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radicalmguy's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
richardleis's review against another edition
4.0
There's this moment after watching one of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers movies (there are four and I'll have more to say about them later on in this review) when I think to myself "I really should read the original novel by Jack Finney." Well, after watching all four adaptations again recently, I finally read the book, and what a surprise it turned out to be.
You know the story: seed pods from space arrive in a small town on Earth and begin replacing people while they sleep. What surprised me about the 1955 novel was how faithfully it was followed by the 1956 film adaptation starring Kevin McCarthy as Dr. Miles Bennell and Dana Wynter as Becky Driscoll. The first half is essentially the same between novel and film. About halfway through, details and plot points begin to diverge slightly, leading to a different ending. To be honest, the book's climax seems a little silly, and it's much less horrifying than the fate of the main characters by the end of the film. The film has its only silliness, in the shape of a framing device tacked on when the studio decided the ending was too dark, but what I view as the film's real ending is absolutely bone-chilling.
The novel has more room for exposition than the film, and in general this additional information is really interesting. The novel is told in first person by Dr. Miles Bennell, who is even more cheeky and self-centered in the novel than he is in the film. He's also much more progressive in the novel, which I didn't expect from a male character created in the 1950s. Dr. Bennell makes particularly incisive observations related to race and gender. The novel cannot avoid all stereotypes, though. Becky Driscoll is primarily a passive and emotional damsel in distress, but there are several great moments in the novel when she becomes much more active and heroic, including coming up with a particularly great escape plan from a seemingly impossible situation.
The pod people plot from the movies is one of my favorite delicious terrors from horror and that creepiness and consistently frightening progression is definitely there in the original novel. The only thing that really disappointed me about the novel was the ending. The film adaptions tend to lean toward darker endings and more ambiguity. They make me feel like the horror has only just begun. The book's ending instead is lighter and conclusive. It just doesn't pack the same punch. Until then, though, the book is genuinely creepy and frightening.
You know the story: seed pods from space arrive in a small town on Earth and begin replacing people while they sleep. What surprised me about the 1955 novel was how faithfully it was followed by the 1956 film adaptation starring Kevin McCarthy as Dr. Miles Bennell and Dana Wynter as Becky Driscoll. The first half is essentially the same between novel and film. About halfway through, details and plot points begin to diverge slightly, leading to a different ending. To be honest, the book's climax seems a little silly, and it's much less horrifying than the fate of the main characters by the end of the film. The film has its only silliness, in the shape of a framing device tacked on when the studio decided the ending was too dark, but what I view as the film's real ending is absolutely bone-chilling.
The novel has more room for exposition than the film, and in general this additional information is really interesting. The novel is told in first person by Dr. Miles Bennell, who is even more cheeky and self-centered in the novel than he is in the film. He's also much more progressive in the novel, which I didn't expect from a male character created in the 1950s. Dr. Bennell makes particularly incisive observations related to race and gender. The novel cannot avoid all stereotypes, though. Becky Driscoll is primarily a passive and emotional damsel in distress, but there are several great moments in the novel when she becomes much more active and heroic, including coming up with a particularly great escape plan from a seemingly impossible situation.
The pod people plot from the movies is one of my favorite delicious terrors from horror and that creepiness and consistently frightening progression is definitely there in the original novel. The only thing that really disappointed me about the novel was the ending. The film adaptions tend to lean toward darker endings and more ambiguity. They make me feel like the horror has only just begun. The book's ending instead is lighter and conclusive. It just doesn't pack the same punch. Until then, though, the book is genuinely creepy and frightening.
gunnernat7719's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
The gender dynamics in this book are wild. So exaggerated and I don't quite know if it's intentional or not. Good pulpy sci fi, disappointing ending and not enough devotion to what seems to be it's primary thesis.
pozeraczpapieru's review against another edition
3.0
3.5⭐️
Czytacie czasami science fiction? U mnie jest to drugi ulubiony gatunek zaraz po fantastyce. W szczególności lubię powieści pisane w ubiegłym wieku pokazujące stan wiedzy ówczesnych pokoleń i ich postrzeganie świata.
„Inwazja porywaczy ciał” Jacka Finneya to bardzo krótka powieść o losach ludzi w małym kalifornijskim miasteczku. Pewnego dnia do miejscowego lekarza przychodzi kobieta, która twierdzi, że jej wujek tak naprawdę nie jest jej wujkiem. Choć wygląda i zachowuje się dokładnie tak samo, to jednak jest w nim coś innego. Jak można się spodziewać lekarz nie od razu wierzy pacjentce. Jednak, gdy taki epizod pojawia się również u innych osób postanawia lepiej się temu przyjrzeć.
Książka Finneya pokazuje nam wiele ciekawych aspektów psychologicznych. Możemy bliżej przyjrzeć się temu jak u człowieka działa autosugestia. Bo czy nie wydaje się dziwnym coś czego nie ma jak udowodnić? Co tak naprawdę sprawia, że mamy wrażenie, iż dzieje się coś niepokojącego?
Cała fabuła przedstawiona jest w bardzo obrazowy sposób. Ma się wrażenie oglądania filmu, w którym dwójka na pozór mało znaczących postaci stoi przed zadaniem uratowania ludzkości. Gdy szukanie pomocy u innych osób czy nawet władz nie przynosi efektu, sami muszą się zmierzyć z nadchodzącą zagładą.
Jednak oprócz tego, że jest to trzymająca w napięciu powieść sci-fi, autor zadaje czytelnikowi szereg pytań. Co robić, gdy nikt nie wierzy w Twoje słowa, a potencjalnie każda osoba może być dla Ciebie zagrożeniem? Jak przekonać innych do prawdziwości własnych doświadczeń? Czy może powinno się przekonać siebie, że nic z tych rzeczy nie dzieje się w rzeczywistości? Jedno jest pewne - w tej książce nie dostaniecie odpowiedzi na żadne z tych pytań, dostaniecie natomiast przestrzeń do własnej kontemplacji.
Czytacie czasami science fiction? U mnie jest to drugi ulubiony gatunek zaraz po fantastyce. W szczególności lubię powieści pisane w ubiegłym wieku pokazujące stan wiedzy ówczesnych pokoleń i ich postrzeganie świata.
„Inwazja porywaczy ciał” Jacka Finneya to bardzo krótka powieść o losach ludzi w małym kalifornijskim miasteczku. Pewnego dnia do miejscowego lekarza przychodzi kobieta, która twierdzi, że jej wujek tak naprawdę nie jest jej wujkiem. Choć wygląda i zachowuje się dokładnie tak samo, to jednak jest w nim coś innego. Jak można się spodziewać lekarz nie od razu wierzy pacjentce. Jednak, gdy taki epizod pojawia się również u innych osób postanawia lepiej się temu przyjrzeć.
Książka Finneya pokazuje nam wiele ciekawych aspektów psychologicznych. Możemy bliżej przyjrzeć się temu jak u człowieka działa autosugestia. Bo czy nie wydaje się dziwnym coś czego nie ma jak udowodnić? Co tak naprawdę sprawia, że mamy wrażenie, iż dzieje się coś niepokojącego?
Cała fabuła przedstawiona jest w bardzo obrazowy sposób. Ma się wrażenie oglądania filmu, w którym dwójka na pozór mało znaczących postaci stoi przed zadaniem uratowania ludzkości. Gdy szukanie pomocy u innych osób czy nawet władz nie przynosi efektu, sami muszą się zmierzyć z nadchodzącą zagładą.
Jednak oprócz tego, że jest to trzymająca w napięciu powieść sci-fi, autor zadaje czytelnikowi szereg pytań. Co robić, gdy nikt nie wierzy w Twoje słowa, a potencjalnie każda osoba może być dla Ciebie zagrożeniem? Jak przekonać innych do prawdziwości własnych doświadczeń? Czy może powinno się przekonać siebie, że nic z tych rzeczy nie dzieje się w rzeczywistości? Jedno jest pewne - w tej książce nie dostaniecie odpowiedzi na żadne z tych pytań, dostaniecie natomiast przestrzeń do własnej kontemplacji.
zare_i's review against another edition
4.0
This was a surprisingly good horror novel. I have watched the movies and, lets be honest, from the very title reader is aware of what is the main twist here.
But it is in the way story is told that I truly enjoyed it. Told from the perspective of a local physician we follow what at first seems like to be a mass hysteria slowly becomes a palpable danger which unfortunately our heroes cannot fight, let alone defeat because ... they just cannot. They can resist it and they can slow it down but for all means and purposes infiltration is just too good and too thorough to be stopped. Also the very nature of the infiltration is such that not once our heroes start to question themselves - is it what they see and witness real or not.
One of the comments I read for the book commented about one of the discussions in the book where there is mention of the weight of the sun-light but, if we put aside rather clumsiness of the explanation (which again for me is all right because these are discussions between laymen) what is described as a motor that spreads the invasion is nothing more than a form of solar sail. Another great concept here is the way copies are made - pure genius if you ask me. No need for physical contact or drawing blood, no aliens popping up from chest-cavity. The very process is the ultimate horror of all, waking up completely changed, feeling same but also completely different. As I said, excellent idea.
And while narrative flow is at times a little bit slow, novel itself aged more than well. And yes, after reading the novel I have to say no movie did it justice yet, they did capture the paranoia but the novel is much more terrifying than the movies in the sheer level of despair.
Recommended to fans of SF and horror.
But it is in the way story is told that I truly enjoyed it. Told from the perspective of a local physician we follow what at first seems like to be a mass hysteria slowly becomes a palpable danger which unfortunately our heroes cannot fight, let alone defeat because ... they just cannot. They can resist it and they can slow it down but for all means and purposes infiltration is just too good and too thorough to be stopped. Also the very nature of the infiltration is such that not once our heroes start to question themselves - is it what they see and witness real or not.
One of the comments I read for the book commented about one of the discussions in the book where there is mention of the weight of the sun-light but, if we put aside rather clumsiness of the explanation (which again for me is all right because these are discussions between laymen) what is described as a motor that spreads the invasion is nothing more than a form of solar sail. Another great concept here is the way copies are made - pure genius if you ask me. No need for physical contact or drawing blood, no aliens popping up from chest-cavity. The very process is the ultimate horror of all, waking up completely changed, feeling same but also completely different. As I said, excellent idea.
And while narrative flow is at times a little bit slow, novel itself aged more than well. And yes, after reading the novel I have to say no movie did it justice yet, they did capture the paranoia but the novel is much more terrifying than the movies in the sheer level of despair.
Recommended to fans of SF and horror.
jordansimmons's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jeninthebooks08's review against another edition
4.0
3.5*
I went into this book thinking it would be much more action-driven and alien invasion-like based on me watching a movie adaptation of it years ago. However, it turned out to be much more character-driven. I found the ending to be very rushed and underwhelming ? The majority of the book goes through establishing the phenomenon happening, making the first 100 pages or so slow. The interaction with the alien species seems reasonably explained, but contradicts the ending completely.
However, my biggest issue with the book are the descriptions towards women and the misogyny.
Overall, interesting, but meh. Is a product of its time, I suppose.
To end my review, I'll use a quote that sums up humanity in quite an interesting way:
"The human mind searches for cause and effect, always; and we all prefer the weird and thrilling to the dull and commonplace as an answer".
I went into this book thinking it would be much more action-driven and alien invasion-like based on me watching a movie adaptation of it years ago. However, it turned out to be much more character-driven. I found the ending to be very rushed and underwhelming ? The majority of the book goes through establishing the phenomenon happening, making the first 100 pages or so slow. The interaction with the alien species seems reasonably explained, but contradicts the ending completely.
However, my biggest issue with the book are the descriptions towards women and the misogyny.
Overall, interesting, but meh. Is a product of its time, I suppose.
To end my review, I'll use a quote that sums up humanity in quite an interesting way:
"The human mind searches for cause and effect, always; and we all prefer the weird and thrilling to the dull and commonplace as an answer".
satinedethye's review against another edition
2.0
Just some of my favorite quotes from this masterpiece:
- ‘I don’t claim much experience with crying women, but in the stories I read, the man always holds the girl close and let’s her cry’ (meaning he has no emotional intelligence whatsoever)
-‘She wasn’t a big girl, exactly, but she wasn’t small, and nothing in her construction had been skimped or neglected’ (he is describing the love of his love and this is the best he can come up with)
- ‘she was not, after all, just a good pal who happened to wear skirts’ (what)
- He takes her out of her bed and puts her in his car and she says “Are you kidnapping me? […] Couldn’t you at least ask me like a gentleman?”’ (I think you meant like a NORMAL person)
- ‘You can never tell, I’ve found, how a woman will take anything’ (no wonder he can’t pull anyone)
- ‘She looked like a girl in an ad for a vacation resort’ (tell me you’re a writer in the 50s without telling me you’re a writer in the 50s)
- ‘Breakfast was a gay affair’ (just thought that was funny)
- ‘She looked fresh and alive and good looking’ (give this man some writing lessons please)
- ‘As most wives, even the wisest, do with any real conviction held by their husbands, Theodora accepted this and made it her own’ (no comment)
- ‘I talk to myself when I shave. “You handsome bastard, […] you are weak. Emotionally unstable. Basically insecure. […] You are undoubtedly a quack, and a Don Juan personality’ (idk if this is relatable or just pathetic)
- ‘Would you mind moving? […] Because I kiss left handed, if you know what I mean’ (lack or rizz showing)
- ‘I heard the little beep-beep sound’ (Byron ran so Jack Finney could run)
- ‘She lay there looking like a schoolboy’s dream’ (nicely put, Miles)
- ‘I hadn’t wanted to tell you this, but there’s a curse in my family; we Bennels are doomed to walk alone. I was in the first generations to try marriage, and you know what happened. If I try it again, I’d turn into an owl’ (drama queen, he only got one divorce)
- ‘Of all people, I, a doctor, should have had more sense’ (bit of a god-complex)
- ‘I took her face in my hands, and kissed her, but it was a gesture of comfort, like kissing a child’ (sus)
- ‘“The world,” I said softly, then cried out, “but why? Oh my god, why?”’ (I don’t know how he managed it but the dialogue sounds like bad acting)
- ‘a fragment of a wartime speech moved through my mind: We shall fight them in the fields, and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender’ (he really thought he did something here it’s just sad)
In a nutshell, this book was poorly written, the romance was cringey, the female characters were stereotypical and the male characters were the only ones who had the capacity to understand what was going on. The plot was somewhat enjoyable, though I think you will feel more tense waiting for your bread to toast than reading this novel. If you do not believe me, I recommend reading the first paragraph, where the narrator himself says you should not read this book.
- ‘I don’t claim much experience with crying women, but in the stories I read, the man always holds the girl close and let’s her cry’ (meaning he has no emotional intelligence whatsoever)
-‘She wasn’t a big girl, exactly, but she wasn’t small, and nothing in her construction had been skimped or neglected’ (he is describing the love of his love and this is the best he can come up with)
- ‘she was not, after all, just a good pal who happened to wear skirts’ (what)
- He takes her out of her bed and puts her in his car and she says “Are you kidnapping me? […] Couldn’t you at least ask me like a gentleman?”’ (I think you meant like a NORMAL person)
- ‘You can never tell, I’ve found, how a woman will take anything’ (no wonder he can’t pull anyone)
- ‘She looked like a girl in an ad for a vacation resort’ (tell me you’re a writer in the 50s without telling me you’re a writer in the 50s)
- ‘Breakfast was a gay affair’ (just thought that was funny)
- ‘She looked fresh and alive and good looking’ (give this man some writing lessons please)
- ‘As most wives, even the wisest, do with any real conviction held by their husbands, Theodora accepted this and made it her own’ (no comment)
- ‘I talk to myself when I shave. “You handsome bastard, […] you are weak. Emotionally unstable. Basically insecure. […] You are undoubtedly a quack, and a Don Juan personality’ (idk if this is relatable or just pathetic)
- ‘Would you mind moving? […] Because I kiss left handed, if you know what I mean’ (lack or rizz showing)
- ‘I heard the little beep-beep sound’ (Byron ran so Jack Finney could run)
- ‘She lay there looking like a schoolboy’s dream’ (nicely put, Miles)
- ‘I hadn’t wanted to tell you this, but there’s a curse in my family; we Bennels are doomed to walk alone. I was in the first generations to try marriage, and you know what happened. If I try it again, I’d turn into an owl’ (drama queen, he only got one divorce)
- ‘Of all people, I, a doctor, should have had more sense’ (bit of a god-complex)
- ‘I took her face in my hands, and kissed her, but it was a gesture of comfort, like kissing a child’ (sus)
- ‘“The world,” I said softly, then cried out, “but why? Oh my god, why?”’ (I don’t know how he managed it but the dialogue sounds like bad acting)
- ‘a fragment of a wartime speech moved through my mind: We shall fight them in the fields, and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender’ (he really thought he did something here it’s just sad)
In a nutshell, this book was poorly written, the romance was cringey, the female characters were stereotypical and the male characters were the only ones who had the capacity to understand what was going on. The plot was somewhat enjoyable, though I think you will feel more tense waiting for your bread to toast than reading this novel. If you do not believe me, I recommend reading the first paragraph, where the narrator himself says you should not read this book.