Remember the goals I set for 2008? Looks like my first read of the new year is going to be Aldous Huxley's, A Brave New World.
Why this particular book?
It's part of our personal library.
I've never read it.
JQ just read it last year and is looking forward to discussing it with me.
I dig the idea that the story is still relevant today.
If you've read it I'd love to hear what you thought of it. I haven't started yet so, No Spoilers Please!
16 comments:
I have to be honest, I absolutely hated this book when I read it. Of course, I was 16, so there's a good chance that it was over my boy crazy head, but I really didn't like it. Other books I hated: Watership Down, Animal Farm, Wuthering Heights, Canterbury Tales, The Divine Comedy. Books I absolutely loved, and continue to love: To Kill A Mockingbird (If I ever have a daughter, I will name her Harper), I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, A Separate Peace, The Catcher in the Rye.
But tell me if you like it, and I might pick it up again. Now that I think about it, I didn't hate it nearly as much as I hated those other books, I just didn't like it as much as the books I enjoyed.
christina—I loved TKAMB (I had Atticus in the mix for a boy's name early on) and Catcher in the Rye. I never had to read any of the others.
I'll let you know what I thought for sure.
Brave New World is one of my favorites, I thought it was absolutely awesome and I've re-read it a few times since. I also liked Animal Farm...
If you haven't read 1984 that's another good one in the "utopian society" genre. A little dry in the beginning but it gets way good.
TKAMB is a great book!
One that I thought of that you might like (or not) is: "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon. It's really odd, but I sliked it. It's written from the point of view of an autistic 15 year old. The Mrs hated it, but I really liked it. I think I heard about it on the Today show and ordered it from Amazon.
I've actually never read it- so why does it sound familiar?
Ditto everyone's thoughts on TKAMB.
Great Expectations is my other favorite, and when I'm feeling twisted Lord of the Flies,or The Island of Dr. Moreau.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time--I read this a few years ago and completely forgot about it. I liked it, too. Can't go wrong with a shocking narrative written by a mentally disturbed teenager (The Boy Who Could Make Himself Disappear, among others). Now what did I do with my copy...?
To be fair - I only read the first chapter of the "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon - and I just couldn't get into it - I loved TKAM, and Catcher in the Rye.
I read this in high school and can not remember any of it. Guess I will have to brush up on the basics again.
Shouldn't it be: TKAM becuase Mockingbird is one word?
I liked Brave New World. I agree with Blackbyrd about 1984. It's a little slow to start, but awesome. I also just re-read A Clockwork Orange. It was better this time (last time I was probably 18 or so) becuase I actually understand what a Clockwork Orange is, and how that term is relevant to the story. I was just so jazzed over learning Nadsat, that I missed the connection.
blackbyrd—I've never read Animal Farm or 1984 either. Two more that I would definitely add to the list.
nobody—Never heard of that one. Sounds a bit disturbing.
shades—Lord of the Flies is such a good book. I still have my copy from high school sitting on our bookshelf.
mrs. nobody—You are so cute, jumping in to defend yourself.
vp—I was in the AP English classes in high school. I'm pretty sure that is why I'm one of the only people my age who haven't read it.
tf—It should absolutely be TKAM. Thanks for pointing out my flaws. I had to look up Nadsat—I'm a big dummy this morning.
I read both 1984 and A Brave New World, and I liked A Brave New World better. Of course, I read them both in high school, so neither was great.
One of my most memorable books, that I also hated in high school, but wouldn't mind finding again to read now, was called Earth Abides. Very interesting story. Similar plot line to I Am Legend, but different enough.
Also, What Dreams May Come is an interesting read, and though I never saw the movie, I heard the book was better.
lynda—I saw What Dreams May Come a long time ago but never read the book. I'm not even sure I knew it was based on a book.
Yeah, we should read 1984 next. It has been a while since I have read that one. After that we can get into some Ayn Rand.
@JQ - Dude, baby steps. Ayn Rand is not for the weak of heart. You have to be committed to read that stuff. That said, Atlas Shrugged is a pretty good book. Not a favorite, but not tinder, either.
I have read that and Fountainhead. There might be another one that I am forgetting about, but it has been a really long time. I can't even remember what the books were about now. Something about kids lost on an island, no that wasn't it. A killer clown. No. It will come to me....
I've read it and some of the other "utopian society" books, as blakbyrd put it, including some of the Ayn Rand books. I liked them all.
And oddly enough, I just acquired the Mark Haddon book Nobody recommended. It's next on my list.
Post a Comment