**Original Article**: The new movie is very interesting. The story is engaging and the special effects are amazing. I really enjoyed it.

**Expanded Article**:
The new movie is truly very interesting.

The story it tells is extremely engaging, pulling the viewers in from the very beginning. It weaves a narrative that keeps you on the edge of your seat, eager to see what will happen next.

Moreover, the special effects in this movie are simply amazing. They add a whole new dimension to the viewing experience, making the scenes come alive in a way that is truly breathtaking.

I, for one, really enjoyed this movie a great deal. It managed to capture my attention and hold it throughout, leaving me with a sense of satisfaction and a desire to watch it again. Three stars well-deserved for this outstanding cinematic creation.

I have to say that my assessment of this book is rather complex.

To be honest, I have two completely different rankings for it: one for the first 200 pages and another for the last fifty. The first 200 pages were truly captivating. The writing was beautiful, the characters were endearing, and I was highly impressed with the overall quality and the author's storytelling skills.

However, the last fifty pages completely shattered everything I loved about the first part. It was as if the book suddenly entered a different world. The events that took place were so unbelievable that I simply could not suspend my disbelief.

Despite the disappointment of the ending, I have to admit that I was still entertained by the book as a whole. The crazy events in the last few pages, although out of place, were still somewhat engaging.

Overall, I'm not sure if I can recommend this book. The first part is really good, but the ending is a major let-down. It's not a total waste of time, as it is memorable and has sparked discussions with my friends who have also read it. But if you're planning to write a plague novel, I would definitely suggest not following the example of the last fifty pages of this book.

2.5* rounded down because it was okay but I cannot say I liked it. This review is going to be short as I finished this 4 months ago and I am far behind with my reviews to treat all books equally.

Why only 2*? Firstly, it started very well with the account of how the plague came to the village and an interesting introduction of the main characters. However, it then turned into a melodrama that was no longer really about the plague. Secondly, the author tried extremely hard to stuff all the possible themes from that period into this book: fear of witches, women's struggles, drug abuse, child abuse, and even slavery. Every misery-inducing event is present. Thirdly, the characters soon became unbelievable. Finally, the idiotic ending. It does not justify the name of the novel.

Geraldine Brooks' book about the outbreak of the plague in England in the mid-seventeenth century is truly captivating.

It tells the story of Anna Frith, a young maid from a priest's house. Despite her youth, she has already experienced much - getting married in her early twenties, becoming a mother twice, and then a widow.

The area where they live is rich in lead, and mining is the common occupation for local men. Sam Frith, Anna's husband, had his own mine but died in it. Sadly, Anna and her children did not inherit the mine as the system there is quite strict.

Working as a servant in the vicarage was a blessing for Anna and her children. The vicar's young and beautiful wife, Eleanor, was not only a friend but also a mentor to her.

The arrival of a London tailor at the gates, who wanted to move to their area and asked to stay, seemed to promise financial help and the possibility of training for Anna's sons when they grew up.

However, everything changed when the plague arrived in their village. The tailor, who had come from London, was the first victim.

The villagers had no choice but to face this terrible epidemic. Some wanted to flee, but the priest proposed a different solution - to quarantine themselves.

This decision was partly due to practical considerations and partly supported by the promise of the local lord to provide food during the quarantine.

Most importantly, they all agreed to make this sacrifice in the name of Christian love. And so began the Year of Miracles, which would actually last for a year and a half, from spring 1665 to autumn 1666.

During this time, they would face many hardships, and many of their neighbors would not survive. But there would also be many examples of selflessness and compassion. And it was from this year that Anna, the healer, would begin her long journey towards her calling.

A significant number of people have lodged complaints about the slow pace of this book. However, I discovered that the pacing was exquisitely tailored to its subject matter. After all, the title, "Year of Wonders," immediately establishes an expectation and a timeframe. The deliberate pace contributed to the creation of a world, a time when life unfolded at a more leisurely rhythm, when individuals were more contemplative, and when people paid closer attention to the seasons and nature. This is a novel that is beautifully narrated and incredibly seamless. Given the extensive research that must have been invested in it, it reads with remarkable smoothness. I relished the evolution of the protagonist, the manner in which she acquired power while still operating within the confines of her role in society.

That being said, the ending truly disappointed me. It was completely Hollywood-ized and a blatant cop out. In a mere 20 or so pages, it attempted to be a romance, a horror, and an action-adventure, but it failed miserably. It was as bad as the infamous "Who killed Bobby Ewing?" plot twist. Sigh. I had been truly hoping for a 4-star rating, but then the ending was only worthy of a 0.5 or 1 star. Consequently, it averaged out to a heavily weighted 2 stars.

In 1666, a young housemaid traverses the desolate streets of a village ravaged by the plague.

She takes care of the rector, once a charming leader but now secluded in his empty abode, listless and devoid of faith.

The previous year, a bolt of fabric from London had brought the bubonic plague to this remote northern village.

As the villagers succumbed one by one, the rector persuaded them to quarantine themselves rather than flee and spread the disease to others who would likely drive them away.

Nearly two-thirds of the inhabitants fell ill and died. Our 18-year-old heroine joined forces with the rector and his wife to tend to the living, the dying, and the dead, and to prevent the village from descending into superstition and barbarity.

At times, their efforts were more successful than others, but observing those who rose to the extraordinary challenges and those who did not was captivating.

Recently, at a dinner, a friend gave this to me and said, "You should read it - it's beautifully written!" She was right. The prose is exquisite, the story is gripping, and the portrayal of human nature is fascinating.

Then, by a fun coincidence, when I was two chapters into the book, another friend took me to a book reading by Tony Horwitz, a very funny travel writer who turned out to be Geraldine Brooks's husband! Who would have known?

Well, obviously he did, as did the bookstore lady who introduced him. So I grabbed a copy of Year of Wonders and asked him to sign it along with one of his own books, which he did without making me feel too absurd.

He also told me that this was his favorite of his wife's books. It's a quick read and guaranteed to make you appreciate living in the 21st century.

My only issue is with the ending. Throughout the book, a couple of characters exhibit clearly modern sensibilities, but the end seems to go awry with strange plot twists more appropriate for a supermarket paperback than for good historical fiction.

Added to that is the toll the plague takes on faith - really, nobody's faith is strengthened after such an ordeal? Granted, who knows if mine would be, especially considering the lack of plumbing, medicine, or decent food, and the company of illiterate drunkards I'd have to endure. But shouldn't we at least hope for characters who emerge from the refiner's fire wiser and stronger? Other than that, it's very interesting and beautifully written.

Audiobook

I would rate this audiobook 4 stars for the story which is beautifully written. The plot is engaging, the characters are well-developed, and the author has a real talent for creating a vivid and immersive world. However, I can only give 2 stars for the reader, who is also the author.

This would have been better read by an English person who has experience reading audiobooks. The author has an Australian accent, which may not be a problem for some listeners, but for me, it was a bit distracting. Moreover, her voice is, it pains me to say, monotonous and flat. Half the time she sounded bored and disinterested, as if she was just going through the motions. It was like a tired, teenaged Jennifer Jason Leigh doing a bad British accent.

Despite these drawbacks, I was still able to persevere to the end of the audiobook. This is a testament to the author's talent as a writer. The story was so good that it managed to overcome the shortcomings of the narration. Overall, I would recommend this audiobook to others, but I would suggest that they listen with an open mind and try to focus on the story rather than the narration.

I placed him, his arms splayed limply.

I lay down beside him and drew him close.

I pretended to myself that he would wake up in the wee hours with his usual lusty cry for milk.

For a time his little pulse beat fast, his tiny heart pounding.

But toward midnight the rhythms became broken and weak and finally fluttered and faded away.

I told him I loved him and would never forget him, and then I folded my body around my dead baby and wept until finally, for the last time, I fell asleep with him in my arms.

In the morning I gathered him to me.

I gathered him up off the gory pallet and ran into the street.

My neighbors were all standing there, their faces turned to me, full of grief and fear.

Some had tears in their eyes.

But the howling voice was mine.

The emotional impact of what she had written down hit me in the first few pages.

I had not intended to read this book yet; I only came to look, but then I couldn’t look away.

I thought of how it must have been to have found yourself alive when most of those whom you have loved and cared for had died, and you had watched it all.

The dying must have settled in like a cold winter’s night or maybe it felt like nothing at all.

Perhaps, you didn’t know what you were feeling after a while.

Your prayers, if you gave them, went unanswered.

If you had asked for forgiveness, it didn’t come.

Then maybe after a while there were just no more prayers in you to give.

This was also a time when all you had left was memories, and maybe these memories are something that you wish you didn’t have, maybe you wish that they had been wiped out along with the plague.

Then there was the silence of the dead; It was deafening to wake up each morning with that silence in your head or to dream that you were holding your loved one in your arms, and then waking up to find nothing was there.

There are just some things that life brings to us that should never have happened.

And all you can hope for is someday thinking of it as all a bad dream.

“It is natural to want to forget, Anna, when everyday is a brimful of sadness.

But those souls also forgot those that they had loved.

You do not want that, surely?

I have heard some preach that God wants us to forget the dead, but I cannot believe so.

I think He gives us precious recollections so that we may not be parted entirely from those He has given us to love.

You must cherish your memories of your babes, Anna, until you see them again in Heaven.”

Another winner from this author!

It presents an engaging plot and offers an interesting glimpse of what life was like for country people back then.

Historical novels are the perfect niche for Geraldine Brooks. She undertakes ample research and then creates a perfect blend of fact and fiction.

This book is based on a true story about the village of Eyam, Derbyshire, where they truly did quarantine themselves during the Black Plague of the 17th century. People in the past didn't understand how disease was transmitted, so they resorted to a combination of religious fervor ("this is God's punishment"), superstition (witch hunts, magic charms), and feeble attempts at scientific inquiry.

This is just a great read from start to finish, filled with memorable saints and villains and unexpected events. It really shows how, in times of crisis, a person's true nature emerges. Some become even more loving and selfless, some become hysterical and helpless, and some continue to think only of themselves.

By the way, I was glad that the gross-out factor was kept to a minimum. There are numerous other mini-dramas to maintain your interest, so it's not only about plague victims and putrefaction. It explores the human spirit and the various ways people coped with such a devastating event. The detailed descriptions of the village and its people make you feel as if you are right there in Eyam, experiencing the turmoil and the hope that coexisted during that difficult time.

This is the captivating story of the bubonic plague that struck a small English town in 1665.

It is a part of history that demands to be told, and it has been masterfully crafted into a novel of historical fiction, complete with a wonderful heroine.

I am deeply enamored with this sad yet ultimately uplifting tale. The town, in a heroic act of self-sacrifice, cuts off all travel and communication with other towns to contain the progression of the plague.

Based on true stories and written with superb skill, it is told in the language of the times, transporting readers back to that fateful era.

This book truly deserves its place among the all-time favorite books.

It not only provides a gripping narrative but also offers a profound insight into the human spirit during times of crisis.

The heroine's courage and determination in the face of such adversity are truly inspiring.

Overall, it is a must-read for anyone interested in history, fiction, or simply a great story.

A truly fascinating story awaits within these pages. It is written in a most beautiful and engaging manner that effortlessly draws the reader in. The author's words seem to dance on the page, painting vivid pictures and creating a world that is both captivating and enchanting.

However, it is important to note that the ending is rather odd. It takes an unexpected turn that leaves the reader with a sense of surprise and perhaps a touch of confusion. But despite this oddity, it does not detract from the overall charm and allure of the story.

Overall, this is a story that is well worth reading. Its beautiful writing and fascinating plot will keep you hooked from beginning to end, and even the odd ending will leave you thinking long after you have turned the final page.

I have to admit that I have never been a huge fan of historical fiction. So, this is not the kind of book that I would normally read. However, having read several positive reviews and been impressed by the author's credentials, I started reading with an open mind. The writing style was very welcoming and drew me in from the beginning. I warmed to the strength of Anna, the protagonist.

But I felt that the story became so flawed and was so inconsistently paced. By the final page, I had lost all respect for the novel as a whole. If you haven't read the book and still intend to do so, please stop reading. I will probably ruin it for you. The amount crammed into the final 20 pages was utterly ludicrous. The story completely fell down, and you felt like you were reading a piece of creative writing by a GCSE student running out of time in an exam.

Within these final pages, the previously rather promising heroine has a highly charged affair with the husband of her dead best friend. She discovers he's a psychopath, delivers a baby, rescues the baby from being murdered, runs away from the village she's never left in her life (taking the baby with her), is chased by the baby's family, boards a ship, and somehow ends up part of an esteemed doctor's harem of wives, acting as his assistant and bringing up the rescued child and a bastard child of her own fathered by the psychotic clergyman (widower of her best friend). Phew! All plausibility is completely lost. I normally have some love for novels that are an easy read and have this degree of originality. But this is utter rubbish.