Search - Bellwether

I love this book to death! It's marketed as science fiction -- mainly because Connie Willis is a science-fiction author -- but I don't think it really is. It's a novel about science and scientists. It's also a wacky, screwball romantic comedy. It's a great deal of fun! Lighthearted and funny, but it also deals with some deeper issues -- specifically, the nature of scientific discovery. It was a joy to read.

I read this book in one night, loved it. This was my third Connie Willis book and I was prepared for something bad to happen at the end. The previous two books I had read contained endings with unexpected (for me, at least) deaths. However, I was pleasantly surprised this time around. I don't want to give away any spoilers ... but I was so, so happy with the ending.

I really liked the main character. Laughed out loud at quite a few bits. I also learned a lot from this book. Not only was it great fiction, but now I feel like I can at least pretend to be a chaos theorist!

Would definitely recommend this book to others.

It is hard to categorize but the fads are interesting. It was a fun read.

Delightful, fun, and even insightful. This is a shorter Willis read which demonstrates her diversity (sometimes I wonder how she can be categorized as a sci fi writer when so much of her stories are really anything but), and her ability to engage the reader in entertainment and contemplation at once. Her talent as a storyteller and character creator, and the considerable research that weaves seamlessly into her stories is evident here. Highly recommended.

An interesting story focused around finding the bellwether of the fads. I particularly liked all the pieces about past fads, what was believed to contribute to them and what replaced them. It tied in really well with the book The Tipping Point which also discusses fads and what moves them from a small incident to a full fledged fad. The story didn't have much of a plot and was more of a vehicle to explain how a bellwether works. Having lived in Montana and around Boulder, I could appreciate the location and the references.

Thumbs up! Very interesting concept.