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saroz162's review against another edition
3.0
I saw the television adaptation a few years ago, so I knew roughly what to expect from the plot, but this was my first John Wyndham novel. What impressed me was his ability to very quickly draw the reader into the situation, maintaining a very fine balance between a quirky, almost comical scenario and the parents' increasing concern. The book definitely becomes tense - I think my criticism would be that it never quite reaches the levels of fear one might expect. It feels a little neutered by the end, and I think it's very telling that the book has sometimes been reprinted as a YA title. As a kid of 12, I'd have found this completely absorbing; as an adult of 30, I enjoyed what I read, but I wanted more.
dantastic's review against another edition
4.0
Chocky is the story of a young boy whose imaginary friend turns out to be an alien consciousness.
While I liked Chocky a lot, it didn't go down the way I thought it would. You'd think the alien consciousness would be malicious, especially coming from John Wyndham. It's actually benevolent.
While I liked Chocky a lot, it didn't go down the way I thought it would. You'd think the alien consciousness would be malicious, especially coming from John Wyndham. It's actually benevolent.
rschmidt7's review against another edition
4.0
I always enjoy Wyndham's fiction, and I enjoyed this short novel, too, but not as much as I expected to. The premise is great: a mysterious entity "Chocky" has been speaking to a little boy, and the parents, who first think it is a childish imaginary friend, increasingly become concerned it may be something more.
The story progressed mostly as expected, but the reveal and the ending were quite a disappointment. If you want to read Wyndham, start with "Day of the Triffids" and a few others, and only read this one if you like his other stuff.
The story progressed mostly as expected, but the reveal and the ending were quite a disappointment. If you want to read Wyndham, start with "Day of the Triffids" and a few others, and only read this one if you like his other stuff.
booksnpunks's review against another edition
5.0
Absolutely loved this. Wyndham is skilful in unsettling his reader so that although what is happening might not be scary, the writing makes it really creepy. As soon as I started this I knew it would be a perfect halloween read and I couldn't wait to get back to it everytime after I'd put it down.
The story follows a young boy called Matthew who is soon accompanied by an imaginary friend named Chocky. What soon becomes clear is that Chocky, to Matthew, isn't imaginary, and starts influencing Matthew in a way that his parents and those around him don't like or understand. The way the story moved forward was full of tension and I think the plot was drawn out incredibly well. There was issues with gender representation, however, which I find happens in a lot of sci-fi books from this era, but Wyndham is a writer who I think tries to combat it albeit naively and not always in the right way.
I would highly recommend this because I enjoyed it on par with Day of the Triffids and just didn't want to stop reading, it was so good. Can't wait to read more of Wyndham's stuff now.
The story follows a young boy called Matthew who is soon accompanied by an imaginary friend named Chocky. What soon becomes clear is that Chocky, to Matthew, isn't imaginary, and starts influencing Matthew in a way that his parents and those around him don't like or understand. The way the story moved forward was full of tension and I think the plot was drawn out incredibly well. There was issues with gender representation, however, which I find happens in a lot of sci-fi books from this era, but Wyndham is a writer who I think tries to combat it albeit naively and not always in the right way.
I would highly recommend this because I enjoyed it on par with Day of the Triffids and just didn't want to stop reading, it was so good. Can't wait to read more of Wyndham's stuff now.
zimb0's review against another edition
5.0
John Wyndham is a master with soft scifi books, with spins on tropes interesting even 50+ years after the end. He has been a tremendous influence on my writing and his other novels are the reason I started writing again.
remlezar's review against another edition
3.0
A great little Sci Fi family drama. It's not a long book, but it takes its time parsing through the issues the characters encounter because of 12 year old Matthew's mysterious, invisible "visitor." The ending wasn't mind blowing, but it was satisfying and sweet.
shakeyjakey1706's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
“I would like to believe what you wish to believe - and what my training tells me I should believe - that the whole thing is subjective. That Chocky is a child’s invention, like Piff - an invention of Matthew’s own which has got out of hand. But I can only do that by ignoring the evidence. Well, I’m not bigoted enough to twist the facts to suit what I have been taught”
nerual_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
chairmanbernanke's review
3.0
Quite strange and poignant. Nice that Chocky supports walkable cities.