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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Did you know Jack London was a socialist?? I think there were one or two subtle clues in the text about it.
More seriously, though London's very early take on a dystopic novel was interesting, and the framing device genuinely clever (the footnotes made me laugh more than once), the political soapboxing was just too annoying for me.
More seriously, though London's very early take on a dystopic novel was interesting, and the framing device genuinely clever (the footnotes made me laugh more than once), the political soapboxing was just too annoying for me.
challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A bas le capitalisme !
adventurous
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loved the multiple storylines that were drawn from the "footnotes"
The really nice thing about this book is that it can be obtained for free as an E-book!
The novel is based upon a Manuscript which is hidden away during an attempted revolution against a capitalist oligarchy, before being found centuries later. The Manuscript is introduced and interspersed with footnotes of a scholar who is reviewing the manuscript centuries in the future.
Overall, I have to admit I enjoyed the book hugely. The political speeches and discussions made by one of the characters are brilliantly written and explained as they attempt to stand against the oligarchy that is being formed. I also liked the way that even in 1907 Jack London foresaw a war centred on Germany’s attempt at empire around the same time that WW1 really did begin. The one let down I did have is that you don’t actually find out how the oligarchy fell in the end. I would have enjoyed reading the actual success of overthrowing the dictatorship and creating their glorious future.
In all seriousness, if you like dystopian or political novels then I can’t recommend this book enough. However it can be very dry due to it's subject matter, so you have been warned!
Full review can be obtained through my Blog - http://killie-booktalk.blogspot.com
The novel is based upon a Manuscript which is hidden away during an attempted revolution against a capitalist oligarchy, before being found centuries later. The Manuscript is introduced and interspersed with footnotes of a scholar who is reviewing the manuscript centuries in the future.
Overall, I have to admit I enjoyed the book hugely. The political speeches and discussions made by one of the characters are brilliantly written and explained as they attempt to stand against the oligarchy that is being formed. I also liked the way that even in 1907 Jack London foresaw a war centred on Germany’s attempt at empire around the same time that WW1 really did begin. The one let down I did have is that you don’t actually find out how the oligarchy fell in the end. I would have enjoyed reading the actual success of overthrowing the dictatorship and creating their glorious future.
In all seriousness, if you like dystopian or political novels then I can’t recommend this book enough. However it can be very dry due to it's subject matter, so you have been warned!
Full review can be obtained through my Blog - http://killie-booktalk.blogspot.com
Great book, and although this was written over a hundred years ago, Jack London did a great job at making some accurate predictions and his insight into corporate greed, and its power is very accurate.
Political thoughts:
1) I love the Bishop in this book. He goes to prove a point that the Church should advocate more for those in poverty and he's deemed crazy and cast out. There are some parallels to this in modern society. I think of a Christian minister who said that yes, Black Lives do Matter and his congregation turned on him. Or those ministers who are ousted for saying that the LGBTQ community should have equal rights. Those who have money and are funding the church, can often have a large say in the direction it goes
2) Very smart about the trusts. The less businesses there are in an industry, the easier it is for them to get away with price fixing (we are literally seeing this now after Biden took office and we see it with Big Pharma).
3) I found it interesting that the Oligarchy divided the unions by granting some industries more money/less hours and screwing over others. I should note that this was before the joining of the AFL-CIO. In my experience the only unions that do not have the back of other unions are the police and sometimes the fire (think of the latest legislation that the Republicans did in Florida when they gave carveouts to the police/fire unions from losing their union). I believe this is much less likely to occur. Also, the media is much more far reaching to control a message immediately, even before facts are gathered.
4) Parts of this reminded me of the Red Scare/McCarthyism.
5) Anyone who considers themselves a leftist or an activist would enjoy this book.
Political thoughts:
1) I love the Bishop in this book. He goes to prove a point that the Church should advocate more for those in poverty and he's deemed crazy and cast out. There are some parallels to this in modern society. I think of a Christian minister who said that yes, Black Lives do Matter and his congregation turned on him. Or those ministers who are ousted for saying that the LGBTQ community should have equal rights. Those who have money and are funding the church, can often have a large say in the direction it goes
2) Very smart about the trusts. The less businesses there are in an industry, the easier it is for them to get away with price fixing (we are literally seeing this now after Biden took office and we see it with Big Pharma).
3) I found it interesting that the Oligarchy divided the unions by granting some industries more money/less hours and screwing over others. I should note that this was before the joining of the AFL-CIO. In my experience the only unions that do not have the back of other unions are the police and sometimes the fire (think of the latest legislation that the Republicans did in Florida when they gave carveouts to the police/fire unions from losing their union). I believe this is much less likely to occur. Also, the media is much more far reaching to control a message immediately, even before facts are gathered.
4) Parts of this reminded me of the Red Scare/McCarthyism.
5) Anyone who considers themselves a leftist or an activist would enjoy this book.
when i read books, i try to not expect anything because i like to be surprised. but with this book, i have to be honest, i did have some expectations. mostly because i read some other works from the author and i liked them, but also because, as a lover of dystopian books, i was worried this one would disappoint.
at first i was daubtful, because there was a lot of talking, but once i ended the book i realized that the talking was necessary to make us understand the loss of agency of the protagonists the more the story went on.
were they the organizers of the rivolt? yes. but did they actually have all in control? they couldn't, because in a time of spies and traitors, it's to be expected to not have all the control that it's thought to have.
i found fascinating the way ernest was able to shot down each and every retort. it's also notable how he predicted and warned everyone, but they wouldn't listen and then prove him right.
i would say that most of all the tone of warning, the failures in the rivolts, the power in the hands of the oligarchy and the comments made from anthony in the notes from seven centuries forward are the elements that are going to stay with me when i think at this book.
lastly, i wish people who read this book read it as a "this is what our reality would/will be like if we let the people in power get away with anything."
at first i was daubtful, because there was a lot of talking, but once i ended the book i realized that the talking was necessary to make us understand the loss of agency of the protagonists the more the story went on.
were they the organizers of the rivolt? yes. but did they actually have all in control? they couldn't, because in a time of spies and traitors, it's to be expected to not have all the control that it's thought to have.
i found fascinating the way ernest was able to shot down each and every retort. it's also notable how he predicted and warned everyone, but they wouldn't listen and then prove him right.
i would say that most of all the tone of warning, the failures in the rivolts, the power in the hands of the oligarchy and the comments made from anthony in the notes from seven centuries forward are the elements that are going to stay with me when i think at this book.
lastly, i wish people who read this book read it as a "this is what our reality would/will be like if we let the people in power get away with anything."
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
Maybe it's a book of its time. I found it disjointed and the authors viewpoint through a woman's eyes is creepy.
Just kinda couldn’t get into it. It’s like a painting painted in huge brushes. I couldn’t quite tell what was going on. The time span seem ridiculous. Loads Ana loads of blood shed.