Rating: 
Summary: Good story, but unsurprising ending
Review: I enjoyed the premise behind this story. I was somewhat disappointed by what I thought was the "easy out" ending the author chose, rather than leaving her readers with a less optimistic, but perhaps more emotionally significant, ending.
Rating: 
Summary: An intriguiguing and excellent foray into sci-fi ala CSLewis
Review: I read the book just a little over a year ago after hearing an interview with James on the Mars Hill Tapes. I think a couple of things should be kept in mind when reading this book. First of all, I didn't find it slow starting at all (I have no way to compare it to her other works, not having read any other of them.), but rather found it to be quick-paced and very intense. Secondly, there is a lot here for one to pick up on if you simply look past the sometimes over-indulgent descriptions. What might society become in the absence of a hope for the future? What sort of ways would society react as it faces certain extinction? James' story gives us a glimpse. Strange rituals, psychotic groupthink, totalitarianism. How would we react to the good news that our crisis is over with the birth of just one child? What would the road back look like? The suspense in the book would make a good Clancy-like movie. There's more than meets the eye in this very insightful, thought-provoking story. "Take up and read!"
Rating: 
Summary: Dull, dull, and dull - what a disappointment!
Review: I was very surprised to find that I disliked this book so intensely, because I'm a huge fan of Lady James' Adam Dalgliesh mystery series. But all that appears to happen here is talk - mostly about the philosophy of the current situation, which is "what's going to happen now that nobody in the world can have a child?"Granted, there's not much action in the Dalgliesh series either - James is very cerebral - but this is a bit much. I'm looking forward to my next Dalgliesh novel.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent change of pace for James
Review: I've read everything James has written except for 2 novels which I intend to read next and can honestly say that this is probably my favorite to-date. I felt like I was with the Fishes on their trek and felt distressed when they faced hardships. I especially enjoyed Miriam as a supporting character. The novel, like so many other PD James novels moved very quickly, especially the last 100 pages or so. I literally could not put it down! All I can say is well done and please write more Sci-Fi soon!
Rating: 
Summary: I wouldn't recommend this book
Review: In the bookstore, I was very intrigued by this book, so I decided to buy it, but it was a disappointment. The book is divided in two parts: the first one is very promising (expecially the very first pages) even if sometimes too slow, and it gives you an overall feeling of decadence. The second part seems to be written by someone else, it really bored me. It's ridiculous how the five rebels gradually become the center of the plot, and I found absolutely unbelievable that Theo cared about them at all (if not for his feelings about the girl). Now, the first part could make a good, a little weak story by itself, and I believe that at the end of it, originally, Theo said that he wanted to throw away the whole diary, not just a page of it (so maybe originally the first part was a whole story by itself). That's why I see this book like a nice painting that's been stretched for all the length of the wall it has to cover. The basic concept doesn't develop at all, so that after the first revelations you don't get really surprised (or "entertained") by anything. Religion? Ok, but what about the world infertility story? Why? What happends then? The fact is, we should give the first pages of this book to Arthur C. Clarke, and let him write the story.
Rating:
Summary: Borders on masterful
Review: In The Children of Men, P. D. James' prose is ordinary at it's best. His undistinguishable style would be palatable if that was as bad as it got. Unfortunatley for the riveting plotline, the words that carry it often resemble a sloppy mire. Unfortunately too, poor editing in the edition I read detracted from the clever plot. In short the experience of reading P. D. James' The Children of Men was similar to reading a high schoolers first draft of a novella. Great plot, dingy delivery.
Rating:
Summary: An inspiring and moving book.
Review: Like many, I first picked up this book with a tinge of disappointment -- I'm a voracious reader of James' Dalgliesh mysteries, which are in my view the best in their genre, and was saddened that she had departed from that format. But I'm very glad she did. This novel is one of the most moving and inspiring commentaries on the post-modern age I have ever read. A stupendous achievement. I remain an avid reader of James' mysteries. But I hope she once again ventures out this way.
Rating:
Summary: I love this book
Review: Maybe if I read a lot of mysteries or science fiction, I would be disappointed by this treatment of the subject by this author, but since that isn't the case, I didn't have those expectations. I found it absolutely compelling--I've read it twice and listened to it unabridged on tape. I think it makes a great companion to Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower--both set in about the same year, written by women, and for the life of me I cannot decide which is scarier. The best part of the book for me is the closely observed (?), subtle changes wrought by the absence of children. Made me think, moved me, even when I knew what was coming.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing execution of an interesting concept
Review: P.D. James disappoints in her book in the bitterest of ways - by poorly executing what is a tantalizing idea.
Working backward from a concept to a (loose) plot, this novel seems stilted and forced throughout.
The climax - wink, wink - leaves one giggling from unsuspended disbelief of circumstances, plot, and
characters. What should have been an interesting exploration of the meaning of reporduction to a society
that takes it for granted (or, some may argue, disdains it) turns in to a brainy romance novel without the sex
Rating:
Summary: A very quiet apocalypse, brilliantly depicted
Review: P.D. James makes the imminent extinction of humanity seem very real indeed. Her absolute confidence in the premise carries her through. Spooky, nightmarish, and very satisfying. Highly recommended.
|
