With a stamp of approval from Barack Obama, I figured I’d give The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley a shot—even if young Fred Savage might have dismissed it as a “kissing book.”
Verdict: dangerously delightful. British bureaucracy + time travel = far more fun than you’d think.
The romance aspect is present but not all-encompassing. The dialogue is extremely clever and well-crafted, and considering the various eras the expats hail from, it feels agile and authentic.
Highly recommended!
Some favourite passages:
“He had a presence as mild as salad and the beautiful crow’s-feet of someone who could afford to age attractively.”
“He’s thinner these days. His hip bones are real architectural features.”
“…we’d find her sitting at the top of a long table like a mannequin awaiting the gift of demonic possession.”
“The paperwork had started breeding in captivity.”