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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
A quick but emotionally difficult read. Written 40 years ago yet holds up extremely well. Recommended.
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
On of the first books I remember reading as a young adult. This is kind of a precursor to the hunger games, maze runner books of today. I think it says some things about the way we treat our children and our soldiers. And while it's kind of a dark book, it's ultimately hopeful.
requested this from the library- I am pretty sure I read this as a kid! Ann talking about it on 'books on the nightstand' jogged my memory. We'll see if it's the same book.
Ok, it was the same book! I'm so pleased because for years I've been wondering what the name of that book I remembered was- even when I saw the movie "the Cube" a few years ago I thought it was based on/stolen from the same idea.
Based on the fact that I now know this was published in 1974, I must have read it then or not long after that date. probably around '76 or '77. So for over 20 years I've remembered. I am pretty sure there was also a sequel, since I also distinctly remember the same characters in another scenario- I must look that up.
Anyway- the thing that amazes me the most about 'House of Stairs' in 2009 is how absolutely undated it is- it could have been written last year. Amazing. 5 well deserved stars.
Ok, it was the same book! I'm so pleased because for years I've been wondering what the name of that book I remembered was- even when I saw the movie "the Cube" a few years ago I thought it was based on/stolen from the same idea.
Based on the fact that I now know this was published in 1974, I must have read it then or not long after that date. probably around '76 or '77. So for over 20 years I've remembered. I am pretty sure there was also a sequel, since I also distinctly remember the same characters in another scenario- I must look that up.
Anyway- the thing that amazes me the most about 'House of Stairs' in 2009 is how absolutely undated it is- it could have been written last year. Amazing. 5 well deserved stars.
In a 10th grade class in Louisiana one year, the English teacher gave us this book to read. To read in class. Instead of her actually teaching anything we were to simply read the book during the class period. I don't think we even discussed it afterwards. We were to simply read it. This lasted for at least two weeks, perhaps a month. I finished the book pretty quickly, so was left to do nothing during class.
Sadly, that is not my worst memory of the poor quality of public schools in Louisiana.
That memory colors my feelings about this book too much for me to be fully objective.
I re-read this recently and my opinion of the book remain pretty much the same as it was then. (Which is surprising, because a later, better education taught me to understand literature better.) The central idea of a "house of stairs" remains ridiculously illogical. But the concept of people being conditioned by an oppressive group (scientists in this case, but could be a government) is interesting and always relevant. It was hopeful in a way, in that a few characters were strong enough to resist, though it cost them a lot. Interesting also that this gay author was able to put enough hints of gayness into one of the child characters that it would be clear to some readers, yet pass unnoticed by the censors of a small-town Louisiana high school in 1982.
Sadly, that is not my worst memory of the poor quality of public schools in Louisiana.
That memory colors my feelings about this book too much for me to be fully objective.
I re-read this recently and my opinion of the book remain pretty much the same as it was then. (Which is surprising, because a later, better education taught me to understand literature better.) The central idea of a "house of stairs" remains ridiculously illogical. But the concept of people being conditioned by an oppressive group (scientists in this case, but could be a government) is interesting and always relevant. It was hopeful in a way, in that a few characters were strong enough to resist, though it cost them a lot. Interesting also that this gay author was able to put enough hints of gayness into one of the child characters that it would be clear to some readers, yet pass unnoticed by the censors of a small-town Louisiana high school in 1982.
Now this book was truly fascinating for me and I think that it would be interesting to those who like psychology. William Sleator, the author, in this book and all of the books that I have read of his have had amazing plot twists and that always take me by surprise.
Probably psychologically thrilling back in 1974 when it was written. I wish I had read it then! Sleator recently passed away and all the tribute articles mentioned this title as the ONE to read. Somehow, in all my teen reading, I missed this book.
Five orphans (all about 16) are placed in a controlled environment filled with a network of stairs and a machine that flashes lights and spits out food pellets--only at various times, though. Why are they together? How will they react? Will the machine control them or vice-versa?
A pretty decent read for its time.
Five orphans (all about 16) are placed in a controlled environment filled with a network of stairs and a machine that flashes lights and spits out food pellets--only at various times, though. Why are they together? How will they react? Will the machine control them or vice-versa?
A pretty decent read for its time.
I just found this book here on Goodreads. I remember I must have read this when I was maybe 12 years old & I loved it :) Probably one of the first dystopian books I ever read.
I guess it's quite outdated now, but in the 90s it was still awesome.
I guess it's quite outdated now, but in the 90s it was still awesome.
This book is fucked up. What is told is terrible but you can't stop reading because you want to know how it ends.