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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
Started off interesting enough but then the sci fi ended and the long, oh so very long religious rant began.
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Great beginning and end. The discussion of religion and how one can create a religion is very interesting and how it played out. Almost a great study for a cult. The ideas were agreeably (from other reviews) ahead of its time. The sexism was only the issue. I didn't understand why two of the women's names were Dorkus and Stinky, while the men's names had deeper meanings. As the sexism ans racism of this novel definitely age this novel.
Read this one while in high school, cant quite recall the story, will need to read again!
Decidedly more dated in terms of it's "sci-fi-ness" than some of Heinlein's other work, but definitely far ahead of its time in terms of culture, society, politics, religion, etc.
Want a crazy trip? Read this alongside Spider Robinson's "Time Pressure."
Want a crazy trip? Read this alongside Spider Robinson's "Time Pressure."
First, I would not recommend this book to anyone who's deeply religious, as this will greatly challenge that line of thinking, to the degree where they'd cry heresy.
Second, Heinlein published this book in 1961 and in many aspects, this book is ahead of its time, even later being considered as an influence to the counter culture that existed in the 1960's.
This book was way more philosophical than I thought it would be before I started reading. I imagined that it would be just a human raised in Mars having a bit of a culture shock when returning to Earth, but it was way way more than just that. What I found interesting was that a common topic throughout this book is about how morality can be so subjective, based upon how we are brought up. It challenged my thinking a bit in some aspects.
I mentioned that this book is ahead of its time, but it's still written by a guy whose frame of mind exists in the mid 20th century, so naturally there are some sexist and homophobic elements, even if the characters are portrayed in a more progressive light than what you'd find during those time periods. I'd add as well that while looking into this book I found two things about Heinlein, one which I dislike and the other which I like. The thing I like is how he's known to introduce main characters and then many chapters later, disclose their racial background, totally turning the assumption of the reader upside down, which admittedly happened to me. What I dislike is how Heinlein is thought of as a libertarian thought leader and there's some elements of that in this text, but it's not entirely noticeable, with the exception of a few comments sprinkled in. I found it interesting that there was a note of the Gadsden flag, which is a famous libertarian symbol that had its roots in the 18th century, but did not become a libertarian symbol until years after this book was published.
Second, Heinlein published this book in 1961 and in many aspects, this book is ahead of its time, even later being considered as an influence to the counter culture that existed in the 1960's.
This book was way more philosophical than I thought it would be before I started reading. I imagined that it would be just a human raised in Mars having a bit of a culture shock when returning to Earth, but it was way way more than just that. What I found interesting was that a common topic throughout this book is about how morality can be so subjective, based upon how we are brought up. It challenged my thinking a bit in some aspects.
I mentioned that this book is ahead of its time, but it's still written by a guy whose frame of mind exists in the mid 20th century, so naturally there are some sexist and homophobic elements, even if the characters are portrayed in a more progressive light than what you'd find during those time periods. I'd add as well that while looking into this book I found two things about Heinlein, one which I dislike and the other which I like. The thing I like is how he's known to introduce main characters and then many chapters later, disclose their racial background, totally turning the assumption of the reader upside down, which admittedly happened to me. What I dislike is how Heinlein is thought of as a libertarian thought leader and there's some elements of that in this text, but it's not entirely noticeable, with the exception of a few comments sprinkled in. I found it interesting that there was a note of the Gadsden flag, which is a famous libertarian symbol that had its roots in the 18th century, but did not become a libertarian symbol until years after this book was published.
adventurous
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'M DONE!!! 🙏🙏🙏
I read this because I watched the OSP summary and thought, 'wow, that weird and freaky. i have to read that.' NO I DID NOT!!!!
Guys there was so much just casual racism, and sexism. Yes, I know this was written in the 60s, but come onnnnn.
It dragged a lot in the middle, and I was so bored. It took me almost a whole month to finish this because of how boring it got.
Just watch the summary, its much more entertaining.
I read this because I watched the OSP summary and thought, 'wow, that weird and freaky. i have to read that.' NO I DID NOT!!!!
Guys there was so much just casual racism, and sexism. Yes, I know this was written in the 60s, but come onnnnn.
It dragged a lot in the middle, and I was so bored. It took me almost a whole month to finish this because of how boring it got.
Just watch the summary, its much more entertaining.
adventurous
reflective
slow-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:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was so up and down for people, pieces of it worked and others didn't. The book is a product of its time, which I tried to see past, but it's hard when I don't think there's enough substance beneath to support the story (especially in the third and fourth parts).