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Children of the Last Days #2
Plague Journal
Plague Journal is Michael O'Brien's second novel in the Children of the Last Days series. The central character is Nathaniel Delaney, the editor of a small-town newspaper, who is about to face the greatest crisis of his life. As the novel begins, ominous events are taking place throughout North America, but little of it surfaces before the public eye. Set in the not-too-distant future, the story describes a nation that is quietly shifting from a democratic form of government to a form of totalitarianism. Delaney is one of the few voices left in the media who is willing to speak the whole truth about what is happening, and as a result the full force of the government is brought against him.
Thus, seeking to protect his children and to salvage what remains of his life, he makes a choice that will alter the future of each member of his family and many other people. As the story progresses he keeps a journal of observations, recording the day-by-day escalation of events, and analyzing the motives of his political opponents with sometimes scathing frankness. More importantly, he begins to keep a "mental record" that develops into a painful process of self-examination. As his world falls apart, he is compelled to see in greater depth the significance of his own assumptions and compromises, his successes and failures. Plague Journal chronicles the struggle of a thoroughly modern man put to the ultimate spiritual and psychological test, a man who in losing himself finds himself.
Thus, seeking to protect his children and to salvage what remains of his life, he makes a choice that will alter the future of each member of his family and many other people. As the story progresses he keeps a journal of observations, recording the day-by-day escalation of events, and analyzing the motives of his political opponents with sometimes scathing frankness. More importantly, he begins to keep a "mental record" that develops into a painful process of self-examination. As his world falls apart, he is compelled to see in greater depth the significance of his own assumptions and compromises, his successes and failures. Plague Journal chronicles the struggle of a thoroughly modern man put to the ultimate spiritual and psychological test, a man who in losing himself finds himself.
275 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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785 people want to read
About the author
Michael D. O'Brien
45 books840 followersMichael D. O'Brien is a Roman Catholic author, artist, and frequent essayist and lecturer on faith and culture, living in Combermere, Ontario, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
January 13, 2022
2.5/5? This is the fourth novel I've read by Michael D. O'Brien. I gave the others four- or five-star ratings. Why did this novel not work as well for me? In a nutshell: too much of the text was a vehicle for what I call "preaching through dialogue" or monologue -- preaching, lecturing, ranting. This -- combined with a dismissive or even irresponsible attitude to certain topics -- feminism, psychology, mental health care, homosexuality (although barely mentioned) -- and an action-adventure plot that didn't totally work for me -- swamped and submerged a beautiful underlying story of a man's personal and spiritual transformation influenced by the wisdom of his grandfathers and other wise and holy men.
Embattled journalist Nathaniel Delaney is the grandson of Anne and Steve Delaney of Strangers and Sojourners. Nathaniel is his grandmother's vocational heir, having taken over her courageous leadership of The Echo -- a controversial small-town paper with a wide audience. "Plague Journal" is the name Nathaniel adopts for a journal his young daughter gives him to record his personal thoughts. "Paranoia Gazette" was an alternate title he toyed with and discarded as "accurate, but unflattering." Well, yes. The novel seemed paranoid to me, though history could prove me wrong. There is no plague; this is about (the fear of) a totalitarian socialist regime taking over Canada. The regime is hostile to opponents of abortion and euthanasia. They indoctrinate children in the public schools. They oppose free speech -- as represented by The Echo -- and they want Nathaniel to disappear. Even though I share many of these concerns, I didn't quite buy the plot as it played out.
I wish that this could have been a slower, less "exciting" book like its predecessor Strangers and Sojourners, focusing more on Nathaniel's personal transformation to forgiveness and grace, the way Strangers and Sojourners focused on Nathaniel's grandmother Anne's (quite different) transformation. This is where I think O'Brien's gentleness flourishes. Maybe, too, O'Brien is better with historical fiction than apocalyptic fiction? Both historical novels I read (Strangers and Sojourners, Sophia House) were beautifully written and had more complex, better developed, rounder characters. They were less preachy and more satisfying to read.
Embattled journalist Nathaniel Delaney is the grandson of Anne and Steve Delaney of Strangers and Sojourners. Nathaniel is his grandmother's vocational heir, having taken over her courageous leadership of The Echo -- a controversial small-town paper with a wide audience. "Plague Journal" is the name Nathaniel adopts for a journal his young daughter gives him to record his personal thoughts. "Paranoia Gazette" was an alternate title he toyed with and discarded as "accurate, but unflattering." Well, yes. The novel seemed paranoid to me, though history could prove me wrong. There is no plague; this is about (the fear of) a totalitarian socialist regime taking over Canada. The regime is hostile to opponents of abortion and euthanasia. They indoctrinate children in the public schools. They oppose free speech -- as represented by The Echo -- and they want Nathaniel to disappear. Even though I share many of these concerns, I didn't quite buy the plot as it played out.
I wish that this could have been a slower, less "exciting" book like its predecessor Strangers and Sojourners, focusing more on Nathaniel's personal transformation to forgiveness and grace, the way Strangers and Sojourners focused on Nathaniel's grandmother Anne's (quite different) transformation. This is where I think O'Brien's gentleness flourishes. Maybe, too, O'Brien is better with historical fiction than apocalyptic fiction? Both historical novels I read (Strangers and Sojourners, Sophia House) were beautifully written and had more complex, better developed, rounder characters. They were less preachy and more satisfying to read.
May 10, 2021
Excellent. Listened to this mostly in a marathon session while working on my future grandson's baby blanket which I almost finished in the wee hours of Mother's Day morning.
Tragic story of a single father trying to hold his little family together while also fighting against 'the system'. There is sorrow, loss and misplaced trust, but also great love, true friendship and heroic virtue.
Another wonderful Michael D. O'Brien! On to Sophia House!
Tragic story of a single father trying to hold his little family together while also fighting against 'the system'. There is sorrow, loss and misplaced trust, but also great love, true friendship and heroic virtue.
Another wonderful Michael D. O'Brien! On to Sophia House!
October 13, 2015
I'm rating my father's novels here as a fan. But I'm going to decline writing a review for now, due to my kinship with the author. Suffice to say, I look forward to his books as much as anyone else, and find them deeply moving. I am not unaware of their flaws, but their strengths surpass them, and so abundantly, that I find them almost moot. I'm normally moved to the point of tears about 3-4 times per novel (If I find myself choked up only once, I tell him it's not his best work). He has a rare gift of penetrating deeply into spiritual truths, which is a reflection of the person he is -- an artist who has been refined in a furnace of faith, not unlike many of his characters.
Plague Journal is his shortest novel, and perhaps that's a commendable quality. It's in the format of a "journal" kept by the protagonist Nathaniel Delaney, as the social and political climate becomes increasingly hostile to basic human rights. Ideally should be read after "Strangers and Sojourners" and before "Eclipse of the Sun" (which all together form a sort of trilogy), but can also be read on its own.
Plague Journal is his shortest novel, and perhaps that's a commendable quality. It's in the format of a "journal" kept by the protagonist Nathaniel Delaney, as the social and political climate becomes increasingly hostile to basic human rights. Ideally should be read after "Strangers and Sojourners" and before "Eclipse of the Sun" (which all together form a sort of trilogy), but can also be read on its own.
April 19, 2020
One of the best reads of the year so far. I have read a few of O'Briens books Father Elijah was also excellent. This book written seventeen years ago really nails down the plague that is eating away at our society. And no its not a Corona Virus like plague in a sense its even worse. I will leave it at that
December 26, 2024
“A father is called to be an image of love and truth. The house he provides, be it a cabin, a mansion, or a barge painted Christmas colors, must have at its core a heart that is willing to look at its poverty.”
“The human will! That curious faculty which can do so much good but which so often reaches instead for bombs and blunderbusses and even, at its worst, grasps for the ultimate illusion of being lord over all it surveys. Why do we grieve so when that grasping fails? Why is it that we resist the stripping down and flee from the knowledge of our fundamental human weakness? Is it really so bad when the true learning begins?”
A tough read in that it brings us to a reality that we do not want to face but one which is upon us. I rate this so highly not because it’s the best book I’ve ever read but because it is one that will leave me thinking for a long time to come.
“The human will! That curious faculty which can do so much good but which so often reaches instead for bombs and blunderbusses and even, at its worst, grasps for the ultimate illusion of being lord over all it surveys. Why do we grieve so when that grasping fails? Why is it that we resist the stripping down and flee from the knowledge of our fundamental human weakness? Is it really so bad when the true learning begins?”
A tough read in that it brings us to a reality that we do not want to face but one which is upon us. I rate this so highly not because it’s the best book I’ve ever read but because it is one that will leave me thinking for a long time to come.
August 24, 2013
Now the Delaney family is leaving their home and community to escape persecution by the government. O'Brien is so good at using "the least of these," those to whom the culture assigns little value, in heroic roles, and the Delaneys receive help from such. Loved this story, the symbolism of the ark with its saving, protective power, and the blessing that comes from being vulnerable.
December 19, 2023
This is a complicated story, one with many layers, and one which I’m not quite sure how to feel about. The novel follows Nathaniel Delaney, the grandson of Anne Delaney from O’Brien’s previous novel Strangers and Sojourners, as well as his two children as they search for refuge from the totalitarian government of Canada in the near future. The story is fast paced, with a similar tone and style to other works by O’Brien such as Father Elijah and Elijah in Jerusalem. The entire book is composed of journal entries from Nathaniel’s perspective which offers a unique look into his state of mind as the events of the book take place, but also makes it hard to separate Nathaniel’s thoughts from O’Brien’s. Additionally, because of the format and briefness of the novel, the world building and character development is less robust making it hard at times to enter into the narrative and buy into the plot.
The novel is jam-packed full of social and political commentary, as O’Brien calls out the modern rejection of individual human freedom and dignity as a result of secularism. These rebukes of the secular age serve as a warning against the rise of socialist, totalitarian regimes in the west, a message which was strongly prophetic at the time of its writing in 1999 and which has come to be even more necessary today. While a strong rebuke against modernism, which is at times moving and captivating, much of the commentary is overly heavy handed to a fault and contains a pretentious, preachy tone. O’Brien has an overly-dismissive attitude towards anything modern and I felt some of his political commentary to be unnecessarily divisive. Additionally, at times this commentary takes precedence over the story, taking away from the development of the characters and plot. This can be seen by what I felt to be lazy and unnatural dialogue or monologues from Nathaniel which were used to shoe-horn in O’Brien’s political opinions. This overt emphasis on ideology rather than content was a noticeable detractor in my enjoyment of the novel. Although I share many of the same concerns as are highlighted in the book, the presentation just didn’t quite work for me.
Yet, beneath the brashness of the political commentary, there are the makings of a beautiful story of Nathaniel’s realization of his own poverty and wretchedness, leading to a message of humility, forgiveness, and faith. Although there were some small moments of beauty depicting their family life, throughout the majority of the novel I felt Nathaniel to be incredibly unlikeable as a character, characterized by a cynical, pretentious, and judgemental attitude. While I’m not sure if this was intentional on O’Brien’s part, it did make for an interesting commentary on the necessity of truth to always be combined with charity and mercy. Through the witness of Nathaniel, the core theme of this novel revealed to me a sad tale of a man with a brain, yet no heart. As Nathaniel comes to recognize his own shortcomings and his heart is softened, it serves as a reminder that man is far more than an intellect and not even the most rational and moralistic arguments can change the human heart if done so without humility, gentleness, and compassion. This is shown through the many failed relationships throughout Nathaniel’s past resulting in his social isolation, resentment towards all those who fail to live up to his moral standards, and ultimately Nathaniel’s self-imposed savior complex which inevitably collapses at the end of the novel. In this regard, I was reminded of Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground as I was reading, both in its social commentary as well as the parallels between Nathaniel and the Underground Man. However the novel does end on a moment of hope and redemption for Nathaniel, as he learns to forgive his enemies and reject his previous despair over the state of the world. While I came to appreciate these themes later in the novel which were reminiscent of many of those highlighted in Strangers and Sojourners, I felt O’Brien conveyed them without as much tact and gentleness as his previous novel. While still containing many redeemable qualities, it is unfortunate that this story was not able to further develop because of being overshadowed by the larger political commentary throughout the novel. Somewhere in here there are the pieces of a truly beautiful story, yet I was still left quite unsatisfied in the end.
The novel is jam-packed full of social and political commentary, as O’Brien calls out the modern rejection of individual human freedom and dignity as a result of secularism. These rebukes of the secular age serve as a warning against the rise of socialist, totalitarian regimes in the west, a message which was strongly prophetic at the time of its writing in 1999 and which has come to be even more necessary today. While a strong rebuke against modernism, which is at times moving and captivating, much of the commentary is overly heavy handed to a fault and contains a pretentious, preachy tone. O’Brien has an overly-dismissive attitude towards anything modern and I felt some of his political commentary to be unnecessarily divisive. Additionally, at times this commentary takes precedence over the story, taking away from the development of the characters and plot. This can be seen by what I felt to be lazy and unnatural dialogue or monologues from Nathaniel which were used to shoe-horn in O’Brien’s political opinions. This overt emphasis on ideology rather than content was a noticeable detractor in my enjoyment of the novel. Although I share many of the same concerns as are highlighted in the book, the presentation just didn’t quite work for me.
Yet, beneath the brashness of the political commentary, there are the makings of a beautiful story of Nathaniel’s realization of his own poverty and wretchedness, leading to a message of humility, forgiveness, and faith. Although there were some small moments of beauty depicting their family life, throughout the majority of the novel I felt Nathaniel to be incredibly unlikeable as a character, characterized by a cynical, pretentious, and judgemental attitude. While I’m not sure if this was intentional on O’Brien’s part, it did make for an interesting commentary on the necessity of truth to always be combined with charity and mercy. Through the witness of Nathaniel, the core theme of this novel revealed to me a sad tale of a man with a brain, yet no heart. As Nathaniel comes to recognize his own shortcomings and his heart is softened, it serves as a reminder that man is far more than an intellect and not even the most rational and moralistic arguments can change the human heart if done so without humility, gentleness, and compassion. This is shown through the many failed relationships throughout Nathaniel’s past resulting in his social isolation, resentment towards all those who fail to live up to his moral standards, and ultimately Nathaniel’s self-imposed savior complex which inevitably collapses at the end of the novel. In this regard, I was reminded of Dostoevsky’s Notes from Underground as I was reading, both in its social commentary as well as the parallels between Nathaniel and the Underground Man. However the novel does end on a moment of hope and redemption for Nathaniel, as he learns to forgive his enemies and reject his previous despair over the state of the world. While I came to appreciate these themes later in the novel which were reminiscent of many of those highlighted in Strangers and Sojourners, I felt O’Brien conveyed them without as much tact and gentleness as his previous novel. While still containing many redeemable qualities, it is unfortunate that this story was not able to further develop because of being overshadowed by the larger political commentary throughout the novel. Somewhere in here there are the pieces of a truly beautiful story, yet I was still left quite unsatisfied in the end.
July 14, 2024
Moves the narrative of Strangers and Soujourners forward into a gripping and dark story, but leaves room for hope. The Catholic themes are inspiring.
There are culture warrior rants throughout that I found amusingly meta.
Three stars because I'm not a big fan of the journal device.
There are culture warrior rants throughout that I found amusingly meta.
Three stars because I'm not a big fan of the journal device.
September 8, 2025
I enjoyed this second book of the series. I appreciated the characters introduced and how they represented different ways to love another. My one issue with this book is how overt it is in how a return to faith is reached. While definitely a realistic representation of how it can occur, it just didn’t have the mystery that for example Brideshead revisited had. Also, there are a lot of rants in here although that is just part of the style and is acknowledged. I do look forward to the next book though!
December 10, 2014
This was, I think the first book by Michael O'Brien that I read, and in some ways it is my favorite. It is much shorter than his other books, and it takes the form of a fictitious journal.
It is dystopian, but only slightly, and in truth it has become more believable and relevant as time goes on. In 1999 it was a vague warning. Fifteen years later, it reads like something ripped from the headlines.
Scary.
It is dystopian, but only slightly, and in truth it has become more believable and relevant as time goes on. In 1999 it was a vague warning. Fifteen years later, it reads like something ripped from the headlines.
Scary.
November 3, 2023
Plague Journal wasn’t anything that I expected it to be, but everything it needed to be to pull me into reflection. This second book in the trilogy was alarmingly reflective and action packed. I was hooked with the events of each chapter, and when I had time to read, read quickly. I did struggle with some of the characters, and almost gave this four stars because some parts felt cliche and the characters annoyed me. But then I realized that I struggled with these characters because they are incredibly human, and that’s probably the point. So touché Mr. O’Brien, touché. As per usual, he has written a novel of supreme depth and spiritual insight, hidden under the guise of fiction. One that is both relatable and completely outside the sphere of my world at the same time. In short, I’m fascinated.
December 13, 2019
Plague Journal is book 2 in the Children of the Last Days series. It follows Nathaniel now the editor of the paper, The Echo, started by his grandmother Anne. He writes his thoughts and viewpoints in the paper-- many against the government. The book is an apocalyptic or totalitarian story of what happens when you write contrary to the prevailing viewpoint. It is what could happen in a western country when freedom of speech is destroyed.
There are some beautiful passages where Nathaniel thinks of his life and faith, vignettes on family, marriage, suffering.
Recommended.
There are some beautiful passages where Nathaniel thinks of his life and faith, vignettes on family, marriage, suffering.
Recommended.
March 23, 2025
Incredible sociopolitical insight, but in a very different literary tone from O’Brien compared to Island of the World. Written as the second part in a seven-book series, each book is supposed to also function as a standalone novel. However, the best parts of this book are from and through the context of its prequel.
March 22, 2025
“Why is it that most of the truly human people in my world are either children or old people?” 251
November 21, 2022
In the next installment in the Strangers and Sojourners series we follow Anne and Stephen’s grandchild, Nathaniel and his two children. It is told from his perspective and in journal form. It recounts his conversations, memories, and thoughts surrounding the escalating changes in society and the progressivism that we see in our current world today. This book has no issue addressing social and political issues. One could argue that it is a social commentary with a story on the side. This is one O’Brien’s shorter books but has more truth bombs per chapter. This book is very quick paced and keeps the reader completely engaged at all times.
One of the underlying themes is Nathaniel’s fatherhood particularly with his daughter Zoe. O’Brien uses this relationship to bring up the needs of young girls and the need for their father’s approval and how vital it is to their identity. It was only a short part but as a female reader, it was one of the most beautiful parts of the story. I love the way O’Brien writes Nathaniel’s character and the way he comes into his fatherhood through learning from his mistakes but more so from the way his children call him into his identity. There are some very beautiful moments of his thoughts and memories and how his children actually form him into the father that he is.
Nathaniel’s desire for truth and to share the truth in a crumbling world is prophetic in that the truth is no longer being accepted but seen as bigotry and intolerance. He faces arrest over his desire to protect his children from the brainwashing in the school system on sexuality. I don’t think it is actually to farfetched to see the government beginning to see this as child abuse. We are already seeing this kind of propaganda and agendas being pushed in the public education system. It is becoming part of the curriculum to teach children as young as kindergarten about sex and encouraging the breakdown of our identities as sons and daughters to whatever you want to be. This book touches on not too far off dystopian society that is one of the most realistic I have read. We are seeing these things happen today i.e the denial of truth, the cancel culture, and the by into the false gospel of relativism.
Last fun thing: favorite chapter is chapter 3. It is basically just a commentary on literature and the truth of good tales and stories and why they last. A good story means something and has a good moral backbone that is so important to the development of children and society. When I think of stories that shaped me I think of Lord of the Rings, Cinderella, and Charlotte’s Web (just to name a few). These are stories that have characters that search beyond themselves, there is sacrifice, there is truth. This is why they last and why stories like Game of Thrones will fade and not leave a lasting impact on society, well one that leaves something positive.
One of the underlying themes is Nathaniel’s fatherhood particularly with his daughter Zoe. O’Brien uses this relationship to bring up the needs of young girls and the need for their father’s approval and how vital it is to their identity. It was only a short part but as a female reader, it was one of the most beautiful parts of the story. I love the way O’Brien writes Nathaniel’s character and the way he comes into his fatherhood through learning from his mistakes but more so from the way his children call him into his identity. There are some very beautiful moments of his thoughts and memories and how his children actually form him into the father that he is.
Nathaniel’s desire for truth and to share the truth in a crumbling world is prophetic in that the truth is no longer being accepted but seen as bigotry and intolerance. He faces arrest over his desire to protect his children from the brainwashing in the school system on sexuality. I don’t think it is actually to farfetched to see the government beginning to see this as child abuse. We are already seeing this kind of propaganda and agendas being pushed in the public education system. It is becoming part of the curriculum to teach children as young as kindergarten about sex and encouraging the breakdown of our identities as sons and daughters to whatever you want to be. This book touches on not too far off dystopian society that is one of the most realistic I have read. We are seeing these things happen today i.e the denial of truth, the cancel culture, and the by into the false gospel of relativism.
Last fun thing: favorite chapter is chapter 3. It is basically just a commentary on literature and the truth of good tales and stories and why they last. A good story means something and has a good moral backbone that is so important to the development of children and society. When I think of stories that shaped me I think of Lord of the Rings, Cinderella, and Charlotte’s Web (just to name a few). These are stories that have characters that search beyond themselves, there is sacrifice, there is truth. This is why they last and why stories like Game of Thrones will fade and not leave a lasting impact on society, well one that leaves something positive.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2025
The more novels by O'Brien I read, the more convinced I am in my thought that his novels are the best recently written novels at capturing and laying bare our society that I have read. For example, if you gave this novel to people and asked them to choose either this year or 1999 as the year in which they thought it was published based on the subject matter, I think more people might think it was published this year than the true answer of 1999. Some people might say this novel is too polemical, but that is a big part of why I liked it. It is such a breath of fresh air to read a novel like this that isn't afraid to speak plainly with much needed societal critiques, especially since God is a central part of the story. O'Brien's writing wouldn't be nearly as insightful or powerful as it is if he wasn't writing as an unapologetically Christian writer.
(Addendum edit to original review:)
Since I've read them all, below is my current power ranking of all of O'Brien's novels:
1. The Island of the World
2. The Father's Tale
3. The Lighthouse
4. Plague Journal
5. The Sabbatical
6. By the Rivers of Babylon
7. Sophia House
8. Strangers and Sojourners
9. Voyage to Alpha Centauri
10. Theophilos
11. Elijah in Jerusalem
12. Letter to the Future
13. The Fool of New York City
14. A Cry of Stone
15. Eclipse of the Sun
16. Father Elijah
(Addendum edit to original review:)
Since I've read them all, below is my current power ranking of all of O'Brien's novels:
1. The Island of the World
2. The Father's Tale
3. The Lighthouse
4. Plague Journal
5. The Sabbatical
6. By the Rivers of Babylon
7. Sophia House
8. Strangers and Sojourners
9. Voyage to Alpha Centauri
10. Theophilos
11. Elijah in Jerusalem
12. Letter to the Future
13. The Fool of New York City
14. A Cry of Stone
15. Eclipse of the Sun
16. Father Elijah
March 14, 2024
This was my second read of this book and it's still a fantastic read. The topics that Michael O'Brien critique throughout this story are still very much present today, and time has proved this book to have a prescient nature. This book goes neatly alongside other dystopian-esque books like Brave New World or 1984. The only difference is that the events of this book are things that are actually happening today. This book speaks especially on family, fatherhood, and truth. On a reread, I only have one tiny nitpick. This book felt more heavy handed in the messages that it was trying to get across. I think the main reason that I was aware of this on a reread is because I have read most of O'Brien's nonfiction works and much of the content in those books was present in a very similar form here. Regardless, this is such a minor gripe it didn't affect my enjoyment of the novel. Would definitely recommend this one.
Notable quotes:
"The most horrible pain is to think that your pain counts for nothing. You either wrestle that lie to the ground, or it wins and you run from it... We can't ever run from the wrestling match that is within. If we do, we end up hating ourselves and hating everyone else forever."
Notable quotes:
"The most horrible pain is to think that your pain counts for nothing. You either wrestle that lie to the ground, or it wins and you run from it... We can't ever run from the wrestling match that is within. If we do, we end up hating ourselves and hating everyone else forever."
June 19, 2017
Protag is barely a character in a narrative- just the author's soapbox. At first, said hero seems nuanced and dynamic, thanks to the intentional subjectivity of the journal format. Then didacticism rears its head and you realize he's supposed to be 100% sympathetic. Totally perfect. The ~only sane man~ in a literal dystopia caused by non-christian boogeymen and critics of far-right politics. Gotta love those strawmen!
Major plot point (school curriculum corrupting the youth, natch) is as ill-defined as it is disgustingly homophobic. It's one thing to challenge a reader's views, and another entirely to pass self-absorbed bigoted prose as art.
Major plot point (school curriculum corrupting the youth, natch) is as ill-defined as it is disgustingly homophobic. It's one thing to challenge a reader's views, and another entirely to pass self-absorbed bigoted prose as art.
June 4, 2009
Really a remarkable book, the characters are incredibly human. Nathaniel, the main character, is endearing in almost every way—I found him exceptionally easy to empathize with.
I am interested to see what the next book holds in store. I am already lamenting the end of this series even though I am only two books in.
I am interested to see what the next book holds in store. I am already lamenting the end of this series even though I am only two books in.
January 8, 2010
Plague Journal picks up with a grand-child of the main characters in Strangers and Sojourners.
It is riveting, scary, touching, and sad.
It is riveting, scary, touching, and sad.
January 15, 2010
I couldn't put this one down.
May 26, 2016
That was probably the best book I have ever read.... but it might not be for long because I'm starting on
The Eclipse of the Sun.
January 22, 2018
Beautifully written and darkly phrophetic of the world we are evolving toward.
January 30, 2019
“Plague Journal” is the second novel in Michael D. O'Brien's trilogy about the Delaney family and their interaction with their nation's government that becomes increasingly intolerant of Biblical revelation and the God revealed in Scripture. The novel covers about six years in the life of Nathaniel Delaney, but most of the story centers on five crucial days. This novel is sandwiched between two longer novels. All three cover four generations of the Delaney's. The overall plot of this novel is more understandable if one is aware of the other two novels, but it is not necessary to read the other two to understand and enjoy this novel.
The story begins on New Year's Day, 1999. Delaney makes his first entry into a homemade journal his daughter gave him on Christmas. The first half of the novel contains journal entries and reminiscences over the next five 1/2 years. Nathaniel Delaney published "The Echo," a small conservative newspaper critical of the growing acceptance of abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia, and explicit Sex-Ed in grade schools. Delaney's articles criticized the government's rejection of Judeo-Christian views about God and the purpose of human life. The people controlling the government, strong enough now to harshly discipline dissenters forced the closure of Delaney's newspaper and accuse Delaney of "hate crimes" for speaking against abortion, homosexuality, and euthanasia. His children Zoe (ten) and her nine-year old brother, Tyler live with Delaney and attend public school. Delaney confronted the school about the explicit Sex-Ed in their "Social Engineering" classes. He and other parents do not want their children attending the classes.
The school excused the children but make them stand in the hallway while the classes were in progress. Delaney objected. The school consented to the children using the library as study hall during Social Engineering classes. Part of Social engineering is asking the children if their fathers ever sexually molested them, even placing a hand on them. Delaney realizes that this could be an attempt to brand some fathers as child molesters, perhaps himself. By time he realizes it, the principal had already taken custody of his children. Delaney storms in and takes his children before state authorities arrive. He flees with his children to the back woods, to an old, abandoned cabin owned by his grandfather. Now the authorities charge him with kidnapping.
The government's efforts to punish Delaney and capture his children make chilling reading. A Vietnamese family, the Thus, help Delaney escape. Their son, Anthony, plays an important role. Maurice L'Oraison, a government investigator, also plays a key role, likewise Bertham Woolley, a doctor who once did partial birth abortions. Delaney writes his experiences into his journal. The journal entries are narrative. O'Brien also builds characterization through expert dialog. After five harrowing days on the run, Delaney is captured. His children escape. After Delaney's arrest, he makes another journal entry in his jail cell and hides the journal under his prison mattress. Years later, a retired R.C.M.P., who was a young corporal in charge of Delaney when Delaney was arrested, types the journal entries into his computer and mails a copy to the Delaney family. The R.C.M.P. officer explains that he was moved to new assignment after Delaney's capture and never heard anything more about Delaney. The corporal's final sentence says: "Things have a strange way of just disappearing lately, things and people."
“Plague Journal” is a gripping novel that makes you wonder how you would act if your government became so oppressive that you lost your freedom, your civil rights, and the privilege of teaching your children the traditional values your parents passed on to you. O'Brien portrays a man who fought hard against this injustice, but the perpetrators became too powerful and tried to destroy him. This is reminiscent of what the Germans and Russians might have experienced when the Nazis and Communists came to power. Could this happen in our countries? If the world really is approaching the end times, and the Antichrist will soon assert power, will we experience something similar? You can't help wondering. How you would act under these circumstances? All three novels in this series make fascinating reading.
The story begins on New Year's Day, 1999. Delaney makes his first entry into a homemade journal his daughter gave him on Christmas. The first half of the novel contains journal entries and reminiscences over the next five 1/2 years. Nathaniel Delaney published "The Echo," a small conservative newspaper critical of the growing acceptance of abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia, and explicit Sex-Ed in grade schools. Delaney's articles criticized the government's rejection of Judeo-Christian views about God and the purpose of human life. The people controlling the government, strong enough now to harshly discipline dissenters forced the closure of Delaney's newspaper and accuse Delaney of "hate crimes" for speaking against abortion, homosexuality, and euthanasia. His children Zoe (ten) and her nine-year old brother, Tyler live with Delaney and attend public school. Delaney confronted the school about the explicit Sex-Ed in their "Social Engineering" classes. He and other parents do not want their children attending the classes.
The school excused the children but make them stand in the hallway while the classes were in progress. Delaney objected. The school consented to the children using the library as study hall during Social Engineering classes. Part of Social engineering is asking the children if their fathers ever sexually molested them, even placing a hand on them. Delaney realizes that this could be an attempt to brand some fathers as child molesters, perhaps himself. By time he realizes it, the principal had already taken custody of his children. Delaney storms in and takes his children before state authorities arrive. He flees with his children to the back woods, to an old, abandoned cabin owned by his grandfather. Now the authorities charge him with kidnapping.
The government's efforts to punish Delaney and capture his children make chilling reading. A Vietnamese family, the Thus, help Delaney escape. Their son, Anthony, plays an important role. Maurice L'Oraison, a government investigator, also plays a key role, likewise Bertham Woolley, a doctor who once did partial birth abortions. Delaney writes his experiences into his journal. The journal entries are narrative. O'Brien also builds characterization through expert dialog. After five harrowing days on the run, Delaney is captured. His children escape. After Delaney's arrest, he makes another journal entry in his jail cell and hides the journal under his prison mattress. Years later, a retired R.C.M.P., who was a young corporal in charge of Delaney when Delaney was arrested, types the journal entries into his computer and mails a copy to the Delaney family. The R.C.M.P. officer explains that he was moved to new assignment after Delaney's capture and never heard anything more about Delaney. The corporal's final sentence says: "Things have a strange way of just disappearing lately, things and people."
“Plague Journal” is a gripping novel that makes you wonder how you would act if your government became so oppressive that you lost your freedom, your civil rights, and the privilege of teaching your children the traditional values your parents passed on to you. O'Brien portrays a man who fought hard against this injustice, but the perpetrators became too powerful and tried to destroy him. This is reminiscent of what the Germans and Russians might have experienced when the Nazis and Communists came to power. Could this happen in our countries? If the world really is approaching the end times, and the Antichrist will soon assert power, will we experience something similar? You can't help wondering. How you would act under these circumstances? All three novels in this series make fascinating reading.
May 19, 2021
there are a few things i want to say, and the first is that i want Michael O’Brien to observe a mundane event in my life and then write about it because WOW his ability to break apart ordinary events into their extraordinary underpinnings is REMARKABLE. #goals
second, i was constantly surprised by how overt this book is, especially in comparison to Strangers and Sojourners, and do feel a little weird about there being SO many other literary references???? but i think the continual references to important bits of Western culture is fitting for the main character’s mindset and perspective.
the most disappointing part of this book for me was the ending, not because it was a bad ending, but because it ended!!!! like WHAT! was not ready for this to be over 😭 so much happens in such a short period of time!!!! upon reflection, it seems we leave the main character right when we need to, after his interior work has been done — but i wasn’t ready to leave the others. so, looking forward to hearing more about them in the next book of the series!!
second, i was constantly surprised by how overt this book is, especially in comparison to Strangers and Sojourners, and do feel a little weird about there being SO many other literary references???? but i think the continual references to important bits of Western culture is fitting for the main character’s mindset and perspective.
the most disappointing part of this book for me was the ending, not because it was a bad ending, but because it ended!!!! like WHAT! was not ready for this to be over 😭 so much happens in such a short period of time!!!! upon reflection, it seems we leave the main character right when we need to, after his interior work has been done — but i wasn’t ready to leave the others. so, looking forward to hearing more about them in the next book of the series!!
December 15, 2016
I could sum up the main events of this book in a paragraph, which I won't do because I don't want to spoil anybody. The point I'm making is that the bulk of this book is not forward moving action, but it seems to be mainly a scaffold propping up the author's didactic extremely conservative philosophical meanderings on various topics from the degeneration of Western culture, to the destruction of traditional family values, to the decay of traditional Catholicism. He gets away with this because the book is written as a journal by a character who is a very conservative journalist and admits to himself that he is overbearing.
While O'Brien's writing of often times powerful and beautiful, and I agree with many of his views (though not to the extremity he goes to), I guess I felt sort of manipulated into enduring long passages of long-winded lectures. That being said, I liked the story enough to continue on to the other books in this series.
While O'Brien's writing of often times powerful and beautiful, and I agree with many of his views (though not to the extremity he goes to), I guess I felt sort of manipulated into enduring long passages of long-winded lectures. That being said, I liked the story enough to continue on to the other books in this series.
July 12, 2025
People say the best way to endear the audience to a protagonist is to write in the first person — this book shows it's also the quickest way to make us loathe a character. Nathanael Delaney is a right-wing fighter and, almost always, has the "right" principles, which also makes him obnoxious, and by the author's design. Being a Michael O'Brien story, it means that it will be worth reading for the cathartic transformation the character undergo; it also means it won't be as smooth for everyone, since the protagonist has strong political opinions, and being preachy and bothersome is part of his personality.
I think I would have liked it more if I had read it five years ago, when I was eager to debate politics and wear Brazil's national football team shirt to advocate for Jair Bolsonaro. But now that I'm weary of politics, reading this book was a chore. The ending, however, redeemed a lot of the worst aspects of the story — including its main character.
I think I would have liked it more if I had read it five years ago, when I was eager to debate politics and wear Brazil's national football team shirt to advocate for Jair Bolsonaro. But now that I'm weary of politics, reading this book was a chore. The ending, however, redeemed a lot of the worst aspects of the story — including its main character.
March 6, 2025
The story was great, but it's the words of wisdom woven throughout the book that makes it 5 stars. I have pages and pages of quotes from this book that are just precious and I will keep them with me forever. I posted some of them below.
"Our hearts are like stone, and only suffering carves them into bowls big enough to catch the joy."
"We have developed the habit of doing many things poorly rather than a few things well."
"The cost of a happy family is the death of selfishness."
"Why is it that most of the truly human people in my world are either children or old people?"
"We can't ever run from the wrestling match that is within. If we do, we end up hating ourselves and hating everyone else forever."
"You should try being a loser once in a while. It's good for the soul, and you learn so much in the process "
"Our hearts are like stone, and only suffering carves them into bowls big enough to catch the joy."
"We have developed the habit of doing many things poorly rather than a few things well."
"The cost of a happy family is the death of selfishness."
"Why is it that most of the truly human people in my world are either children or old people?"
"We can't ever run from the wrestling match that is within. If we do, we end up hating ourselves and hating everyone else forever."
"You should try being a loser once in a while. It's good for the soul, and you learn so much in the process "
January 18, 2022
Nathaniel's story is typical of modern man. He confronts evil head on, but has no basis. He lets himself be distracted by his own actions and desires, not seeing the foundation of what he desires. But the Lord works in all of it and through his distress, sufferings, and conflicts with the evil he fights against, he sees the way that the Lord works.
The journalistic style O'Brien uses in this novel characterizes Nathaniel even more so. His documentation of everything he goes through is inspiring. He persists, protecting his family and those who are dear to him. In all of his trials, he sustains himself on the sacraments that have been so distant from him, but are now so close once again. The grace of God moves in his heart.
The journalistic style O'Brien uses in this novel characterizes Nathaniel even more so. His documentation of everything he goes through is inspiring. He persists, protecting his family and those who are dear to him. In all of his trials, he sustains himself on the sacraments that have been so distant from him, but are now so close once again. The grace of God moves in his heart.
September 9, 2024
“Our hearts are like stone, and only suffering carves them into bowls big enough to catch joy.”
“Only memory was possible for us now. But there was presence in the absence.”
“In this era so many good things are fading, fading without a cry of protest, with hardly a whisper to tell that something substantial was once there.”
“Do we ever see another until he’s gone?”
“At some point, doesn’t a true friend acquire the right to every key in the house? Otherwise, what is the household of the heart but a maze with passages that end in walls, windows that open onto empty space, and doorless rooms from which faint noises escape?”
“Only memory was possible for us now. But there was presence in the absence.”
“In this era so many good things are fading, fading without a cry of protest, with hardly a whisper to tell that something substantial was once there.”
“Do we ever see another until he’s gone?”
“At some point, doesn’t a true friend acquire the right to every key in the house? Otherwise, what is the household of the heart but a maze with passages that end in walls, windows that open onto empty space, and doorless rooms from which faint noises escape?”
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