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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
Three stars for the main book.
Brave New World rung a lot more true to me than 1984, and less viscerally unpleasant to read. The parts most far-removed from modern day were the ones about genetic manipulation and mass-production of people into different castes. Everything else, showing how people cheerfully participate in their own dumbing-down and will accept all manner of societal atrocities if provided with enough food, drugs, and entertainment, seemed uncomfortably insightful.
The story itself was, of course, horrible: every character was nearly worthless, nobody grew and no real change happened. But that's not the point of a book like this, and Brave New World delivered the eerily prescient warnings of doom I was expecting, so that's all I can ask for.
The fourth star is for Brave New World Revisited, which apparently is an essay Huxley wrote about his own work. He interprets his own book, and contrasts it with 1984 and the direction in which he saw his own society moving. It's pretty dated and somewhat scientifically questionable in parts, but overall does all the commentating that's necessary, so I don't have to. I'm also coming to the conclusion that it's just so much more pleasant for me to read about these kind of topics in essay or article format, rather than works of grotesque satirical fiction.
Brave New World rung a lot more true to me than 1984, and less viscerally unpleasant to read. The parts most far-removed from modern day were the ones about genetic manipulation and mass-production of people into different castes. Everything else, showing how people cheerfully participate in their own dumbing-down and will accept all manner of societal atrocities if provided with enough food, drugs, and entertainment, seemed uncomfortably insightful.
The story itself was, of course, horrible: every character was nearly worthless, nobody grew and no real change happened. But that's not the point of a book like this, and Brave New World delivered the eerily prescient warnings of doom I was expecting, so that's all I can ask for.
The fourth star is for Brave New World Revisited, which apparently is an essay Huxley wrote about his own work. He interprets his own book, and contrasts it with 1984 and the direction in which he saw his own society moving. It's pretty dated and somewhat scientifically questionable in parts, but overall does all the commentating that's necessary, so I don't have to. I'm also coming to the conclusion that it's just so much more pleasant for me to read about these kind of topics in essay or article format, rather than works of grotesque satirical fiction.
adventurous
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
**3 Stars**
**"A slow burn into dystopia—worth the read, but not the thrill I was hoping for
One of those books that everyone talks about, and for good reason. It's a cornerstone of dystopian fiction, a genre I usually enjoy. But honestly? I found this one a bit slow and, at times, boring.
The concept? Fascinating. A society built on control through pleasure, where people are genetically engineered and conditioned to be content with their place in life. It’s a world where freedom is traded for convenience and artificial happiness, which feels eerily relevant today. One part that stood out to me was the idea that **“people will come to love their oppression, to adore the technologies that undo their capacities to think.”** Considering how technology influences society now, that hit a little too close to home.
But despite the big ideas, the execution didn’t really hook me. The pacing dragged, and while I get that Huxley is painting a world that’s supposed to be cold and detached, it made the story hard to connect with on a personal level. I found myself more interested in the societal critique than the characters themselves.
All in all, it’s a book I’m glad I read. It’s thought-provoking and has some chillingly accurate predictions about where society could be headed. But if you’re looking for a page-turner, this probably isn’t it. *Brave New World* is more of a quiet contemplation than a gripping ride.
Meraviglioso. Terribile. Ma meraviglioso.
Ho ripetuto come un mantra le parole precedenti per tutta la lettura del Mondo Nuovo. Tutt’ora faccio fatica ad esprimere qualcosa di più articolato. Se ci pensate però, quando un distopico è un buon distopico non può che essere descritto con queste due parole.
Terribile. Per la realtà che narra e la possibilità, più o meno concreta, che abbiamo come umanità di arrivare sino al baratro narrato.
Meraviglioso. Per gli spunti di riflessione che lascia nel lettore e la capacità della storia di avilupparlo nelle sue pagine.
Recensione completa sul blog: https://www.chiacchiereletterarie.it/viaggio-nel-mondo-nuovo-di-aldous-huxley/
Ho ripetuto come un mantra le parole precedenti per tutta la lettura del Mondo Nuovo. Tutt’ora faccio fatica ad esprimere qualcosa di più articolato. Se ci pensate però, quando un distopico è un buon distopico non può che essere descritto con queste due parole.
Terribile. Per la realtà che narra e la possibilità, più o meno concreta, che abbiamo come umanità di arrivare sino al baratro narrato.
Meraviglioso. Per gli spunti di riflessione che lascia nel lettore e la capacità della storia di avilupparlo nelle sue pagine.
Recensione completa sul blog: https://www.chiacchiereletterarie.it/viaggio-nel-mondo-nuovo-di-aldous-huxley/
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
fast-paced
Prophetic. This is a cautionary tale and guidance for the next generation: to honor a thing which make us, mankind, human. Freedom.
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I generally don’t rate books so low, especially when I am glad that I did read them. Will try to expand on why I rate it this way soon.