A review by eva_15
Dead Poets Society by N.H. Kleinbaum

emotional inspiring fast-paced

3.5

I wish I had read this book in autumn because I think the atmosphere would have been much more pronounced. I actually think that I would have been more immersed into this book if it were a hundred pages longer. To me there wasn’t enough time to fully invest myself into the members of the club or even Mr Keats  fully because every scene the plot seemed to be progressing. Although I found the concept very intriguing,  and I understood the boyish childhood feel the book had I don’t think it was a perceptive that I’m particularly interested in. Thinking about it I think it would make a better film than book since the atmosphere is so specific and it’s so dynamic in terms of action - it would probably have more of an emotional impact on me. There were also some weird parts that weren’t bulked up enough or explained that would be fine in a film but a bit confusing book like how and why Charlie brought over those two random girls (Tina and someone) to the cave, who Cameron even was since I didn’t feel like I knew him at all, what Tom Andersons aversion to reading was, etc. The characters weren’t fleshed out enough which might be in the movie since you can gain a lot from an actors physicality but here there wasn’t enough. Knox’s obsession with (I don’t remember her name) felt one dimensional and creepy. Tom Anderson had very little explanation to him apart from his terrible parents. Mr Keats wasn’t personal enough with the boys enough time to make me believe or care enough about his love for teaching or what he felt for the students.  The only characters whom I felt really developed and had substance were Charlie and Naol who actually felt changed by the society. Naols passion for acting was one of the things I was truly rooting for so at least his death hit home a little more. I just felt there wasn’t enough. However the message and the idea of carpe diem was very interesting as well as the setup for the plot. I didn’t live it but I liked it - though I see how it was a film first. I was trying to think after reading it what feeling it gave me because I have experienced the same sense after a book a few times and the best I could muster up was if we were villains but I’m not really sure if that’s the exact one. Now that aim thinking about it films are more likely to have given me the same feeling.