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leebase · 12-14-2010, 01:18 PM

The Doomsday Book - Connie Willis

I "read" this book via audible.com, and the audio portion of the book (reading, characters) was excellent. The content of the book, well, let's just say I remain puzzled by the awards Connie Willis wins.

I love sci fi, and I particularly like time travel books. Connie Willis is a multiple award winner (10 Hugos, 6 Nebulas) and she writes sci fi books with time travel. Should be a no brainer that I would like her books. But no, I have suffered misrably through each and every one of them, The Doomsday Book being the last and final book of hers that I plan on reading.

I just have no interest over what she seems to find so very interesting. Her book is filled to the brim with annoying characters treating each other badly -- and the effect is merely to annoy ME, the reader.

She uses time travel -- but does this book cover any important historical characters? No. Interesting details about the past that edify? No. Interesting use of time travel and it's impact on the present? No. Drama? Well, yeah. The usual "time travelor gets stuck in the past" is the main plot. The ending of the book, with the resolution of the time travelor, is she rescued or not, is actually well done and satisfying. But it's all the stuff in the middle of the book, which takes up 90% of the book -- which is filled with endless prattle.

I felt the same way about Black Out -- which is a double thick book that, unbeknownst to me, was turned into two volumes. So you didn't even get the satisfying resolution. The story just abruptly stops and you find out that the conclusion will come in a year with the next book. No thanks, I no longer care at all to suffer through this woman's writing.

Maybe it's a gender thing. Maybe women LOVE all the details that Willis puts in her books the way I like Tom Clancey's detailed descriptions of weapons and tactics. Well, whatever it is, I can't recommend this book, though it is a Hugo/Nebula award winner. I'm just glad I got through this books as it took almost all year to listen to it via audible. I listen to lots of thick books via audible, and actually pick nice long books just for the extra value. In Willis' case, it just means extra torture for me.

Lee

12-14-2010, 01:18 PM	#1
leebase Karma Kameleon Posts: 2,973 Karma: 26738313 Join Date: Aug 2009 Device: iPad Mini, iPhone X, Kindle Fire Tab HD 8, Walmart Onn	The Doomsday Book - Connie Willis The Doomsday Book - Connie Willis I "read" this book via audible.com, and the audio portion of the book (reading, characters) was excellent. The content of the book, well, let's just say I remain puzzled by the awards Connie Willis wins. I love sci fi, and I particularly like time travel books. Connie Willis is a multiple award winner (10 Hugos, 6 Nebulas) and she writes sci fi books with time travel. Should be a no brainer that I would like her books. But no, I have suffered misrably through each and every one of them, The Doomsday Book being the last and final book of hers that I plan on reading. I just have no interest over what she seems to find so very interesting. Her book is filled to the brim with annoying characters treating each other badly -- and the effect is merely to annoy ME, the reader. She uses time travel -- but does this book cover any important historical characters? No. Interesting details about the past that edify? No. Interesting use of time travel and it's impact on the present? No. Drama? Well, yeah. The usual "time travelor gets stuck in the past" is the main plot. The ending of the book, with the resolution of the time travelor, is she rescued or not, is actually well done and satisfying. But it's all the stuff in the middle of the book, which takes up 90% of the book -- which is filled with endless prattle. I felt the same way about Black Out -- which is a double thick book that, unbeknownst to me, was turned into two volumes. So you didn't even get the satisfying resolution. The story just abruptly stops and you find out that the conclusion will come in a year with the next book. No thanks, I no longer care at all to suffer through this woman's writing. Maybe it's a gender thing. Maybe women LOVE all the details that Willis puts in her books the way I like Tom Clancey's detailed descriptions of weapons and tactics. Well, whatever it is, I can't recommend this book, though it is a Hugo/Nebula award winner. I'm just glad I got through this books as it took almost all year to listen to it via audible. I listen to lots of thick books via audible, and actually pick nice long books just for the extra value. In Willis' case, it just means extra torture for me. Lee