Take a photo of a barcode or cover
chris_mcc's Reviews (575)
Wow, can't believe it took me 35 years to get to Dune. I think seeing the movie at age 8 probably put me off. Not much to add to the thousands of reviews -- a beautifully imagined, densely woven novel about power and myth.
The feeling of a grand legend unfolding in Dune is lost in Dune Messiah as Paul Atreides, the human being, has to live within the mythology he has created. It makes sense, and it's as well written, but not nearly as enjoyable as the original.
The author's premise is that the West fundamentally misunderstands North Korea in large part because few analysts understand the language. Instead, they rely on the English version of DPRK propaganda, which is markedly different from the narrative spun for internal audiences. The author does a great job of outlining the internal version of those national myths and distinguishing them from their counterparts in the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc. It's fascinating reading.
The political message of the book is not a happy one -- Myer's argues convincingly that hatred of America is so fundamental to the North Korean identify that the government literally could not survive without it.
The political message of the book is not a happy one -- Myer's argues convincingly that hatred of America is so fundamental to the North Korean identify that the government literally could not survive without it.