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spitzig's review against another edition
3.0
OK, for historical purposes. You could see some of the ideas that are made famous in Brave New World.
The characters were decently done. But, the main character was one of those nervous guys who finally manages to hit on a girl. Before it was annoying "Oh, I've known her so long, but she's so beautiful. I can't." back and forth. After he hit on her, he was depressing.
The characters were decently done. But, the main character was one of those nervous guys who finally manages to hit on a girl. Before it was annoying "Oh, I've known her so long, but she's so beautiful. I can't." back and forth. After he hit on her, he was depressing.
pradoll's review against another edition
5.0
I went into this book expecting for it to either a bore or a completely captivating story, but it was neither. I definitely was not expecting to become as sad as I did when the book ended, even right up to the last page I was not expecting to be so saddened. For that reason and many others I believe this has to be one of the best books of such length I have ever read.
khyland's review against another edition
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
littletaiko's review against another edition
3.0
This poor book - it took me so long to finish it. Every time I picked it up I enjoyed it but then I would later forget that I was reading it. This is a rather uneventful book that pokes fun and English society. A couple of great quotes though.
"After all, what is reading but a vice, like drink or venery or any other form of excessive self-indulgence? One reads to tickle and amuse one’s mind; one reads, above all, to prevent oneself thinking."
"As reading becomes more and more habitual and widespread, an ever-increasing number of people will discover that books will give them all the pleasures of social life and none of its intolerable tedium."
"After all, what is reading but a vice, like drink or venery or any other form of excessive self-indulgence? One reads to tickle and amuse one’s mind; one reads, above all, to prevent oneself thinking."
"As reading becomes more and more habitual and widespread, an ever-increasing number of people will discover that books will give them all the pleasures of social life and none of its intolerable tedium."
theaurochs's review against another edition
3.0
I am firmly of the opinion that The Great Gatsby should never be taught in English schools. Primarily, it's just not that good- all of the basic symbolism that GCSE teachers love to explain (citation needed), all of the dreary loathsome characters presented in uninteresting ways, a distinct lack of charm. But there's also the obvious fact that it's American, and as such the context is just that much more separated for the modern British reader; in addition to that gulf of time, we also have the very different transatlantic culture to try and deal with.
Enter Aldous Huxley. Not merely a one-hit-wonder with Brave New World as many (including myself until not that long ago!) believe, his first four novels were in fact all relatively similar portraits of the upper class in the early post-world-war-on years; with all the ennui that entails. There's absolutely cocktails, parties, unrequited love and even dangerous driving. All the glitz and glamour of the American counterpart, but with much more British sensibilities. It's a difficult distinction to quantify, but Gatsby feels loud, brash, and boring where Crome Yellow feels restrained, witty and insightful.
The characters in Crome Yellow are no less loathsome, but they are presented with a more obviously critical eye, as send-ups but never quite so cruel as characatures, and they bounce off each other delightfully over the course of dinners and strolls through the grounds. Our nominal view-point character is a young and naïve author, who is invited to spend a summer of leisure at the large country home of his eccentric acquantance. There are a number of other artistic types also residing there, and these provide the entirety of the plot, such as it is, as their interactions with each other come to the forefront.
There is no real driving plot, no momentous event or mystery or anything. It's simply a summer of events occurring, and how our writer and his artist friends deal with them. But it's enough! There is a strong satirical bend that suffuses the book without being overwhelming, and allows for a serious sprinkling of dry humour. Huxley is a very interesting writer for me, seeming to sit halfway between the whimsical Dickensian satire and the more modern deeply cynical satire; naturally the changing attitudes of the 20s have much to do with this, and Crome Yellow is a really good example of these attitudes.
A fun and interesting read with a host of memorable characters, wry humour and clever social commentary.
Enter Aldous Huxley. Not merely a one-hit-wonder with Brave New World as many (including myself until not that long ago!) believe, his first four novels were in fact all relatively similar portraits of the upper class in the early post-world-war-on years; with all the ennui that entails. There's absolutely cocktails, parties, unrequited love and even dangerous driving. All the glitz and glamour of the American counterpart, but with much more British sensibilities. It's a difficult distinction to quantify, but Gatsby feels loud, brash, and boring where Crome Yellow feels restrained, witty and insightful.
The characters in Crome Yellow are no less loathsome, but they are presented with a more obviously critical eye, as send-ups but never quite so cruel as characatures, and they bounce off each other delightfully over the course of dinners and strolls through the grounds. Our nominal view-point character is a young and naïve author, who is invited to spend a summer of leisure at the large country home of his eccentric acquantance. There are a number of other artistic types also residing there, and these provide the entirety of the plot, such as it is, as their interactions with each other come to the forefront.
There is no real driving plot, no momentous event or mystery or anything. It's simply a summer of events occurring, and how our writer and his artist friends deal with them. But it's enough! There is a strong satirical bend that suffuses the book without being overwhelming, and allows for a serious sprinkling of dry humour. Huxley is a very interesting writer for me, seeming to sit halfway between the whimsical Dickensian satire and the more modern deeply cynical satire; naturally the changing attitudes of the 20s have much to do with this, and Crome Yellow is a really good example of these attitudes.
A fun and interesting read with a host of memorable characters, wry humour and clever social commentary.
k80bowman's review against another edition
3.0
I wish I had read this book when I first wanted to, years ago when I was in the midst of my Huxley phase. I think I would have liked it better. It was very good, Huxley is always good with philosophy and social critique and this was the beginning of all of that for him, and having read a lot of his books in the past, it was very interesting to read his first book. All the same, I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read it, say, ten years ago.
briandice's review against another edition
4.0
An author's first novel is often semi-autobiographical, and Huxley's "Crome Yellow" is no exception. Drawing from his experiences at Garsington Manor and his time with the Bloomsbury set, Huxley satirizes and caricatures the British world fresh from The Great War and heady with a world of possibilities, including another potential global conflagration that could destroy humanity.
Huxley's range of male characters read like spokes on a wheel of his own personality. Early in the novel Huxley's main protagonist, Denis, laments his fear of passing through the world without making his mark - that his poetry and prose would be the stuff of weak tea and remain unread by the masses (a thinly-veiled Huxleyism, if there ever was one). Huxley's counter-point to his youthful protagonist is Mr. Scogan, a prophetic middle-aged man who guesses with alarming accuracy the type of novel that Denis is trying to write (and which is basically the book Huxley does not want "Crome Yellow" to become), causing Denis to swear-off the book entirely. Scogan also hints about the possibility of a future of birthing humans in test-tubes - an early foreshadowing to "Brave New World" which would be published 12 years after CY.
There are several well written scenes, including a touching oral history of a dwarf forefather given by one of CY's many characters - and the County Fair scene with Scogan as a fortune teller is a favorite. Recommended for Huxley and British lit fans.
Huxley's range of male characters read like spokes on a wheel of his own personality. Early in the novel Huxley's main protagonist, Denis, laments his fear of passing through the world without making his mark - that his poetry and prose would be the stuff of weak tea and remain unread by the masses (a thinly-veiled Huxleyism, if there ever was one). Huxley's counter-point to his youthful protagonist is Mr. Scogan, a prophetic middle-aged man who guesses with alarming accuracy the type of novel that Denis is trying to write (and which is basically the book Huxley does not want "Crome Yellow" to become), causing Denis to swear-off the book entirely. Scogan also hints about the possibility of a future of birthing humans in test-tubes - an early foreshadowing to "Brave New World" which would be published 12 years after CY.
There are several well written scenes, including a touching oral history of a dwarf forefather given by one of CY's many characters - and the County Fair scene with Scogan as a fortune teller is a favorite. Recommended for Huxley and British lit fans.
jayford's review
challenging
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
It was pretty confusing
jenmcmaynes's review against another edition
2.0
Listened to this on LibriVox; the reader did a good job. My problem with the book was the lack of plot. A group of upper class English people gather at an estate, Crome Yellow. At first, there are amusing descriptions of their characters and interactions. But after just a few chapters, it becomes apparent that this is just a framework for each character to discuss-at length- their thoughts on history, the arts, sexuality, religion. And these digressions are actually pretty interesting, acting as a capsule of the intellectual times and foreshadowing some of Huxley’s later works. But when I read a novel, I want a novel! :) The last few chapters do try to complete what little story there is (mainly of the writer Dennis’ unrequited love of Anne) but it’s all pretty thin. I guess I’d say this is interesting and worthwhile for the ideas, but not for any of the traditional novel elements like plot or character development.