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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
This was an interesting dystopia. I did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would, but the book was still good.
James was (it's sad to use the past tense about her) an author who could create three dimensional characters, and these are no exceptions. The beginning had a bit too much backstory, but everything was beautifully written. Certain scenes were haunting and deeply disturbing, while others were simply beautiful. The last half of the book was fast-paced and thrilling.
All in all, if a bit slow at times, it is still a good book.
James was (it's sad to use the past tense about her) an author who could create three dimensional characters, and these are no exceptions. The beginning had a bit too much backstory, but everything was beautifully written. Certain scenes were haunting and deeply disturbing, while others were simply beautiful. The last half of the book was fast-paced and thrilling.
All in all, if a bit slow at times, it is still a good book.
I remember liking the film adaptation of this when it came out--20 years ago? Is that right? A long time. Anyway, the movie is much more action-oriented than the novel, which is rather quiet and slow moving until the last third or so. I did enjoy it and was quite caught up in the denouement, but overall found it a bit overwritten. I wouldn't teach it in a science fiction/spec lit class. It's just. As my students would say, so wordy. Still, a decent read, overall.
Very interesting, very very different from the film. Great ending.
I liked the end better then in the film which I have (unfortunately) seen before I had finished the book.
I thought the movie was one of the best of its year and was at first a little disappointed in the plot and character differences between novel and screen. However, the characterization of Theo and the ending of this book made up for the disappointment and turned this into a five star review for me. Theo is a bit of a moper, true, but he is absolutely human and his transformation from part of a dying race to the hopeful protector and then to the thought- provoking position he is in at the end made this novel well worth the disappointments.
I think I like the book and the movie equally- they both have very different strengths (although I think both do well on characterizations- the movie even better across the board)and separate point of views.
I think I like the book and the movie equally- they both have very different strengths (although I think both do well on characterizations- the movie even better across the board)and separate point of views.
Very good, very unsettling because it could realistically happen in the near future. The ending especially gave me chills. While the movie goes in a different direction at the end, I find this ending better and more likely.
One thing to be aware of: this is one of the few books that is not as good as the movie. Quite surprising, considering who wrote it, but I think she ventured quite a ways out of her comfort zone to write this book. It was a wonderful thing that the screenwriters for the movie could see the kernel of wonderfulness in this book and expand it into such a stupendous movie. Which is not to say the book isn't worth reading; it most assuredly is.
I'm always a fan of more classic dystopian settings. I must be getting old, but the recent fad for heroic young lass' saving the world from shallow and controlling governments seems a little too trite for my tastes.
Where Children of Men gets it right is thorough social commentary seamlessly stirred in with a good story so that one never feels the world is fake or artificial, nor does one ever get bored with the lack of action.
Relatively short The Children of Men is enjoyable and thought provoking, the only downside being that PD James did not write more books in this genre.
Where Children of Men gets it right is thorough social commentary seamlessly stirred in with a good story so that one never feels the world is fake or artificial, nor does one ever get bored with the lack of action.
Relatively short The Children of Men is enjoyable and thought provoking, the only downside being that PD James did not write more books in this genre.
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A rare example of the film adaptation being decisively better than the source material
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No