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3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
The meta humor regarding the in-world version of the book (such as the couple arguing about if it’s sci-fi or not; speculative fiction, for my money) is very funny and my enjoyment of it the whole trip made the destination really work.
challenging
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really wanted to like this, but ultimately it wasn't a very enjoyable read for me. Having been introduced to Philip K. Dick through "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" which I absolutely loved, I was really excited to read this novel. Despite the interesting premise, I never really got engaged in any of the storylines. The writing itself was excellent, and some of the ides that Dick present within were interesting, but the story itself fell short. The two-star rating feels a bit harsh, but I don't think it warrants a three-star rating relative to my personal preferences.
Overall, an interesting novel with some thought-provoking ideas, but it wasn't presented in a way that resinated with me. I'd still recommend this book as I'm sure there are many people out there that will both appreciate and enjoy this novel.
Overall, an interesting novel with some thought-provoking ideas, but it wasn't presented in a way that resinated with me. I'd still recommend this book as I'm sure there are many people out there that will both appreciate and enjoy this novel.
slow-paced
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
inspiring
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:
Complicated
dark
medium-paced
The more I think about it, the more I realize that Philip K. Dick is the Van Gogh of the Sci-Fi world. Super talented, really prolific, and deeply damaged. I have read other alternative histories, but this is the one that has stuck with me. Maybe it's just the idea, what would the world have become if the Axis had won the war? Maybe it's that side by side comparison, the battle between the technological and the spiritual. Maybe its attraction is rooted in its invitation to explore the interconnectedness of all things and the concept of balance. Or historicity. Or smallness. Or wu.
I could go on.
I love the idea too that there's sort of a meta-reality or a duality of timelines that a couple of the characters are able to detect, if not fully comprehend, at the end of the book. The idea that was we see and perceive every day is an illusion.
Check out the San Antonio Public Library's Escape the Earth podcast discussing Man in the High Castle: https://soundcloud.com/saplpodcast/the-butterfly-effect-of-eating-beans.
Don't dwell too much on that though.
I could go on.
I love the idea too that there's sort of a meta-reality or a duality of timelines that a couple of the characters are able to detect, if not fully comprehend, at the end of the book. The idea that was we see and perceive every day is an illusion.
Check out the San Antonio Public Library's Escape the Earth podcast discussing Man in the High Castle: https://soundcloud.com/saplpodcast/the-butterfly-effect-of-eating-beans.
Don't dwell too much on that though.
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I thought there was an Interesting meta-fiction element to the book (plot centres somewhat around an alternative fiction book in their world about Germany loosing the war) it was interesting how some aspects of “alternative history” were accurate some were not. Interesting focus on Japanese influence if Hiroshima never happened, I think it made me consider just how much our current political landscape is shaped by WW2. I thought it’s interesting how aspects we think are horrific are just “how things are” for the characters & how they talk about how much worse everything would be if the Allies won the war (especially the idea that communism would take over). It also did a good job of showing how people can easily accept something as normal that we would consider horrifying from our current timeline of history. Pre-war paraphernalia focus was also kind of interesting to me, especially with the consumerist themes in Electric sheep, and the way culture is shared through physical goods, although I could not tell you the deeper thematic meaning behind making newer art (although interestingly the Nazi party did at the time like classical styles of music and art). I also enjoyed watching a seemingly random cast of characters become connected in small ways through the course of the plot.
That being said, I struggled to follow who is who sometimes (thinking that might just be a side effect of me being on heavy medication). There were also random grammar issues (missing ‘the’ and slipping between tenses), I think this is a copyediting issue. The conversation about a woman wearing a dress bra-less was kind of wrong, when going braless in a dress the concern isn’t bending over will show things, but more so that covering the nipple is important for modesty. The misogyny and racism is a bit annoying to read (although again the racism is a natural part of the world building).
Overall more generally philosophical than plot or character strong. I think if you go into this wanting to think a little bit about history and alternative pathways it will be enjoyable, but if you go in expecting strong plot you will be disappointed. There is also a fair amount of discussion of the events of alternative history and so I also think having a general understanding of the time period of WW2 will also help going in. This did hit the spot for me, as a history buff and someone who likes thinking in this way.