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3.77 AVERAGE
3.77 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Aliens impregnating all women of child-bearing age in a quiet village. A very unsettling read.
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This was my 186th book finished in 2025.
I'm glad I had no idea what this book was about. It took a dark turn which was quite shocking and exciting!
I previously read Day of the Triffids, which was unfortunately sprinkled with a bit of sexism throughout. So I was a bit nervous to see how the author would handle this subject...
Well, needless to say I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more had it been written by a woman. The book was essentially just full of men talking about what they think is best for women. I'm not surprised, seeing as it was written in the 50s, but it's just frustrating.
I feel like one of the most horrifying things was becoming somehow pregnant. And it seems... All the women just kind of accepted it and that's that. I mean, god forbid we talk about alternative options in the 50s. It just seems glossed over. The men will say "you'll be fine", so the women are just fine about it. I don't know, just seem like lazy or unexplored writing.
He also doesn't write particularly likeable women characters which is frustrating - and I've noticed this is a trait throughout all his books that I've read.
Overall, I found it a little too slow burning for me. It was surprisingly dull in places, for the subject. There were also strange uncomfortable sexist sections and some weird archaic anthropology at the end. Very, very dated.
The ending was okay, I wasn't expecting it. But... I don't feel like I really knew the purpose of the cuckoos. That's a shame.
I'm glad I had no idea what this book was about. It took a dark turn which was quite shocking and exciting!
I previously read Day of the Triffids, which was unfortunately sprinkled with a bit of sexism throughout. So I was a bit nervous to see how the author would handle this subject...
Well, needless to say I think I would have enjoyed it a lot more had it been written by a woman. The book was essentially just full of men talking about what they think is best for women. I'm not surprised, seeing as it was written in the 50s, but it's just frustrating.
I feel like one of the most horrifying things was becoming somehow pregnant. And it seems... All the women just kind of accepted it and that's that. I mean, god forbid we talk about alternative options in the 50s. It just seems glossed over. The men will say "you'll be fine", so the women are just fine about it. I don't know, just seem like lazy or unexplored writing.
He also doesn't write particularly likeable women characters which is frustrating - and I've noticed this is a trait throughout all his books that I've read.
Overall, I found it a little too slow burning for me. It was surprisingly dull in places, for the subject. There were also strange uncomfortable sexist sections and some weird archaic anthropology at the end. Very, very dated.
The ending was okay, I wasn't expecting it. But... I don't feel like I really knew the purpose of the cuckoos. That's a shame.
i really enjoyed this- definitely an interesting take on the classic “aliens or something superior among us” narrative. I really enjoyed Zellaby’s character and the way the approached the Children.
- f (mar 10)
- f (mar 10)
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Interesting premise but too dated and ill-executed to be very enjoyable.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No