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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
It raises a hundred questions but I've decided I'd prefer to be one of the Family. It's a 1984, Brave New World type novel which I enjoyed but I feel like it could have done with another chapter. I want to know the future of the people.
Somehow, this book is overlooked -- I think it's his best work. Rather better than The Stepford Wives, and way better than Boys from Brazil. It's about a dystopian future where everyone is actually very happy and who all but a tiny few live very well -- they just aren't free, nor do they care. A more interesting read than either Brave New World (with which it has some vague similarities) and especially 1984, because....well, I won't spoil it for you.
I got to 68% on This Perfect Day by Ira Levin before throwing it away in disgust. I’d been wanting to read this for a while as I love Ira Levin’s other work, namely The Stepford Wives and Rosemary’s Baby, but how the author that wrote those could write this is beyond me. The thing that stopped me from finishing this novel was the fact that the main character rapes his “love interest”. This isn’t me “interpreting” it that way, it literally says that is what happens. I hoped perhaps the docile behaviour of the woman afterwards was some sort of ploy as Chip, the main character, has kidnapped her and she did try to trick him before but I read on a little and checked out some reviews and no... when she tells him not to be sorry for raping her she means it when she says “I don’t blame you. It was perfectly natural” claiming that his actions “woke me up”. The story itself was interesting- set in a dystopian future wherein your life is planned out by a machine and all your needs are provided for provided you’re happy to be drugged into compliance. The story is going for a freedom vs equality message which could be interesting but then it pulled this. There were other scenes that were a little yikes before but mostly they were fairly typical of “Male writer writing women”. I’m really disappointed by this plot point, especially considering this is the author of The Stepford Wives.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
slow-paced
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Bra action. Effektivt berättande. Det är inte karaktärerna som står i fokus här i denna ideburna roman om ett framtida utilitaristiskt mardrömssamhälle.
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
We asked bookclub members to rate the book and describe it in one word:
Jen: "Papa Jan is the man" - 4 stars
Jess: '"frustrating" - 2 stars
Nicole "thought-provoking" - 4 stars
Kendra "Intriguing" - 4 stars
Ashpage "Intriguing" - 3 stars
Kristen "engaging" - 3.2 stars
Connie "confusing" 2 stars
Meg "thought-provoking" 3.8 stars
Janey "relevant" 3.3 stars
Jen: "Papa Jan is the man" - 4 stars
Jess: '"frustrating" - 2 stars
Nicole "thought-provoking" - 4 stars
Kendra "Intriguing" - 4 stars
Ashpage "Intriguing" - 3 stars
Kristen "engaging" - 3.2 stars
Connie "confusing" 2 stars
Meg "thought-provoking" 3.8 stars
Janey "relevant" 3.3 stars