I received this book for free from Library, Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Glory O'Brien's History of the Future by A.S. KingNarrator: Christine Lakin
Length: 7 Hours 5 Minutes
Also by this author: Reality Boy, I Crawl Through It, The Collectors: Stories
on September 9th 2014
Genres: Young Adult, Girls & Women, Social Issues, Suicide, Depression & Mental Illness, Friendship, Family, General
Pages: 320
Format: Audiobook, eARC
Source: Library, Publisher
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In this masterpiece about freedom, feminism, and destiny, Printz Honor author A.S. King tells the epic story of a girl coping with devastating loss at long last--a girl who has no idea that the future needs her, and that the present needs her even more.Graduating from high school is a time of limitless possibilities--but not for Glory, who has no plan for what's next. Her mother committed suicide when Glory was only four years old, and she's never stopped wondering if she will eventually go the same way...until a transformative night when she begins to experience an astonishing new power to see a person's infinite past and future. From ancient ancestors to many generations forward, Glory is bombarded with visions--and what she sees ahead of her is terrifying: A tyrannical new leader raises an army. Women's rights disappear. A violent second civil war breaks out. And young girls vanish daily, sold off or interned in camps. Glory makes it her mission to record everything she sees, hoping her notes will somehow make a difference. She may not see a future for herself, but she'll do anything to make sure this one doesn't come to pass.
Why Did I Listen To Glory O’Brien’s History Of The Future by AS King?
Glory O’Brien’s History Of The Future by AS King is a book that appealed to me simply because it is written by AS King. I have yet to read a book by King that is not brilliant, well written, and moving. With my mission to get through as many outstanding Netgalley books as possible this summer, I decided to listen to Glory O’Brien’s History Of The Future via audiobook via Overdrive via the library. I have zero actual regrets about this. Well, no, that is a lie. I do have one regret and that is not reading this book sooner. So it goes.
What’s The Story Here?
AS King’s Glory O’Brien’s History Of The Future is about this teenage girl named Glory O’Brien who is graduating high school. She is really into photography and the different zones of black and white. She has no friends really and just lives with her father out in the countryside across from a commune. Her mother committed suicide when she was very young – which plays a huge role in the story. Glory and her pseudo friend Ellie decide to drink a bat one night (I think the audio said bat and not LAbatt) and as a result, they both begin to receive visions of the future. Glory receives transmissions from different people that show her a future that is terrifying and reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale. So, Glory decides to begin writing down her visions and also to actively go to the mall to receive more transmissions.
How’s The Characterization?
Honestly, at first I thought that Glory was kind of a mopey jerk. Again, I get that teens will be teens. That is totally fine and cool and understandable, alas, I have opinions and feelings about books. I thought that her friendship with Ellie was obnoxious because she secretly hates her — or at least is very weary of her and is not quite honest about it. She maintains the charade of friendship. She also holds people at arm’s length. Again, this is really understandable given the adverse childhood experience of her mother committing suicide. I think that this does allow for some good, dynamic change though. I think that we really get to experience a lot of character development from not only Glory, but her father, and even Ellie as well. It is actually written in quite an impressive way. So, despite my judgemental feelings towards the characters, I actually loved how everything played out and unraveled and how messy and complicated the characters all were.
How’s The Writing?
I think in the hands of a less skilled writer, Glory O’Brien’s History Of The Future could have been a no good very bad book. AS King, though, is such a capable and gifted writer. I loved how this book was unique and had these elements of the fantastical — making it hard to classify. I loved how the book delves into feminism and women’s rights and how moronic it is to view women as less than. Also, it goes into misogyny which was quite insightful too. I just really felt AS King nailed it — the book is entertaining but also wicked smart.
What Did I Think Of The Narration?
The narrator of the audiobook of Glory O’Brien’s History Of The Future is Christine Lakin. She’s a very new to me narrator. Her voice reminded me a lot of Emma Galvin and I won’t lie for a few chapters, I thought she actually was Emma Galvin. Her voice is perfectly suited to this book. She sounds like a I’m too good for this shit teenager, which really works out well for Glory O’Brien. Also, she infuses her narration with emotion to a level that is believable and not at all annoying. I absolutely recommend you listen to this book if you have not already read it.
Sum It Up With A GIF:
Those future visions though.
Other reviews of Glory O’Brien’s History Of The Future by AS King:
Great Imaginations – “A must read for contemporary enthusiasts”
Snuggly Oranges – “left me puzzled”
The Reading Date – “I’d choose the audio over print for this one”
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Omg I so need to get around to reading an AS King book! I keep hearing beautiful and amazing things. So glad that you enjoyed this one! Solid character development always goes down well in my book as well. Especially when the characters aren’t likeable, and then go through stuff and genuinely come out better for it. <3 This sounds like a really deep and emotional read but I definitely want to check it out!
I love when people read A.S. King books!! I thought this book was SO interesting and it really amazed me how authors come up with stuff like this. Like okay, let me write a story about a girl who drinks a petrified BAT and can see EVERYTHING that happened and has yet to happen in existence. That is wild… and also totally genius. I really did wish that Glory was nicer to Ellie though. That friendship just made me sad.
I had recently added this one to my TBR and now that I see the audio is very well done I will probably listen to this one. Some books are just great to listen to and I think this will be one. Justin Cronin’s series are great to listen to also.
I LOVED this one–read it on audio too. One of my favorite reads last year. <3
Yeah I guess I could hear an Emma Galvin resemblance too in the narration. Christine Lakin’s wonderful in The Royal We audiobook if you haven’t listened to that one yet. You make me want to listen to this one again!