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nerissassippi's review against another edition
3.0
This is an interesting story, both because of its historical legacy of Shangri-La and for its look into the psyche of at least one Brit after WWI. The emotional devastation after the war is evident in some of the weariness than Conway feels and in the epochal warnings of the high Lama. It presents Eastern religions as a balm for the wounds caused by the outside world with hints of Buddhist and Confucian mindsets. Though the tale felt a little shallow and rushed to me. I would have liked for Hilton to have spent more time on the Conway's struggle with his final decision.
papidoc's review against another edition
4.0
A British group leaves India in the 1930s by plane, the plane goes down, and thereafter they find themselves in the fabled Shangri-La. In this valley of warmth and beauty in the midst of the Himalayan mountains, they find a people with astounding longevity leading lives of simplicity and wisdom and peace. They eventually find their way out of Shangri-La and back home, but Conway (the main character), consumed by regret for the peace that he left behind, returns in the end.
For me, the power of this novel was in the sense of potential peace that is evoked, and that is available to all of us. Metaphorically, I think of the journey each of us travels in search of our own Shangri-La. Toward that end, I am reminded of Nathaniel Hawthorne who said, “Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” Perhaps the same is true of our own Shangri-La...
For me, the power of this novel was in the sense of potential peace that is evoked, and that is available to all of us. Metaphorically, I think of the journey each of us travels in search of our own Shangri-La. Toward that end, I am reminded of Nathaniel Hawthorne who said, “Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” Perhaps the same is true of our own Shangri-La...
barnesstorming's review against another edition
4.0
A curious book. Breezy, short, and deceptively provocative -- particularly, I suspect, for the 1930s. My only memory of this story and the fabled Shangri-La that it introduced us to was the 1937 Capra film that followed it. There's a pretty dramatic change between book and film. I mean literally dramatic, for shock value. I much prefer the book's wink-and-a-nudge treatment of the incident I'm referencing, which I'll not spoil here. Anyway, even though Hilton was accused of being a sentimental writer (which he did not deny), I find this story sort of pragmatic, and all the better for it. YMMV, and I haven't read Hilton's "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" for comparison, but I much enjoyed the three days I spent with "Lost Horizon." My copy was a 1990 Reader's Digest unabridged edition with commissioned artwork. The plates were lovely when the subject was landscape, but wincingly bad with dealing with figures, but they were still a fun diversion.
shendrixson's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
martacava's review against another edition
Aquesta història va tenir una peli de gran èxit, va ser el primer llibre que es va editar en format butxaca i va crear el concepte de "Shangri-La", el paradís utòpic, que ja forma part de la cultura popular. Però fins que no s'ha fet una edició al 2023, no he pogut descobrir i saber tot això
karenreads1000s's review against another edition
3.0
Why did Conway leave? Most confusing part of the story to me. Is the lamasary Buddhist and Christian? The writing style was good.
clarks_dad's review against another edition
4.0
Hilton's Lost Horizon is often credited with being the origin of the Shangri-La myth, and indeed it is a compelling story. Written in the 1930s, the book is both a product of the turmoil and chaos created by the First World War and subsequent worldwide depression and anticipatory of the conflagration to come. Nestled in-between in both time and place is Shangri-La - an oasis of calm and "moderation" in a world of excess and fanaticism.
Four people, the world weary Conway, his deputy Mallinson, a 1930s American Bernie Madoff named Barnard, and a missionary named Miss Brinklow, are kidnapped and flown high into the Himalayas. When their plane crashes they find themselves drawn into a secluded valley utopia where they find things aren't always what they seem.
Hilton does a wonderful job describing the beauty of Tibet, and has a way of inspiring, through Conway's own recounting of his adventures, a sense of wanderlust. There were times when reading this that I found myself actually holding onto images of white-capped mountains and green florid valleys with incredible vividness and a growing desire to just be out of doors (this book would make excellent camping reading). There were moments of Western Eurocentrism, as to be expected of a 1930s novel that mainly centers on a British consul's adventures in areas of their far reaching empire, and occasionally the dismissive tone of the narrator toward native Tibetan society and culture were annoying. But, again, one has to remember the context of its construction, and at that, these attitudes become part of the story itself in it's theme of East vs. West. Many of the characters represent the dichotomies of those two cultures and Hilton consciously blends them to produce a utopian world in the valley in-between those two worlds. Shangri-La has running water and heated plumbing, combined with lonely solitude and contemplation reminiscent of a Buddhist monastery. It combines a feudal agricultural economy and authoritative political system, while simultaneously allowing for the absolute freedom of individuals living in the valley.
Throughout, one gets a sense of a sad desire to avoid what Hilton can see on the Horizon: the Second World War - this is especially so once the lamas reveal what the purpose of Shangri-La actually is. Aside from all the social and cultural commentary the book provides, Lost Horizon is just a really fun mystery that reminds one of the old travel novels of the 19th and early 20th century, when there were still places to be explored and customs that seemed odd. It definitely was the perfect follow-up for Moloka'i and if anything has stoked my desire to read more good historical fiction.
Four people, the world weary Conway, his deputy Mallinson, a 1930s American Bernie Madoff named Barnard, and a missionary named Miss Brinklow, are kidnapped and flown high into the Himalayas. When their plane crashes they find themselves drawn into a secluded valley utopia where they find things aren't always what they seem.
Hilton does a wonderful job describing the beauty of Tibet, and has a way of inspiring, through Conway's own recounting of his adventures, a sense of wanderlust. There were times when reading this that I found myself actually holding onto images of white-capped mountains and green florid valleys with incredible vividness and a growing desire to just be out of doors (this book would make excellent camping reading). There were moments of Western Eurocentrism, as to be expected of a 1930s novel that mainly centers on a British consul's adventures in areas of their far reaching empire, and occasionally the dismissive tone of the narrator toward native Tibetan society and culture were annoying. But, again, one has to remember the context of its construction, and at that, these attitudes become part of the story itself in it's theme of East vs. West. Many of the characters represent the dichotomies of those two cultures and Hilton consciously blends them to produce a utopian world in the valley in-between those two worlds. Shangri-La has running water and heated plumbing, combined with lonely solitude and contemplation reminiscent of a Buddhist monastery. It combines a feudal agricultural economy and authoritative political system, while simultaneously allowing for the absolute freedom of individuals living in the valley.
Throughout, one gets a sense of a sad desire to avoid what Hilton can see on the Horizon: the Second World War - this is especially so once the lamas reveal what the purpose of Shangri-La actually is. Aside from all the social and cultural commentary the book provides, Lost Horizon is just a really fun mystery that reminds one of the old travel novels of the 19th and early 20th century, when there were still places to be explored and customs that seemed odd. It definitely was the perfect follow-up for Moloka'i and if anything has stoked my desire to read more good historical fiction.
anneofgreenplaces's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not sure why I hadn't heard of this book, the origin of Shangri-la and a well-told, psychologically acute, philosophically interesting story, kind of a mix between an allegory and a mystical Agatha Christie mystery. It manages to tell just enough to satisfyingly flesh out the characters and setting/concept without sacrificing a light touch.
The Great War casts a long shadow (it was written in 1933) that somehow also feels very prescient as the self-described clairvoyant monks prepare for the next world-destorying conflict, at a time when nuclear bombs were barely even a thought. Also interesting is the blending of Western culture with Eastern legends told through a sympathetic but very Western lens.
The Great War casts a long shadow (it was written in 1933) that somehow also feels very prescient as the self-described clairvoyant monks prepare for the next world-destorying conflict, at a time when nuclear bombs were barely even a thought. Also interesting is the blending of Western culture with Eastern legends told through a sympathetic but very Western lens.
j0keman98's review against another edition
4.0
This book is known to fellow readers as the first book to be published in paperback cover, but it's more than that!
On the surface Lost Horizon is an adventure trip to some unconquered and beyond reach land of mystery Fiction. But if you dig in especially mid way in the book, I believe that Shangri-la is more a state of mind and spirit than an actual place. It reflects a peaceful mind that throughout the years of experience has achieved the perfect balance that we all yearn for. The Ideas and subjects in the book comes into place like puzzle peaces. The description of the mystical place is told by two opposite visions a man of coming age who has already been through a lot and a young fella who just like every other young soul is bound to his desires of action and passion. The thing is none of those visions are wrong they are just like seasons they exist at the particular time of our lives. so that I could say that Lost Horizon can leave an impact on young people and a totally reversed one on an older audience.
Either way even if you're not looking to implement a spiritual solution into your life, this book is still a must read for everyone.
On the surface Lost Horizon is an adventure trip to some unconquered and beyond reach land of mystery Fiction. But if you dig in especially mid way in the book, I believe that Shangri-la is more a state of mind and spirit than an actual place. It reflects a peaceful mind that throughout the years of experience has achieved the perfect balance that we all yearn for. The Ideas and subjects in the book comes into place like puzzle peaces. The description of the mystical place is told by two opposite visions a man of coming age who has already been through a lot and a young fella who just like every other young soul is bound to his desires of action and passion. The thing is none of those visions are wrong they are just like seasons they exist at the particular time of our lives. so that I could say that Lost Horizon can leave an impact on young people and a totally reversed one on an older audience.
Either way even if you're not looking to implement a spiritual solution into your life, this book is still a must read for everyone.