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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
Interesting book. The theme is intruiging. Style is peculiar . At first the different story lines don't seem to connect but in the end they do. Left me thinking after I read the last page , what if ....
I’m glad to have finished a Phillip K Dick novel. It was an engrossing read mostly because of the main question it explores about the axis winning ww2. The personal storylines were slow for me but really picked up at the end. I thought the centerpiece of the story being about a book with an alternate history where the allies actually win was super interesting. I’m gonna try to read his other books like Blade Runner but I think his writing might be too dry for me in the long run
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Great idea, I would have liked if the world was explored more
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Great read and for sure righteously a classic.
Still I was not „cought“ enough in the plot, or got attached enough to the characters. Also the „I Ching“ is something used well as a plot device but I was missing the „why“ this is used so much etc
Still I was not „cought“ enough in the plot, or got attached enough to the characters. Also the „I Ching“ is something used well as a plot device but I was missing the „why“ this is used so much etc
Au royaume de la SF, Philip K. Dick est un des maitres incontestés. Si beaucoup ne connaissent que les adaptations de ses oeuvres (Blade Runner et Total Recall en tête d’affiche), il a été un auteur très prolifique, et si je n’aime pas utiliser le terme de « génie », beaucoup de critiques ne se gênent pas pour le qualifier ainsi.
The Man in the High Castle est pour moi un de ces meilleurs livres (parmi ceux que j’ai pu lire). Peut-être car il est très ancré dans la réalité (comparé à certaines de ses oeuvres au ton un peu plus décalé tirant vers l’absurde), mais surtout car le sujet est fascinant, dérangeant. Mis simplement, que se serait-il passé dans un univers parallèle où l’Allemagne avait gagné la Seconde Guerre mondiale ? Beaucoup de conversations peuvent être ouvertes avec ce simple parti pris, et il va sans dire que Dick a choisi la route la plus tragique possible.
Le ton cynique, la froideur des descriptions (et, il est vrai, le manque de caractérisation des personnes, qui fait que le livre manque d’une touche « humaine »), en fait un livre très dur, qui marque indéniablement. Très court, il est très facile à lire, et pour toutes personnes aimant les histoires alternatives et les dystopies, je ne peux que le conseiller.
The Man in the High Castle est pour moi un de ces meilleurs livres (parmi ceux que j’ai pu lire). Peut-être car il est très ancré dans la réalité (comparé à certaines de ses oeuvres au ton un peu plus décalé tirant vers l’absurde), mais surtout car le sujet est fascinant, dérangeant. Mis simplement, que se serait-il passé dans un univers parallèle où l’Allemagne avait gagné la Seconde Guerre mondiale ? Beaucoup de conversations peuvent être ouvertes avec ce simple parti pris, et il va sans dire que Dick a choisi la route la plus tragique possible.
Le ton cynique, la froideur des descriptions (et, il est vrai, le manque de caractérisation des personnes, qui fait que le livre manque d’une touche « humaine »), en fait un livre très dur, qui marque indéniablement. Très court, il est très facile à lire, et pour toutes personnes aimant les histoires alternatives et les dystopies, je ne peux que le conseiller.
As part of the 2014 Eclectic Reader Challenge I was required to read a novel which fell under the category of Alternate History and so I decided it was time to finally read “The Man in the High Castle” by Philip K Dick which has been sitting on my book shelf for quite a while. The book is set in a world where the Axis forces managed to win WWII and have carved it up between themselves. The plot explores the lives several people living in 1962 United States which has been partitioned by the Germans and Japanese.
I have to start by saying that it is obvious to me that the aim of the book is just to explore the “What If?” question regarding WWII and show its effect on various people rather than giving us any specific narrative. This actually made it hard for me to review, because if you are looking for a story with a defined start and satisfying conclusion then this book is not going to be for you. However, if you are happy to follow an exploration of the individual in a totalitarian society told via a number of vaguely interlinked sub-plots then you will probably find this to be a clever and interesting novel.
Dick does a brilliant job in bringing this world to life, using a huge amount of detail and multiple sub-plots to highlight the various aspects of society. It was quite eye opening to read a book in which the author actually tries to go into the nuances of his world which is something that the more recent young adult focused dystopian novels fail to do.
The biggest issue for me in the novel had to the characters, none of whom I managed to engage with. There is a large mish-mash of individuals and the novel focuses too much on their lives within this new world rather than who they actually are which ensured I didn’t really care about them or what happened. When you add this in to the rather weak overall plotline it could at times feel like a very hard and intellectual read rather than being an enjoyable alternate history novel.
Overall, this is a very clever novel that quite deeply explores one of the world’s favourite “What If?” scenarios regarding a different WWII outcome. It can at times feel almost academic in its form due to the weak characters and rather unsatisfying overall plot but it is still incredibly interesting to follow. I don’t know if I have a read another alternate history novel which so determinedly tries to showcase the multiple facets and elements of the different world that has been created. I fully understand why this book is highly rated in literary circles.
I have to start by saying that it is obvious to me that the aim of the book is just to explore the “What If?” question regarding WWII and show its effect on various people rather than giving us any specific narrative. This actually made it hard for me to review, because if you are looking for a story with a defined start and satisfying conclusion then this book is not going to be for you. However, if you are happy to follow an exploration of the individual in a totalitarian society told via a number of vaguely interlinked sub-plots then you will probably find this to be a clever and interesting novel.
Dick does a brilliant job in bringing this world to life, using a huge amount of detail and multiple sub-plots to highlight the various aspects of society. It was quite eye opening to read a book in which the author actually tries to go into the nuances of his world which is something that the more recent young adult focused dystopian novels fail to do.
The biggest issue for me in the novel had to the characters, none of whom I managed to engage with. There is a large mish-mash of individuals and the novel focuses too much on their lives within this new world rather than who they actually are which ensured I didn’t really care about them or what happened. When you add this in to the rather weak overall plotline it could at times feel like a very hard and intellectual read rather than being an enjoyable alternate history novel.
Overall, this is a very clever novel that quite deeply explores one of the world’s favourite “What If?” scenarios regarding a different WWII outcome. It can at times feel almost academic in its form due to the weak characters and rather unsatisfying overall plot but it is still incredibly interesting to follow. I don’t know if I have a read another alternate history novel which so determinedly tries to showcase the multiple facets and elements of the different world that has been created. I fully understand why this book is highly rated in literary circles.
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Far more than just a "What if the Nazis won?" story, it's fascinating the way Dick delves into the minutiae of living in an oppresive, strife filled dystopia. This is a story about three worlds all reflecting each other like a hall of mirrors. And just like in a hall of mirrors, the many are in reality just one. I'll be thinking about this one for a long time.
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I did not understand this book. There was no plot. Nothing happened. Ending fizzled.