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sloatsj's review against another edition
3.0
I ordered this after some list or other pimped it as a book you could read in a breeze. I got an old hardback whose 182 pages were dappled with ancient coffee or blood and smelled strongly of a mildewed cellar. Like a visitor from another world! But the story was charming and I liked the style, and indeed I finished it off swiftly.
The story revolves around Matthew, a prepubescent boy visited by an alien presence, Chocky. His parents mistake the being for an imaginary friend, although Matthew is old for such a thing. Chocky is intelligent and also benevolent. S/he teaches Matthew binary numbers, gives him a breakthrough lesson in swimming, and helps him to see things as s/he does so well that he becomes a minor celebrity painter.
The story manages to remain upbeat despite the situation, which I feared at any moment could devolve into something messy and disastrous. No, you can count on the British middle class to keep on coping, if with occasional frustration. Even a kidnapping doesn’t seem terribly serious, just another thing to wait through until it blows over!
I enjoyed the story and writing very much and would consider reading Wyndham again if it weren’t that the portrayal of women was so patronizing and awful. The 10-year old sister might as well be mentally incapacitated (by her sex, apparently). The mother, who comes from a family of busybody sisters, is not entirely negative, but is dull and doltish. All she wants is that Matthew be normal. The male characters, on the other hand, are pretty much universally even-tempered and reasonable. Quite astounding that.
By way of putting such concerns aside, the world resorts to the word “dated,” whether an era can be an excuse or not. Of course, none of the characters in this short book was drawn particularly deeply. Still, I’m sorry about the sexism because I understand Wyndham has written even better books than this.
The story revolves around Matthew, a prepubescent boy visited by an alien presence, Chocky. His parents mistake the being for an imaginary friend, although Matthew is old for such a thing. Chocky is intelligent and also benevolent. S/he teaches Matthew binary numbers, gives him a breakthrough lesson in swimming, and helps him to see things as s/he does so well that he becomes a minor celebrity painter.
The story manages to remain upbeat despite the situation, which I feared at any moment could devolve into something messy and disastrous. No, you can count on the British middle class to keep on coping, if with occasional frustration. Even a kidnapping doesn’t seem terribly serious, just another thing to wait through until it blows over!
I enjoyed the story and writing very much and would consider reading Wyndham again if it weren’t that the portrayal of women was so patronizing and awful. The 10-year old sister might as well be mentally incapacitated (by her sex, apparently). The mother, who comes from a family of busybody sisters, is not entirely negative, but is dull and doltish. All she wants is that Matthew be normal. The male characters, on the other hand, are pretty much universally even-tempered and reasonable. Quite astounding that.
By way of putting such concerns aside, the world resorts to the word “dated,” whether an era can be an excuse or not. Of course, none of the characters in this short book was drawn particularly deeply. Still, I’m sorry about the sexism because I understand Wyndham has written even better books than this.
aaronreadabook's review against another edition
4.0
Wyndham's last novel. I really enjoyed this one, I would put it about equal with Triffids but below Midwich Cuckoos and Chrysalids.
charlie_x's review against another edition
4.0
What a great story. It was a very different story than I'd expected, but I'm glad for that because it made it so much more interesting. It's that kind of science fiction that's very down to earth, and makes you think about our role as human beings in the universe. There's a great quote in here that I heard recently and resonated with me about how intelligent life gives the universe meaning, because without it there would be no recording of the days or events, the universe would just live on unobserved.
I've only read one other of John Wyndham's books (The Chrysalids) but I think he had a great writing style. I'm looking forward to reading more by him.
I've only read one other of John Wyndham's books (The Chrysalids) but I think he had a great writing style. I'm looking forward to reading more by him.
ratgrrrl's review against another edition
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
This is a rather charming, cozy, but ultimately rather toothless tale of a unknown entity communicating with a precocious British child. The best way I can describe it is a Worther's Original from another reality proferred by a grandparent from the 60s whose doing his best and telling a wonderful tale they never quite managed to land and ends up being a bit of a garbled rush of bulletpoints and info dumps as they drift off to a sleep they might never wake from.
I liked it. I thought I was going to love it, but I think I was bamboozled by the absolutely gorgeous narration of Daniel Weyman. There's some great ideas here and potential to do something spectacular, but as it is, despite preceding it by a coupe of decades, it's essentially a less dramatic and funny low budget ET where you never have to see the entity.
I will never not be highly amused and low key creeped put by fathers calling their son's 'old man'.
Ultimately, this was the perfect thing to listen to while doing stimming busy work while unable to sleep. Worth a listen, just don't expect too much and you'll have a pleasant time.
I liked it. I thought I was going to love it, but I think I was bamboozled by the absolutely gorgeous narration of Daniel Weyman. There's some great ideas here and potential to do something spectacular, but as it is, despite preceding it by a coupe of decades, it's essentially a less dramatic and funny low budget ET where you never have to see the entity.
I will never not be highly amused and low key creeped put by fathers calling their son's 'old man'.
Ultimately, this was the perfect thing to listen to while doing stimming busy work while unable to sleep. Worth a listen, just don't expect too much and you'll have a pleasant time.
norms_reads's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
What would you think if your son appeared to be having conversations with an alien?
Would you think he's gone mad? Would you call for help? Would you think it's just a phase that will pass?
I was fully expecting this to be written from the boy's perspective. It turned out to be from the father's perspective and that was a nice surprise. This wasn't a sci-fi about a boy with an alien in his brain, this was a psychological story about a father and mother trying to figure out what is wrong with their son.
I don't know what I would think or do.
pookykun's review against another edition
4.0
A surprisingly kind and optimistic story, told simply and at a brisk pace. I must say, I rather enjoyed it. I recommend it to anybody looking for a quick, classic sci-fi read.
(I guess I'm feeling a bit dumb and like I don't have anything worthwhile to say about books, lately. Should I talk about the prose? Plot? Ah... I would tell a joke, but I can't even think of one of those... I wish an outside force would enter /my/ mind and teach me science/heartbreak. Ouch! Well, anyway. Smell ya later, camaradas!)
(See, mom? I don't only read "gay" "shit." ...Mom? Mum? Mom? Shit, I've been chockyd by an American! (I hope he's hot!) Also, my mother has never once commented on my reading habits. This is all a bit! Sorry you had to read it!)
(I guess I'm feeling a bit dumb and like I don't have anything worthwhile to say about books, lately. Should I talk about the prose? Plot? Ah... I would tell a joke, but I can't even think of one of those... I wish an outside force would enter /my/ mind and teach me science/heartbreak. Ouch! Well, anyway. Smell ya later, camaradas!)
(See, mom? I don't only read "gay" "shit." ...Mom? Mum? Mom? Shit, I've been chockyd by an American! (I hope he's hot!) Also, my mother has never once commented on my reading habits. This is all a bit! Sorry you had to read it!)
carolynaugustyn's review against another edition
3.0
2017 Reading Challenge- Read a Penguin Modern Classic
This was a weird book. I'm not a big horror fan but I figured (based on reviews) that this would be one that I could handle and probably enjoy. And while I didn't dislike it, I also didn't love it. I think- and I know it sounds weird given I don't like horror- but I think I wanted more horror/spooky moments. Definitely had lots of interesting parts and I had a nice time reading it, but I didn't really connect much at all with the story.
This was a weird book. I'm not a big horror fan but I figured (based on reviews) that this would be one that I could handle and probably enjoy. And while I didn't dislike it, I also didn't love it. I think- and I know it sounds weird given I don't like horror- but I think I wanted more horror/spooky moments. Definitely had lots of interesting parts and I had a nice time reading it, but I didn't really connect much at all with the story.
shannone's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
batbones's review
4.0
A short but intriguing situational novel about an imaginary friend who turns out to be an explorer communicating from the depths of space. The incongruously cosy, urban setting makes everything uncanny and acts as (an intended?) counterpoint - the known space to the unknown reaches. The most interesting bit was that the comforts of the time turn hostile at the end and a kind of knowledge/wisdom of something else beyond/under that cushy domestic nest, both of the evils of our world and the potential strangeness of other worlds, is gained. Like most well-written, thoughtful s/f novels, it prods at the foundations of our truth and the limits of our perception. The female characters could've been less annoying; I wanted to sympathise with them but it was difficult.