A Children's Bible: A Novel
- Downloads：3700
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-02-19 04:11:53
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Lydia Millet
- ISBN：9780393867381
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
Finalist for the 2020 National Book Award for Fiction
One of the New York Times' Ten Best Books of the Year
Named one of the best novels of the year by Time， Washington Post， NPR， Chicago Tribune， Esquire， BBC， and many others
National Bestseller
"A blistering little classic。" Ron Charles， Washington Post
One of the New York Times' Ten Best Books of the Year
Named one of the best novels of the year by Time， Washington Post， NPR， Chicago Tribune， Esquire， BBC， and many others
National Bestseller
"A blistering little classic。" Ron Charles， Washington Post
A Children’s Bible follows a group of twelve eerily mature children on a forced vacation with their families at a sprawling lakeside mansion。 Contemptuous of their parents， the children decide to run away when a destructive storm descends on the summer estate， embarking on a dangerous foray into the apocalyptic chaos outside。 Lydia Millet’s prophetic and heartbreaking story of generational divide offers a haunting vision of what awaits us on the far side of Revelation。
Editor Reviews
"A dystopian novel of great power。"
About the Author
Lydia Millet has won awards from PEN Center USA and the American Academy of Arts and Letters， and her books have been finalists for the Pulitzer Prize， the National Book Award， the National Book Critics Circle Award， and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize。 She lives outside Tucson， Arizona。
Reviews
pjalex
，
The authors had some good ideas， but failed to get the points across。 I would seem that she thought some things， but forgot she did not write them down。 marginal read。
Ebw
，
Love the premise but I just was not hooked - skimmed after 50 pages and so maybe I missed something。 Just kept waiting for it to catch but for me only smoldered and extinguished。
Rachel
，
I really enjoyed this book， much more than I expected to。 I never expected that a book about a bunch of kids would keep me so entertained。 I could hardly put it down。 It got me thinking about my own role in climate change and complacency。 The writing was beautiful。
Lukas Holmes
，
This was something else。 Probably not the best idea to have read this during a pandemic and a historic deep freeze。 It reminded me of books I read in highschool that shaped my worldview。 It gets a bit preachy at times， and maybe a little heavy handed with the allegory， but it's so well written and real and raw you can't put it down。 This was something else。 Probably not the best idea to have read this during a pandemic and a historic deep freeze。 It reminded me of books I read in highschool that shaped my worldview。 It gets a bit preachy at times， and maybe a little heavy handed with the allegory， but it's so well written and real and raw you can't put it down。 。。。more
Lisa Kranz
，
The author was very imaginative - the characters were interesting but the story - too figurative for me。
Rita Aksamit
，
This book has been compared to Lord of the Flies， and， while it has been lauded as a modern classic， I just could not relate to it。
Candace
，
3。5。 Need to read again。 It’s a book that appears simple， but is more than it seems with regard to what it has to say about our society， our selfishness and how it will lead to disaster。
Lori
，
I really can’t describe how clever and haunting this book was for me。 It took me to halfway through to appreciate fully and deeply the deceptive simplicity of the story at its face as the depth of symbolism revealed itself。 A feat of complex magnificence！
Anna
，
Quite a feat to pull off amusing and heartbreaking with a bit of thriller mixed in for good measure。 Another great “it could be worse” pandemic read。
Megan Augustiny
，
What an excellent novel to read submerged in a warm bath as record-setting snowfall around the country amplifies my climate anxiety tenfold。 This novel was， to put it mildly， totally bizarre and yet eerily familiar。 The story begins innocuously enough; a group of young people find themselves cohabitating in a summer estate when their affluent Gen X-er parents gather for a hedonistic college reunion whose alcohol and drug-laced philandering repulses their offspring。 At this point in the novel， Mi What an excellent novel to read submerged in a warm bath as record-setting snowfall around the country amplifies my climate anxiety tenfold。 This novel was， to put it mildly， totally bizarre and yet eerily familiar。 The story begins innocuously enough; a group of young people find themselves cohabitating in a summer estate when their affluent Gen X-er parents gather for a hedonistic college reunion whose alcohol and drug-laced philandering repulses their offspring。 At this point in the novel， Millet's classical style of prose presents a charmingly jarring contrast to her peppering of contemporary references in the text （smart phones， Snapchat， the occasional "fuck" or "shit"）。 But this is merely a prelude to the literal deluge of crazy that comes later， as a series of climate-related disasters unfold and catalyze Biblical levels of upheaval for the characters in the text。 Already fractured familial units totally collapse and， as a reader， you find yourself in the very sort of chaotic dystopia that only seems a few steps removed from our present reality。 。。。more
Jennifer Wallis
，
3。5 stars。
Jolanta （knygupe）
，
。。。at 50%
Jenny
，
This is a book I will be thinking about for a long time。 It's multi-layered and thoughtful， and frankly it hit a little bit too close to home in terms of climate change。 I was reading it at the same time as I was hearing from my friend in Texas who is isolated in a very cold apartment without water or heat。 This is a book I will be thinking about for a long time。 It's multi-layered and thoughtful， and frankly it hit a little bit too close to home in terms of climate change。 I was reading it at the same time as I was hearing from my friend in Texas who is isolated in a very cold apartment without water or heat。 。。。more
Emily
，
"The future flew path in a flash of grim。 The clock was ticking， and I didn't like that clock。 Yes， it was known that we couldn't stay young， but it was hard to believe somehow。""There's lots the same with Jesus and Science。 。。。 Like， for science to save us， we have to believe in it？ And same with Jesus。 If you believe in Jesus， he can save you。 。。。Science comes from nature。 It's kind of a branch of it， like Jesus is a branch of God。 And if we believe that science is true， then we can act。 And w "The future flew path in a flash of grim。 The clock was ticking， and I didn't like that clock。 Yes， it was known that we couldn't stay young， but it was hard to believe somehow。""There's lots the same with Jesus and Science。 。。。 Like， for science to save us， we have to believe in it？ And same with Jesus。 If you believe in Jesus， he can save you。 。。。Science comes from nature。 It's kind of a branch of it， like Jesus is a branch of God。 And if we believe that science is true， then we can act。 And we'll be saved。" 。。。more
Dramatika
，
Kids are as horrible as adults here！
Jill Olswanger
，
Plowed through this book in one day。 Environmental collapse， adults behaving egregiously， kids trying desperately to save the world。
Leigh Garrison Murphy
，
DNF。 The kids contempt of their parents were too much to deal with， why were those adults such assholes？
B
，
I’m not sure what to think about this one yet。
Rita Varian
，
I liked the wondering plot felt emotionally distant
Hannah Thaggard
，
Interesting premise and good book until it gets to chapter 6， then everything starts to fall apart。 The language is great， but the characterization of some characters is lacking。 I still have no idea what was up with the “David-Yacht” subplot but love that the goat’s name was Dilly。 Also good use of frog & toad。 Nice
Jim Bobs
，
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 A haunting classic of a book， this novel is surely destined to become compulsory reading in English lit classes around the world。 Having said that， time may be running out for that to happen， which is the core theme throughout the book。 There is an urgency in this tale of a world on the brink of collapse and irretrievable upheaval that is as terrifying as it is believable。 The book starts with a group of kids free to run wild whilst their college-friend parents， having barely come together over A haunting classic of a book， this novel is surely destined to become compulsory reading in English lit classes around the world。 Having said that， time may be running out for that to happen， which is the core theme throughout the book。 There is an urgency in this tale of a world on the brink of collapse and irretrievable upheaval that is as terrifying as it is believable。 The book starts with a group of kids free to run wild whilst their college-friend parents， having barely come together over the intervening years， reunite for a whole summer in the “great house” by a lake， boasting a chandelier with historical connections， library， breakfast and dining rooms and an attic where the children sleep。 Whilst the parents （or ‘rents as the kids call them） do pretty much nothing but drink， get stoned and fornicate， the kids get to know one another by their nicknames whilst competing to be the last ones standing without identifiable parentage。 This indolent period sees the children descend upon the local beach for a few days where they spend time with an even more privileged bunch of kids from a yacht moored offshore。 The tranquility comes to an abrupt ending with the onset of a violent storm - the first of many， which sees the parents struggle with the reality of their changing situation， whilst the youngest of the children gather animals together to help them survive the ensuing flood。 This is one of many incidents of biblical motifs peppered throughout the novel， many of which I perhaps missed or might have misinterpreted on first reading （must flick through that Children’s Bible！）。Conditions deteriorate rapidly， including a tree through the roof， and in their drunken disorientation， the parents have little appetite to take control。 The children take matters into their own hands and make a dash for somewhere safer to stay - a good call as it later turns out that the parents fall foul of a waterborne disease。 The kids take off with a handyman called Burl， who was also caught in the storm， and find their way with him to a farmhouse， boasting a plentiful store of food， where they hole up for an idyllic and utopian period in the novel - in my minds eye what a post-apocalyptic nirvana might feel like。 They are free to enjoy nature and detox from modern life， seeing things and beauty as it really is， rather then through a camera phone or on Instagram。 Key to the tranquility and balance achieved on the farm is the arrival of three trail angels （people who place food for other hikers along the trans-Appalachian） - Mattie （a biologist）， Luca （a doctor） and Darla （a poet/artist/hippie）。 Between them they undertake to school the youngest kids over the coming weeks and months， whilst also providing a steady family environment。 In the meantime Sukie’s mother arrives from the great house and gives birth in the barn， sadly dying in childbirth。 She is cremated and interred in a neighbouring field， leaving Sukie to care for her baby sister。 As time goes on everyone becomes comfy in their rural isolation whilst some of the children leave to provide blood transfusions to their parents， sick with Dengue fever。 Burl accompanies them and later returns。 Sometime after this the farm is attacked by redneck militia， who steal food， kill animals and run amok， terrorising the farms inhabitants， and torturing Mattie。 At some point the parents also arrive， unarmed， and inevitably end up as additional hostages and fodder for the scruffy soldiers’ games。 Only the very youngest children evade them by hiding in the forest。 Eventually the families are saved by the arrival of the mysterious “owner” of the cottage and food store， who liberates them with a helicopter and armed special services-style combatives， only to disappear along with the Angels and Burl overnight （taking the latter to a better place）。 The gunmen or soldiers are seemingly burnt in the barn。For the final part of the novel the families escape together to a mansion （owned by the richest amongst them） where they bunk down for the coming unravelling of society - as stock markets crash， supplies dwindle and anarchy is set to take hold， even in the richer suburbs。 They stockpile all the supplies imaginable and build fortifications - but none of this curtails the parents’ gradual decline toward irrelevance。 Gradually the children have to take over the chores and organisation of the place including work parties to grow food。 Eventually the parents lose their sense of self and one night， disappear altogether without a trace。 This is a novel to read and read again。 I have only skimmed the surface of its many themes above。 It is amazing how much thought provoking material exists with a short space and each line seems packed with meaning and worthy of pondering further。 I could not recommend the book enough as a literary work and also as a wake up call to all of us sleepwalking towards environmental disaster。 When it’s too late， will our children need to wrestle control？ 。。。more
Jill
，
Five stars for originality and writing quality。 A bunch of teenagers are basically left to fend for themselves in a series of natural （and otherwise） disasters of biblical proportions。 We don’t get to know the characters that well （there are so many of them）; except Jack， perhaps， the narrator’s younger brother and reader of “The Children’s Bible” of the title。 To my taste， I would have preferred fewer teens and more in-depth portrayals。
Deborah
，
I read this for a library discussion group。 I know that it was a highly rated book， but although I found some of the observations interesting it did not meet my expectations。 I am looking forward to the discussion to see what I may have missed。
Gracie
，
Adding to my list of books I read but didn't understand。 This book had a very Moonrise Kingdom vibe to it， from the children running away from incompetent parents， the freak storm， and all the white people （there was one， maybe two， non-white people mentioned， but their ethnicity had little to no impact on their characterization - if I wasn't explicitly told， I wouldn't have any way of knowing - and everyone seemed white-coded。 I was a bit wary of the only character of Asian decent （adopted） bei Adding to my list of books I read but didn't understand。 This book had a very Moonrise Kingdom vibe to it， from the children running away from incompetent parents， the freak storm， and all the white people （there was one， maybe two， non-white people mentioned， but their ethnicity had little to no impact on their characterization - if I wasn't explicitly told， I wouldn't have any way of knowing - and everyone seemed white-coded。 I was a bit wary of the only character of Asian decent （adopted） being described multiple times， scathingly， as having "old banana breath" or as a "banana"。 I'm not sure if this was an intentional racial slight， or if the author was oblivious。 If it was used consciously， I'm not sure what the point was）。 Despite all this， it was an enjoyable book - the children were written very convincingly， speaking and thinking like teenagers I know。 I need to think more about the literary symbolism between Biblical disasters and the modern ills described in the book （mostly climate change）: they seemed pretty straight-forward， but I have a feeling they merit more attention。 。。。more
Reegan
，
I liked it a lot！ I thought it was well written， but I guess I didn’t really see the point？ The Biblical allegory has been done before， and I don’t think Millet really contributed anything new to that conversation。 But I guess the Pulitzer Prize board knows more than I do。
James Doneski
，
It's an interesting book， but I can't say I really liked it。 The first half was intriguing but there's such a cynical voice to this。 It's harsh and mean-spirited。 The Biblical allusions started off subtle and then got a bit sledge hammery。 Didn't really care for the last part of the book， esp the ending。 So， meh。 Not a fave。 Wouldn't be a book I'd recommend to a friend。 It's an interesting book， but I can't say I really liked it。 The first half was intriguing but there's such a cynical voice to this。 It's harsh and mean-spirited。 The Biblical allusions started off subtle and then got a bit sledge hammery。 Didn't really care for the last part of the book， esp the ending。 So， meh。 Not a fave。 Wouldn't be a book I'd recommend to a friend。 。。。more
Matt
，
I really like Millet。 Her work is consistently strange in a really rewarding way。 She has an eye for oddness that I find fun， but she also digs deep enough into what she sees to make it rich and complicated。 And this book， about society just after environmental collapse， is no different。 The story is mostly interested in the kids of feckless， well-to-do parents who are waiting out the end times at an upstate estate， and the kids are aware enough of their parents' complicity in the collapse but a I really like Millet。 Her work is consistently strange in a really rewarding way。 She has an eye for oddness that I find fun， but she also digs deep enough into what she sees to make it rich and complicated。 And this book， about society just after environmental collapse， is no different。 The story is mostly interested in the kids of feckless， well-to-do parents who are waiting out the end times at an upstate estate， and the kids are aware enough of their parents' complicity in the collapse but also teens， self-interested and a little goofy themselves。That said， I'm a little bored of even good post-collapse stories， and by the time the band of evil dude show up at the compound， I was like eh， even if it was done really well。 Probably these familiar elements are what make this such a successful book for Millet （or so it appears from the outside）。 This is well done stuff， thoughtful， weird， and fun。 I'd still probably rather read a book by her that covers less well-trod territory。 。。。more
Greer Mulholland
，
So rare to find a novel so unusual。 A group of adults and their children rent a great house by the sea for the summer。 While the parents party， the kids coalesce into a self sufficient clan， disdainful of the adults。 When an environmental catastrophe strikes the story really heats up。
Will
，
The youth must rallyFor eco-apocalypse，Adults given up
Natalie Smith
，
An absolutely amazing book！ I found myself thinking about it during the day， wondering what would happen next and thinking of the deeper meaning behind it all。 The book， at times， felt all too real when reading it during a pandemic！
Nina
，