Reviews

Lost Horizon by James Hilton

mmazelli's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

danchibnall's review against another edition

4.0

A fun book. If you are a fan of the television show "LOST" you should give this a read. The writers of the show said it helped inspire them to do the show. And it's featured on the show (I think Sawyer is reading it at one point.)

bluejay21's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

bbabyok's review against another edition

3.0

"Lost Horizon", penned by British author James Hilton in 1933, has long been hailed as a masterpiece of literature. Its enduring impact on our cultural consciousness is undeniable, and its influence has extended far beyond the book's pages, introducing the term "Shangri-La" into our collective lexicon. But despite its monumental status, this book fell short of my expectations.

el_entrenador_loco's review

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

nikolator's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring mysterious reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

morgwan's review against another edition

4.0

Interesting story

An interesting travel/adventure story that makes you think about how we live and leaves you guessing as to what happens in the end

owl139's review against another edition

adventurous challenging mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

zosiablue's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious 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

4.75

Casual racism aside, I loved this. I had no idea Shangri-La came from a book! I felt such a kinship with main character Conway, a dude who finds it "his fate in life to have his equanimity always mistaken for pluck, whereas it was actually something much more dispassionate and much less virile." He doesn't fit into society anymore, he doesn't see the purpose of toiling and striving, and he wants to just chill and learn and live! Same, my friend. Of course, he got completely destroyed by war and his equanimity, much like Shangri-La, may not be the serene utopia it seems. But maybe it is! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cultural appropriation, Kidnapping, Racial slurs, Racism, War, and Xenophobia

tamara_mousa's review against another edition

4.0

Lost Horizon by James Hilton is a short story narrated by Rutherford to his friend Green while meeting in Berlin with their other British friend, Wyland. This fiction is about the adventure of three British and an American who tried to run away from the violence in Baskul (India), but became prisoners of the mystical Shangri-La monastery in the Tibetan Himalayas, after the hijack of their plane. This sensational story highlighted that decision-making is mainly dependent on the individual's way of seeing things. That is the individual's choice (based on his perspective that can make the impossible possible) shapes his destiny and life!
There is a summary about it in my blog - https://www.tamarayousefmousa.com/