Year of Wonders
Geraldine Brooks
April 2002
336 pages
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FTC: I really need to visit the library more, because I’m getting tired of telling you I bought it.
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Year of Wonders is the story of a small English village, and the year (1665) that the villagers spent battling the plague. At the story’s center is young Anna Frith, a widow who works for the village rector. Anna never contracts the plague, but she chronicles her year of agony (and wonder) as she tends the sick and witnesses the deaths of half of the villagers (or is it half the village? I’m grammatically challenged). As family and friends succumb to the plague, many of the villagers turn on each other. There are accusations of witchcraft and of religious impiety.
This book was so steeped (for lack of a better word) in the 1600s. Brooks does a marvelous job with the language, and portraying the gritty reality of both the plague and the mundaneness (mundanity?) of life in a little village. Anna is a strong character, but she remains a provincial female with a limited worldview (for the most part…this could go either way, and then we could have that discussion about fictional women acting out of character for their times).
I loved this book. Absolutely loved it, for the reasons mentioned in the above paragraph. I think Brooks did a phenomenal job, particularly with the setting and tone. However, the end flat out sucks. There’s an epilogue that I found totally unnecessary. Uncalled for, even. And since I’m on a roll with the “U” words, let’s add unrealistic. Because as much as I loved the book, I hated the epilogue. And I’m going to discuss it, so if you haven’t read the book, please ignore these next two paragraphs.
I was actually disappointed in the happy ending. Which sounds a bit mean, but good grief, did Brooks really have to take Anna to North Africa to give her a happy-ever-after living as a chaste bride (in a harem!) and using her medical skills? Give me a freakin’ break! I mean, I’m happy for her and all, but how is that even believable? It’s not. It totally rings false and I don’t think I can get over it. And I know I’m not the only one, as Heather and I briefly discussed this via email and she agrees. Bad ending. Bad, bad ending.
Then I found out that Brooks started life (okay, not life, but you know what I mean) as a foreign correspondent from the Middle East. Which further ticked me off, because I felt like the epilogue was just a way to fit the Middle East into her book…like she loved it so much she couldn’t bear not to include it.
Have you read this book? If so, how did you feel about the ending?
I have this in Mt. TBR and have been trying to figure out how to work it into one of the challenges I’ve signed up for to make sure I get it read. Maybe I’ll just skip the epilogue, though, so I can end still loving it!
Lisa´s last blog ..The Book List Meme – January 21
Have to agree with you about the ending…that came out of nowhere! My book club read this last fall before hearing Brooks speak. We are actually meeting today to discuss her first book (nonfiction) Nine Parts of Desire. It’s based on her experience as Middle East correspondent for the Wall Street Journal.
JoAnn´s last blog ..Maisie Dobbs by Jacqueline Winspear (audio)
I have read Brooks People Of The Book. It was fascinating and writing was really good. I am definitely reading this one. I need to see if I can find at my book store .
Shweta´s last blog ..Once A Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
Yup, you voiced my sentiments exactly – that ending just did NOT belong. I vaguely recall someone a while back suggesting that people simply skip the epilogue (as one of the other commenters suggested). That goes against everything I “believe” (I’m one of those who read every author’s note, the acknowledgements, appendices, etc.) but it might just be the solution to the problem in this case …
That must be some book if you loved it even though you were disappointed in the ending.
Kathy´s last blog ..Review: Simon’s Cat
Great review. I haven’t read this book but read a few positive reviews on it.Should I read the book though it’s good but the ending is bad?
Vasilly´s last blog ..Change for the Better
I had to laugh at your comment about going to the library because you are tired of telling us you bought it. I am the exact same way. Libraries are so hard for me because I have such a pile that I never know if I will get to the book before it’s time to return it,lol. Not to mention half the time they don’t have what I want.
This is a new to me book but it sounds really good. Great review!
April´s last blog ..Friday Fill-Ins
I read this so long ago that I don’t remember the ending part that is bothering everyone! How embarrassing. I do remember really liking the book and feeling that I was sucked into the lives of the characters.
Helen´s last blog ..Review: Hunger Games (Collins)
I agree that the book was beautiful, but agree the ending was WAY off. Which didn’t bother me too much when I was reading, but bugged me afterward, the more I thought about it. (As a side note, one of my favorite books by her is Nine Parts of Desire, which is about her time as a correspondent in the Middle East.) People of the Book by her is much better, though.
I read this I think in college and loved it but I agree- the ending was very blase (with an accent on the E- don’t know how to type that). I was disappointed by that, too. Maybe she wanted to write a sequel?
Aarti´s last blog ..Review: Before They Are Hanged
Still better than the portrayal of the plague in Kristin Lavransdatter, right
?
I read her “Nine Parts of Desire” (the one about women’s lives in the Middle East) a few years ago and it wasn’t until recently that I realized she was the same person who wrote “March”, etc. I have “People of the Book” in my TBR…I wonder if she throws in some Middle Eastern touches there, too.
Valerie´s last blog ..This Week’s “FreeVerse” and Some More Poetry Stuff
The premise intrigues me. I seem to be on a death kick and the plague fits right in with that.
Ti´s last blog ..Library Book Club Reading List for 2010
I’ve been meaning to read one of Geraldine Brook’s novels. I’m torn between this one and People of Books.
mee´s last blog ..Aussie Author Challenge, Oi!
Truthfully? I loved the rest of the book so much that I think I must have blocked out the weak ending!
A Bookshelf Monstrosity´s last blog ..Wading Through My Wishlist
I loved this book when I read it a few years ago, but I had completely forgotten the sucky ending! I guess I blocked it out. lol The only other book of hers I have is March, and since I can’t–for the life of me–get through Little Women, I’ve put off reading March. Hmmphf.
Andi´s last blog ..Woolf in Winter: The Belated Celebration
I could have written this review because I agree 100%. I loved it right up until that moment and it just yanked me right out of the story.
Chrisbookarama´s last blog ..Book Reviews 2010
I agree totally! Loved the book, hated the ending. It didn’t make sense to me, didn’t fit with the rest of the book, and felt like a wishful fairy tale tacked onto the ending!
I loved People of the Book, however!
gentle reader´s last blog ..Booking Through Thursday–Favorite Unknown
I love your passion for this book … and I hate when a good book has a bad ending. Not every book needs a happy ending … I wish authors would realize this.
And I think either village or villagers works.
Jenners´s last blog ..Two Mini-Reviews: "Bright Lights, Big Ass" and "No One You Know"
I guess I must have ignored the ending and focused on my awe of the remainder of the book because I really liked the book, but now I do see your point about the ending. The chaste wife in a harem thing is a bit far-fetched. Did she go for the Hollywood happy ending, do you think?
Michelle´s last blog ..REVIEW – One Amazing Thing by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
I haven’t read this one of hers yet. I always hate that when the ending totally turns a perfectly good book on its end though!
Amused´s last blog ..One Heck of a Family Tree
I ignored the last two paragraphs but I liked what you wrote in the first ones so much that I am putting this book on the top of my TBR titles (yes, I do own it and I have been putting this book away).
lilly´s last blog ..2-in-1: Sacred hearts by Sarah Dunant & The Private Papers of Eastern Jewel by Maureen Lindley
SOB!!!! This was my book for Amy’s Newsweek 50 Books for Our Times. I still haven’t read it and I sooooooo want to . I liked Brooks’s March and I love the 1600s and I’m so interested in the plague. ARGH. I must get to this, I must get to this. I know I’m missing out.
Oh, I skipped the paragraphs on the epilogue. I’ll be prepared for the Unnecessary.
Beth F´s last blog ..Weekend Cooking: Two Movies, One Script
Same reaction as you to this book. It is so good up until the ending, though it wasn’t just the epilogue that caused me discontent, but also the big *twist* reveal regarding one of the main character’s motivations at the end. That too I thought unnecessary.
I haven’t yet read this one, but it’s in my TBR room waiting its turn. I’m sorr the ending didn’t live up to the rest of the book.
Literary Feline´s last blog ..One Night Stand: The Challenge That Dare Not Speak Its Name
I absolutely love Brooks’ PEOPLE OF THE BOOK, but haven’t read her other novels (and I have MARCH and YEAR OF WONDERS on my bookcase!). I only skimmed your review, and ‘disappointed by happy ending’ jumped out at me. I feel the same way you do (in general) … I don’t need a happy ending, I just want a *good story!*
(remind me of this when I’m working on my Great American Novel
)
Dawn – She is Too Fond of Books´s last blog ..My ALA Midwinter experience … with lots of pictures!
Havent read it – but sounds like I would like too!
Sheila (Bookjourney)´s last blog ..In My Mailbox
My feelings about this book are almost identical to yours. I thought it was wonderfully well written and fascinating, but I HATE when authors try to tack on a happy ending where one isn’t warranted. I can also be a stickler about epilogues–much of the time I find them unnecessary.
Stephanie´s last blog ..East of Eden–part 1
Hi Jill! Just wanted to stop by and let you know that you won a copy of Meet Me Under the Ceiba from Regular Rumination. If you’ll send me your address I can pass it on to the publisher
regularrumination @ gmail . com
Lu´s last blog ..TSS: Some serious thoughts
I loved this book, too! And I didn’t remember the epilogue, so it must not have made much of an impression on me.
Carrie K.´s last blog ..The Sunday Salon – January 31, 2010 (the “January reading wrap-up” edition)
I loved this book up until the ending then it totally took about 8 steps back on my 5 star scale.
It felt out of place, out of character and just ruined the entire book for me.
SuziQoregon´s last blog ..The Woman in Black by Susan Hill
I had read this one some time ago. Loved it, then forgot much about it except the great research work.
Now that you mention it I remember the ending and why I had decided to forget about it ! Definitely out of place, but should not overshadow the whole book, as reading it is like sipping on history juice.
I learned so much reading this one and enjoyed it so much that I was curious about “A company of liars”. So, as long as a book keeps you reading, I say it’s good…