Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.4 AVERAGE
3.4 AVERAGE
The story premise is intriguing, the execution not so much. Now I know why I could only vaguely remember the general overall gist from my first reading years ago. This is a case where the TV series adaptation is vastly better than the book.
A little dated but held up better than I thought it would. The ending is still a bit abrupt - apparently there was supposed to be a sequel.
3.75 ⭐️
There was a lot of this book that I really enjoyed reading and found interesting. Then there was some stuff I found ludicrously stupid. I'd say 3.75 is a fair enough reflection
There was a lot of this book that I really enjoyed reading and found interesting. Then there was some stuff I found ludicrously stupid. I'd say 3.75 is a fair enough reflection
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Very imaginative but kind of void. Almost no plot at all.
3.5 / 5.0
"The Man in the High Castle" is one of the less-weird PKD books that I've read; and, for that reason, it's a little easier to follow and somewhat more grounded (i.e., it feels more thought out). Still, I just never really felt invested in it--the book never really feels like it builds to much, and it lacks the desperate uncertainty and confusion of his weirder books ("Ubik," "Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said"). The backstory and world in which the novel exists is definitely a draw; PKD does a great job at world-building, giving strange detail to the Nazi- and Japanese-ruled, 1960s world. And, its central plot features--e.g., the I Ching as determinative of events; the uncertainty of reality (did the Axis and Japanese really win WWII?); and the book-within-a-book presenting a second alternate history that's somewhere between that of the novel and that of the real world--are pretty neat. Overall, "The Man in the High Castle" read as both not-PKD enough (i.e., not weird enough) and too-PKD (i.e., too weird)--I wish it read more as either a weirder, more-confusing take on the conventional alternate-history novel, or, simply, as a more conventional alternate-history novel. As something somewhere in between, it's mostly enjoyable and somewhat memorable, but not as satisfying as I'd hoped.
"The Man in the High Castle" is one of the less-weird PKD books that I've read; and, for that reason, it's a little easier to follow and somewhat more grounded (i.e., it feels more thought out). Still, I just never really felt invested in it--the book never really feels like it builds to much, and it lacks the desperate uncertainty and confusion of his weirder books ("Ubik," "Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said"). The backstory and world in which the novel exists is definitely a draw; PKD does a great job at world-building, giving strange detail to the Nazi- and Japanese-ruled, 1960s world. And, its central plot features--e.g., the I Ching as determinative of events; the uncertainty of reality (did the Axis and Japanese really win WWII?); and the book-within-a-book presenting a second alternate history that's somewhere between that of the novel and that of the real world--are pretty neat. Overall, "The Man in the High Castle" read as both not-PKD enough (i.e., not weird enough) and too-PKD (i.e., too weird)--I wish it read more as either a weirder, more-confusing take on the conventional alternate-history novel, or, simply, as a more conventional alternate-history novel. As something somewhere in between, it's mostly enjoyable and somewhat memorable, but not as satisfying as I'd hoped.
At first, I was annoyed by the ending; it seemed to leave the world unchanged which really bothered me. However, the inner truth that Juliana discovers at the end is really our inner truth. What reality or truth have we lost because we became so preoccupied by fear of the unknown. Both as a country and as individuals.
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Read this in a few chunks over the last few months but ultimately ended up really liking it. Phillip K. Dick has a knack for combining detailed worlds and characters and fitting them efficiently into a tight read.
While I enjoyed other characters plot lines more than others, the entire setting and alternate history is an enough of a thread to keep you locked in.
While I enjoyed other characters plot lines more than others, the entire setting and alternate history is an enough of a thread to keep you locked in.