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Lyn's Reviews > Island
Island
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Mr. Roarke and Tatto stand on a hillside waiting, and as they wait they discuss Aldous Huxley’s 1962 novel Island.
Roarke: You know it was Huxely’s final book.
Tattoo: Yes, and he returned to many of the themes that he had written about in his long and distinguished career, like population, ecology, religion and the state.
Roarke: Yes, and similar to his seminal work Brave New World, he explores the ideas of a utopia / dystopia but in this sense it is as a cynical journalist is shipwrecked on an otherwise idyllic setting in the South Pacific.
Tattoo: Yes, but even that fantasy island is beset with trouble in the form of encroachments by modern materialistic life as a young ruler is seduced by the dark side.
Roarke: I found many similarities with Ernest Callenbach’s 1975 novel Ecotopia and suspect that he was very much influenced by Huxley.
Tattoo: While this is in the form of a story about the shipwrecked writer, this is really just a vehicle whereby Huxley can discuss and expound upon ideas about a utopian society.
Roarke: Agreed, and while this was an illuminating essay, as a novel, it lacks a clear plot and also many of Huxley’s ideas are only loosely developed and countered with strawman arguments.
Tattoo: Still a worthwhile read, I always like Huxley’s writing style. Oh, look! The plane! The plane!
Roarke: You know it was Huxely’s final book.
Tattoo: Yes, and he returned to many of the themes that he had written about in his long and distinguished career, like population, ecology, religion and the state.
Roarke: Yes, and similar to his seminal work Brave New World, he explores the ideas of a utopia / dystopia but in this sense it is as a cynical journalist is shipwrecked on an otherwise idyllic setting in the South Pacific.
Tattoo: Yes, but even that fantasy island is beset with trouble in the form of encroachments by modern materialistic life as a young ruler is seduced by the dark side.
Roarke: I found many similarities with Ernest Callenbach’s 1975 novel Ecotopia and suspect that he was very much influenced by Huxley.
Tattoo: While this is in the form of a story about the shipwrecked writer, this is really just a vehicle whereby Huxley can discuss and expound upon ideas about a utopian society.
Roarke: Agreed, and while this was an illuminating essay, as a novel, it lacks a clear plot and also many of Huxley’s ideas are only loosely developed and countered with strawman arguments.
Tattoo: Still a worthwhile read, I always like Huxley’s writing style. Oh, look! The plane! The plane!
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Island.
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Reading Progress
August 26, 2020
–
Started Reading
August 26, 2020
– Shelved
September 1, 2020
–
Finished Reading
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by
Ivana
(new)
Sep 02, 2020 09:16AM
I remember having mixed feelings about this one. I loved the writing and some of the ideas, but the plot didn't keep my attention.
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Yep, not much of a plot really
Love that review format!
Ha! I think I’m a little of both
That is a review format I've never seen before, and I enjoyed it. I didn't watch enough Fantasy Island to know if it was true to the characters, but it is a fun way to review a book.Thank you for the review. I think I will look for another book about utopia.
Excellent review LYN. Many people review his works as science fiction but his insights and intellect were off the charts. He was a genius and I while I understand the critics, his works were very thought provoking and definitely copied by many writers. Brave New World was a masterpiece for the time it was written but many readers cannot grasp his genius IMO..
