Originally published: 1992
Page count: 241
Dates read: 5/20/23-5/28/23
CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 4.9/10 - ⭐⭐⭐/5
Characters - 5
Atmosphere - 6
Writing Style - 3
Plot - 4
Intrigue - 6
Logic - 5
Enjoyment - 5
What is a CAWPILE Rating?
Review:
2023 book goal progress: 11 out of 23
May Mindful Readers' Family Bookclub
Read my other book reviews for my 2023 goals HERE.
Description on back of book:
The human race has become infertile, and the last generation to be born is now adult. Civilization itself is crumbling and suicide and despair become commonplace. Oxford historian Theodore Faron, apathetic toward a future without a future, spends most of his time reminiscing. Then he is approached by Julian, a bright, attractive woman who wants him to help get her an audience with his cousin, the powerful Warden of England. She and her band of unlikely revolutionaries may just awaken his desire to live... and they may also hold the key to survival for the human race.
First sentence:
"Early this morning, 1 January 2021, three minutes after midnight, the last human being to be born on earth was killed in a pub brawl in a suburb of Buenos Aires, aged twenty-five years, two months, and twelve days."
Favorite quotes:
"If from infancy, you treat children as gods, they are liable in adulthood to act as devils."
Description on back of book:
The human race has become infertile, and the last generation to be born is now adult. Civilization itself is crumbling and suicide and despair become commonplace. Oxford historian Theodore Faron, apathetic toward a future without a future, spends most of his time reminiscing. Then he is approached by Julian, a bright, attractive woman who wants him to help get her an audience with his cousin, the powerful Warden of England. She and her band of unlikely revolutionaries may just awaken his desire to live... and they may also hold the key to survival for the human race.
First sentence:
"Early this morning, 1 January 2021, three minutes after midnight, the last human being to be born on earth was killed in a pub brawl in a suburb of Buenos Aires, aged twenty-five years, two months, and twelve days."
Favorite quotes:
"If from infancy, you treat children as gods, they are liable in adulthood to act as devils."
"There was some dignity and much safety in the self-selected role of spectator, but, faced with some abominations, many had no option but to step onto the stage."
"The world is changed not by the self-regarding, but by men and women prepared to make fools of themselves."
CAWPILE Rating: Overall - 4.9/10 - ⭐⭐⭐/5
Characters - 5
Atmosphere - 6
Writing Style - 3
Plot - 4
Intrigue - 6
Logic - 5
Enjoyment - 5
What is a CAWPILE Rating?
Review:
This was a pretty bad book. It was boring and I didn't feel connected with any of the characters. The concept seemed really interesting, but the story was told horribly. It had an advanced vocabulary and even simple words were British, so, being an American, I didn't know some of the words. For having the main character be an Oxford professor, there was no Oxford comma and other grammar seemed weird. The ending was unsatisfactory and didn't really have a resolution. I don't recommend this book.
Book to movie review:
They created new characters, removed others, and even combined some. The general overarching storyline is the same, but there are some significant plot changes along the way. I'd say the movie is better, but it's still pretty mediocre. It's not worth your time.
Now I'm off to read another book... but since a review should be more about the author of the book than about the writer of the blog, I will let PD James have the last words:
" 'Do I believe in God? No, it's too late for me. I believe in Julian's strength and courage and in my own skill. But if he gets us through this maybe I'll change my mind, see if I can't get something going with Him.'
'I don't think He bargains.'
'Oh, yes He does. I may not be religious, but I know my Bible. My mother saw to that. He bargains alright. He's supposed to be just. If He wants belief, He'd better provide some evidence.'
'That He exists?'
'That He cares.' "
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