A Children's Bible
Ratings54
Average rating3.7
There was so much potential. So much. I can't believe this was a finalist for two different major awards - it seems unfinished, with so much left to be filled in.
this sly little novel stuck it's teeth in me during my time reading it. it's marvelous
Reading this book while wildfires rage in Hawaii and Canada and a hurricane bears down on LA for the first time in memory. An allegorical tale of the end of the world and the ennui of previous generations ruining the future. 3.5 rounded up.
This has landed in my top 5 favorite books. Chilling, entertaining and most definitely thought provoking. The stark realities the author intertwines seamlessly keep the novel grounded, as we navigate biblical comparisons to modern life and generational/familial conflict. It's nice to interact with content where gen z isn't slandered for being chronically online and incapable of surviving on their own, rather, as adaptive and collected individuals while witnessing disasters of biblical proportions.
I really loved the start of this book, it was fantastic I loved the characters and it was going in such an interesting direction and then bam it ends and I was so confused, idk why it ended like it did but it felt like half the book was missing.
I was a bit apprehensive about the first person plural, as I found it really limiting and exhausting in [b:The Buddha in the Attic 10464963 The Buddha in the Attic Julie Otsuka https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327878988l/10464963.SX50.jpg 15369956], but I warmed up to it. And, contrary to the other book, the “we” mostly dissolved into actual names and faces. In the end, it felt very fitting. As there was a clear “us” versus “them”. The generation that was born into a world that's slowly escalating , and the generation that let it come to this. Added to this all is the narrative's reinterpretation of biblical events. Which definitely doesn't sound like my sort of thing. But somehow this turned into a very compelling, sad, witty, occasional bonkers, not-too-serious, and fast-paced read.
This is the first Millet I have made it through. Years ago, I saw David Sedaris and at that performance he went on and on about how clever and smart her writing is. I have tried her works a couple of times over the years and it just never sat right with me.
Until now. Maybe I am a more warped person (thank you, 2020), maybe I'm just older and wiser. I friggin loved this. I could not even begin to guess where this was going next. It kept me on my toes. I was both extremely proud and horrified for these kids. I laughed out loud (probably inappropriately) more often than I expected to.
I couldn't wait to get back to it when I put it down.
This would be a fantastic TOB 2021 pick.