Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks

We read this for the January meeting, so this post is very very late.

Set in 1666, the Black Death hits a tiny Derbyshire village and the people who live there decide to isolate themselves to save nearby towns and villages. This is the story of Anna Frith, of how a village watches half their population die, their loved ones and neighbours and of how desperate times show the best and worst of people.

This was an easy read, just the right length and it was an interesting story (based on true events, but the characters are fictitious). However we didn't think it invokes the terror of living through the plague, seeing your neighbours die and wonder if you'll be next. It wasn't written emotively and left us a little cold.

We didn't like the ending, thinking it was a little far fetched but we did like the vocabulary of the time used in the book. Overall we enjoyed the story but found it rather middling.

Concept: 8/10
Plot: 8.5/10
Ending: 5/10
Add a twist: Untwist the rectors character at the end.
Page Turner: Yes
Who would we slap: Anna's Dad.
Where's the cheese: Baby Eleanor.
Would we recommend? 10/10
Better as a ... TV drama

Total: 8/10

The next book was chosen by Gill and will be Feel The Fear And Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers which we'll be reading for the March meeting. Kate is hosting the February meeting.