From the Bookshelf of Topeka & Shawnee Co. Public Library…

Year of Wonders

Geraldine Brooks

Start date: August 15, 2011

Finish date: August 15, 2011

Why we're reading this: I absolutely loved this book! It followers the villagers of a small English town and how they cope with t…more
[close] I absolutely loved this book! It followers the villagers of a small English town and how they cope with the outbreak of the plague. It's a quick read for historical fiction.

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Mar 04, 2011 Deb rated it really liked it

Shelves: historical

Astounding, mesmorizing, and full of human pathos. That is how I would describe this tale of the village of Elam in the year 1666--the year the plague came to town. The story is told through the eyes of the serving woman who, along with the rest of the townsfolk, followed the leadership of the Vicar and sequestered herself so that the neighboring towns would not be infected with their 'plague seeds'. Many facets of life during that time, such as the way women were treated, the persecution of tho ...more

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Apr 27, 2010 Melanie rated it really liked it

I've studied on the managment of outbreaks and found that to be fascinating. You like the character of Anna and the character definately grows thoughout the novel in a way that you understand. So many authors have a drastic change and this wasn't that way.

I was surprised by some of the twists right at the end. I think it might have been a bit rushed because I didn't quite understand her last two significant relationships. Why she left one so quickly and why she entered into the final one. It was ...more

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Jan 04, 2011 Kelli rated it it was amazing

Shelves: all-time-favorites, historical

Absolutely loved this book. A quick read for historical fiction.

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May 07, 2021 Dawn rated it it was amazing

This was another listen for me and the narrator was the author, which is always a mixed bag for me. I like that they are so intimate with all the characters and nuances, but if they aren't a professional voice actor, it can make for a very monotonous listen.

Why read about a pandemic during a pandemic? I dunno, perspective? Sympathy? Coping mechanism?

This was a finely crafted novel and though it was about what some would term a normal young woman's life in the mid-1600's, it was anything but no ...more

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Mar 29, 2011 Tricia rated it it was ok

Shelves: book-club, 2011

I listened to the audio version for my book group.

Ok I suppose it's my fault for not fully reading the title - I missed the part about this being a novel "about the plague". This book was DEPRESSING!

The story line did move along pretty quickly though, and had good character development and plot twists along the way. The ending was somewhat predictable but did have an odd twist.

Once the book itself was over, the author gave a short summary of her research on the plague and the setting of the book ...more

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Apr 16, 2013 Jenee Rager rated it liked it

Shelves: historical

Other than the last couple pages in the epilogue this book all takes place during one year in a small English village that isolates itself from the rest of the world after the plague arrived within it's borders. The decision to do this, and limit the death toll to their tiny population is not popular with all villagers and the reader gets to follow the villagers as they argue, work together, die, and most importantly survive during the year. ...more

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