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lacyk_reads's review against another edition
2.0
It was ok... a fun little read. None of the science seems remotely sound but it was a fun way to pass a couple afternoons. A little sexist but I think that goes with the time period in which it was written and even the characters are able to admit their lack of expectations for the "weaker sex" in one scene. But only in one scene.
I would recommend it for someone wanting a quick little read purely for entertainment.
I would recommend it for someone wanting a quick little read purely for entertainment.
kord's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bennought's review against another edition
4.0
A very fun, though somewhat dated book. Based off of the relationships between the men and women, gender roles, and the general feel for life, it was very clearly written in the 1950s. While this does date the book, it also gives a really interesting snapshot into that world, the kind of monsters they could imagine, and just how they conceived of themselves. Definitely worth a read if you're into aliens or your stereotypical sci-fi thriller, both because this is a fun read and because you can see the influence this book has had on the genre since.
sorina_sfreja's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Great little book, full of thought-provoking ideas.
islandgypsygirl's review against another edition
dark
tense
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
3.0
I don't know what to make of this.
It had a very ... kind of 50's or 60's vibe, I thought. I could almost picture out the fedoras the men were wearing, even though it was never mentioned. It just had that very mid-century feel about it. The narration and the sort of internal monologue, and the women and their "helplessness."
Even though this is an alien invasion story, it felt that this was more in the horror genre than sci-fi.
It had a very ... kind of 50's or 60's vibe, I thought. I could almost picture out the fedoras the men were wearing, even though it was never mentioned. It just had that very mid-century feel about it. The narration and the sort of internal monologue, and the women and their "helplessness."
Even though this is an alien invasion story, it felt that this was more in the horror genre than sci-fi.
grvhppr's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
radicalmguy's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
richardleis's review against another edition
4.0
There's this moment after watching one of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers movies (there are four and I'll have more to say about them later on in this review) when I think to myself "I really should read the original novel by Jack Finney." Well, after watching all four adaptations again recently, I finally read the book, and what a surprise it turned out to be.
You know the story: seed pods from space arrive in a small town on Earth and begin replacing people while they sleep. What surprised me about the 1955 novel was how faithfully it was followed by the 1956 film adaptation starring Kevin McCarthy as Dr. Miles Bennell and Dana Wynter as Becky Driscoll. The first half is essentially the same between novel and film. About halfway through, details and plot points begin to diverge slightly, leading to a different ending. To be honest, the book's climax seems a little silly, and it's much less horrifying than the fate of the main characters by the end of the film. The film has its only silliness, in the shape of a framing device tacked on when the studio decided the ending was too dark, but what I view as the film's real ending is absolutely bone-chilling.
The novel has more room for exposition than the film, and in general this additional information is really interesting. The novel is told in first person by Dr. Miles Bennell, who is even more cheeky and self-centered in the novel than he is in the film. He's also much more progressive in the novel, which I didn't expect from a male character created in the 1950s. Dr. Bennell makes particularly incisive observations related to race and gender. The novel cannot avoid all stereotypes, though. Becky Driscoll is primarily a passive and emotional damsel in distress, but there are several great moments in the novel when she becomes much more active and heroic, including coming up with a particularly great escape plan from a seemingly impossible situation.
The pod people plot from the movies is one of my favorite delicious terrors from horror and that creepiness and consistently frightening progression is definitely there in the original novel. The only thing that really disappointed me about the novel was the ending. The film adaptions tend to lean toward darker endings and more ambiguity. They make me feel like the horror has only just begun. The book's ending instead is lighter and conclusive. It just doesn't pack the same punch. Until then, though, the book is genuinely creepy and frightening.
You know the story: seed pods from space arrive in a small town on Earth and begin replacing people while they sleep. What surprised me about the 1955 novel was how faithfully it was followed by the 1956 film adaptation starring Kevin McCarthy as Dr. Miles Bennell and Dana Wynter as Becky Driscoll. The first half is essentially the same between novel and film. About halfway through, details and plot points begin to diverge slightly, leading to a different ending. To be honest, the book's climax seems a little silly, and it's much less horrifying than the fate of the main characters by the end of the film. The film has its only silliness, in the shape of a framing device tacked on when the studio decided the ending was too dark, but what I view as the film's real ending is absolutely bone-chilling.
The novel has more room for exposition than the film, and in general this additional information is really interesting. The novel is told in first person by Dr. Miles Bennell, who is even more cheeky and self-centered in the novel than he is in the film. He's also much more progressive in the novel, which I didn't expect from a male character created in the 1950s. Dr. Bennell makes particularly incisive observations related to race and gender. The novel cannot avoid all stereotypes, though. Becky Driscoll is primarily a passive and emotional damsel in distress, but there are several great moments in the novel when she becomes much more active and heroic, including coming up with a particularly great escape plan from a seemingly impossible situation.
The pod people plot from the movies is one of my favorite delicious terrors from horror and that creepiness and consistently frightening progression is definitely there in the original novel. The only thing that really disappointed me about the novel was the ending. The film adaptions tend to lean toward darker endings and more ambiguity. They make me feel like the horror has only just begun. The book's ending instead is lighter and conclusive. It just doesn't pack the same punch. Until then, though, the book is genuinely creepy and frightening.
gunnernat7719's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
The gender dynamics in this book are wild. So exaggerated and I don't quite know if it's intentional or not. Good pulpy sci fi, disappointing ending and not enough devotion to what seems to be it's primary thesis.