Scan barcode
kokoberry's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, and Alcohol
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Fatphobia, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Animal death, Abortion, and War
cursed_sapphire's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
The characters are interesting but not likeable, I recommend knowing that going in. This book is an exploration of a potential future built on consumption, sameness, and constant pleasure. The characters are meant to embody different parts of humanity/society. Bernard is only content if he's more special than everyone else, Lenina wants more monogomy than is normal but otherwise accepts everything, Helmholtz is just kinda bored and wants to be a tortured poet, etc. John is supposed to be the last real person, representing a true believer in religion and art which cannot survive in this society. Mind you, John is a very 1930's Christian ideal of a true, good person. And while his obsession with suffering for his sins serves as a counter to the painless society of the book, it came across a bit overzealous for me. It felt like Huxley was trying to make John suffer all the pain everyone else never had to, but that made him feel a little too obsessed with pain instead of the virtues he claims to care about. The same could also be said about his obsession with chastity.
This is a book more focused on ideas than on characters. The plot is a bit sparse, but that leads to a slice-of-life feeling, where the day-to-day life is the focus. There's a certain horror in the mundaneness that the characters experience, and that brings out the themes in a different, but still very effective way.
Overall I recommend this for anyone who likes the philosophical side of sci-fi/dystopia, as long as they are able to handle the old-fashioned lense.
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Suicide
Moderate: Racism, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, and Sexual harassment
gbentley's review against another edition
- 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
3.5
Moderate: Drug use and Xenophobia
Minor: Sexism and Suicide
honkinggoose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Graphic: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Suicide
Moderate: Body shaming and Classism
Minor: Gaslighting
sophia_teknoe's review against another edition
3.0
Moderate: Drug use, Racism, and Suicide
n_degeorgia's review against another edition
3.75
Eugenics is horrifying and the opening inciting moment really caught my attention but the rest of the story casts sexual liberation and modern convenience as the pinnacle of all evil. Fascinating read but the politics and morality of the 1930's is loud and clear and I think a 2024 understanding of these issues is more nuanced!
Graphic: Drug use, Racial slurs, and Suicide
teawiththefates's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Sexism, and Classism
Moderate: Fatphobia, Racism, Suicide, Xenophobia, and War
theveleveteenrabbit08's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Self harm, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Infertility, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicide, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol
Minor: Vomit and Pregnancy
triniparade's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Medical content, and Death of parent
Moderate: Addiction, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Xenophobia and Colonisation
livimack's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Drug use
Minor: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Grief, and Death of parent