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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
I somewhat enjoyed this book, despite my low rating. But sometimes one scene, perhaps a slight loss of perspective by the author, can ruin the overall experience. I, of course, am talking about . It was ghastly, had no relevance and did nothing towards moving the plot forward. It was unnecessary and offensive and made me hate Levin. Nothing he wrote afterwards impressed me.
The plot was sort of disjointed and the characters were flat but, on the up side, I thought that Levin's 1969 version of the future and its technologies was convincing enough 45 years later.
Spoiler
the scene where Chip raped LilacThe plot was sort of disjointed and the characters were flat but, on the up side, I thought that Levin's 1969 version of the future and its technologies was convincing enough 45 years later.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Although it isn't the first dystopian novel to tackle ideals such as perfection, happiness, freedom & choice, Levin keeps it exciting, with a plot that The Matrix franchise could have taken cues from. Rather than a fantastical story in a conventional setting (i.e. Levin's Stepford Wives), TPD is a more conventional story told in a fantastical setting. Still, as Stephen King suggested of Levin, it's all put together like a Swiss watch. Recommended.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault
4, 4.5 stars. My kind of book. Just be sure you reread it!
How I managed NOT to have this in my books already boggles my mind. I really have to make a note to add in all of my books, not the haphazard way I have been doing this. As one of my favorite books, I am shocked and appalled at myself.
One of Levin's less known works but certainly in my humble opinion his best. Everything I could ask for in a dystopian story. No amount of words that I can think of would do it justice. I love my copy. It is hardcover with no slip and pages so old they are turning green :] Fabulous!
One of Levin's less known works but certainly in my humble opinion his best. Everything I could ask for in a dystopian story. No amount of words that I can think of would do it justice. I love my copy. It is hardcover with no slip and pages so old they are turning green :] Fabulous!
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
As someone who really enjoyed The Stepford Wives and Rosemary's baby, I had high hopes for this read. Instead it has been one of my worst reading experiences in a long time. I could sort of ignore the bad world building and the fact that the all-knowing mass surveillance computer doesn't really surveil at all (and hasn't thought of locks on doors) - but the weird objectification of women's bodies, a deeply disturbing rape scene (not to mention what seems like a spur of the moment addition of the almost 40 year old male character having group sex with two 16 year old girls) and the ever infuriating trope of "male character is male therefore he has Jason Bourne level skills" was too much for me. I kept on reading to see if Levin would invert this screwed up narrative, but alas, he didnt. He just dialed up the stereotypes.
I blasted through this, just as I did with all the other Levin books I've read, but it is by far my least favourite (I am not reading [b:Son of Rosemary|76139|Son of Rosemary|Ira Levin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1385149045l/76139._SY75_.jpg|563679] or [b:Sliver|32875|Sliver|Ira Levin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1396551483l/32875._SY75_.jpg|691499] so can't comment on those).
[b:Rosemary's Baby|228296|Rosemary's Baby (Rosemary's Baby, #1)|Ira Levin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327878603l/228296._SY75_.jpg|883024], [b:The Stepford Wives|52350|The Stepford Wives|Ira Levin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554371721l/52350._SY75_.jpg|1534281], [b:The Boys from Brazil|99894|The Boys from Brazil|Ira Levin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1551894329l/99894._SX50_.jpg|815712] and [b:A Kiss Before Dying|12770|A Kiss Before Dying|Ira Levin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388331398l/12770._SX50_.jpg|15038] were all great stories. Levin has this easy, informal way of spinning a yarn-- chapters that flow quickly into one another, good dialogue, and characters that capture your interest (both the protagonists and villains as horrendous as Josef Mengele.) I'd say this is the only one of the five that doesn't go down quite as easy.
It's partially the lack of a really great hero or villain to fear for or despise. [b:This Perfect Day|139390|This Perfect Day|Ira Levin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1249566974l/139390._SY75_.jpg|1945300] is set in a dystopian future where everyone is virtually the same-- looks similar, behaves in line with the society's rules, and doesn't do anything ludicrous like dream or imagine or make their own decisions. However, as with pretty much every dystopian ever, there is a secret resistance of those who have learned to avoid being dosed up with "treatments" and started to question the way things are.
It is the nature of this society for it to be cold, detached and uniform. No one stands out, including the protagonist, Chip. He spends a good portion of the book being a well-behaved zombie and the rest of the time being a touch of an arsehole. I'm not exaggerating. The guy's an actual
Then there's the fact that this kind of dystopia was a bit "been there, done that" back in the 70s when it published. Today? Seen it all before.
[b:Rosemary's Baby|228296|Rosemary's Baby (Rosemary's Baby, #1)|Ira Levin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327878603l/228296._SY75_.jpg|883024], [b:The Stepford Wives|52350|The Stepford Wives|Ira Levin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1554371721l/52350._SY75_.jpg|1534281], [b:The Boys from Brazil|99894|The Boys from Brazil|Ira Levin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1551894329l/99894._SX50_.jpg|815712] and [b:A Kiss Before Dying|12770|A Kiss Before Dying|Ira Levin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388331398l/12770._SX50_.jpg|15038] were all great stories. Levin has this easy, informal way of spinning a yarn-- chapters that flow quickly into one another, good dialogue, and characters that capture your interest (both the protagonists and villains as horrendous as Josef Mengele.) I'd say this is the only one of the five that doesn't go down quite as easy.
It's partially the lack of a really great hero or villain to fear for or despise. [b:This Perfect Day|139390|This Perfect Day|Ira Levin|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1249566974l/139390._SY75_.jpg|1945300] is set in a dystopian future where everyone is virtually the same-- looks similar, behaves in line with the society's rules, and doesn't do anything ludicrous like dream or imagine or make their own decisions. However, as with pretty much every dystopian ever, there is a secret resistance of those who have learned to avoid being dosed up with "treatments" and started to question the way things are.
It is the nature of this society for it to be cold, detached and uniform. No one stands out, including the protagonist, Chip. He spends a good portion of the book being a well-behaved zombie and the rest of the time being a touch of an arsehole. I'm not exaggerating. The guy's an actual
Spoiler
rapist whose actions are excused by his victim because his behaviour is "natural".Then there's the fact that this kind of dystopia was a bit "been there, done that" back in the 70s when it published. Today? Seen it all before.
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes