Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.57 AVERAGE
3.57 AVERAGE
It definitely did not age well. I strugled with this book; the writing style is horrible, character descriptions are lacking in one area and then unnecessary in another, story is lazy and slow (when there is one) and the overall feeling of the book is just... no.
Yes, it's somewhat relatable even still, after 80 years, showing the society hasn't changed much, but I'm sure there are far better books out there showing the same thing. Maybe I just didn't read a good translation of the book or I just hate the writing style, but this book is a big no for me.
Yes, it's somewhat relatable even still, after 80 years, showing the society hasn't changed much, but I'm sure there are far better books out there showing the same thing. Maybe I just didn't read a good translation of the book or I just hate the writing style, but this book is a big no for me.
What a man is George F Babbitt! He has an opinion on everything and it’s always right! Thoroughly enjoyed this, I think I liked Main Street more. My favourite piece of Babbitt wisdom is:
“As to industrial conditions, however, Babbitt had thought a great deal, and his opinions may be coordinated as follows: "A good labor union is of value because it keeps out radical unions, which would destroy property. No one ought to be forced to belong to a union, however. All labor agitators who try to force men to join a union should be hanged. In fact, just between ourselves, there oughtn't to be any unions allowed at all; and as it's the best way of fighting the unions, every business man ought to belong to an employers'-association and to the Chamber of Commerce. In union there is strength. So any selfish hog who doesn't join the Chamber of Commerce ought to be forced to.”
Brilliant!
“As to industrial conditions, however, Babbitt had thought a great deal, and his opinions may be coordinated as follows: "A good labor union is of value because it keeps out radical unions, which would destroy property. No one ought to be forced to belong to a union, however. All labor agitators who try to force men to join a union should be hanged. In fact, just between ourselves, there oughtn't to be any unions allowed at all; and as it's the best way of fighting the unions, every business man ought to belong to an employers'-association and to the Chamber of Commerce. In union there is strength. So any selfish hog who doesn't join the Chamber of Commerce ought to be forced to.”
Brilliant!
Parts of this were hilarious, but I think it was a little obvious. Maybe. I'll go to class tomorrow and get back to you.
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Hilarious. I laughed at Babbitt's shenanigans. Though there are times where I can't help but be envious of Babbitt's life. 5/5
Dark humor with vivid description, what else can you ask for!
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
When the book opens we find Babbitt a social-climbing, bored, unlikeable realtor very concerned with appearances and displaying an odd (almost homoerotic) admiration for his best friend from college. The story drags for hundreds of pages, don't let that distract you from Lewis's skillful satire and pops of social commentary that apply, in some ways, today.
Babbitt and friends from uppercrust midwestern city Zenith frequently laud Prohibition and something to protect those less imbued with propriety and moral fiber, but complain about it as applied to themselves, as said by one of Babbitt's traveling companions on a train to a Realtors' convention: "The way it strikes me is that it's a mighty beneficial thing for the poor zob that hasn't got any will-power but for fellows like us, it's an infringement of personal liberty!" Any "liberal" thoughts, politicians or ideas are brushed off by Babbitt and his crowd as dangerous socialism. Way to be relevant, 'Clair. Wish I could tell you that stuff hasn't petered off.
Examples like this demonstrate the subtle way Lewis weaves humor into a novel about personal redemption. He steps away from his characters a little and lets them expose their own hypocrisy and lack of self-awareness. Hang on for the big plot bomb, and you'll be rewarded with a sweeping exploration of what it means to follow society's ideals about success - notions that, not long ago, would hang over all of us.
http://www.whatbookshouldireadtoday.com/2011/02/before-there-was-rabbit.html
Babbitt and friends from uppercrust midwestern city Zenith frequently laud Prohibition and something to protect those less imbued with propriety and moral fiber, but complain about it as applied to themselves, as said by one of Babbitt's traveling companions on a train to a Realtors' convention: "The way it strikes me is that it's a mighty beneficial thing for the poor zob that hasn't got any will-power but for fellows like us, it's an infringement of personal liberty!" Any "liberal" thoughts, politicians or ideas are brushed off by Babbitt and his crowd as dangerous socialism. Way to be relevant, 'Clair. Wish I could tell you that stuff hasn't petered off.
Examples like this demonstrate the subtle way Lewis weaves humor into a novel about personal redemption. He steps away from his characters a little and lets them expose their own hypocrisy and lack of self-awareness. Hang on for the big plot bomb, and you'll be rewarded with a sweeping exploration of what it means to follow society's ideals about success - notions that, not long ago, would hang over all of us.
http://www.whatbookshouldireadtoday.com/2011/02/before-there-was-rabbit.html
I only read this because it is a "classic," I was needing a book and it was available through the library. I honestly had no idea what it was about when I selected it, so my expectations were non-existent.
The story turned out to be about this man, Babbit, who is ordinary in every sense. He has a job and a family, stresses over finances and keeping up appearances. He tries to quit smoking. Tries to be a good dad, a good husband, etc. The first half of the book establishes Babbit as who he is; a good moral pillar of the community, an ideal middle-class man for the times. The second half of the book describes Babbit's retaliation against the trappings of that life. He becomes a heavy drinker, a womanizer, a shady business man, on so on.
I really found the book non-spectacular because I think most people go through these same phases. You work to build a life for yourself. You eventually get to a "zenith" of achievement, and tragically realize you are dissatisfied with the whole lot. You rebel, knock it down, contemplate starting over and agonize over the meaning of it all. This book takes you along Babbit's journey and you empathize with him along the way. At some points you cheer for him, at other points you shake your head. It's fiction, but at the same time it is so real, so spot on with the reality many of us face.
The story turned out to be about this man, Babbit, who is ordinary in every sense. He has a job and a family, stresses over finances and keeping up appearances. He tries to quit smoking. Tries to be a good dad, a good husband, etc. The first half of the book establishes Babbit as who he is; a good moral pillar of the community, an ideal middle-class man for the times. The second half of the book describes Babbit's retaliation against the trappings of that life. He becomes a heavy drinker, a womanizer, a shady business man, on so on.
I really found the book non-spectacular because I think most people go through these same phases. You work to build a life for yourself. You eventually get to a "zenith" of achievement, and tragically realize you are dissatisfied with the whole lot. You rebel, knock it down, contemplate starting over and agonize over the meaning of it all. This book takes you along Babbit's journey and you empathize with him along the way. At some points you cheer for him, at other points you shake your head. It's fiction, but at the same time it is so real, so spot on with the reality many of us face.