Reviews

Lost Horizon by James Hilton

john_raine's review against another edition

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4.0

I picked this up on a whim from the "Classics" shelf at our local library. Before reading the book, I didn't know that it was the genesis of the place and term "Shangri-La". The first half of the book meanders a bit, but it is necessary for setting the scene and getting the reader to share Conway's detached view of the situation. I love the ambiguity of the last 40 pages, whether the story of extended life is real or not. Even more interesting than the story to me was the way in which it is very clearly a reflection on life between the World Wars and the storm clouds that the author saw on the horizon.

karenreads1000s's review against another edition

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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.

hklnvgl's review against another edition

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4.0

Lo que empieza como un libro de aventuras, con secuestro y accidente aéreo incluidos, se transforma poco a poco en una profunda reflexión sobre la vida, el sentido de esta, la belleza y el arte. Muy recomendable

liliya_klein's review against another edition

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4.0

Written in the 1930s, it has an interesting fantastical element that I'm sure was an inspiration for many subsequent novels and even movies. LOVE the ending! It provides a resolution while also failing to answer the most pressing questions. I like the intrigue of it!

Book #1 of November readathon ✅

ivanssister's review against another edition

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3.0

One interesting note - I hadn't realized this was where the term Shangri-La originated. Kind of neat to see where it began.

mmazelli's review against another edition

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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