My favorite college professor (a history teacher) told me his favorite book is Connie Willis's Doomsday Book. Of course, I immediately went to the library to check it out. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to read it within the three week check out period. The combination of the holiday season and three young children wasn't conducive to reading so I went to Barnes & Noble to purchase it. I am thrilled I did, too, as the book has quickly become one of my favorites. If I hadn't bought it before reading it, I definitely would have afterwards in order to lend it out and read it often.
Doomsday Book has the best elements of a good story: time travel, history, mystery, and great writing. Willis is an excellent writer, creating characters with depth that readers can easily get invested in and relate to. Technically, the story is Science-Fiction but do not let that deter you. It isn't the stereotypical sci-fi most people think of (ones with mythical creatures or aliens) but rather it takes place in the future (2050s) and the past (1300s) as history student Kivrin travels back in time to study life in the fourteenth century. Things do not go as planned for Kivrin and a they begin to unravel in the present as well.
Willis's book entraps the reader with her characters who prove that humankind's ability to triumph over and tenacity know no time period. I recommend Doomsday Book to any reader who enjoys mystery, adventure, history, or good books. Read it and let me know what you think in the comments. If you enjoy it (which you should!), make sure to read Blackout which features some of the same characters as Doomsday.
Happy Reading!
I'm going to check this one out! I generally don't love the Sci Fi genre, but really enjoyed Station 11. Have you read that one?
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