We're supposed to despise the "dystopian" world that Huxley has created for us... I think?
Perhaps the horror of the world Huxley created for us requirWe're supposed to despise the "dystopian" world that Huxley has created for us... I think?
Perhaps the horror of the world Huxley created for us requires the context of Christianity and that little slice of Americana that is fearing socialism.
Let's see... free healthcare to the point of not aging? Great. No childbirth, free birth control and abortions on every corner without shame? Yes please. Rations of anti-anxiety, recreational drugs and health benefits on the daily? Okay! No unemployment? No homelessness? A society that isn't fueled by impulse or sexual abuse? Yes! A society where there is no sexism or sexual repression of women? Hell yeah. No religion to impair society? No violence and limited corporal punishment? Sweet. Conditioning and social constructs around accepting death to limit its trauma? Amazing.
The morally questionable part of society comes from the fact that children are conditioned to fit into society. How "bad" this depends on if you can consider that every child has been conditioned in every era in every society.
It is bad that certain children are bred for certain caste work. There is a class system (though each caste is treated with a level of dignity and compensated). There is also the issue in this book that children (for some reason) are encouraged to engage in sexual activity. This seemed entirely unnecessary but was jarring mentioned throughout the book. The other negative?
The society itself is geared towards consumerism. However, given the society that's been created, this seems to have no actual purpose. To me, it's a jarring failing of the author who seems to stop short of his grandiose hypothetical involving sexualized children when actually considering the economic impacts and drives in the world he's created.
This story is a meandering, poorly written tale that was sometimes difficult to continue because of the writing style of characters who are written in shallow form and without consistency. They are whatever the author decides for them to be at the moment, for no real reason and to no real end. The character that I thought had the most potential was Lenina who was relegated to the typical disregarded romance interest that is the prettiest most clueless woman that's always there.
The author seems to think that some exposition in the last few pages and a moment of abstract social hysteria will lend it some profundity (spoiler alert, it does not.) It also does not make for a satisfying ending. Perhaps in the end we are supposed to also view the so-called dystopia as a thread to the conscious mind. In reality, all this shoddy ending does is highlight the violence that occurs outside of the order the so-called dystopia creates. This thereby emphasizes the need for emotional regulation (though it would ideally be voluntary).
One hundred years on from the publishing of this book, we've seen what unregulated tools of violence, social upheaval as well as a lack of health care and access to anxiety drugs (like soma) have gotten us firsthand in America. It isn't good. Are you supposed to pine for many elements of a supposedly scary dystopia that an author has configured?
In the end, I was lost. Are we supposed to side with The Savage who domestically abuses his would-be partner in her most vulnerable state? Is the point that there is no point? That either option is bad? Was it all a dream? Either way, it's interesting to me that the author was far better at making the dystopia seem enticing instead of writing it as a cautionary tale.
Overall, the book starts with an interesting concept that lacks pacing and or good execution. The book follows and falls away from several characters, none of which are particularly consistent in their composition. Nor are they compelling. Halfway through the book, the protagonist changes completely and we follow him along for spouts of testosterone-led madness that come from a shallow origin story and go nowhere. This is the person that is supposed to be our metaphorical beacon of freedom? No thanks.
The character, The Savage, (the only white man in a group of snake-handling indigenous (because of course) becomes our protagonist at all but the end of the book. This character plays on so many cliches. At least one can take comfort in knowing that white men have been writing white men characters who wander into a tribe of indigenous, end up being the most noteworthy of the tribe due to their white skin, and then become their primary representative - for a while. The Last of Mohicans and the Last Samurai though, this is not.
It bears mentioning too that while it was a different time back in the 1930s, it's still not particularly enjoyable to read these weird racial undertones about how the white woman is an unparalleled beauty standard against a backdrop of indigenous. Meanwhile, the complexions of the other savages are likened to "dogskin" so unlike the pure white flesh "The Savage's" love interest. The likes of which he has never seen (though he himself is white) until he lays eyes on the love interest. It's not surprising, it's just not enjoyable.
This book tries REALLY hard to be profound though it doesn't even stand knee-high to dystopian greats like 1984 or Lord of the Flies (ironic since Orwell was briefly a pupil of Huxley.) This novel is meandering and absolutely running on self-righteous testosterone. The writing style is beyond convoluted and often difficult to read. The author seems to think that by keeping the conclusion abstract (or missing entirely) it can bet on gullible readers to fill in the blanks and make Biblical or poetic interpretations where I'm pretty sure little to no substance lies - ironic, given the subject matter of the book.
Brave New World is a man yelling at clouds, having a voyeuristic conversation with himself about simple philosophical ideas as though he is an intellectual standout. He suffers from the mistake of not being able to tell if his own story is an allegory or a novel with a beginning middle and end. A good story will speak for itself without the walls of exposition that this story gropes for. This is especially true when that exposition is delivered by shallow characters that only barely serve as a mask that slightly veils the author's own face.
I won't give away the ending except to say that is incredibly poor, sudden, welcome, and barely a step above saying it was all a dream and clapping the book shut. Mostly, I'm annoyed I wasted my time on this book and that a concept that could have been clever and beautiful was explored so poorly....more
I really enjoyed this book and I am working through my second reading now. There's so much practical information on how to become a better listener, eI really enjoyed this book and I am working through my second reading now. There's so much practical information on how to become a better listener, effective communicator and how to deal with situations in which you would like to achieve a certain outcome for yourself.
I think women especially can benefit from this book. Voss is respectful and shows admiration to female leaders and peers in his novel which I appreciate. Most women do not negotiate for a better salary. It's often times difficult for us to stand our grand in the work place without being seen as "bitchy" or "unfair." These communication and listening tactics are very intelligent and I will definitely be employing them on my next job search.
The information is presented clearly and in a format that becomes sort of a course unto itself. It's easy to read and well paced. It does lag at times. I do get a little tired of hearing the personal anecdotes sometimes but there is a lesson in each one.
Overall though, I enjoy this book and feel there's a wealth of practical information to be taken from Mr. Voss' many years of experience....more
You know, I have nothing deep to say here. It's a short, sweet motivational book with some tough love and sometimes you just need help unfu*king yoursYou know, I have nothing deep to say here. It's a short, sweet motivational book with some tough love and sometimes you just need help unfu*king yourself and getting out of your own head (and preferably into your life.) I'm not judging it at harshly as I might scrutinize a novel. I like a good self-help book and so many have religion riddled in. This did not, and I found it motivational. As someone who aligns with stoicism I also appreciated that general line of thought in this book. If you're thinking of reading it, just go for it....more
I read this book shortly after reading The Starch Solution. I found this book to be less informative about global issues and there were many points heI read this book shortly after reading The Starch Solution. I found this book to be less informative about global issues and there were many points here that can also be found in the Starch Solution. That being said I preferred the Starch Solution as I felt it was simply more well-rounded . This book, however can stand on it's own and does offer insights of its own on weight loss. It's a good companion piece to The Starch Solution and I'm glad I read them in the way that I did. Would highly recommend both books referenced here. There's so much information that I'll probably reread them both. Dr. McDougall has committed his life to educating people and he knows his stuff....more
It's been two years since I read this book and about four or so since it came out I think, so I'm a little bit behind. Despite rarely giving over fourIt's been two years since I read this book and about four or so since it came out I think, so I'm a little bit behind. Despite rarely giving over four stars to novels I'm giving this book five. I'll explain.
The primary reason is because two years later this book is still highly impactful for me. I still remember the eerie beginning of this mysterious little girl. It was unlike anything I had ever seen done in the "zombie horror genre" of which I am not generally a huge fan. Don't get me wrong, I like my Last of Us games and get a good chuckle at Zombieland but I'm not a Zombie-fanatic.
I don't want to give away anything so I won't say much accept overall I enjoyed this book and at times couldn't put it down. There were points I definitely knew I was reading through the male gaze and became squeamish about the depiction of some of the female characters however...
I came into this book knowing very little and was pleasantly surprised by the way this book subverted expectations. Sometimes, authors subvert expectations seemingly out of sheer will to flex their superiority and might as the world builder. We as the reader, are being guided along, we trust the author - then bam. A good twist at the end will leave the reader stunned and exhilarated while one executed poorly will be followed with disappointment.
Reading over some of these reviews it seems that some readers aren't pleased where the book went and in the throws of it I'm not sure I was either at the time I finished the book. This book definitely but me through the five stages of grief. The fact it was capable of doing that delighted me, because it meant it found a way to get a little under my skin. But two years later I know this is definitely a ride I would go on again. I find myself looking for a similar experience. There's enough there to allow for a second processing which I feel most novels don't have to spare. That, too me, is worth the five star rating....more
Anytime someone has a question about vegan nutrition I honestly just want to hand them this book and say here, go read it. I read it at about 1.25 speAnytime someone has a question about vegan nutrition I honestly just want to hand them this book and say here, go read it. I read it at about 1.25 speed on Audibles and got through it in less than two days. It's a quick, simple read that answers so many questions.
I've been on a plant-based diet for just under twenty years now. I've done bouts of veganism here and there but none were really as sustainable for me as Dr. McDougall's teachings. Getting to eat carbs, beans and whole foods without guilt is what it's really all about. Even having so much experience with this lifestyle, through these books I've learned SO much. And it's not anecdotal. Clear, scientific explanations without the babble are on offering here.
I've read some of McDougall's other books but this one isn't as old as some of the others and feels a little more relevant. It delves only briefly into the ethical component of veganism. Overall, it's more about why it's healthy for the body and boy does Dr. McDougall make a strong argument.
After I read this book, I quickly devoured another of the doctor's. It's been about a month since I've been following his low fat regulations some what loosely and I've maintained my weight eating potatoes, doing low-fat baking and some low intensity actively. I've even dropped a pound or two. I wish I could say I have experienced the rapid weight loss his other book promises but I also haven't stuck to the style as strictly as I could have, nor did I start out severely overweight.
Point being, it's a lot of information on a vibrant, healthy way of eating that everyone should read to at least consider and incorporate partially, if not entirely. I am eating all of the whole/healthy/low carb calories I want right now and not gaining a pound. I feel happier and more aligned ethically. I highly recommend this book for anyone with questions about the physical nutrition carbs contain in an increasingly carb starved world....more
I gave this book four stars because it's well written and an entertaining bit of fiction. There isn't a lot I could say that hasn't been said as this I gave this book four stars because it's well written and an entertaining bit of fiction. There isn't a lot I could say that hasn't been said as this book has been out for many years. I'll simply say it lacks a fifth star because the ending to was abrupt and unfulfilling as so many endings are. It was overly simple and not very conclusive. Some overarching theme (other than the zombies) woven through this book would have elevated it I think. However, some of the stories definitely got me with their twists, turns and other impacted me (although only slightly) emotionally. Good entertainment, nothing overly profound.
One thing I didn't like is the stereotypes of each nation. This was reflected in the audiobook with we'll call it "whimsical" accents were none were needed. The audiobook was entertaining. I felt Nathan Fillion, Common and Mark Hamil did a great job. However, a lot of the brilliant actors they had on their very impressive roster weren't utilized well. Many got into the rhythm of just sounding like they were reading off a page which undermines the point of using the best actors.
Either way - long story short, some good zombie fiction but no true overarching plotline or depth....more
An Unkindness of Ghosts is one of those books that I want to like so very badly and in so many moments I do. Sometimes, I even loved this book. HoweveAn Unkindness of Ghosts is one of those books that I want to like so very badly and in so many moments I do. Sometimes, I even loved this book. However, the ending left me deeply unsatisfied to the point of disappointed frustration. I suppose that means it succeeded in at least making me feel something.
I picked up this book because I saw it was written by an agender person of color with a seemingly black, female protagonist. I was excited when looking for a new sci-fi book to find a novel written from this perspective. I didn't want any more white male astronauts full of bravado out saving the universe or whatever. To paraphrase Jordan Peele, I've read that book before.
There were many things I liked about this book. The concept of the characters being beholden to a caste system largely based on sexism, racism and bigotry aboard and inescapable spaceship was a good one. I appreciated the romance between two agender or non-binary characters (the book doesn't specify). As someone with CPTSD one of my favorite characters was Giselle who was so passionate, broken and unpredictable. I loved Theo, and I appreciated Aster's unique perspective as someone with autism. At first I thought I might find it jarring but I came to appreciate it.
However, as the book went on it suffered from being highly disjointed. Sometimes things would happen that I think were intended to surprise me but just left me feeling confused, uncomfortable and ill-informed as the reader. As the conclusion rapidly spiraled towards the end of the book I wasn't left breathless or impacted, just deeply annoyed. I got that robbed feeling one gets when an ending doesn't quite land.
I was left befuddled and frustrated many times but especially when the protagonist, a deeply intelligent and calculating person, made frivolous mistakes that led to dire consequences seemingly for no perceivable reason with mere pages left. It began to feel like the author had just decided the book was going to go a certain way and so it did, despite undoing so much of the work they had done to establish unique characters. So many things happened that left me asking why?
Overall, I do think this book was impactful on me to some degree as a non-binary/agender person myself. That part was lovely, and I appreciated the representation so deeply. I've already recommended the book to my queer, neuro-divergent friends for that reason alone.
However, I felt this book needed just one more draft. We don't get a thorough description of Theo until over half the book is over. At almost the end of the book there was a sentence that was so jarring to me. "Aster had done an amputation before." This was almost at the end of the book, and one of the biggest themes throughout the novel from the beginning was an amputation. We know she's done an amputation before! This was jarringly sloppy. I'm not sure if it was intended to be overly obvious and methodical but the ending began to lag and feel odd like the author didn't know if they were writing an epic allegory or a novel. Because of this, they ended up slightly failing at both.
In the end, I already have, and will recommend this book because it does many things right for those of us who need more representation in sci-fi but it sadly fell flat to me in many ways.
A note about the audiobook - the narration is wonderfully done....more
The book nudged me along hopefully to it's conclusion, so it succeeded in that I did not put it down but ultimately the ending crashes and burns into The book nudged me along hopefully to it's conclusion, so it succeeded in that I did not put it down but ultimately the ending crashes and burns into a fiery chasm that shirks realism like an itchy sweater. It catapults that sweater into the flames of romance novel-esque nonsense. I was so completely annoyed and took nothing away from this book. Not a single feeling, lesson or even the characters names. The only residual concept that remains in my skull about this book is about how completely obnoxious it was and the let down of hoping the book would get some where meaningful and it failing to do so entirely....more
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