I guessed right.

I was about halfway through    Year of Wonders (by Geraldine Brooks)
when I added it to Goodreads and noticed some of the comments -- an equal mixture of "riveting masterpiece" and "dreckage".  The number of people who "hated, hated, hated!" the ending and wanted to throw it across the room surprised me.


I went back and read the beginning again, then finished the book...and now I can guess from whence much of the hatred emanates.  And in response I'll quote Tim Minchen:

"If you open  your mind too much your brain will fall out."

Which won't happen to any of the haters of this book.

So be it.  I liked it.  Many the ending was a little unrealistic, but hey--the poor heroine deserved it.