11. The slowing throws the natural world into disarray. Plants and animals die and there are changes in
the weather. Did this book make you think about the threats that face our own natural world? Do you
think the book has something to say about climate change?
I didn’t think of the threats to our environment when I read The Age of Miracles. I think that the main reason I didn’t connect the two is that the slowing was irreversible. There was nothing that humans could do or could have done to stop the event. The slowing was just going to happen. The thing with our world is that it really is the error of humanity. We caused all of our issues and we do have ways to solve them. We’re trying to save endangered species and fix the atmosphere and better the environment. We may not be doing an amazing job of it, but we are still trying. There are many things that we can do to save our world. However, in the novel, all people could do was sit and wait for something to happen. At first they tried to save some of the species, but then realized their attempts were futile and gave up. I see how the book could be talking about climate change. The weather did change drastically of a few days. I didn’t think of climate change when I was reading the book, but now I understand how that could be considered.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Steven in his response to this question. He says that he didn’t think of the threats to our environment because the slowing was irreversible. Due to the slowing being irreversible, it means that there will be a whole different set of outcomes to what is happening to the environment today than in the book. What we as humans do to the environment can be reversed in the future unlike in the book where everything will just die eventually and cannot be changed. I can see where the book might be talking about our present climate change, but it still isn’t the same as what is happening to our world now. I hadn’t thought about any environmental issues when reading the book because it was just ludicrous to think that that could happen to our environment one day. It just doesn’t make sense for the book and our environment to be related in a way such as climate change.
DeleteWhile reading the book, I really did not think about the threats that faced our natural world until the birds started dying. On page 75, while Julia was looking at her piano teacher’s finches, Sylvia says, “I believe the planet has been out of balance for a long time and this whole thing is a way of correcting itself.” At this point, I recalled for a moment what I had learned in Environmental Science. We focused a lot on Earth and how humans were slowly killing it. This made me think of the possibility that our birds could die because of human activity. Thinking about this made me realize that the book is based off something that humans didn’t cause, even though Sylvia believes differently. Also, there were drastic weather changes. Snowing in Southern California seems impossible! That really is one of the only drastic changes in the book that I noticed. It was very sunny throughout the book, just like you would imagine Southern California to be. The book did make me think of the threats that could possibly face our natural world, but do not believe the book has something to say about climate change.
ReplyDeleteI felt the same as Colleen when the birds started dying. Before that I was thinking that the slowing was all up in the sky, nothing that physically affected the ground, besides the sun patterns. When animals started dying, I feel it hit me, as long with the characters in the book, how effectual the slowing could be. I also had many thoughts about our own world as Colleen did when different animals were dying. However it made me think more of how most of us probably wouldn't notice at first if there wasn't scientist studying this. Same with the weather, if there were drastic changes in the weather, for example if tomorrow in February Erie was 100 degrees, people would obviously be surprised, but most of us wouldn't question it more than just enjoy it. Many people can be so oblivious to what can actually happen in the natural world.
DeleteAlthough “The Age of Miracles” is a purely fictional story, I can definitely see why the storyline could spark a debate about climate change. “The Age of Miracles” was published in 2012, and the book is set in a contemporary American town. From the TV shows they watch to the sports their kids play, everything about the people in Julia’s town fits in with the perceived lifestyle of a “typical” American. Thus, it is easy for us 21st century readers to relate to the novel; it is not at all difficult for a reader to “put themselves in the character’s shoes” as the saying goes.
ReplyDeleteNormally, people would scoff at the idea of the Earth’s rotation slowing, writing it off as “impossible” or “impractical.” However, Walker’s skillful depiction of the novel’s characters and setting makes us feel as if such a global catastrophe could happen tomorrow. Her fictional account paints climate change as an issue that should be addressed immediately, and not just kicked down the road for our great great grandchildren to deal with. The message is clear: if we don’t change our ways, and fast, the fictional catastrophe described in “The Age of Miracles” could become our real-life reality.
As well as making me think about some of the threats that face our own natural world, “The Age of Miracles” made me a lot more appreciative of the world as we know it. It made me realize that I take for granted some of the seemingly “automatic” things about the planet, such as its perfectly consistent 24-hour day. This book made me realize just how important it is to take good care of planet Earth, not just for my own generation, but for the generations to come.
It is not my personal belief that humans could do anything about a catastrophe such as the slowing, but I do think that “The Age of Miracles” brings to mind the environmental issues that we struggle with today. Although the rotation of Earth is not affected by mankind, I think Walker wrote about the slowing in order to relate to readers who are less environmentally aware. Creating a relatable story was very important to making readers think about climate change. Ben points out the normality of the book when he says, “From the TV shows they watch to the sports their kids play, everything about the people in Julia’s town fits in with the perceived lifestyle of a “typical” American. Thus, it is easy for us 21st century readers to relate to the novel; it is not at all difficult for a reader to “put themselves in the character’s shoes” as the saying goes.” By adopting a regular setting and regular characters, the book breathed an aura of possibility.
DeleteConnecting the reader to the thought of an actual disaster occurring allowed Walker to not only let us connect with the story, but also to make us readers ponder our own global problems such as climate change. As I experienced the hardships of the slowing through Julia, I wondered: Are we on a similar path to destruction?