The Age of Miracles
Julia’s family tries to adapt to this new environment, following the government suggested “clock time” system, meaning even though the days grow increasingly longer, the clock stays on a twenty-four hour time period. Sometimes those twenty-four hours could be completely dark, or long periods of sunlight. Some of their neighbors go against the system and become “real timers” continuing to live by the rising and setting of the sun.
Birds start to die, people suffer (including Julia’s mother) from the inexplicible slowing syndrome, and their world slowly starts to fall apart. But within the midst of this disaster, Julia’s family try to hold on to some semblance of normalcy. Narrated by Julia, who is looking back as an adult to when the slowing first began, The Age of Miracles was an interesting read, although didn’t quite keep my interest as I thought it would.
It’s a unsettling story in various ways. The author focuses not only on the environmental impact that this disaster has on the Earth, but she also explores the relationships around her. Unfortunately, even though Julia and her parent’s are strong characters, the supporting characters in the book felt flat. The book was really two stories in one and the impact on the planet (including the bird deaths, the hundreds of beached whales and the strange slowing sickness) was a much stronger plot line than the one of teen angst and adolescence. In particular, Julia’s friends came off as one-dimensional characters and were utterly forgettable. I thought the trials and tribulations of an eleven year old girl dealing with issues of adolescence, friendships and young love would have been more compelling, especially set against such a terribly unsettling backdrop, but again the characters didn’t live up to their potential.
Having said that, the relationship between Julia and her father, made more complicated after the slowing began (and by her parent’s failing marriage) was probably the most compelling part of the book, but unfortunately wasn’t enough to sustain the story. The ending was quite unsatisfactory also, as the science behind the slowing is never revealed to the reader.
Lastly, I just wanted to point out that I am in the minority in my not-so-glowing review of The Age of Miracles. There are a lot of other people who loved this book, including Jenn over at Jenn’s Bookshelves, so make sure to check out other reviews before you decide to read The Age of Miracles.
My review sits in the same camp as yours
Wow, Ti, I’m surprised by how many people have left comments telling me they felt the same was about The Age of Miracles. It’s getting a ton of buzz in the media and so I was surprised that it wasn’t as good as I had thought it would be!
I think the majority is right there with you, from what I can tell. But I was a little confused because EW freaking GLOWED over it. When they talked about it, it sounded like a completely different book than the rest of you were talking about. I love end of the world stuff, but I’m getting a yucky feeling about this one.
Sandy – I love end of the world type books too, but this one just didn’t do it for me (and like you, I really wonder what all the hype was about)! Have you ever read Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life As We Knew It? It is a similar book, also told from a teenagers perspective, but one I enjoyed so much more!
I’ve seen mixed reviews of this book. I might give it a try because the premise sounds interesting to me.
Kathy – just because I didn’t like it doesn’t mean you wouldn’t. For sure the major magazine critics LOVED The Age of Miracles, so you may want to still give it a go! You may also want to give Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life As We Knew It a chance too. It is a similar book, also told from a teenagers perspective, but one I enjoyed so much more!
I have been seeing this book everywhere. It sounds good, but I am not sure if it is for me. I will have to check and see if the library has it…
Kailana – just because I didn’t like it doesn’t mean you wouldn’t. For sure the major magazine critics LOVED The Age of Miracles, so you may want to still give it a go! You may also want to give Susan Beth Pfeffer’s Life As We Knew It a chance too. It is a similar book, also told from a teenagers perspective, but one I enjoyed so much more!
Like Ti, I’m with you!
I’m surprised by how many people have left comments telling me they felt the same was about The Age of Miracles. It’s getting a ton of buzz in the media and so I was surprised that it wasn’t as good as I had thought it would be!
I’m with you! I thought it was very flat.
Kevin – I’m surprised by how many people have left comments telling me they felt the same was about The Age of Miracles. It’s getting a ton of buzz in the media and so I was surprised that it wasn’t as good as all the critics claimed it would be!
Yeah, I did not do a glowing review of this book either. I wanted it to be so much more than what it was, specifically, I wanted to hear more about the world rather than the relationships between the main character.
Christina – yes, I think I would have appreciated The Age of Miracles so much more if it focused on the changes to the world instead of the relationships around the main character.
You seem to be pretty much on target from what I’ve seen of recent reviews. I’d still like to have a go at it but it’s good to read others thoughts before chowing down with such a book.
Pam – just because I didn’t like it doesn’t mean you wouldn’t. For sure the major magazine critics LOVED The Age of Miracles, so you may want to still give it a go!
I’ve seen this book popping up everywhere. Too bad it didn’t live up to the hype.
Darn, I’m sorry this one didn’t turn out to be a great read for you, but thanks for sharing your thoughts for the tour.
Hmmm, I have the ARC in my stacks, but now I’m not sure if I’ll bother. It doesn’t sound like you’re in the minority.
I think we now know where the minority sits, and I think I’m in that part, because I really enjoyed it!
Something about it really resonated with me and I loved the quiet way the tale was told.
Natalie – I’m glad that you enjoyed The Age of Miracles more than I did! I guess we all can’t love the same book, right?