Buy new:
-48% $15.69
FREE delivery Monday, March 17 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$15.69 with 48 percent savings
List Price: $29.99
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Monday, March 17 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or Prime members get FREE delivery Friday, March 14. Order within 4 hrs 16 mins.
In Stock
$$15.69 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$15.69
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day refund/replacement
30-day refund/replacement
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$9.73
Hardcover book in excellent condition. Dust jacket present and in great shape. Donated by the public; not an ex-library book. Proceeds support the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library. We ship from California via USPS M-W-F except holidays. Expedited ship M-F. Hardcover book in excellent condition. Dust jacket present and in great shape. Donated by the public; not an ex-library book. Proceeds support the Friends of the San Francisco Public Library. We ship from California via USPS M-W-F except holidays. Expedited ship M-F. See less
$3.99 delivery Friday, March 21. Details
Or fastest delivery March 18 - 20. Details
Only 2 left in stock - order soon.
$$15.69 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$15.69
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Kaliane Bradley
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Ministry of Time: A Novel Hardcover – May 7, 2024

by Kaliane Bradley (Author)
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 13,254 ratings
Editors' pick Best Books of the Year 2024
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$15.69","priceAmount":15.69,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"15","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"69","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"hyeCbKiNGT9ZLMyvfS2jPSpxKYCptCR%2FhPBdozt4r02%2ByIR5h1GzfajMNK3XbyyGzDdla3mCaWi4PY4B%2BLvvFtg84eumipGT7WXYMQwdeNsaluU06iApg3vHaVGD94uH79sy%2B0kC38%2BQWFH%2FPW%2FB3Q%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$9.73","priceAmount":9.73,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"9","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"73","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"hyeCbKiNGT9ZLMyvfS2jPSpxKYCptCR%2FUuZlOGjd9pb4f1v%2FvnsuMaJYJFWuCMFajbf2B7%2BX%2Fa0g0UliZpy2UHLX9idOrKfxWSe3JAMTlcmN06%2FMm6kn3kGL0FRaYjWAaQqJHTux8GKCu5pYvz44HebHubD%2FkuV60VX3NMmBpKo1jvGRSbDJ46eBdn2pJ0Ck","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

ONE OF BARACK OBAMA’S FAVORITE BOOKS OF SUMMER 2024 • A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • WINNER OF THE GOODREADS CHOICE AWARD FOR SCIENCE FICTION • A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: NPR, VANITY FAIR, ESQUIRE, VOX, GOOD HOUSEKEEPING, THE INDEPENDENT, PARADE, KIRKUS REVIEWS, AND MORE…

“This summer’s hottest debut.” —Cosmopolitan • “Witty, sexy escapist fiction [that] packs a substantial punch...Fresh and thrilling.” —Los Angeles Times • “Electric...I loved every second.” —Emily Henry

“Utterly winning...Imagine if The Time Traveler’s Wife had an affair with A Gentleman in Moscow...Readers, I envy you: There’s a smart, witty novel in your future.” —Ron Charles, The Washington Post

A time travel romance, a spy thriller, a workplace comedy, and an ingenious exploration of the nature of power and the potential for love to change it all: Welcome to The Ministry of Time, the exhilarating debut novel by Kaliane Bradley.

In the near future, a civil servant is offered the salary of her dreams and is, shortly afterward, told what project she’ll be working on. A recently established government ministry is gathering “expats” from across history to establish whether time travel is feasible—for the body, but also for the fabric of space-time.

She is tasked with working as a “bridge”: living with, assisting, and monitoring the expat known as “1847” or Commander Graham Gore. As far as history is concerned, Commander Gore died on Sir John Franklin’s doomed 1845 expedition to the Arctic, so he’s a little disoriented to be living with an unmarried woman who regularly shows her calves, surrounded by outlandish concepts such as “washing machines,” “Spotify,” and “the collapse of the British Empire.” But with an appetite for discovery, a seven-a-day cigarette habit, and the support of a charming and chaotic cast of fellow expats, he soon adjusts.

Over the next year, what the bridge initially thought would be, at best, a horrifically uncomfortable roommate dynamic, evolves into something much deeper. By the time the true shape of the Ministry’s project comes to light, the bridge has fallen haphazardly, fervently in love, with consequences she never could have imagined. Forced to confront the choices that brought them together, the bridge must finally reckon with how—and whether she believes—what she does next can change the future.

An exquisitely original and feverishly fun fusion of genres and ideas, The Ministry of Time asks: What does it mean to defy history, when history is living in your house? Kaliane Bradley’s answer is a blazing, unforgettable testament to what we owe each other in a changing world.
Previous slide of product details
  1. Print length
    352 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster
  4. Publication date
    May 7, 2024
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 1.5 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1668045141
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1668045145
  8. See all details
Next slide of product details
"All the Little Raindrops: A Novel" by Mia Sheridan for $10.39
The chilling story of the abduction of two teenagers, their escape, and the dark secrets that, years later, bring them back to the scene of the crime. | Learn more

Frequently bought together

The Ministry of Time: A Novel
This item: The Ministry of Time: A Novel
$15.69
Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 17
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The God of the Woods: A Novel
$17.00
Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 17
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
James: A Novel
$17.97
Get it as soon as Monday, Mar 17
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price: $00
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
spCSRF_Treatment
Choose items to buy together.

Related Climate Pledge Friendly items

Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Previous set of slides
  1. 1 sustainability feature

    Sustainability features

    This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.
    Recycled materials
    Contains at least 50% recycled material.
    As certified by
    GreenCircle Certified: Recycled Content

    GreenCircle Certified: Recycled Content

    GreenCircle certifies claims that a product is made of pre- or post-consumer material when it is manufactured. GreenCircle verifies the sources of recycled materials and analyzes the recycled content used in the product to determine the percentage of pre-consumer or post-consumer content based on international standards and definitions for recycled content. A product must contain 50% recycled content to qualify for Climate Pledge Friendly. This does not include packaging.

    Climate Pledge Friendly

    Discover more products with sustainability features.Learn more
  2. 1 sustainability feature

    Sustainability features

    This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.
    Forestry practices
    Made with materials from well-managed forests, recycled materials, and/or other controlled wood sources.
    As certified by
    The Forest Stewardship Council

    The Forest Stewardship Council

    The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) supports responsible forestry, which is a vital solution to combat climate change. Choosing FSC-certified products – whether furniture, building materials, paper, rubber, or textiles – helps protect forests, wildlife, clean water and supports the Indigenous Peoples, forest workers and communities who depend on them. Choosing FSC-certified products can also help to mitigate climate change by supporting responsible management of the world’s forests. For a better future, choose FSC.

    Climate Pledge Friendly

    Discover more products with sustainability features.Learn more
  3. 4 sustainability features

    Sustainability features

    This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.
    Forestry practices
    Made with materials harvested from responsibly managed forests.
    As certified by
    Rainforest Alliance

    Rainforest Alliance

    Rainforest Alliance is an international non-profit organization working to create a better future for people and nature. By choosing Rainforest Alliance certified products, you help support farmers to follow more sustainable, climate-smart farming practices that protect natural resources and the environment by using land, water, and energy more carefully. These practices also safeguard carbon-storing forests and help farmers mitigate and adapt to climate change, which ultimately improves their livelihoods.
    The Forest Stewardship Council

    The Forest Stewardship Council

    The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) supports responsible forestry, which is a vital solution to combat climate change. Choosing FSC-certified products – whether furniture, building materials, paper, rubber, or textiles – helps protect forests, wildlife, clean water and supports the Indigenous Peoples, forest workers and communities who depend on them. Choosing FSC-certified products can also help to mitigate climate change by supporting responsible management of the world’s forests. For a better future, choose FSC.

    Climate Pledge Friendly

    Discover more products with sustainability features.Learn more
  4. 1 sustainability feature

    Sustainability features

    This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.
    Carbon impact
    Carbon emissions from the lifecycle of this product were measured, reduced and offset.
    As certified by
    ClimatePartner certified

    ClimatePartner certified

    The Climate neutral label by ClimatePartner certifies that the carbon footprint of a product was calculated and all associated emissions were offset. Additionally, ClimatePartner encourages companies to set ambitious reduction targets and reduce their products' carbon footprints. The certificate number can be entered on ClimatePartner’s website for additional information such as the supported carbon offset project(s). ClimatePartner is improving lives by helping companies tackle climate change with practical solutions.
    Certification Number
    LQ9BKP

    Climate Pledge Friendly

    Discover more products with sustainability features.Learn more
  5. 1 sustainability feature

    Sustainability features

    This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.
    Forestry practices
    Made with materials from well-managed forests, recycled materials, and/or other controlled wood sources.
    As certified by
    The Forest Stewardship Council

    The Forest Stewardship Council

    The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) supports responsible forestry, which is a vital solution to combat climate change. Choosing FSC-certified products – whether furniture, building materials, paper, rubber, or textiles – helps protect forests, wildlife, clean water and supports the Indigenous Peoples, forest workers and communities who depend on them. Choosing FSC-certified products can also help to mitigate climate change by supporting responsible management of the world’s forests. For a better future, choose FSC.

    Climate Pledge Friendly

    Discover more products with sustainability features.Learn more
  6. 1 sustainability feature

    Sustainability features

    This product has sustainability features recognized by trusted certifications.
    Safer chemicals
    Made with chemicals safer for human health and the environment.
    As certified by
    Natrue

    Natrue

    Natrue helps consumers identify cosmetic products made from naturally sourced ingredients. Founded in 2007, Natrue is an international non-profit association committed to promoting Natural and Organic cosmetics made with non-genetically modified natural and derived-natural substances. Natrue develops and promotes rigorous criteria for the cosmetics certified with the Natrue Label.
    Certification Level
    NATURAL COSMETICS

    Climate Pledge Friendly

    Discover more products with sustainability features.Learn more
Next set of slides
Popular Highlights in this book
What are popular highlights?
Previous page
  1. Forgiveness, which takes you back to the person you were and lets you reset them. Hope, which exists in a future in which you are new. Forgiveness and hope are miracles. They let you change your life. They are time-travel.
    Highlighted by 3,775 Kindle readers
  2. If you ever fall in love, you’ll be a person who was in love for the rest of your life.
    Highlighted by 2,669 Kindle readers
  3. This was one of my first lessons in how you make the future: moment by moment, you seal the doors of possibility behind you.
    Highlighted by 2,235 Kindle readers
Next page

From the Publisher

The Ministry of Time

Editorial Reviews

Review

"[Bradley's] utterly winning book is a result of violating not so much the laws of physics as the boundaries of genre. Imagine if The Time Traveler’s Wife had an affair with A Gentleman in Moscow. . . You’d need a nuclear-powered flux capacitor to generate more charisma than Gore. . . His banter with the narrator crackles off the page . . . Readers, I envy you: There’s a smart, witty novel in your future."—Ron Charles, The Washington Post

"The Ministry of Time reads like a novel that was written for pleasure . . . this is the kind of summer romp that also sparks real thought. . . . [G]ive in to the tide of this book, and let it pull you along. It’s very smart; it’s very silly; and the obvious fun never obscures completely the sheer, gorgeous, wild stretch of her ideas."—Ella Risbridger, The Guardian

“Bradley pulls off a rare feat. The Ministry of Time doesn’t stoop to easy answers and doesn’t devolve into polemic. It’s a smart, gripping work that’s also a feast for the senses. An assassination, moles, questions of identity and violence wreak havoc on our happy lovers and the bubble they create in London. Yet our affection for them is as fresh and thrilling as theirs is for one another . . . An edgy, playful and provocative book that’s likely to be the most thought-provoking romance novel of the summer. "—Lauren LeBlanc, Los Angeles Times

"A hilarious yet poignant take on dislocation, loss, and oddball community . . . A twisty plotline that incorporates plenty of John le Carré and Mick Herron spy-craft references . . . with the silly, incisive, and spot-on comedy of Douglas Adams."—Daneet Steffens, The Boston Globe

“Bradley ‘s writing is clear and stylish, her dialogue dry and sprightly; the serious matters of love and mortality are cloaked in humour, but never too heavily . . . If you loved Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife, or the big hit of 2022, Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, [The Ministry of Time] will be right up your street . . . A rattling good adventure story too, the twists at the end [are] perfectly earned . . . Don’t wait for this tale to come to the small screen. Crack this book open and you’ll see how time can disappear.”—Erica Wagner, Financial Times

“[The Ministry of Time] basically has everything you would want in a book in one incredible and exhilarating read that you'll definitely tell all your friends about.” —Cosmopolitan

“Flawlessly paced and brazenly genre mixing, Kaliane Bradley’s debut is at once a spy thriller, a time-travel tale, a romance, and a story with room to consider the climate crisis, imperialism, grief, and the weight of history… Fun, funny, sharp, and ridiculously, compulsively readable, Bradley’s novel is also poignant and wise, a thriller full of questions about how we live both now and within the great span of human history.”—Esquire

"A revelatory page-turner."—People

“If you're a fan of Outlander, spy novels, time travel books, or just really innovative and fun storytelling, The Ministry of Time is definitely for you.” —Town & Country, "45 Must-Read Books of Spring 2024"

"This will be the book everyone is talking about this summer. Booksellers, social media, your parents, your teens. Everyone will simply love this time-traveling spy romance. It literally checks off all of the boxes for what a damn good book should be. Just go get it right now. Seriously."—Debutiful

"This is a lightning strike of a story that will appeal to fans of time travel, spy novels, romance, and bittersweet, satirical office drama alike. The result is part 'Kate and Leopold' and part Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow.” —Polygon

"Kaliane Bradley’s smart blend of science fiction, thriller, workplace comedy, and romance was the book I recommended most often and with the most success this year. . . Fun but not frivolous, intelligent but not belabored, The Ministry of Time is utterly winning." —Slate

"An outrageously brilliant debut with a premise that just gets more and more original. The Ministry of Time pulls off the neatest trick of speculative fiction, first estranging us from our own era, and then facilitating our immigration back into the present; but it is also a love story, exploratory, sensitive, charged with possibility, and powered by desire, reminding us that history is synonymous with human beings, and that we all have the ability to change it. This is already the best new book I will have read next year." —Eleanor Catton, author of Birnam Wood

“The Ministry of Time is as electric, charming, whimsical, and strange as its ripped-from-history cast. (Extremely.) I loved every second I spent wrapped up in Kaliane Bradley's stunning prose, the moments that made me laugh and those that made my heart ache. This is a book that surprises as much as it delights, and I'm already impatiently waiting for whatever Bradley concocts next." —Emily Henry, author of Funny Story

“Smart and affecting, full of ideas plus aslow-burning love story. It’s a wonderful debut.” —David Nichols, New York Times bestselling author of One Day

"Fantastically fun and unmistakably urgent, The Ministry of Time is an ecstatic celebration of fiction in all its vehement, ungovernable, mutinous glory." —Megha Majumdar, author of A Burning

"Hugely enjoyable: ingeniously constructed, beautifully written, and unexpectedly sexy. It is the rarest of creations: a boldly entertaining page-tuner that is also deeply, thoughtfully engaged with our past, present and future." —Joanna Quinn, author of The Whalebone Theatre

About the Author

Kaliane Bradley is a British-Cambodian writer and editor based in London. Her short fiction has appeared in Somesuch Stories, The Willowherb Review, Electric Literature, Catapult, and Extra Teeth, among others. She was the winner of the 2022 Harper’s Bazaar Short Story Prize and the 2022 V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster (May 7, 2024)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1668045141
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1668045145
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 1.5 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 13,254 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Kaliane Bradley

Kaliane Bradley

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

I am a writer and editor based in London. I've written short stories and essays, which have appeared in places like Catapult, Electric Literature, The Tangerine and Extra Teeth, among others. I was the winner of the 2022 Harper's Bazaar Short Story Prize and the 2022 V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize. The Ministry of Time is my debut novel.

I started writing The Ministry of Time after getting very invested in historical polar exploration, especially the 1845 Franklin Expedition and one of the officers on it, Graham Gore. The book grew out of a sort of literary parlour game I was writing for my friends: what would it be like if your favourite polar explorer lived in your house? It turns out that living with a Victorian man would probably force you to confront the legacy of British imperialism, the state of 21st century Britain - from climate crisis to Deliveroo - and the effect of the sexual revolution on flirting with a disorientated naval officer. It also forced me to confront, as a writer, the governmental apparatus that got this poor man into the 21st century in the first place... the course of sinister government project never did run smooth...

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
13,254 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers find the book's concept interesting and engaging. They describe it as a great read with fascinating characters. The book is described as intellectual and insightful about current world issues. Customers find the emotional content funny, sad, and personal. However, some find the pacing slow and boring in the first half of the book.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

Thought provokingReadabilityCharacter developmentIntelligenceEmotional contentWriting stylePacingTime travel
166 customers mention "Thought provoking"140 positive26 negative

Customers find the book an interesting time travel story with a concept they are looking forward to learning about. They describe the plot as engaging and challenging, keeping them hooked throughout. The book explores interpersonal dynamics that help readers understand the story better. Readers appreciate the mix of science fiction, humor, and excitement in the book.

"...narrative brings characters to vivid life, yet maintains the breadth to touch on history, politics, imperialism, climate change, personal integrity,..." Read more

"...Bradley keeps the story going; there are some major twists; and her vision of a future Earth, which we really only glimpse, is incisive and clever...." Read more

"The author gives us an original premise, some fresh ideas, and a particularly appealing character in Graham Gore, but the writing stumbles every few..." Read more

"...and liked that your use was a backdrop for this memorable story of a developing relationship and how surrounding circumstances affected it...." Read more

136 customers mention "Readability"108 positive28 negative

Customers enjoy the book's readability. They find the concepts wonderful and the writing enjoyable. The pages are described as a rollercoaster ride filled with love, humor, adventure, intrigue, and mystery. Readers appreciate the quick wit and caliber of literature.

"...A delightful rollercoaster ride with profound implications, it left me longing to see what Ms. Bradley will come up with next." Read more

"...I didn't find the book hard to follow at all. It's entertaining - very very funny in places, heartbreaking in others...." Read more

"...The historical setting of the Artic explorations and Graham Gore was very cool. I hope you’re at work on a new novel." Read more

"...Despite these shortcomings, The Ministry of Time is an engaging read that creatively blends sci-fi themes with modern commentary, making it worth..." Read more

49 customers mention "Character development"39 positive10 negative

Customers enjoy the well-written characters in this book. They find the plot creative and the narrator fascinating. The book is a mix of genres, including historical fiction, science fiction, and love stories.

"...The specificity of its first person narrative brings characters to vivid life, yet maintains the breadth to touch on history, politics, imperialism,..." Read more

"...us an original premise, some fresh ideas, and a particularly appealing character in Graham Gore, but the writing stumbles every few pages with..." Read more

"...Bradley has created deeply drawn and wonderfully realized characters, particularly Graham Gore from a doomed 1840's Arctic expedition...." Read more

"...The protagonist isn't a very good person, it seems, or maybe is just ruled entirely by fear, but she is hard to identify/sympathize with, which..." Read more

14 customers mention "Intelligence"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and thought-provoking. They appreciate its exploration of time travel complexities and psychological adaptations. The book is described as philosophical and page-turning, with brilliant passages that will be on their walls for quite some time. Readers also mention that the novel offers extensive commentary on themes of immigration and cultural assimilation. Overall, they say the book has a great overall message.

"...While the novel offers extensive commentary on themes of immigration and cultural assimilation, it can sometimes feel dense and pedantic...." Read more

"...just about the mechanics of time travel but the profound cultural shock and adaptability of humans...." Read more

"Excellent story about the potential interpersonal dynamics involved in time travel...." Read more

"Debut novelist Bradley is not just funny, but insightful about current world issues as she is about the past. What if interesting people from..." Read more

6 customers mention "Emotional content"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the emotional content of the book. They find it humorous and heartbreaking at times, with a personal yet epic tone.

"...It's entertaining - very very funny in places, heartbreaking in others...." Read more

"Such fine writing. Clever surprises and emotional and political depth. A breathtaking novel from a new voice. You will not be disappointed." Read more

"...where it loses people in some parts, but I found it so wonderful and sad and funny. Would make a great film adaption in the future." Read more

"...Smart, funny, emotionally insightful, and full of characters I wish I knew." Read more

118 customers mention "Writing style"80 positive38 negative

Customers have different views on the writing style. Some find it lyrical, clever, and vivid, with brilliant phrases and figurative language. Others find it clunky, hard to decipher, lacking explanations, and tedious in parts. The first part of the book is considered tedious by some readers.

"...The text sparkles with metaphors, allusions, and similes so inventive and surprising, you may wonder at the author’s creative fecundity...." Read more

"...I’m always happy to find writers with unique voices such as Richard Ford (Canada), George Saunders (Lincoln at the Bardo), Richard Powers..." Read more

"...with Ministry of Time was the fanfic bit: it really reads like Wattpad in some places, which was the final straw for me and almost a three-star..." Read more

"...Bradley has created deeply drawn and wonderfully realized characters, particularly Graham Gore from a doomed 1840's Arctic expedition...." Read more

19 customers mention "Pacing"3 positive16 negative

Customers feel the book's pacing is slow and boring. They mention the first half of the book is so slow and boring that they almost DNF it. The plot moves a little slowly, and there is too much time devoted to setting the scene. There is not much happening and the story is tedious to read.

"...the protagonist and Gore is carefully developed, though it is unevenly paced...." Read more

"...The plot moved a little slowly, and there were a lot of words used that I was unfamiliar with - some related to Cambodia, yes, but many others that..." Read more

"I waffled between 2 and 3 stars. The first half of this book is so slow and boring I almost DNF...." Read more

"...The only drawback is it took a lot of time to set the scene. I feel like the real meat and potatoes started 3/4 through the novel." Read more

7 customers mention "Time travel"0 positive7 negative

Customers find the book's time travel confusing and disappointing. They say it's about time displacement, not travel. The time door and travel are hard to follow, with little revealed until the end.

"...But narrator’s inferiority is generally engaging. Time travel is hard to make fresh but this author did a credible job...." Read more

"This is by far the most unusual version of time travel I’ve ever read...." Read more

"Great story line. The time door & travel hard to follow as little revealed until the end...." Read more

"The pitfalls of playing with time. Always run across a wrinkle that changes what you think you can do different." Read more

Way harder to get into than I'd hoped.
3 out of 5 stars
Way harder to get into than I'd hoped.
The description sounds great. It was harder to get into than I thought it would be. Normally I give a book 50 pages to get me, but this was for a new book club my mom group started.I feel like this author had a word-of-the-day calendar and she was trying to use all the words.It's kind of like trying to gargle with hot sauce...I don't want to do it anymore and not sure why I started to in the first place.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Robby Merkin
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Fertility of Language
    Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Ministry Of Time is ambitious, expansive, thought provoking, and entertaining. The specificity of its first person narrative brings characters to vivid life, yet maintains the breadth to touch on history, politics, imperialism, climate change, personal integrity, and the cultural relativity of ethics. The text sparkles with metaphors, allusions, and similes so inventive and surprising, you may wonder at the author’s creative fecundity. At the surface, it is witty, romantic, exciting, erotically charged, with a full quota of heroes, villains, and quirky in-betweens. It twists and turns like a thriller, skitters at the edges of sci-fi, and puts down roots in an authentic 19th century Arctic expedition. A delightful rollercoaster ride with profound implications, it left me longing to see what Ms. Bradley will come up with next.
    5 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • James
    4.0 out of 5 stars Witty and Thought-Provoking!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley is a compelling and fascinating read that had me hooked from the start! This stellar debut novel blends sci-fi elements with contemporary issues, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking. The premise of a new government agency that pulls people from the past into the present day is intriguing, and the book deftly explores the resulting complexities. The inclusion of time travel, fated Arctic expeditions, and an 18th-century naval commander who plays disco music on his flute adds a unique and engaging twist!

    The strength of this novel lies in its superb character development. Bradley has created deeply drawn and wonderfully realized characters, particularly Graham Gore from a doomed 1840's Arctic expedition. Gore's intelligence, wisdom, innocence, and vulnerability are vividly portrayed, making his character profoundly compelling. Other characters are equally unique and three-dimensional, each bringing their own distinctive flavor to the story. This rich cast ensures that readers genuinely care about the fates of these individuals.

    The novel also includes refreshing LGBT representation, with characters expressing their identities authentically. The story alternates between the modern-day plot and Gore's final days on the HMS Erebus in the Arctic, building suspense towards the novel's climax. The romance that develops between the protagonist and Gore is carefully developed, though it is unevenly paced. The protagonist's experiences as a Cambodian immigrant in the UK provide additional depth, drawing parallels with how the Ministry treats the time expats. The protagonist's desire for power in the arena of cultural identity adds another layer of complexity.

    While the novel offers extensive commentary on themes of immigration and cultural assimilation, it can sometimes feel dense and pedantic. To me, the novel is trying too many notes, and the narrative can be a bit opaque, especially during key events. Despite these shortcomings, The Ministry of Time is an engaging read that creatively blends sci-fi themes with modern commentary, making it worth your TIME!
    25 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • JadeJ
    3.0 out of 5 stars Meh - maybe 3.5 stars - is definitely different
    Reviewed in the United States on January 8, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I got the audible version of the book to listen to on the road. I found the first part of the book rather tedious. it seemed like it was more about the author's opinions on diversity and 'progress' rather than something that really supported the storyline. I persevered and over time (no pun intended) the book got a little better as it got more into character development. It is an interesting concept for a story and I'm looking forward to finding out how it all wraps up in the end (I'm about 3/4 through the book).
    I'm glad i got the audible as part of my audible subscription, because otherwise i would have likely returned the kindle or hardcopy within the first chapter. Not sure i'd pursue another book by this author.
    5 people found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Robert Lee - Author
    5.0 out of 5 stars Unique.
    Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    I recently read and enjoyed Ms. Bradley's novel, “The Ministry of Time.” I’m always happy to find writers with unique voices such as Richard Ford (Canada), George Saunders (Lincoln at the Bardo), Richard Powers (The Overstory), and now Ms. Bradley. I’m usually not attracted to science fictionish literature and liked that your use was a backdrop for this memorable story of a developing relationship and how surrounding circumstances affected it. The historical setting of the Artic explorations and Graham Gore was very cool. I hope you’re at work on a new novel.
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Vlad Thelad
    5.0 out of 5 stars Ticks all the right boxes
    Reviewed in Canada on January 22, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    At the root of every good work of fiction there is probably a good story to tell. This book ticks that and many other boxes too. It has an engaging premise, essential to venturing into science fiction, which is kept simple and devoid of internal contradictions thus easing its believability. It has endearing well-constructed characters, essential to make you care about their lives and circumstances. It has a deceptively simple way of unfolding, sprinkled with enough hints and foreshadowing, essential to keep your interest ticking through the story’s twits and turns. And, finally, it lends itself to be enjoyed as a light read while at the same time posing an invitation to plunge into a discussion of much heftier themes. Very readable.
    Report
  • Cliente Kindle
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting story
    Reviewed in Brazil on December 11, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    But confusing and with a quite abrupt end.
    Report
  • Ines
    5.0 out of 5 stars When Past Meets Present
    Reviewed in France on January 30, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Some books grip you with their premise; others linger in your mind long after you turn the last page. The Ministry of Time does both. It’s a time-travel story unlike any I’ve read before—brimming with secrets, unexpected twists, and a love story that feels both grand and deeply intimate.

    At the heart of the novel is an unnamed protagonist who becomes a “bridge” for 19th-century naval officer Graham Gore (yes, that Graham Gore, from the Franklin expedition) as he tries to navigate 21st-century life. Watching Gore experience contemporary life through fresh eyes was both fascinating and surprisingly tender. The novel’s quieter moments—mundane routines, shared meals, hesitant conversations—are where Bradley’s writing truly shines.

    Beyond the intrigue, The Ministry of Time also delves into compelling discussions on race and perception. And then there’s the romance: slow-burning, bittersweet, and utterly consuming. The dual perspectives (especially Gore’s chapters) add depth, highlighting the contrast between past and present in a way that feels immersive rather than jarring.

    By the end, I was left with that rare, aching feeling—a mix of satisfaction and longing. This is a book that doesn’t just tell a story; it makes you feel it. Highly, highly recommend.
    Report
  • Akshaya
    1.0 out of 5 stars boring
    Reviewed in India on January 16, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    very boring to read... couldn't read beyond 25%
    Report
  • Jane Fleming
    5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book
    Reviewed in Germany on July 2, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I had to finish this today and it stayed with me and will stay with me for some time. There is time travel, history, and a love story, and I think the author uses time travel to reflect thoughts on migration - how can you ever feel at home in a strange place or time? Will it be enough to have friends or even family anchor you? Or will you stay an expat forever?

    I'd also like to recommend Jo Walton's My other children, this is not about time travel but about alternate histories - and about dementia -, and just as stunning as The Ministry of Time.
    Report