Scan barcode
jimbowen0306's review against another edition
4.0
This is actually quite a decent book. It's about an adoptive child who might, or might not, be either schizophrenic, or actually talking to something, or someone who is inhabiting is head. We see the parents freak out when they first think about the issue, and then accept it to a greater or lesser degree, once they've thought about it (and sought medical help that brings about the denouement of the book).
I have a feeling that the book is aimed to mature young teenagers, but it was a good read all the same.
I have a feeling that the book is aimed to mature young teenagers, but it was a good read all the same.
andreastopit's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
deirdre_healy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
stephibabes's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, so the normative gender binary aspect early in this novel sat uncomfortably with me. That said, I think it shows the age of the novel and reflects the societal conditions in which it was written.
By the end I was so charmed and touched by the depiction of a young boy's relationship with, well, Chocky. This novel is shorter than other Wyndham novels and I think it benefitted from the slightly quickened pace.
Again, I am really in impressed by the way that Wyndham not only can depict a 'first contact' scenario, but paints an incredibly convincing picture of simply how badly a society might react to it. This left me feeling much deeper sadness than with The Midwich Cuckoos. I guess that was due to empathy for a young boy being torn from this relationship with another.
I listened to this on an Audible free trial. I won't be keeping Audible as a subsidiary of Amazon who I do not use. Your local public library may well have an amazing array of audiobooks. Support your local library!
By the end I was so charmed and touched by the depiction of a young boy's relationship with, well, Chocky. This novel is shorter than other Wyndham novels and I think it benefitted from the slightly quickened pace.
Again, I am really in impressed by the way that Wyndham not only can depict a 'first contact' scenario, but paints an incredibly convincing picture of simply how badly a society might react to it. This left me feeling much deeper sadness than with The Midwich Cuckoos. I guess that was due to empathy for a young boy being torn from this relationship with another.
I listened to this on an Audible free trial. I won't be keeping Audible as a subsidiary of Amazon who I do not use. Your local public library may well have an amazing array of audiobooks. Support your local library!
angus_mckeogh's review against another edition
4.0
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Mystery and science fiction with an extremely prescient message written in the 60s. A kid with a new found imaginary friend. Just a great novel all around.
highlander2006's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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? No
4.0
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of those books that, with time and exposure, must somewhat lose the 'shock factor' and surprise that the twist ending might have given to readers much less familiar with science fiction conventions when it was first written.
That's not to say Chocky doesn't make some excellent points.
Eleven year old adopted son Matthew begins talking to what appears to be an imaginary friend, whom he calls Chocky. His parents start to be concerned when he and Chocky appear to have very unusual conversations about subjects surely out of Matthew's sphere of understanding - the objectivity of time, binary numbers, renewable energy sources.
90% of the story moves us up to the revelation of the truth. It feels quite slow-paced for a 150 page book and could have worked as a 30 page short story as well, in my opinion.
It does work though, the father narrating Matthew's story, his feelings, the growing media interest in Matthew and Chocky's interactions. As a reader, you do a little guessing yourself.
I enjoyed it, though I felt for the younger sister Polly, who seems to be sometimes made fun of by the writer (for horse obsessions and her own earlier imaginary friend) or sidelined by Matthew's circumstances.
I only came across this recently and having enjoyed other Wyndham classics, thought I'd try this lesser-known story. It takes very little time and does have a few thinking points towards the denouement.
That's not to say Chocky doesn't make some excellent points.
Eleven year old adopted son Matthew begins talking to what appears to be an imaginary friend, whom he calls Chocky. His parents start to be concerned when he and Chocky appear to have very unusual conversations about subjects surely out of Matthew's sphere of understanding - the objectivity of time, binary numbers, renewable energy sources.
90% of the story moves us up to the revelation of the truth. It feels quite slow-paced for a 150 page book and could have worked as a 30 page short story as well, in my opinion.
It does work though, the father narrating Matthew's story, his feelings, the growing media interest in Matthew and Chocky's interactions. As a reader, you do a little guessing yourself.
I enjoyed it, though I felt for the younger sister Polly, who seems to be sometimes made fun of by the writer (for horse obsessions and her own earlier imaginary friend) or sidelined by Matthew's circumstances.
I only came across this recently and having enjoyed other Wyndham classics, thought I'd try this lesser-known story. It takes very little time and does have a few thinking points towards the denouement.