Reviewer: Cristine Mitchamore, Librarian I
I've read a number of time-travel books, even several where a sizable group of people (usually Americans) are thrown back in time and end up using their military superiority to defeat someone. But I think Birmingham's book is the most nuanced in terms of character reaction to the events. And it's certainly the book which created the most complex and conflicted emotional response from me.
I've been trying to figure out why the interactions between the characters from the two time periods seemed so much more fraught with tension and emotional impact than in other books. A member of my book group suggested it's because, unlike pretty much all the other time-travel books I've read, these characters are close enough in time to 'recognize' each other. And the majority of the characters share the same national identity, i.e. Americans, but each groups sees their nation differently. For those from 2021, they're speaking to their great-grandparents and being faced with issues (racism, sexism) they thought were finally resolved. For the 1940s people, they see glimpses of their society, but changed. And that recognition scares the heck out of the 1940s people.
I've seen a lot of other reviewers complain about the characters seeming unrealistic or poorly developed. To be honest, I think their opinions are influenced by their emotions. On the contrary, I found the characters to be realistic. A member of my book group which had served, albeit 10-15 years after 1941, agreed that he found the characters to be realistic as well.
I enjoyed the little shout outs to time-travel fans Birmingham sprinkled through time-travel discussions.
And I agree that a decision by the 2021 group near the end of the book doesn't work well. The way the decision is handled leaves
Weapons of Choice without much of a climax.
Overall this book is probably the most nuanced time-travel novel I've read.