Rating: 
Summary: A book that shows she did her homework
Review: This book is obviously meticulously researched. The detail that Ms. Willis puts into her writing is astounding. I was impressed with the depth of the characters. Kirvin is a history major at Oxford. She wants to go back to 1320 to "research" how people lived. Against the advise of some of her professors, she deeply prepares for her role--even giving herself a head injury to fit her cover story, and then she steps into the net. After she leaves, an unknown virus breaks out at Oxford. As the doctors and professors battle to save people's lives, the stories of these people are woven together with those of the time period Kirvin has traveled to. Nothing is as it seems. She was expecting to be able to follow her plan to completion, but it veers off course when she becomes deathly ill. She realizes then that the people who have taken her in are not just like the people in a text book or even a period novel--they are real people with real, everyday problems and feelings. I don't want to give away anything, but this book is worth a read. Some parts move slowly, but it does pick up at the end. If you pay attention, you can figure the mystery out before everyone else does. I would recommend this book to everyone. I just wish there was a sequel.
Rating: 
Summary: First, get a flu shot
Review: If you had the chance to go back in time, knowing you could change nothing, would you? It sounds like an easy promise to Oxford University student Kivrin, heading back to the 14th Century. Her trip is meant to be an academic exercise, not much more, but through an error she is dropped in the path of the Plague and into the lives of a family she comes to love. Meanwhile, back at the lab, a ferocious virus has attacked the 21st Century city of Oxford -- including the only people who can to bring Kivrin home. Suspenseful, bittersweet and fascinating.
Rating:
Summary: Haunting!
Review: I read this book 3 years ago and it has haunted me. If you like time travel or history definitely pick up this book! The characters were so "real" and dimensional they had me crying (don't want to give any "spoilers"). You definitely owe it to yourself to read this book and I wish Connie Willis would write more books like this. By the way, if you like this book - check out the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon!
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Summary: Very Dark Novel... but Fascinating
Review: One thing that distinguishes Connie Willis fromother writers is that she does her homework. Doomsday Book is the culmination of five years of research that Willis did on the time period and the Black Death. The end result is a rather dark novel, but one whose characters are not only sympathetic, but mulit-dimensional and well-developed. This is Willis' forte in her writings, and this book is no exception. This peek into fourteenth-century Europe-- during its darkest times was a little too dark for me, I liked the novel, although personally felt that it was a bit too hopeless for my taste. This is my least favorite Willis novel-- which is not to say that this work is bad-- far from it. In fact, Doomsday Book earned her a Hugo and a Nebula award. It's just not to my tastes.
Rating:
Summary: Some people enjoy being heartbroken.
Review: .
What a depressing story. Some people enjoy being heartbroken. While I do admire beautiful stories -- those that leave me longing for more -- I am not one of those people. And Doomsday Book is definitely not one of those stories. To help you relate, I'd compare this story to the movie Pearl Harbor -- the movie's lengthy, and, halfway through, things start becoming impossibly sad. Then, somehow, they get even more sad, and keep getting worse, until finally it's over and you're released from the agony. But you're relieved that it's over. You feel as if a great burden has been taken from your back; this relief, I think, is why many people (the same people who enjoy being heartbroken) may consider Doomsday Book a great story. I'll elaborate on the Pearl Harbor analogy a bit: As much as I disapprove of needlessly depressing things, I really liked Pearl Harbor. I say that because of its inspiring/hopeful conclusion. The peaceful ending was a welcome reward for having to sit through a movie that long and painful. Doomsday book didn't give me this type of satisfaction, didn't close with hope. I'm giving it 4 stars because it's not my type of story. But don't let that mislead you. Connie Willis is an excellent writer. (May I recommend To Say Nothing of the Dog for the lighter-hearted individuals out there...) If you've read this review and think you're the type to enjoy being heartbroken, Doomsday Book will probably be one of the best books you've ever read. You'd probably give it 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: wonderfully terrible
Review: This book had me breaking out in a cold sweat - horrible and wonderful at the same time. I didn't read for a month after I finished, I was so worn out! If you thought "To Say Nothing of the Dog" was too lighthearted, give this one a try!
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Summary: What and you missed the humor??
Review: All of the reviews seem to miss the underlying (and very dry) humor woven into the plot - be it the 14th century section or the 21st century. The assistant who only goes on about what is "amost" run out. The bell-ringers, Mrs. Gallstone (?? :-)) and the incredible interweaving of quotes and carol titles at the most appropriate moments. I personally found some of the supporting characters flat and not so well developed, and plot seemed to drag at first - with way too many repitious sections. I do not want to go into too much detail on specific characters, but many of them could have been more developed. The humorous parts were not to be missed.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent read that transcends the sci-fi genre.
Review: Once I started this book, I could not put it down. But Connie Willis' Doomsday Book is so much more than just a compelling read. It is a time travel story that also succeeds as an historical novel, a parody of academic politics, a medical mystery, a suspense story and a meditation on moral, philosophical and historical themes. Parallel stories play out in the 21st and 14th centuries. The characters - particularly those in the 14th century - are realistically drawn and believable. Historians debate what forces create history -is it economics, great men, societal forces, everyday individuals? Connie Willis' position is clear: the everyday acts of everyday individuals are the key to the development and survival of civilization as we know it.
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Summary: Couldn't put it down
Review: Great book. The characters are well drawn and the story is enthralling. Could not stop thinking about it.
Rating: 
Summary: Doomsday Book
Review: Historical accuracy of life in the 14th century was excellent, and the plot started out in an exciting way. But after reading several of Connie Willis' books, I discovered there is nothing very exciting about her time travel concepts. There are too many failsafes like the characters not being able to introduce any anachronisms into the past. Anachronisms are what make time travel interesting, (i.e. read Millenium for an exciting time travel novel). Also, too many rules and restrictions about time travel make this novel's ending fall flatter than a pancake. The final chapters would have been incredibly suspenseful had the character Kivrin perished in the 14th century and been found in the 21st century excavation. Then Dunworthy could have gone back to try to change the past in order to save her. Conclusion: This novel gets your anticipation up to fever pitch then lets you down with a disappointing ending.
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