Scan barcode
jenna_justi2004's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Graphic: Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, Child death, Confinement, Death of parent, Rape, Pregnancy, Slavery, Vomit, Cultural appropriation, Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Gore, Grief, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Classism, Colonisation, Drug abuse, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Violence, Abandonment, Abortion, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Fatphobia, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexism, and Torture
qqjj's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Moderate: Abortion, Addiction, Colonisation, Death of parent, Drug abuse, Fatphobia, Forced institutionalization, Religious bigotry, Mental illness, Self harm, Sexism, Classism, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Medical trauma, Misogyny, Sexual content, Racial slurs, Racism, Abandonment, Chronic illness, Confinement, Drug use, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Terminal illness
is_reader42's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Drug use, Misogyny, Racism, and Self harm
Minor: Death of parent
dilettiert's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Racism and Self harm
linguistictabby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death of parent, Self harm, Ableism, and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Racism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, and Suicide
avaaaagod's review against another edition
- 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? No
4.5
There were a few flaws of course in the plot and the writing. However it was really good. I enjoyed it a lot; it didn’t feel too long, there were lots of interesting philosophical thoughts on life and happiness and good explanations of them.
So overall a great book.
Minor: Self harm and Suicide
kseckc's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
'Civilisation' has eschewed the natural processes of procreation, and dismisses anything that could lead to dissent. People are conditioned from embryo onwards to be content with their lot in life, and drugged with soma even if they aren't. When you've removed everything that makes you human, are you still human? What makes someone human? Who gets to decide what is civilised behviour and what isn't?
I don't think you're meant to like any of the characters in this novel (at any rate, I didn't) but perhaps that was the point.
I'd probably say it was soft sci-fi with what looks like some attempt at scientific explanation based on the knowledge of the time, especially with regards to the genetic engineering portion of the the novel.
This was an unsettling read and despite being a relatively short book, it took a while to read and get through. It was very intriguing though, and I would recommend if you have the headspace and time to consider this novel as a way to think about its differences and similarities to our current society. Even though it was written almost a century ago, it maintains relevance with its insight into human nature and one final question that seems to sum up the novel: is ignorance really bliss?
Graphic: Self harm
miaaa_lenaaa's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
<<SPOILERS>>
No wait i wish we had some from iceland after he gets sent there?? Oh and also i hate it when books reference Shakespeare, it high key makes me quale with anger and idk why xx
Graphic: Abandonment, Ableism, Abortion, Acephobia/Arophobia, Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Blood, Body shaming, Colonisation, Cultural appropriation, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicide, and Xenophobia
ellemwan's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Drug abuse and Racism
Moderate: Body shaming, Self harm, and Suicide
Minor: Abortion
jamallesen's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Drug use, Racism, Self harm, and Suicide
Moderate: Alcoholism, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Slavery