Location : Cleveland, OH
The "problem" with NPR is that
they expose me to authors I would not normally seek out, as they regularly
have segments concerning new books. Such is the case with Karen Thompson
Walker and her novel "The
Age of Miracles."
Julia is nearing her twelfth birthday, becoming aware of boys, and is navigating the treacherous shoals of middle school, with the cliques, gossip, and need to feel a part of something. All of that can be traumatic. What really causes problems for her, and everyone else on Earth, is that planet's rotation is slowing.
A day, as we know it, consists of twenty-four hours. As the "days" continue, the Earth takes longer and longer to rotate, causing a day to last more than 24 hours. A lot more.
"The Age of Miracles," from what I learned during the author's interview on NPR, is well grounded in science. For those looking for an "end of the world" novel, this is a good novel. What makes it a much better novel is the focus on Julia, her family, and the attempts at normal - school, athletics, relationships. Walker creates a believable character, using believable dialogue and situations, which draw the reader into Julia's changing world and personal life. There were times when I wanted to shout at Julia because of her limited view of her surroundings, but I held back; that is exactly how a young person would react, what she would say. Because of the depth that Walker provides, you are utterly captivated by the story.
The interesting thing about the novel is how it is structured. It seems to be moving inversely from the rotation of the Earth. Early chapters move slowly, setting up scenes, characters, situations. As the novel progresses, it becomes harder and harder to stop reading until you reach the last page, with a "Rosebud" moment. It's at that point where you stop, look around, and ask, "That's all? There *has* to be more." Walker has so thoroughly involved you in the story, the characters, the slow death of the Earth
you are begging for more - just one more chapter, just one more page.
I was, at first, disappointed by what I was reading. I firmly believed that I was supposed to be reading an apocalyptic novel, caused by the slowing of the Earth. But it turns out that The Age of Miracles is a coming-of-age novel that is complicated by a severe natural disaster. The combination is positively wonderful.
Julia is nearing her twelfth birthday, becoming aware of boys, and is navigating the treacherous shoals of middle school, with the cliques, gossip, and need to feel a part of something. All of that can be traumatic. What really causes problems for her, and everyone else on Earth, is that planet's rotation is slowing.
A day, as we know it, consists of twenty-four hours. As the "days" continue, the Earth takes longer and longer to rotate, causing a day to last more than 24 hours. A lot more.
"The Age of Miracles," from what I learned during the author's interview on NPR, is well grounded in science. For those looking for an "end of the world" novel, this is a good novel. What makes it a much better novel is the focus on Julia, her family, and the attempts at normal - school, athletics, relationships. Walker creates a believable character, using believable dialogue and situations, which draw the reader into Julia's changing world and personal life. There were times when I wanted to shout at Julia because of her limited view of her surroundings, but I held back; that is exactly how a young person would react, what she would say. Because of the depth that Walker provides, you are utterly captivated by the story.
The interesting thing about the novel is how it is structured. It seems to be moving inversely from the rotation of the Earth. Early chapters move slowly, setting up scenes, characters, situations. As the novel progresses, it becomes harder and harder to stop reading until you reach the last page, with a "Rosebud" moment. It's at that point where you stop, look around, and ask, "That's all? There *has* to be more." Walker has so thoroughly involved you in the story, the characters, the slow death of the Earth
you are begging for more - just one more chapter, just one more page.
I was, at first, disappointed by what I was reading. I firmly believed that I was supposed to be reading an apocalyptic novel, caused by the slowing of the Earth. But it turns out that The Age of Miracles is a coming-of-age novel that is complicated by a severe natural disaster. The combination is positively wonderful.
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