Rating: 
Summary: A Great Book to Read Despite its Weakest Link
Review: This book takes a fascinating and imaginative look at human survival in the village of Eyam during the plague year of 1665 where the odds for death are 2 in 3. Despite taking on as morbid a subject as this fateful epidemic, the novel manages to keep up our interest in our heroine's fate. We follow her proactive adventures and attempts at midwifery, herbal medicine, and even mining as she and the rector's wife stay actively involved, aspiring to humanitarily aid the sick, orphaned, and dying through this ordeal. The language Brooks uses lends realism to the setting, especially her utilization of Old English words no longer part of our modern day vocabulary. It is clear that this author did a good bit of historical research. One unrealistic element present is a "time machine" sort of phenomenon. Our heroine's attitudes, thinking, and comprehension are a reflection of our own times. We find her to be surprisingly modern rather than medieval in character. For example: Anna unquestioningly and promptly attributes abberent behavior to mental derangement, although the woman in black along with her incantations, chants, and charms would most likely be labelled a witch in those times which preceded the development of psychology and psychiatry.
Some very colorful characters are created such as the greedy gravedigger and the flagellante ascetic which add flavor to this novel. In fact, this book reads very well and quickly until we come to its weakest link, the incongrous ending, so far fetched as to be implausible. In many ways the conclusion seems borrowed both in subject matter, setting, and style from a chapter in some romance novels. After reading such a great, fast moving, and very well written story, our anticipation results in disappointment. The ending is so troubling as to motivate this reader with a desire to rewrite it.
Rating:
Summary: Not For The Squeamish ...
Review: Sometimes macabre, always riveting "Year of Wonders" is an amazing glimpse into seventeenth century England. Set in the plague-ridden village of Eyam, the story unfolds and is told in the voice of eighteen (eighteen!!) year old Anna Firth. Through Anna we experience what it was like to care for those infected by the plague, grieve for those killed by the plague, and experience the madness that overcame its victims (witch-hunting, self-flagellation, and sorcery). Inspired by the true story of the villagers of Eyam and their extraordinary choice, Geraldine Brooks does a phenomenal job of recreating this piece of history. She uses dialect and description that will thrill historical fiction readers and vocabulary that is fun to sort through: garret, masty, placket, croft, whisket, gritstone, and boose. She provides ample detail of the time period and all of its horrors, but also allows for good storytelling and character development. Most importantly she captures the disintegration of the time and makes us hurt for its victims. That said, the ending is a bit too pat (the reason for the four star rating) but this is such a great book otherwise it is easy to forgive. This is a perfect read for those who are interested in historical fiction or looking for an engrossing read. Enjoy!!
Rating: 
Summary: I loved this book
Review: "Year of Wonders" was a great read. It's one of those books that sticks with you and you continue to think about long after you are finished. Anna Frith is an inspiration in that she continues to help others even after suffering so much.
Rating:
Summary: BOOK OF WONDERS!
Review: What a great book! Year of Wonders is excellent in every way. It is beautifully written. Every page has some delicate description that made me stop to think of the simple grace words can have when they are in the hands of a talented writer. The story is powerful from beginning to end as we watch what happens when plague ravages a small, isolated village northwest of London in 1666. It is based on a true story and told through the fictional character, Anna Frith. She was a woman on an ordinary path in life who finds herself surrounded by death and discovers her own extraordinary strength. The story is well developed and builds with every page. There are unexpected and exciting twists in the end that lead to a very satisfying conclusion which holds up until the very last sentence. I was only sad the story ended and can only dream of what happened next to my beloved heroine. I say encore! What will Geraldine Brooks write next? I will definitely read it.
Rating:
Summary: A Study in Death
Review: Based on an actual event and real persons, author Geraldine Brooks tells a fascinating tale of a village in rural 17th century England that experiences a sudden outbreak of plague. The citizens seal themselves off from the outside world to avoid spreading the disease to neighboring villages and to give themselves up to God's mercy. The "year of wonders" experienced by the residents of this stricken community is told through the eyes of an intelligent and couragous young widow, Anna Frith. Brooks' imagery is bright and alive - the reader experiences the sights and smells of this world, the hope and despair of the characters and the gradual disintegration of their faith. The plague brings out the noblest and the basest of human behavior and Anna herself achieves things she never would have attempted in any other circumstances. Because the majority of this book was so well written, I was quite disappointed in the ending which seemed rushed and contrived, almost as if the publisher had grown impatient and directed Brooks to wrap it up by the end of the day. I won't spoil the ending, but readers of Albert Camus' novel on the same subject will groan inwardly at Brooks' little joke in her placement of the final scene. Despite the ending, I recommend this book highly for its clear, concise style, vivid imagery, and realistic portrayal of human beings immersed in a long and tragic fight for survival and search for meaning.
Rating:
Summary: A Beautiful Novel
Review: Powerful. Evocative. Emotional.
The textured landscape of the Plague Village and the bizarre cast of characters come alive in this masterfully written novel. Anna Frith, the heroine, is an insightful woman, humble and honest. Her integrity is inspiring and her development throughout the story is climactic. She breathes--and the reader exhales. This is a beautiful and believable story--flawlessly written. I anticipate reading more from Geraldine Brooks.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful but rushed
Review: Geraldine Brooks starts this novel off with care, she takes effort to develop the characters into complex people. It is a rich and intimate novel, one that makes you feel personally connected to the main character. However, while Brooks spends most of the novel nursing her characters along, the ending seems rushed, as though Brooks decided she needed to finish and did so without the care she took with the beginning. The pace speeds up unnaturally. Still, it is worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding Historical Fiction
Review: Since I was young I have always loved historical fiction and this book is one of the best I have ever read. Brooks creates an engrossing and enthralling world through the eyes of maid Anna Frith as she sees her rural english village ravaged by the plague. While some scenes are rather graphic about what the plague actually does to your body, they were done tastefully and in a way that is not meant to disgust, but simply to inform the reader. The plot is excelent, both interesting and well written. My one slight complaint is the ending which seems a bit unbelievable, but with the greatness of the rest of the novel, it is easily compenstated for.
Rating:
Summary: Just what I wanted to read...
Review: Everything about this book, 'Year Of Wonders,' went together like the perfect meal...true, I probably eat more than I read novels, but, that's another thing -- this is the first story to grab me in a long time. I LOVED it! And what beautiful, artistic language, from the pen of Geraldine Brooks. Flowed right along. There's an especially good balance of historical/factual bits with the more emotional, personal details of the heroine. Wonderful!
Rating:
Summary: I loved this book
Review: "Year of Wonders" was a great read. It's one of those books that sticks with you and you continue to think about long after you are finished. Anna Frith is an inspiration in that she continues to help others even after suffering so much.
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