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krep___'s review against another edition
4.0
After seeing both movies, it was nice to see where they came from. The original movie in particular does an outstanding job of editing this story into a more cohesive and well-paced whole. But the book is still good. This audiobook edition was narrated by Kristoffer Tabori, son of Don Siegel who directed the original movie. Tabori provides an interesting commentary in the afterword comparing book and movie.
git_r_read's review against another edition
5.0
Holey schmokes!! I've loved Jack Finney ever since listening to TIME AND AGAIN. Even bigger fan now after finally listening to this classic. Superbly atmospheric, excellent flow of story and great characters. Not gory, just plain ol'-fashioned scary, especially since I listened to quite a bit of it on my drives home at night.....
rash366's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
twilliamson's review against another edition
3.0
Jack Finney's novel has inspired multiple film versions, and I've seen a few of them. I'm perhaps most fond of the '56 film starring Kevin McCarthy, which I believe is closest to the novel. It is, in fact, because of my interest in the film that I finally decided to read the novel.
It's not a bad book, either. It is, of course, a product of its time, and Finney's protagonist is a bit too misogynist for my tastes, but not unreadably so. Becky is a bit too bland a figure, and Miles more than a bit reminiscent of those pulp gumshoes of the past, even if he's not a gumshoe at all.
What is remarkable is just how relevant the book still is. There is a lot to unpack in here: a contemplation of what extraterrestrial life might look like, a question of what about humankind actually makes us human, an allegorical statement about either communism or even consumer capitalism (depending on your reading), and even a grim warning of human nature's tendency to consume the planet with little regard to existing, non-human life. Indeed, what stands out to me is just how easily one could make humans out to be just as parasitic as the mysterious pods that make their appearance in the novel.
It isn't the best sci-fi I've read, but it certainly isn't the worst, and I do think the ideas in the novel are definitely worth reading. I'm still likely to prefer the film version to the novel, but I really do think that the difference between Finney's vision of the story and the '56 film aren't too different from each other to be read much the same way. Nevertheless, it's a credit to the novel that the idea is so resonant, even beyond its initial publication.
It's not a bad book, either. It is, of course, a product of its time, and Finney's protagonist is a bit too misogynist for my tastes, but not unreadably so. Becky is a bit too bland a figure, and Miles more than a bit reminiscent of those pulp gumshoes of the past, even if he's not a gumshoe at all.
What is remarkable is just how relevant the book still is. There is a lot to unpack in here: a contemplation of what extraterrestrial life might look like, a question of what about humankind actually makes us human, an allegorical statement about either communism or even consumer capitalism (depending on your reading), and even a grim warning of human nature's tendency to consume the planet with little regard to existing, non-human life. Indeed, what stands out to me is just how easily one could make humans out to be just as parasitic as the mysterious pods that make their appearance in the novel.
It isn't the best sci-fi I've read, but it certainly isn't the worst, and I do think the ideas in the novel are definitely worth reading. I'm still likely to prefer the film version to the novel, but I really do think that the difference between Finney's vision of the story and the '56 film aren't too different from each other to be read much the same way. Nevertheless, it's a credit to the novel that the idea is so resonant, even beyond its initial publication.
dllman05's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
drewdietsch's review
4.0
An undeniable classic that is not quite the specific metaphor it's been made to be over the decades. A good pulp yarn that's still effective all these years later.
james7634's review against another edition
4.0
I loved this book. I love the movie and I eventually read the book because I was like oh I like the movie I should see what the book was. The book is different from the movie and it’s on unique way and it’s such a great read. It was written in 1955 and the author Questions a lot of gender stereotypes, and the entire entire field of this is just so good
Now it is written in 1955 so there’s definitely problematic gender dynamics, but it was interesting having one of the female characters confront the sexism of the main character
I really love this book and I think you should read it whether or not you liked the movie because it is definitely a sci-fi top 10 for me
Now it is written in 1955 so there’s definitely problematic gender dynamics, but it was interesting having one of the female characters confront the sexism of the main character
I really love this book and I think you should read it whether or not you liked the movie because it is definitely a sci-fi top 10 for me
razielsky's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
theperksofbeingmarissa's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the tension, especially at the end of the book. I am so happy that Jack and Theodora made it to the end too!
I took a star off because I think there were so many opportunities for Jack, Theodora, Miles, and Becky to hav been invaded. Like, at least one of them should’ve been an alien.
I took a star off because I think there were so many opportunities for Jack, Theodora, Miles, and Becky to hav been invaded. Like, at least one of them should’ve been an alien.
carnbostrikesagain's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
The concept of the body snatchers is iconic but the Pod People and their invasion is conveyed much better in the following film adaptations.
This book, like the pod people is rather cold. The characters are alright, but it falls short when the human spirit and the power of human emotion are central concepts and the characters are flat. The men are stoic and smart. One woman is hysterical and the other doesn't really do anything.
when Becky comes up with the plan to escape the body snatchers by using their perception of her as a weak woman to surprise attack them I was surprised but also so happy cause she was doing something, the author allowed her to be a character for a brief second. But this is literally all she does in this book apart from be far too into Miles and just accept his weird ass behaviour. Like he kidnaps her during the night and she wakes up half way through and goes 'oh my god are we gonna fuck?' And seems real happy about it. It's weird.
Glad this book started the trend though. Without it we'd have no movie adaptations which really explore the insidious and evil of the body snatchers much more than this book.
The ending is so abrupt btw too.
the aliens (who by all accounts are winning) just sort of leave after their seed pods are burnt to a crisp. Idk why they didn't just grow more? Also they'd started expanding out earlier so the pods were already on their way outside of town to replace people. Idk it was weird.
This book, like the pod people is rather cold. The characters are alright, but it falls short when the human spirit and the power of human emotion are central concepts and the characters are flat. The men are stoic and smart. One woman is hysterical and the other doesn't really do anything.
Glad this book started the trend though. Without it we'd have no movie adaptations which really explore the insidious and evil of the body snatchers much more than this book.
The ending is so abrupt btw too.