Doomsday Book. Connie Willis. 1992. Random House. 592 pages. [Source: Book I Bought]Mr. Dunworthy opened the door to the laboratory and his spectacles promptly steamed up.
"Am I too late?" he said, yanking them off and squinting at Mary.
"Shut the door," she said. "I can't hear you over the sound of those ghastly carols."
Dunworthy closed the door, but it didn't completely shut out the sound of "O Come, All Ye Faithful" wafting in from the quad. "Am I too late?" he said again.
This is my fourth time to read and review Connie Willis' Dooms Day Book. This not-so-little novel combines my love of historical fiction and my love of science fiction. It does so, of course, through time travel. Kivrin, the heroine, will be the first historian--first time traveler--sent to the fourteenth century. The century has just recently, and perhaps unadvisedly, been opened up to time travel. Kivrin will be traveling to a "safe" year: 1320. But Mr. Dunworthy fears that there is no such thing as a SAFE year within the fourteenth century. She's studied and prepped for this for years now, this is HER ONE BIG LIFE-DREAM. And certainly the worries of an "old professor" like Mr. Dunworthy won't stop her from going. But is Mr. Dunworthy right to worry?!
It is set--in the future and the past--during the Advent-Christmas-Epiphany season. The book examines the role of faith and religion, at the very least during this season of the year. But, in particular, it addresses the question of God and suffering. I would never say it is a "religious" book, but, Kivrin, in particular is sent to a century where belief in God IS a matter of fact and the church had more power and influence. Christian readers should note that Mr. Dunworthy and Kivrin both misunderstand much of who God is and what the Christian faith is all about.
Doomsday Book might be "just right" for you if...
- You enjoy science fiction, in particular time travel
- You enjoy historical fiction
- You enjoy medical mysteries
- You enjoy compelling dramas
- You enjoy character-driven novels
3 comments:
I will definitely put that on my list! Thanks for the review!
One of my all time favorite books! I've read it three times myself. It is a permanent fixture on my 'keeper' shelf. Thanks for reminding me it's about time to read it again =)
I loved this book -- helped a lot by reading it during my first trip to England. The bell-ringing was a theme that appealed particularly: http://www.joyweesemoll.com/2014/10/29/doomsday-book-by-connie-willis-bookreview/
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