Hello! I know it's been a super long time since I've done a review, but it has been bonkers here in these parts, as most of you know. I've been hard pressed to find the time to actually get this review typed. And, well, we know the connectivity issues have been multiplying exponentially. Unrelated, I've decided to stop video reviews due to low viewership numbers.
This novel is the Teachers and Friends Book Club choice for our wreath-making party in early December, chosen by Mrs. Tirollo who is over at Mackrille. I find it very intriguing that both of my recent choices, (Verity and Tigers Not Daughters), Amy wasn't a fan. And now I disliked her book. Strange since we're actually quite alike!
Now, this was readable for sure, but I struggled with the premise. I felt I had read the overarching plot point before in Denton Little's Death Date: everyone now knows when they're going to die. Unlike Denton, this is super serious (a reminder of my review of Denton: I nearly peed myself laughing). Instead of a notification of a date, everyone gets a string with their life expectancy time. Longer lives to be older and shorter dies younger.
This book examines panic and mass hysteria on a global scale, and prejudice against those who are different (should short-string people be allowed to serve in the military? Adopt children? Etc.). Familial relationships are tested, internalized victimhood is explored, and there is way too much "six degrees of separation"-esque neatly tying up of everyone's story in a bow at the end. There were glaring plot holes that I was angry were not addressed, and I found most of the characters whiny.
Would this be a great choice from a psychology or philosophy perspective? Yes. A good companion read to The Crucible? Definitely. Even a medical ethics course could find this useful for discussion (example, age to start testing for the BRCA gene).
While I didn't hate it, it's not something I'd recommend widely.
A reminder than any opinions expressed on this blog are solely those of Mrs. Woychowski.
