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A review by isabellarobinson7
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Rating: ?? stars
This book... is so weird. I was just hoping to round out the "Big Three" dystopian classics, and having already completed Orwell's 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Brave New World was last on the list. But I was not prepared for the absolute insanity that awaited me.
First of all, we have these dudes obsessed with Henry Ford. Yeah, Ford Motors Henry Ford. Why? I am still unsure. They say the year is 123 "AF" and AF doesn’t mean what you think it means. It means "After Ford". They put Ford on the same level the church put Jesus when they devised the Gregorian calendar.
Then we have this stupid little mantra several characters recite throughout the book:
This is a direct quote. And yes, the "orgy" they are talking about here is exactly the type you are trying not to think of. There really are a whole bunch of people of all ages running around singing "Orgy-porgy" like it's the ABCs. Yes, there is probably some deeper meaning that people study and analyse, but that does not justify the amount of times Aldous Huxley uses the word "orgy" in this book.
Lastly, we have this quote, that continues to confound me:
I have no idea what the goal was with that exchange. Are we establishing someone's lack of sense? Are we making some profound statement about society? If so, then why are we doing it this way?? I suppose that it my question for this whole book: why are we doing any of this, this way?!
This book... is so weird. I was just hoping to round out the "Big Three" dystopian classics, and having already completed Orwell's 1984 and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury, Brave New World was last on the list. But I was not prepared for the absolute insanity that awaited me.
First of all, we have these dudes obsessed with Henry Ford. Yeah, Ford Motors Henry Ford. Why? I am still unsure. They say the year is 123 "AF" and AF doesn’t mean what you think it means. It means "After Ford". They put Ford on the same level the church put Jesus when they devised the Gregorian calendar.
Then we have this stupid little mantra several characters recite throughout the book:
"Orgy-porgy, Ford and fun,
Kiss the girls and make them One.
Boys at One with girls at peace;
Orgy-porgy gives release"
This is a direct quote. And yes, the "orgy" they are talking about here is exactly the type you are trying not to think of. There really are a whole bunch of people of all ages running around singing "Orgy-porgy" like it's the ABCs. Yes, there is probably some deeper meaning that people study and analyse, but that does not justify the amount of times Aldous Huxley uses the word "orgy" in this book.
Lastly, we have this quote, that continues to confound me:
" 'I say,' Helmholtz exclaimed solicitously, 'you do look ill, John!'
'Did you eat something that didn't agree with you?' asked Bernard.
The Savage nodded. 'I ate civilization.'
'What?'
'It poisoned me; I was defiled. And then,' he added, in a lower tone, 'I ate my own wickedness.'
'Yes, but what exactly?... I mean, just now you were...'
'Now I am purified,' said the Savage. 'I drank some mustard and warm water.' "
I have no idea what the goal was with that exchange. Are we establishing someone's lack of sense? Are we making some profound statement about society? If so, then why are we doing it this way?? I suppose that it my question for this whole book: why are we doing any of this, this way?!