I didn’t know if people were acting up because of the “sickness” or just because that’s all part of growing up. I thought the ending was perfect, I actually slowed down my reading trying to draw it out, I didn’t want it to end. Love love love!
Ashley, that is the perfect way to describe this book: “quietly unsettling”. I read it slowly and got lost in the characters so the rest of what was happening snuck up on me, and I liked that.
Have this one on my nightstand and I can’t wait to read it. Your post and Ti’s have me wanting to read it ASAP! Great post, Wallace! Love the short and to the point review!
I’ll be interested to hear what you think! It’s getting all sorts of responses, but I think you’ll enjoy the writing.
I may be the only person in the universe that did not like this book. The premise of the earth slowing is interesting….and it never goes much farther than being a premise. It is the backdrop of the story and the author constantly reminds us of it, but it doesn’t make the plot or characters do anything interesting in response. The coming of age, marital trouble, and dystopian future story lines do not have any freshness to them and there isn’t a breath of originality in any characters.
I didn’t adore it either, but I did think it was interesting and well written. I do agree, though, the story lines (at least most of them) have very little to do with the slowing of the earth. One might expect more about that.
This book is on my list, close to the top, because of all of the good things I have been hearing about it! I can’t wait to read it soon!
This book is great. It stayed with me long after I read it.
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