Book Review: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

Introduction

Goodreads Summary: "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:

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."

I picked up The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley because a friend had given it to me in a book swap. It was a way to shake up my usual reading list, and I’m so glad I read it. This book offered a refreshing blend of humour, emotion, and thought-provoking themes, keeping me entertained and engaged throughout. While it wasn’t perfect, it’s a story that’s definitely going to stick with me.

Thoughts

One of the things I loved most about this book was how fun it was to read. It kept me on my toes, eager to find out what would happen next. The humor was a pleasant surprise (I found myself laughing at times), and I genuinely cared for the characters. Bradley does a fantastic job of creating a flawed but compelling characters.

Time travel is a big part of The Ministry of Time, but it’s not the kind of story where everything about it makes perfect sense. Some aspects of how the time travel works left me with questions. However, it’s clear that the focus isn’t on making the science flawless, it’s more about using time travel as a backdrop to explore themes like power, love, and human connection. Once I stopped overthinking the logistics, I was able to fully enjoy the story for what it was.

The book also touches on deeper subjects, such as racism and the trauma of being the child of immigrants. The main character’s mother is from Cambodia, and her experiences ripple through the story in a way that felt impactful. I appreciated how these themes were woven into the narrative, adding layers to the story without it being the main focus.

That said, there were some aspects that didn’t quite work for me. The writing style, while often beautiful, sometimes felt like it was trying a bit too hard. Some metaphors were far-fetched and left me confused, and the overuse of complex synonyms occasionally distracted me from the flow of the story.

The pacing was another issue for me. The chapters were rather long, and much of the book felt slow, with not much happening for a while. Then, near the end, everything suddenly escalates and happens in a much faster pace that it felt a little abrupt to me.

What I Loved About the Book

• The humour and how much fun it was to read.

• The lovable and relatable characters.

• How it tackled important themes like racism and intergenerational trauma.

• The way it kept me emotionally invested in the characters.

  
  

What Didn’t Work for Me

• The writing style was occasionally unclear and overly flowery.

• The pacing felt uneven, with a slow buildup and a rushed ending.

• The long chapters made the story feel dense at times.

  
  

Final Verdict

4/5

The Ministry of Time was a refreshing and enjoyable read that stood out from my usual picks. While it wasn’t perfect, the humor, emotional depth, and unique story made it well worth my time.

Who Should Read This Book

If you’re a fan of genre-blending stories, The Ministry of Time is for you. With its mix of sci-fi, historical fiction, romance, comedy, and thrilling aspects, it offers something for everyone.