The Age of Miracles

By Karen Thompson Walker

The Age of Miracles - Karen Thompson Walker
  • Release Date: 2012-06-26
  • Genre: Literary Fiction
Score: 4
4
From 809 Ratings

Description

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY
People ∙ O: The Oprah Magazine ∙ Financial Times ∙ Kansas City Star ∙ BookPage ∙ Kirkus Reviews ∙ Publishers Weekly ∙ Booklist

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

 
“A stunner.”—Justin Cronin
 
“It’s never the disasters you see coming that finally come to pass—it’s the ones you don’t expect at all,” says Julia, in this spellbinding novel of catastrophe and survival by a superb new writer. Luminous, suspenseful, unforgettable, The Age of Miracles tells the haunting and beautiful story of Julia and her family as they struggle to live in a time of extraordinary change.
 
On an ordinary Saturday in a California suburb, Julia awakes to discover that something has happened to the rotation of the earth. The days and nights are growing longer and longer; gravity is affected; the birds, the tides, human behavior, and cosmic rhythms are thrown into disarray. In a world that seems filled with danger and loss, Julia also must face surprising developments in herself, and in her personal world—divisions widening between her parents, strange behavior by her friends, the pain and vulnerability of first love, a growing sense of isolation, and a surprising, rebellious new strength. With crystalline prose and the indelible magic of a born storyteller, Karen Thompson Walker gives us a breathtaking portrait of people finding ways to go on in an ever-evolving world.
 
“Gripping drama . . . flawlessly written; it could be the most assured debut by an American writer since Jennifer Egan’s Emerald City.”—The Denver Post
 
“Pure magnificence.”—Nathan Englander
 
“Provides solace with its wisdom, compassion, and elegance.”—Curtis Sittenfeld
 
“Riveting, heartbreaking, profoundly moving.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
 
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Reviews

  • Fantastic!

    5
    By coputergeekultimate
    This is by far my all time favorite book! The fact that this book was so simple, that there wasn’t a whole lot of action like in a normal end of the world story, made this novel so incredibly special, and it allowed it stand out from other apocalyptic books that I’ve read. Who wants to read about death and sadnesses? It makes me sad. And although this book is quite sad, the fact that Julia continued on with normal life made it seem both timely and timeless. Walker is brilliant in her writing; can’t wait to read her other books!
  • age of miracles

    4
    By Whim1954
    I read this book many years ago and just reread it. Pretty sad in places but worth the time. A coming of age story set against the slowing down of the earths rotation. Eventually, with 2 weeks of daylight then 2 weeks of darkness, you wonder how man can survive. It is never explained why the earths rotation slows, a perpetual backdrop of gloom. But I did enjoy it the 2nd time around.
  • Scary

    3
    By Wellread12
    Good read. Only three stars because I hate the f bomb in my books. Scary because it seems possible that this could happen. Yikes! Hard to not think about after reading. Haha.
  • Great

    5
    By Camea_
    Very creative and touching story~~~ well written and thought provoking, would recommend!
  • Original concept

    3
    By Abbi A.
    I liked this book. It is an easy read. The concept of how the world is ending is original. However there is nothing beautiful or unique about Walker's writing.
  • What Miracle?

    2
    By MizzVee@950
    Depressing, sad, what's the point? Even after reading the Q&A and reading group questions at the end, I left with nothing more than a hollow feeling of despair. What a waste of time. Wish I could remember who recommend this book. How did it end up on my reading list? I read for enjoyment, to get insight into the human race, to discover myself. This book satisfied none of that. I had hoped for more from an author who lives in Iowa.
  • Incredible

    2
    By laramiche
    Poignant with depth. Loved it.
  • The Age of Miracles

    5
    By TLreads
    This is a haunting coming of age story. As the earth's rotation slows, it changes everything about life as we know it. Julia, so alone in her adolescent world, becomes the reflective voice that sees not only the damage to the earth, but the damage we do to each other. The writing is beautiful in its detail and simplicity. The premise is disturbing, but the voice is authentic and portrays the preteen sensibility in a way that is believable and moving. You feel Julia's inner struggles and joys as she feels them. It is a book that will stay with you for some time, and one that will appeal to tweens, teens and adults, both male and female. Be sure to put it on your must read list.
  • A great coming to age story ( not a sci-fi novel)

    5
    By Old movie gal
    To just to be clear THIS BOOK IS NOT A SCIFI NOVEL!!!!!! As a 14 year old in middle school, I really love this book. It a great story because kinda show how as world ends, the main character feel like her world is coming to an end since she in middle school. The narrator 6 th grader, Julia, has lot more to deal with the. The fa that earth gravitation pull is becoming stronger. Her best friend, moron, move to Utah after " the slowing". Her parents are beginning to argue. On top of all of this, the boy she has a huge crush on, Seth, has mom that is dying of cancer. This book is much more of a slow paced sorta of coming age novel then sci-fi and could have probably been a young adult/ adult novel, like, the book A Fault in Our Stars ( by the way, that great book). This while getting such mix review. If you start book, expect something about crazy world ending all of a sudden , like Life as We Know it, you will be disappointed. If come to book, expect a teenage memoir, then you will like it
  • Let down

    2
    By buckleyboo
    I agree with so many of the other reviews in that this book was a big disappointment. The premise had so much promise, but the story was never fully developed and fell so tragically flat. Definitely not a science-fiction novel.