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Comments (31)

Year of Wonders

a Novel of the Plague
Community comments are the opinions of contributing users. These comments do not represent the opinions of King County Library System.
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1 to 25 of 31 items
Apr 18, 2023Kimberleygray rated this title 2 out of 5 stars
The story follows Anna during a year of Plague that decimates her village. She is a servant that learns to read and learns about herbal medicine from 2 local women. The village starts having alot of people die from the Plague and a mob…
Jan 24, 2023KristenA_DML rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
It would have been interesting to have read this book NOT during a pandemic. Since I did, it's relatable in a different way than it may have been meant to be, but human nature is eternal.
Dec 11, 2022
Author suggested at WIP
Jul 11, 2022denisecharbonneau rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
A well-researched and fascinating novel. This author never fails to illuminate whatever the topic with well-drawn characters and details of lives lived.
Apr 23, 2021firebird770 rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Excellent read. Geraldine Brooks writing about the Plague of 1662 puts us back to the time of living through a year of quarantine in a small village which lost most of its inhabitants with the terrible disease.
Jan 15, 2021Pdayton73 rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
Enjoyed this, but the situation of the Plague hit a bit close to home! Rather gory and graphic in parts - not for the weak stomached!
Nov 15, 2020moklocek rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
One of my very favorite books. So rich in descriptions and characters.
Oct 26, 2020mardscott rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
This is a novel about 1660 and the plague. It is not an easy read, but it is a great read. I felt like I was living in the 1660s with all their prejudices and superstitions!
Sep 16, 2020LT rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
An account of a year in the life of a 17th-century village afflicted by the bubonic plague. Suitable reading for 2020. Engrossing, moving, and ultimately satisfying.
May 20, 2020
I read Year of Wonders before COVID-19 was a blip on the radar. The idea that a village would have the collective strength and consideration for others they might come into contact with intrigued me. I never thought that a quarantine was…
Jan 03, 2020ranXerox rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
I liked the book, but the last third seemed far too full of twists and turns and took the story away from a woman's contemplation and reflection on death, religion and duty to something that comes much too close to a romance novel. A…
Sep 13, 2018juliainthestacks rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
I enjoyed 90% of this book, but the end was bizarre and disastrous! :/
Jul 05, 2017Belfire206 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
Quite by accident I took this novel with me on a trip to Sweden and Estonia, places that put the plague in historical context. I was in the library looking for a book that was "lightweight" to carry and "airplane readable," so my standards…
May 13, 2016
This book is an elegantly written feminist view of a gothic period in English history, based on actual events. A movie based on this book is currently in production. In addition to this single copy of the book, we have a book club in a bag…
Jan 16, 2016LadyJaneBrais rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Outstanding historical novel, based on true events in 1665 England. This novel is a true gem and captured me before the first chapter was read. My thanks to the readers who leave comments on books, as they have steered me to new books…
Dec 07, 2015PimaLib_MaryG rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
An amazing novel about a town that quarantined itself as the residents died off from the Bubonic Plague to prevent it from spreading. The town is real - there is a historical marker, but not much is known so author Brooks used it as the…
Oct 01, 2015hildesanders rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Beautifully written book! I would have given Geraldine Brooks 5 stars but I didn't like the end of the book. I'd rather she hadn't moved to a foreign country and raise her child to never be able to reconnect with her birth family.
Jan 07, 2015gerimark rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
set in medieval - pastor & wife key characters helping village deal w/ plague. housemaid is key and loses entire family, but ultimately is a heroine
Dec 30, 2014Audrey1976 rated this title 4.5 out of 5 stars
This is a great work of historical fiction. The author does a fine job of making the reader feel as though they are experiencing these horrific events first hand. I will say that I hated the ending. I'm not sure how I would have liked…
Apr 21, 2014Recommended by KCLS Librarians rated this title 5 out of 5 stars
Based on the true story of Eyam, the “Plague Village”, located in the rugged mountains of England in 1666. As the plague ravages the village fearful villagers react with fear and jealousy as the local healer and the town’s minister try…
Dec 16, 2013ehbooklover rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
This was recommended to me by a customer. It's about the English village of Eyam, whose residents attempt to control the spread of The Plague by quarantining themselves. Sounds depressing? That's what I thought at first. But I decided to…
mooncat
Dec 03, 2013mooncat rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
I loved this book and thought it was beautifully written. However I was really disappointed with the ending as I didn't feel it fitting to the story.
Nov 07, 2013CRRL_AdrianaP rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
First, I have to confess that I am a huge fan of Geraldine Brooks and (so far) will 5-star all of her books. To me they are almost perfection. This book is absolutely heartbreaking in so many ways - to go from joy to despair and have the…
Oct 18, 2013
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Jul 19, 2012fictionrules rated this title 4 out of 5 stars
Book about a plague in England during the 17th century. A small village cuts itself off from the world and deals with a misunderstood medical disaster. Based on a true story and researched by the author while she was on assignment as a…