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Hope: A History of the Future
One quiet afternoon in 2037, Joyce Denzell hears a thud in her family’s home library and finds a book lying in the middle of the room, seemingly waiting for her―a book whose copyright page says it was published in the year 2200. Over the next twenty-four hours, each of the Denzell family members discovers and reads from this mystical history book from the future, nudged along by their cat, Plato.
As the various family members take turns reading, they gradually uncover the story of Gabe, Mia, and Ruth—a saga of adventure, endurance, romance, mystery, and hope that touches them all deeply. Along the way, the Denzells all begin to believe that this book that has seemingly fallen out of time and space and into their midst might actually be from the future—and that it might have something vitally important to teach them.
Engaging, playful, and thought-provoking, Hope is a seven-generation-spanning vision of the future as it could be—based on scientific projections, as well as historical and legal precedence—that will leave readers grappling with questions of destiny, responsibility, and the possibility for hope in a future world.
As the various family members take turns reading, they gradually uncover the story of Gabe, Mia, and Ruth—a saga of adventure, endurance, romance, mystery, and hope that touches them all deeply. Along the way, the Denzells all begin to believe that this book that has seemingly fallen out of time and space and into their midst might actually be from the future—and that it might have something vitally important to teach them.
Engaging, playful, and thought-provoking, Hope is a seven-generation-spanning vision of the future as it could be—based on scientific projections, as well as historical and legal precedence—that will leave readers grappling with questions of destiny, responsibility, and the possibility for hope in a future world.
336 pages, Paperback
Published April 19, 2022
64 people are currently reading
2700 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
June 3, 2022
This book was not my cup of tea, but I do think the right readers are out there. First, this book is listed as SFF and women's fiction. Honestly, it's neither of those, and I think labeling it more accurately would help find the right readers for it. Technically it is speculative fiction, but truly the book should be classified as eco-fiction. It involves looking ahead at our world for what could happen if we don't do anything about climate change (as well as a few other things) and then how the world was reshaped after a great change.
The setup of the story is a family who finds this book mysteriously in their house, and each of them take turns reading it. The book has a publication date of 2200 (and the family is in a time close to our own) and appears to be about the future. So we read about this family and we read the book they are reading.
Honestly, the frame story is the weakest part of the book. This family doesn't really do anything. They are just the vehicle though which the reader gets to read this book from 2200. In fact, their dialogue is quite didactic and it feels more like they are lecturing the reader rather than being an actual family, though there are hints of characterization and relationships. It's just very shallow.
The story of Gabe, Mia, Ruth, and Little Bird was actually interesting. I would have preferred to leave the frame story out and just get more of their story. Had the book centered around that, I might have enjoyed it more.
One of the other reasons I didn't enjoy the story is that the point of view is third person omniscient. That means that we don't really get to dig deep into any of the characters and the actions and the few thoughts they have are more reported than shown. It means I didn't develop a connection to any of the characters, especially in the family in the frame story. I also realized toward the end that it seems like they didn't use contractions (I might have missed that since I didn't go back to check), which made their dialogue sound too formal and not like a family interacting.
I did really enjoy the cat(s) in the book. Very true to cat nature and possibly the most developed character(s).
Thank you to NetGalley and SparkPress for an advanced copy of this book for review.
The setup of the story is a family who finds this book mysteriously in their house, and each of them take turns reading it. The book has a publication date of 2200 (and the family is in a time close to our own) and appears to be about the future. So we read about this family and we read the book they are reading.
Honestly, the frame story is the weakest part of the book. This family doesn't really do anything. They are just the vehicle though which the reader gets to read this book from 2200. In fact, their dialogue is quite didactic and it feels more like they are lecturing the reader rather than being an actual family, though there are hints of characterization and relationships. It's just very shallow.
The story of Gabe, Mia, Ruth, and Little Bird was actually interesting. I would have preferred to leave the frame story out and just get more of their story. Had the book centered around that, I might have enjoyed it more.
One of the other reasons I didn't enjoy the story is that the point of view is third person omniscient. That means that we don't really get to dig deep into any of the characters and the actions and the few thoughts they have are more reported than shown. It means I didn't develop a connection to any of the characters, especially in the family in the frame story. I also realized toward the end that it seems like they didn't use contractions (I might have missed that since I didn't go back to check), which made their dialogue sound too formal and not like a family interacting.
I did really enjoy the cat(s) in the book. Very true to cat nature and possibly the most developed character(s).
Thank you to NetGalley and SparkPress for an advanced copy of this book for review.
March 31, 2022
This book has a fascinating premise, but the execution didn’t work for me at all. I opted to give up a little before the midway point.
The story is a book within a book, which I usually enjoy. Here, though, the family in the main story feels mechanical. They have no depth, complexities, or personalities, and they barely interact with one another. I didn’t feel anything from them at all. Their existence is merely a device to bring out the magical book from the future.
The story within the magical book is much more interesting, but even that lacked an emotional connection. We’re told a story, but we don’t experience it.
I assume the second half of the book provides the “playful” content and “hope” promised in the synopsis, but every bit of what I read was gloom, doom, and misery.
I did like the cat, who apparently has magical abilities and time travels.
This is quite a short book. Page count is listed as 336 pages, but the actual story ends on page 231. The following 100+ pages are reproductions, in their entirety, of historical documents such as the US Constitution, the UN’s Declaration of Human Rights, etc. While these documents factor into the author’s research and plot idea, which we’re told in the introduction, including them at the end seems an odd choice for a novel of magical realism.
*I received an ARC from Booksparks.*
The story is a book within a book, which I usually enjoy. Here, though, the family in the main story feels mechanical. They have no depth, complexities, or personalities, and they barely interact with one another. I didn’t feel anything from them at all. Their existence is merely a device to bring out the magical book from the future.
The story within the magical book is much more interesting, but even that lacked an emotional connection. We’re told a story, but we don’t experience it.
I assume the second half of the book provides the “playful” content and “hope” promised in the synopsis, but every bit of what I read was gloom, doom, and misery.
I did like the cat, who apparently has magical abilities and time travels.
This is quite a short book. Page count is listed as 336 pages, but the actual story ends on page 231. The following 100+ pages are reproductions, in their entirety, of historical documents such as the US Constitution, the UN’s Declaration of Human Rights, etc. While these documents factor into the author’s research and plot idea, which we’re told in the introduction, including them at the end seems an odd choice for a novel of magical realism.
*I received an ARC from Booksparks.*
April 20, 2022
I do enjoy reading stories that incorporate technology and science. There is a fine line with these types of stories though as they can go above a reader's head with too much knowledge. There were a few times where I did feel like this book got close to that edge, but the author did a good job of that fine line.
There were references provided in the footnotes, so that I could do further research later. Where the present and the future met was seamless. As the story progressed, I did find myself intrigued in the future than the present. Although, as much as I did like this book, I did find myself struggling to fully embrace the characters. Overall, though I did like this book and would read another one by this author.
There were references provided in the footnotes, so that I could do further research later. Where the present and the future met was seamless. As the story progressed, I did find myself intrigued in the future than the present. Although, as much as I did like this book, I did find myself struggling to fully embrace the characters. Overall, though I did like this book and would read another one by this author.
April 19, 2022
I’m baffled and intrigued and also wanted more. This is a book within a book that basically tells the history of what’s to come in a world if we don’t start taking care of it and each other. It’s weirdly realistic and thought provoking and uncomfortable and draws you in.
March 25, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley, SparkPress, and G.G. Kellner for this digital advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was immediately drawn to this novel because of the black cat on the cover and the premise of a book falling through time.
I felt like the novel was written almost by two different authors. The Grandmother’s story was melodic, beautifully written, and flowed perfectly. It conveyed the message of urgency against climate change while always carrying a message of hope, peace, and recovery. The characters from the future had depth and personality. However, the juxtaposition between her story and the story of the family who discovers the futuristic book in the past is severely lacking. I could not connect with those characters at all, nor understand the family’s relationship to the book other than it showed up in their house. The constant switching between family members reading on their own messed with the reader’s ability to immerse themselves in the future’s “history”. We also learn very little about Hope, the cat, other than being a symbol of constancy throughout the story
I would recommend this book for those interested in Climate Fiction and clean/cozy fiction (there is no cursing or love scenes). It is definitely very light on the fantasy and I am not sure why it is marketed as women’s fiction, either. In a time when everyone is on edge with global problems, it does certainly offer a glimmer of hope towards our future.
I was immediately drawn to this novel because of the black cat on the cover and the premise of a book falling through time.
I felt like the novel was written almost by two different authors. The Grandmother’s story was melodic, beautifully written, and flowed perfectly. It conveyed the message of urgency against climate change while always carrying a message of hope, peace, and recovery. The characters from the future had depth and personality. However, the juxtaposition between her story and the story of the family who discovers the futuristic book in the past is severely lacking. I could not connect with those characters at all, nor understand the family’s relationship to the book other than it showed up in their house. The constant switching between family members reading on their own messed with the reader’s ability to immerse themselves in the future’s “history”. We also learn very little about Hope, the cat, other than being a symbol of constancy throughout the story
I would recommend this book for those interested in Climate Fiction and clean/cozy fiction (there is no cursing or love scenes). It is definitely very light on the fantasy and I am not sure why it is marketed as women’s fiction, either. In a time when everyone is on edge with global problems, it does certainly offer a glimmer of hope towards our future.
August 16, 2022
One quiet afternoon in 2037, Joyce Denzell hears a thud in her family’s home library and finds a book lying in the middle of the room, seemingly waiting for her―a book whose copyright page says it was published in the year 2200. Over the next twenty-four hours, each of the Denzell family members discovers and reads from this mystical history book from the future, nudged along by their cat, Plato. This was such a unique premise for a book and I was really hoping it was great. It was an okay read but didn't meet my expectations. I did really enjoy Grandmother's stories.
July 27, 2022
The description of this made me think I'll love it, and it just took FOREVER for me to finish this book - I really didn't want to leave it at DNF.
The book was generally fine, but really hard to connect with and draw me in - again, it took me months to finish a book that at its core should have been just a fun interesting read.
The book was generally fine, but really hard to connect with and draw me in - again, it took me months to finish a book that at its core should have been just a fun interesting read.
April 10, 2022
Please Note: I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions in my review in any way.
This is going to be a tough review for me to write. I think the author of this book, G. G. Kellner, has the best of intentions when writing, Hope: a History of The Future. Her warnings about the devastating consequences of Global Warming are sincere and heartfelt. She is presenting a possible future where the world is in chaos. With rising sea-levels comes flooding of low laying lands. Higher temperatures mean food shortages, and instability. And society has completely broken down.
However, there is no actual story in this book.
What I Didn't Like:
There are two families presented. In the near future there is Joyce and her blended family. Joyce finds a book that purports to be a history of the world and that it is written in the year 2200. The future. Joyce, and eventually her whole family, read about what happens in the future, and seriously believe this is a magical book that is telling them about what will happen. It would have been an eerie twist if there had been references to any of the family in the magical book. If that happened, it would have at least been plausible for the characters to believe this was a real document about the future. However, this doesn't happen. All they can talk about is global warming. You barely get a chance to know who these people are or anything. They have no other purpose in the story than to react to the book.
In the book Joyce is reading, there is a history of what happens through a diary of someone's great-grandmother. Again, there is very little character development. All the characters talk about is climate change. The main characters in this part of the story go on a long journey on a boat to escape what they fear is happening. While their tale of survival is compelling, there was very little character development during what would be a life-altering experience. In their two (or three) year trip, there was zero friction between the characters. No one got on each other's nerves. There was no self-doubt about if they were doing the right thing. I found that to be wildly unrealistic.
Plus, the society that eventually forms out of this is a ridiculous utopia. There is no money, everyone adheres to a Universal Bill of Rights, and (again) there is absolutely no conflict. Overall, I found this novel to be preach and heavy-handed. In a story, the characters have to change over time. This never happened. There are other books where climate change is a major theme, but there is an actual story. Check out Gravity is Heartless by Sarah Lahey. These books are character driven and are really wonderful.
This is going to be a tough review for me to write. I think the author of this book, G. G. Kellner, has the best of intentions when writing, Hope: a History of The Future. Her warnings about the devastating consequences of Global Warming are sincere and heartfelt. She is presenting a possible future where the world is in chaos. With rising sea-levels comes flooding of low laying lands. Higher temperatures mean food shortages, and instability. And society has completely broken down.
However, there is no actual story in this book.
What I Didn't Like:
There are two families presented. In the near future there is Joyce and her blended family. Joyce finds a book that purports to be a history of the world and that it is written in the year 2200. The future. Joyce, and eventually her whole family, read about what happens in the future, and seriously believe this is a magical book that is telling them about what will happen. It would have been an eerie twist if there had been references to any of the family in the magical book. If that happened, it would have at least been plausible for the characters to believe this was a real document about the future. However, this doesn't happen. All they can talk about is global warming. You barely get a chance to know who these people are or anything. They have no other purpose in the story than to react to the book.
In the book Joyce is reading, there is a history of what happens through a diary of someone's great-grandmother. Again, there is very little character development. All the characters talk about is climate change. The main characters in this part of the story go on a long journey on a boat to escape what they fear is happening. While their tale of survival is compelling, there was very little character development during what would be a life-altering experience. In their two (or three) year trip, there was zero friction between the characters. No one got on each other's nerves. There was no self-doubt about if they were doing the right thing. I found that to be wildly unrealistic.
Plus, the society that eventually forms out of this is a ridiculous utopia. There is no money, everyone adheres to a Universal Bill of Rights, and (again) there is absolutely no conflict. Overall, I found this novel to be preach and heavy-handed. In a story, the characters have to change over time. This never happened. There are other books where climate change is a major theme, but there is an actual story. Check out Gravity is Heartless by Sarah Lahey. These books are character driven and are really wonderful.
March 26, 2022
I want to preface this by saying I truly do hate giving this book a 1-star rating, it may be closer to a 1.5. I so wanted to enjoy this book, the premise was interesting, I thought it was going to be a good length to explore both the readers and the "history" portions of this story. There was my first mistake. The page count that you see on this book is inaccurate. The novel itself is just around 200 pages and the remaining 100 pages are full of unabridged historical documents like the US Constitution. Why? Did it need to be a certain length for publication? This felt utterly unnecessary though it feels like the author and publisher thought this was critical and potentially groundbreaking...?
While this premise was interesting, half of this story was utterly unnecessary. The family "finding" the history of the future was poorly fleshed out, their encounters with the book rang pretty hollow. They barely questioned if this was real and just all started crying. I found myself skimming through the pages where the only characters that felt different from each other was one who was sick and one who smoked.
The more compelling pieces of Hope exist within the History of the Future; however, even that was not without its faults. It just felt like a saccrine attempt at taking a brief view into the future so that all learn lessons and fix things before the "Great Change."
SPOILERS
The logic of a collapse of human civilizations that can somehow turn around and without power, communications, resources,etc. manage to found a utopian world government in 100 years crumbles if you think about it for more than a second. Also Hope/Plato the cat... was it immortal? The author would like us to believe the same cat pops up in 2030 and 2200 based on the ending. Who was the woman next door to the family? Why was she even added? Also *oooooooo spooooooky* after the family reads this 2 dimensional doom and gloom vision of our potential future the pages mysteriously turn blank
While this premise was interesting, half of this story was utterly unnecessary. The family "finding" the history of the future was poorly fleshed out, their encounters with the book rang pretty hollow. They barely questioned if this was real and just all started crying. I found myself skimming through the pages where the only characters that felt different from each other was one who was sick and one who smoked.
The more compelling pieces of Hope exist within the History of the Future; however, even that was not without its faults. It just felt like a saccrine attempt at taking a brief view into the future so that all learn lessons and fix things before the "Great Change."
SPOILERS
The logic of a collapse of human civilizations that can somehow turn around and without power, communications, resources,etc. manage to found a utopian world government in 100 years crumbles if you think about it for more than a second. Also Hope/Plato the cat... was it immortal? The author would like us to believe the same cat pops up in 2030 and 2200 based on the ending. Who was the woman next door to the family? Why was she even added? Also *oooooooo spooooooky* after the family reads this 2 dimensional doom and gloom vision of our potential future the pages mysteriously turn blank
April 2, 2022
I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Since this is a book within a book, to avoid confusion I'm going to refer to the book the characters read as "the History."
This was a warm, fuzzy book. There was hardly any conflict in this story since various family members read parts of the History out of order so we know from early on that things will turn out alright in the end. The History read much in the style of a legend/myth/fairytale, which I liked but I know not everyone does, so it's important to realize that most of the History is told in this style.
This book can be categorized as climate fiction since the main events that happen in the History are brought about by the disastrous results of climate change. However, it's surprisingly hopeful (which, okay, I suppose you can guess that by the title of the book) and is not just a warning about the worst-case scenario of what could happen in the future, but also the story of how humans might be able to rebuild from disaster with love and respect for each other and the world.
This was a decent book, so I gave it 3.5 stars. Mostly what prevented a higher rating was personal preference--I thought it was alright but I would have preferred something with more depth or mystery. It could get boring at times and it felt like more of an easy comfort read than something you read to really think about or chew on. The dialogue and characters' inner thoughts, especially with Joyce and her family, weren't great and felt awkward or cheesy many times. We also didn't get to really know Joyce and her family that well, and I wonder whether the story would have been improved if there was more of a connection between them and the History, or if it felt like they had more of a personal stake in it other than just reading and reflecting on it.
In all, not entirely my type of book, but I don't regret having read it and was a decent, comforting read.
This was a warm, fuzzy book. There was hardly any conflict in this story since various family members read parts of the History out of order so we know from early on that things will turn out alright in the end. The History read much in the style of a legend/myth/fairytale, which I liked but I know not everyone does, so it's important to realize that most of the History is told in this style.
This book can be categorized as climate fiction since the main events that happen in the History are brought about by the disastrous results of climate change. However, it's surprisingly hopeful (which, okay, I suppose you can guess that by the title of the book) and is not just a warning about the worst-case scenario of what could happen in the future, but also the story of how humans might be able to rebuild from disaster with love and respect for each other and the world.
This was a decent book, so I gave it 3.5 stars. Mostly what prevented a higher rating was personal preference--I thought it was alright but I would have preferred something with more depth or mystery. It could get boring at times and it felt like more of an easy comfort read than something you read to really think about or chew on. The dialogue and characters' inner thoughts, especially with Joyce and her family, weren't great and felt awkward or cheesy many times. We also didn't get to really know Joyce and her family that well, and I wonder whether the story would have been improved if there was more of a connection between them and the History, or if it felt like they had more of a personal stake in it other than just reading and reflecting on it.
In all, not entirely my type of book, but I don't regret having read it and was a decent, comforting read.
April 14, 2022
In this climate change novel meets speculative fiction, we're introduced to both a doomed fate and societal and cultural reclamation fueled by a catastrophic global reckoning with the fact the "The Time Before" was a sprint toward self-destruction. Heavy-handed in its messaging, but obviously what the world requires in order to take real action on the real life issues we face, the family who discovers the book from the future is also thinly developed, a tactic that I believe was intentional so as to create an "every-family" of the present for more universal resonance. We're meant to be able to see ourselves in them, not to have the scene brought to life for us. They could be anyone. They could be us. They are us.
I think other reviewers may be missing the veiled brilliance here - nuances of POV and intentionality of the way the book is written. The basic structure and "YA feel" of the way the book within the book's story is presented follows what it would probably look like for a society rebuilding to record events and capture to stories so they're not lost for posterity. Basic points. Economy of words. The symbolism of Hope/Plato and Alala, key animal totems in the book, underscores a prescience we humans haven't yet fully developed. Reading this book reminded me of listening to the song Imagine. A Utopia? Yes. And possible. The belief that it can and *should* be so it's what's missing for most people. I loved the fictional juxtaposition with actual historical documents. There are overt as well as deep and meaningful lessons here, if the reader is capable of seeing them.
I think other reviewers may be missing the veiled brilliance here - nuances of POV and intentionality of the way the book is written. The basic structure and "YA feel" of the way the book within the book's story is presented follows what it would probably look like for a society rebuilding to record events and capture to stories so they're not lost for posterity. Basic points. Economy of words. The symbolism of Hope/Plato and Alala, key animal totems in the book, underscores a prescience we humans haven't yet fully developed. Reading this book reminded me of listening to the song Imagine. A Utopia? Yes. And possible. The belief that it can and *should* be so it's what's missing for most people. I loved the fictional juxtaposition with actual historical documents. There are overt as well as deep and meaningful lessons here, if the reader is capable of seeing them.
March 14, 2022
Based in precedent and scientific prediction, this book gives a fictional taste of what our world could become, due to the current projections of our political and environmental climates.
On a quiet afternoon, a history book from the future lands in the Denzell household. Over the next 24 hours, the book appears to each member of the family and shows them an aspect of what the world will come to look like by the year 2200. The novel brings up thought-provoking ideas of what is past, present, and future in an interesting and creative way.
I enjoyed the inclusion of resources in this novel, such as the content pages, timelines, and appendix of referenced sources. Additionally, the narrative of the history book is compelling. My favourite part of this novel would be Plato, the cat.
Aside from the overall concept of the story and Plato, there was not a lot additionally that I enjoyed. The writing of the Denzell family was very much tell and not show, and their presence was little more than as the vehicle to tell the story of the history of the future. I found myself annoyed being pulled out of the history and back to the Denzell's. With that being said, the book is not poorly written. There is an audience out there for this style of writing; I am just not that audience.
Thank you to NetGalley and SparkPress for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
On a quiet afternoon, a history book from the future lands in the Denzell household. Over the next 24 hours, the book appears to each member of the family and shows them an aspect of what the world will come to look like by the year 2200. The novel brings up thought-provoking ideas of what is past, present, and future in an interesting and creative way.
I enjoyed the inclusion of resources in this novel, such as the content pages, timelines, and appendix of referenced sources. Additionally, the narrative of the history book is compelling. My favourite part of this novel would be Plato, the cat.
Aside from the overall concept of the story and Plato, there was not a lot additionally that I enjoyed. The writing of the Denzell family was very much tell and not show, and their presence was little more than as the vehicle to tell the story of the history of the future. I found myself annoyed being pulled out of the history and back to the Denzell's. With that being said, the book is not poorly written. There is an audience out there for this style of writing; I am just not that audience.
Thank you to NetGalley and SparkPress for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
April 21, 2022
I was originally attracted to this book because of the enchanting cover with the gorgeous black cat. I absolutely love cats, science fiction, and mysteries!
Upon reading this story, I was left with mixed emotions. At times I felt a heavy sadness due to the calamities that befall the earth and the people of the future. Yet I still found the descriptive imagery during the later stories of hope to be beautifully written.
One of my favorite parts of the novel was the development of the characters from the story that was being read. I enjoyed discovering how their lives were all connected with one another as their stories unfolded. Unfortunately, I did wish that the present-day characters were more dimensional. The animals-especially the cat-were my favorite!
On a side note, the drawings were also fantastic! I can’t express enough how much I enjoyed them!
While I don’t necessarily agree with the philosophy depicted in this story concerning the future course of our planet and how to correct it, I did appreciate the care and thought that was obviously put into its development. It is a very well-written novel. It is the type of story that I found myself reflecting on long after finishing it. For me, it was a reminder to be grateful for all I have been blessed with and to not take it for granted.
Thank-you to NetGalley and SparkPress for the opportunity to read and review a digital ARC of this novel. The views and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Upon reading this story, I was left with mixed emotions. At times I felt a heavy sadness due to the calamities that befall the earth and the people of the future. Yet I still found the descriptive imagery during the later stories of hope to be beautifully written.
One of my favorite parts of the novel was the development of the characters from the story that was being read. I enjoyed discovering how their lives were all connected with one another as their stories unfolded. Unfortunately, I did wish that the present-day characters were more dimensional. The animals-especially the cat-were my favorite!
On a side note, the drawings were also fantastic! I can’t express enough how much I enjoyed them!
While I don’t necessarily agree with the philosophy depicted in this story concerning the future course of our planet and how to correct it, I did appreciate the care and thought that was obviously put into its development. It is a very well-written novel. It is the type of story that I found myself reflecting on long after finishing it. For me, it was a reminder to be grateful for all I have been blessed with and to not take it for granted.
Thank-you to NetGalley and SparkPress for the opportunity to read and review a digital ARC of this novel. The views and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
May 11, 2022
Princess Fuzzypants here: Parts of this book were filled with hope, both of the feline variety and for the future. Cats play an important role in the tales. They act as a guide to the humans both in the dystopian future described in the story and in getting the modern family to read the book. They play pivotal roles. And the humans are going to need every bit of help they can get.
It tells the worst case scenario of climate change where humans destroy the planet. Much of the land is ruined, that is what has not been consumed by the oceans and other bodies of water. Most of the population dies off and the few survivors have almost insurmountable challenges they must face before civilization can reform in a new and improved form. The Bill of Rights and Responsibilities sets out a world that would be the dream of many where peace, equality and justice were available to all. It is a euphoric vision that follows the depths of despair.
It can be a bit preachy but the author has a clear agenda that the reader must accept in order to get through the book.
But some of the storytelling by the Grandmother is beautiful. With Hope, the kitty, she and her new family, create their own world and do more than survive. It is an uplifting oasis in a sea of gloom. I was not sure I was going to finish the book but I am glad that I did. Three purrs and one paw up.
It tells the worst case scenario of climate change where humans destroy the planet. Much of the land is ruined, that is what has not been consumed by the oceans and other bodies of water. Most of the population dies off and the few survivors have almost insurmountable challenges they must face before civilization can reform in a new and improved form. The Bill of Rights and Responsibilities sets out a world that would be the dream of many where peace, equality and justice were available to all. It is a euphoric vision that follows the depths of despair.
It can be a bit preachy but the author has a clear agenda that the reader must accept in order to get through the book.
But some of the storytelling by the Grandmother is beautiful. With Hope, the kitty, she and her new family, create their own world and do more than survive. It is an uplifting oasis in a sea of gloom. I was not sure I was going to finish the book but I am glad that I did. Three purrs and one paw up.
April 17, 2022
I loved the idea of this novel! A mysterious book that shows up in your home and tells you the future - plus it hits way too close to home because it’s all connected to global warming and how humans are ruining the planet. Throw in a quirky cat and you’ve made a fan out of me!
The story itself was a shorter read (about 250 pages) so it could be good for getting you out of a pesky reading slump. It also gave off more of a YA sort of feel with the content and the writing style. I’m not a huge fan of young adult, but people who love that genre would definitely appreciate that!
I did feel that something was missing from the novel. There were a lot of characters throughout the book, but none of them really seemed to have much depth to them. I usually have a favourite character when I read a book, but I can’t pick one this time because I feel like I didn’t get to know them at all.
Overall, this was an interesting read and perhaps better suited as part of the young adult genre. Big thanks to BookSparks, SparkPress, and the author for my free copy and a chance to be a part of this spring pop-up!
The story itself was a shorter read (about 250 pages) so it could be good for getting you out of a pesky reading slump. It also gave off more of a YA sort of feel with the content and the writing style. I’m not a huge fan of young adult, but people who love that genre would definitely appreciate that!
I did feel that something was missing from the novel. There were a lot of characters throughout the book, but none of them really seemed to have much depth to them. I usually have a favourite character when I read a book, but I can’t pick one this time because I feel like I didn’t get to know them at all.
Overall, this was an interesting read and perhaps better suited as part of the young adult genre. Big thanks to BookSparks, SparkPress, and the author for my free copy and a chance to be a part of this spring pop-up!
February 20, 2022
First of all, I'm a sucker for cat stories. Hope: A History of the Future, has a nice cat on the cover and several charming illustrations of the cat done by the author. When I first started to read, though, I feared the story might be a little too twee--the family in the present is too nice to each other, the people of the future are too nice. But, here's the thing. I found myself oddly compelled to keep reading. The people of the future went through a climatic change on the Earth and most didn't survive. They went through wars, climate change, racism and finally realized that that they have to get along to make any progress in the world. As I kept reading, I wondered why people can't get along.
The magical element of a book from the future falling from the air into a current-day family's house was fun. The cat who seems to move through time was fun. It is also nice to see a dystopian book have a hopeful ending.
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review an eARC of Hope: A History of the Future.
The magical element of a book from the future falling from the air into a current-day family's house was fun. The cat who seems to move through time was fun. It is also nice to see a dystopian book have a hopeful ending.
Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to read and review an eARC of Hope: A History of the Future.
April 9, 2022
Climate change books are relatively new to me, but I'm really enjoying them. This one is a work of fiction and tells a cautionary tale of what may happen if we (humankind) continue on the trajectory we're on without taking measures to improve the climate. That may sound all doom and gloom but this novel is actually pretty light. What I loved is the hint of magic that is threaded throughout as the story largely takes place through a mysterious book that was published in the future. I also really enjoyed reading some of the historical documents the author included as she makes the point that we already have some of the groundwork laid for necessary change. As a cat-lover, I liked the inclusion of the character of Plato/hope. I felt that the book left me with a lot of questions but I think that's the point- to compel us to action so that we can finish the story.
This was a quick enjoyable read about a heavy topic. It gave me real Fern Gully vibes and I think its perfect for Earth Day 🌎
This was a quick enjoyable read about a heavy topic. It gave me real Fern Gully vibes and I think its perfect for Earth Day 🌎
April 17, 2022
A lyrically poetic story about a moment that the past and future collide in the most fantastical and terrifying ways. A family in 2037 find a book that seemingly was published, or is going to be published, in 2200, detailing humanities journey towards The Great Change and beyond. Mankind will have to endure great wars, climate shifts and devastation before they can finally attempt to build a world of peace and harmony with nature and each other.
This speculative eco-fiction was full of character, mysterious magical elements and most importantly, a seemingly timeless cat named Plato. We jump through time and space, to wildly reimagined real-life events in richly complex detail.
However, this was definitely an erratic read, jumping from perspectives, places and times without time to think, and around a third of the book filled with reimagined real-life documents like the Human Rights Declaration which could be of interest to some but left me thinking there was a lot more story than there was.
This speculative eco-fiction was full of character, mysterious magical elements and most importantly, a seemingly timeless cat named Plato. We jump through time and space, to wildly reimagined real-life events in richly complex detail.
However, this was definitely an erratic read, jumping from perspectives, places and times without time to think, and around a third of the book filled with reimagined real-life documents like the Human Rights Declaration which could be of interest to some but left me thinking there was a lot more story than there was.
April 19, 2022
In the story the Denzell family has a cantankerous cat named Plato. The mother Joyce is searching for her hidden cigarettes when she finds a book. The irony of the Mom searching for something harmful to her body (cigarettes) while finding a book about harm to the environment was genius writing by GG Kellner. Anyways, the book appears and the cat makes sure the family reads the book, The History of the World. The book is from the future. In it Grandmother tells a lyrical tale of warning and sadness as to how a slow apocalypse occurs in nature. The Denzell’s follow the story and become more and more spooked when they realize it is referring to actual events. I would describe Hope, A History of the Future to be realistic, hopeful speculative fiction. The story is like watching the discovery or history channel paired with you sitting inside safe with the warm, comforting feeling of holding a purring cat. This should be marketed as a young adult or even advanced middle grade fiction.
March 14, 2022
Hope, a History of the Future by G.G. Kellner is the story of Game, Mia, Ruth and Little Bird. A family who have found a mysterious book in their house. The books publication date is 2200, a date in the future, and we journey through the mystical history of the book whilst this family read through.
This was not what I expected it to be. A science fiction, genre-bending story that turned out to be a fictional representation of morality and climate change that may have been marketed incorrectly. The story itself was a weak part of the book as the premise was incredibly interesting but fell short in every way possible. We go through each reader’s journey but the dialogue is predictable and demanding and did not go through the free-flow that was expected. There was an interacting formality that made this more character-driven that story-heavy and with an interesting premise such as this; was disappointing that the expectation wasn’t delivered.
This was not what I expected it to be. A science fiction, genre-bending story that turned out to be a fictional representation of morality and climate change that may have been marketed incorrectly. The story itself was a weak part of the book as the premise was incredibly interesting but fell short in every way possible. We go through each reader’s journey but the dialogue is predictable and demanding and did not go through the free-flow that was expected. There was an interacting formality that made this more character-driven that story-heavy and with an interesting premise such as this; was disappointing that the expectation wasn’t delivered.
April 11, 2022
The book started off with a really great hit. The description and cover are also pretty intriguing.
Whats more to like? - A book about a book or moreover a diary,
No this one's not from the past, but from Future.
But the sad part it the book could not hold off with the story when we progressed further. Grace's experience with the diary were a little predictable. Strange part is I saw the 1st episode of Solos. Coincidence at its best there too Anne Hathaway was trying to communicate with her future self.. n here the story was going on similar lines - only for the fact that nothing much apart from surrounding buildup happened here.
And that led to an overal not so wow reading experience. Maybe I will re read this somewhere time with afresh mind ... hopefully for better results
I did have a beautiful line that captured my attention:
"Water, water, cleanse my mind, Make me peaceful, make me kind. Water, water, cleanse my soul, Make me peaceful, make me whole."
Whats more to like? - A book about a book or moreover a diary,
No this one's not from the past, but from Future.
But the sad part it the book could not hold off with the story when we progressed further. Grace's experience with the diary were a little predictable. Strange part is I saw the 1st episode of Solos. Coincidence at its best there too Anne Hathaway was trying to communicate with her future self.. n here the story was going on similar lines - only for the fact that nothing much apart from surrounding buildup happened here.
And that led to an overal not so wow reading experience. Maybe I will re read this somewhere time with afresh mind ... hopefully for better results
I did have a beautiful line that captured my attention:
"Water, water, cleanse my mind, Make me peaceful, make me kind. Water, water, cleanse my soul, Make me peaceful, make me whole."
March 2, 2022
This book isn’t one I would usually pick up but something about the description and the cover drew me in and although it took me a while to get into it, I’m really glad I was given the opportunity by NetGalley and Spark Press to read it.
I really liked the role Plato played in ensuring each member of the Denzell family read the mysterious book. Although, the Denzell family did feel a little uninteresting I appreciate their role in this story was to simply read the book. I also really liked the storyline of Mia, Gabe and Ruth.
The book was thought provoking as it really opened my eyes to the scary and endless possibilities of what could happen if we carry on treating the Earth and each other in the way we currently do.
Thank you NetGalley and Spark Press for the opportunity to read and review.
I really liked the role Plato played in ensuring each member of the Denzell family read the mysterious book. Although, the Denzell family did feel a little uninteresting I appreciate their role in this story was to simply read the book. I also really liked the storyline of Mia, Gabe and Ruth.
The book was thought provoking as it really opened my eyes to the scary and endless possibilities of what could happen if we carry on treating the Earth and each other in the way we currently do.
Thank you NetGalley and Spark Press for the opportunity to read and review.
April 14, 2022
Interesting story posing the question “If you had the chance to know what’ll happen in the future, would you?”
The Denzell family is presented with this exact opportunity when a mysterious book appears in their library. We follow each family member as they read the stories of Little Bird/Grandmother, Le, Mia, Gabe and Ruth.
I liked the format of Hope, A History of the Future - we’re reading along with the Denzell family. This gives you time to mull over what’s learned about the future by each family member. These interludes give you time to reflect and think, which I enjoyed. It also creates a feeling of “Keep going, I want to know more” which gave the book a nice pace.
I enjoyed the stories of Little Bird, Ruth, Gabe and Mia in the future. They all suffered hardships and loss but didn’t let this ruin them. I think the title of the book is extremely apt: Hope, as that’s the feeling you get as you read the story. The world has been destroyed but there’s always a glimmer of hope.
I found Grandmother and Le’s story (another story from the future) bittersweet. On the one hand, sharing knowledge of the past is the best way to avoid repeating a disaster. But knowing why Grandmother is sharing the story of her life with Le and others in their community acknowledges what’s about to happen.
I wouldn’t call this book a call to action, but it does pose some interesting questions as you read. It’s a reminder of what could happen to our world if we don’t look after it.
All in all, an interesting and thought-provoking story.
The Denzell family is presented with this exact opportunity when a mysterious book appears in their library. We follow each family member as they read the stories of Little Bird/Grandmother, Le, Mia, Gabe and Ruth.
I liked the format of Hope, A History of the Future - we’re reading along with the Denzell family. This gives you time to mull over what’s learned about the future by each family member. These interludes give you time to reflect and think, which I enjoyed. It also creates a feeling of “Keep going, I want to know more” which gave the book a nice pace.
I enjoyed the stories of Little Bird, Ruth, Gabe and Mia in the future. They all suffered hardships and loss but didn’t let this ruin them. I think the title of the book is extremely apt: Hope, as that’s the feeling you get as you read the story. The world has been destroyed but there’s always a glimmer of hope.
I found Grandmother and Le’s story (another story from the future) bittersweet. On the one hand, sharing knowledge of the past is the best way to avoid repeating a disaster. But knowing why Grandmother is sharing the story of her life with Le and others in their community acknowledges what’s about to happen.
I wouldn’t call this book a call to action, but it does pose some interesting questions as you read. It’s a reminder of what could happen to our world if we don’t look after it.
All in all, an interesting and thought-provoking story.
April 25, 2022
Thank you, NetGalley for this ARC!
Hope, a History of the Future is unlike anything I've ever read before (alright, if pressed, I might liken it to Lois Lowry's The Giver and/or Matt Haig's The Midnight Library).
This book has an incredibly intriguing premise - a history book, published in the future, detailing a past that has yet to unfold... Climate change and the dangers of inaction add a haunting sense of foreboding realism.
I was drawn in by the premise and I appreciated the author's poetic writing style throughout the work. However, I can't say I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I believe it has a lot of value but, in order to fully appreciate every detail, this book must be studied, not just read. For this reason, I think it could be a worthy addition to school curricula.
An interesting read. 3 Stars.
Hope, a History of the Future is unlike anything I've ever read before (alright, if pressed, I might liken it to Lois Lowry's The Giver and/or Matt Haig's The Midnight Library).
This book has an incredibly intriguing premise - a history book, published in the future, detailing a past that has yet to unfold... Climate change and the dangers of inaction add a haunting sense of foreboding realism.
I was drawn in by the premise and I appreciated the author's poetic writing style throughout the work. However, I can't say I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. I believe it has a lot of value but, in order to fully appreciate every detail, this book must be studied, not just read. For this reason, I think it could be a worthy addition to school curricula.
An interesting read. 3 Stars.
June 21, 2022
A family from 2037 finds a mysterious book that has been published more than 150 years in the future. Over the course of a day the family members read stories about what-could-be from this book.
A story within a story is not one of my favourite tropes but I went along, because the book was hailed as science fiction, not fantasy. Alas, it's more speculative fiction, to be more precise eco-fiction, than science fiction; but it is set in the future.
The stories within the mysterious book were good on their own and I think the book could have done without the stilted conversations of the framing story.
Due to the third person POV narration it was hard to connect to any of the characters. They felt very two-dimensional and often the reader is being told about their feelings rather than shown. I really liked the cat, though.
A story within a story is not one of my favourite tropes but I went along, because the book was hailed as science fiction, not fantasy. Alas, it's more speculative fiction, to be more precise eco-fiction, than science fiction; but it is set in the future.
The stories within the mysterious book were good on their own and I think the book could have done without the stilted conversations of the framing story.
Due to the third person POV narration it was hard to connect to any of the characters. They felt very two-dimensional and often the reader is being told about their feelings rather than shown. I really liked the cat, though.
March 12, 2022
This is a great book though I feel it may not be some peoples idea of a good read as it deals with some very dystopian areas. It is an intriguing concept and it is a book I have already recommended my schools library to get in. The story follows the book from the future that tells the story of global warming and the effects,
The story is very different to anything I have read before and will certainly make you think. Some of the areas are very American orientated but I learnt a lot about declarations etc that I had no idea about before and it certainly makes for an interesting read and gives a basis for some of the areas in the book.
It will not be everyone's idea of a pleasurable read but I certainly enjoyed it and recommend it.
The story is very different to anything I have read before and will certainly make you think. Some of the areas are very American orientated but I learnt a lot about declarations etc that I had no idea about before and it certainly makes for an interesting read and gives a basis for some of the areas in the book.
It will not be everyone's idea of a pleasurable read but I certainly enjoyed it and recommend it.
February 25, 2022
It was hard in some ways to read this as the face of Europe changes once again. But also, there is never a better time to be thinking of what needs to fundamentally change so that universal means across the world, for all the people.
And it was good that the book contains poetry, is uplifting in parts, so that the view of our shared future is not purely dystopian.
The author has thought hard about rights and duties, philosophical concepts that are often missed in sound bites, hurry and avoidance of difficult subjects. She is to be commended for doing this in a poetic tale of true humanity.
And it was good that the book contains poetry, is uplifting in parts, so that the view of our shared future is not purely dystopian.
The author has thought hard about rights and duties, philosophical concepts that are often missed in sound bites, hurry and avoidance of difficult subjects. She is to be commended for doing this in a poetic tale of true humanity.
February 26, 2022
When a mysterious book suddenly appears, a family finds themselves pulled into a tale from the future of adventure & survival. This book from the future hints at how survivors of climate change could create a more just and sustainable society. The novel tackles important questions about our future. The story within the found book was compelling and held my interest. The family reading the book was less interesting - except for their cat, who stole the show. I enjoyed this book and it made me think. However, it didn't feel polished and I wish that it had been better edited. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in return for an honest review.
March 5, 2022
Well. That was a lot.
Joyce discovers a book that seems to have appeared out of nowhere in the library full of items inherited from the previous owner.
It paints a dire picture of the earth’s future and she tries to hide it from her family until she’s processed it but the book or Plato, the cat that also came with the house, has other ideas.
Over the course of a day the entire family reads the tails of survivors int eh collapse of our planet from a book that seems to be from the future.
Can they prevent catastrophe with this warning?
Would be a great ‘talk about it’ book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.
Joyce discovers a book that seems to have appeared out of nowhere in the library full of items inherited from the previous owner.
It paints a dire picture of the earth’s future and she tries to hide it from her family until she’s processed it but the book or Plato, the cat that also came with the house, has other ideas.
Over the course of a day the entire family reads the tails of survivors int eh collapse of our planet from a book that seems to be from the future.
Can they prevent catastrophe with this warning?
Would be a great ‘talk about it’ book.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.
February 18, 2022
AMAZING!! I love a book that makes me think. I love so much about this book it’s hard to begin. The title alone hooked me. The characters remind me of my own family. GRANDMOTHER is captivating and I felt like I was one of her villagers sitting around her listening to her stories. I love the cat but I was left feeling a bit confused about him. Maybe I missed a bit of the point. I also wish I knew more about Joyce’s neighbor and previous homeowner. All in all, I will recommend this many times over. I think it is a must read and a message that truly needs to be discussed more.
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