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dark
tense
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Death of parent
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Suicide, Violence, Grief, Suicide attempt, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Sexism, Suicide, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Alcohol
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Child death, Confinement, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Medical content, Kidnapping, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I first read this book when I was a teenager and had always loved it although I couldn't remember a lot of the details. The language is from a bygone era of precise language and a richness of meaning. It made me wonder how I understood it in my youth given I'm almost 60 now. Teens today would certainly struggle with the meaning of words and their use in the context of Wyndham's writing. Overall, a very good read and some lessons about living without comforts in the event of disaster. This may have been written over 70 years ago but so much still rings true.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Violence, Pandemic/Epidemic
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I wasn't aware at first but some American versions appear to be just localized, and some are localized AND abridged. As far as I can tell this isn't noted anywhere so make sure to do some research on your edition if you don't have one from the UK.
Um, well. The author did know that, like, blind people... exist, right? I understand that adjusting to sudden total loss of sight en masse would present unique difficulties but there is no acknowledgement that anyone might have gone from before the event to after with no real change to their abilities, or that blind communities exist, etc. Wyndham seems to treat the blind (and women as well!) as incompetent without a guiding hand. Our main character Billydoesn't seem overly troubled by leaving them all for dead until he becomes personal friends with a few people who can't see, which I suppose is realistic enough after all. I just found it kind of insulting and infantalizing that everyone in the novel essentially treats loss of sight as a fate worse than death.
I didn't find the political messaging in the novel very engaging. I think upheavals and apocalyptic settings can be an excellent way to shine a light on conventions and laws that aren't truly functioning for the benefit of society, or to create microcosms highlighting issues, but I found Billy's moral dilemmas to be pretty surface level. He never seemed to really question deeply, just make excuses for what he wanted to do anyway. Not unrealistic, again, but frustrating. And wow, it sure was a choice toportray a breeding farm as romantic. I appreciate that the end message can be read as survival only being possible by groups working together as equals but I would have appreciated seeing more of that on the page, personally.
This was interesting in that it was an apocalypse via three vectors(carnivorous plants, loss of sight, and pandemic), but that unfortunately resulted in a good portion of the book being light on the triffids themselves. I was most engaged in the introductory hospital scene and then at the end once Billy arrives at the farm onwards. I expected to like this more but it weirdly reminded me more of zombie horror (which isn't my preferred subgenre) --especially UK zombie media-- without zombies than plant horror.
Um, well. The author did know that, like, blind people... exist, right? I understand that adjusting to sudden total loss of sight en masse would present unique difficulties but there is no acknowledgement that anyone might have gone from before the event to after with no real change to their abilities, or that blind communities exist, etc. Wyndham seems to treat the blind (and women as well!) as incompetent without a guiding hand. Our main character Billy
I didn't find the political messaging in the novel very engaging. I think upheavals and apocalyptic settings can be an excellent way to shine a light on conventions and laws that aren't truly functioning for the benefit of society, or to create microcosms highlighting issues, but I found Billy's moral dilemmas to be pretty surface level. He never seemed to really question deeply, just make excuses for what he wanted to do anyway. Not unrealistic, again, but frustrating. And wow, it sure was a choice to
This was interesting in that it was an apocalypse via three vectors
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Suicide, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Alcohol, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Child death, Rape, Slavery
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Loved the story. Feels like it’s applicable today with our careless commoditization of natural resources for the benefit of human consumption and the extreme rightists trying to control women’s reproductive freedoms. Frightening times!
Had to wonder how the book would’ve addressed women unable to bear children and how close we’d get to being forced into being Marthas and aunts, à la The Handmaid’s Tale.
Had to wonder how the book would’ve addressed women unable to bear children and how close we’d get to being forced into being Marthas and aunts, à la The Handmaid’s Tale.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Body horror, Bullying, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Self harm, Sexism, Slavery, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Pandemic/Epidemic
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Suicide, Violence
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Partially ported over from my now-abandoned Goodreads:
Suprisingly solid, considering it's a book about walking carnivorous plants that bludgeon people. Honestly had me captivated, far more than I expected; this one's definitely a classic for a reason, and I'd recommend it. Its descriptions of its crumbling world, in particular, are really visceral, and hold a palpable solemnity and dread unlike anything I've read in a book thus far. This book is definitely worth a look.
Suprisingly solid, considering it's a book about walking carnivorous plants that bludgeon people. Honestly had me captivated, far more than I expected; this one's definitely a classic for a reason, and I'd recommend it. Its descriptions of its crumbling world, in particular, are really visceral, and hold a palpable solemnity and dread unlike anything I've read in a book thus far. This book is definitely worth a look.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Suicide, Terminal illness
Minor: Animal death, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy
A lot of people die in this book. Several die as the result of carnivorous plants attacking them, which is unpleasant but immediate or near-immediate. Others die of an unknown illness, and this is not immediate. One unnamed character kills herself rather than die of the plague slowly. A child victim is shown in the aftermath but his death is not seen. Several animals are seen dead or dying, but described briefly. Pregnancy is described but not graphically and turns out well. There is some violence, mostly not vividly described.
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Child death, Death, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol
Minor: Suicide, Violence, Pregnancy, War
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Banging post-apocalyptic novel about the fragility of human society in the face of man-eating plants and blindness with a healthy dose of Cold War and satellite weapon commentary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Death, Suicide
Moderate: Child death, Physical abuse, Violence
Minor: Gun violence, Rape