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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
Weirdly thrilling despite not much really happening…? I struggled a little with the hint (mainly more than a hint) of a romance brewing between two central characters, for reasons of both age and a lack of chemistry, but that aside, this was a smart, complex slice of British dystopia.
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
dark
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Really, more like 4.5 stars. My only quibble was that the end was a little too tidy. Otherwise, a terrific read that I struggled to put down. Deeply prolife as well, even in the treatment of death. And slightly chilling as it takes place in 2021, which is the year I read it, and I keep hearing about falling fertility rates in Western countries...
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I read this book about 20 years ago when the movie came out, and remember enjoying it. This time around, it was alright. It def didn’t paint women in the most positive light, other than the woman the narrator happened to decide he was in love with. It did bring up a number of topics that are still current problems - immigration, prison reform, and health care among them - but didn’t address any in significant ways
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
First things first.
P.D James is one bad ass woman. This book is total rebellion against the state. Punk rock printed on paper. James takes a razor sharp look at the state of the nation as it was in 1992 (time of publication). Its dark, violent, satirical and most of all beautifully put together. I have to say this is one of the best written books I've ever read. Descriptive language rolling smoothly sentence to sentence, the changes of perspectives (Theos journals to the 3rd person) and of course the effortless, natural feeling world building so detailed and intricate. A totally believable and original story perfectly executed until the last page. This may of become my favourite book of all time. Absolute masterpiece. Don't think too hard about starting this and get it read. The movie does not do this story any justice. Wow. Amazing.
P.D James is one bad ass woman. This book is total rebellion against the state. Punk rock printed on paper. James takes a razor sharp look at the state of the nation as it was in 1992 (time of publication). Its dark, violent, satirical and most of all beautifully put together. I have to say this is one of the best written books I've ever read. Descriptive language rolling smoothly sentence to sentence, the changes of perspectives (Theos journals to the 3rd person) and of course the effortless, natural feeling world building so detailed and intricate. A totally believable and original story perfectly executed until the last page. This may of become my favourite book of all time. Absolute masterpiece. Don't think too hard about starting this and get it read. The movie does not do this story any justice. Wow. Amazing.