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A review by kseckc
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A deeply disconcerting dystopian novel.
'Civilisation' has eschewed the natural processes of procreation, and dismisses anything that could lead to dissent. People are conditioned from embryo onwards to be content with their lot in life, and drugged with soma even if they aren't. When you've removed everything that makes you human, are you still human? What makes someone human? Who gets to decide what is civilised behviour and what isn't?
I don't think you're meant to like any of the characters in this novel (at any rate, I didn't) but perhaps that was the point.
I'd probably say it was soft sci-fi with what looks like some attempt at scientific explanation based on the knowledge of the time, especially with regards to the genetic engineering portion of the the novel.
This was an unsettling read and despite being a relatively short book, it took a while to read and get through. It was very intriguing though, and I would recommend if you have the headspace and time to consider this novel as a way to think about its differences and similarities to our current society. Even though it was written almost a century ago, it maintains relevance with its insight into human nature and one final question that seems to sum up the novel: is ignorance really bliss?
'Civilisation' has eschewed the natural processes of procreation, and dismisses anything that could lead to dissent. People are conditioned from embryo onwards to be content with their lot in life, and drugged with soma even if they aren't. When you've removed everything that makes you human, are you still human? What makes someone human? Who gets to decide what is civilised behviour and what isn't?
I don't think you're meant to like any of the characters in this novel (at any rate, I didn't) but perhaps that was the point.
I'd probably say it was soft sci-fi with what looks like some attempt at scientific explanation based on the knowledge of the time, especially with regards to the genetic engineering portion of the the novel.
This was an unsettling read and despite being a relatively short book, it took a while to read and get through. It was very intriguing though, and I would recommend if you have the headspace and time to consider this novel as a way to think about its differences and similarities to our current society. Even though it was written almost a century ago, it maintains relevance with its insight into human nature and one final question that seems to sum up the novel: is ignorance really bliss?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm