In the meantime, I have been on a reading binge over the last month and would like to know if anyone has read any of the following titles, if so, what was your overall impression?
1. 1984 - George Orwell
2. One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest - Ken Kesey
3. The Giver - Lois Lowry
I am currently reading "Farenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury (if you have read it, please don't spoil it!).
1. What did you like/dislike about each book?
2. What thoughts were provoked while reading them?
3. Are any of the concepts presented relevant to our time?
11 comments:
1984 - WOW! It's the best book I've ever read (to this point in my life). I'm planning on rereading it within the next couple of months, so I'll go into then.
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Haven't read it but I suppose I will one day, however that day is very far away.
The Giver - Another one of my favorites! You're on a roll.
What's up with all the dystopian novels?
Forgive me for not going into any details, but it's been a while since I've read them, plus, like I said, I plan on posting about them once I reread them.
I will say, though, that yes, yes, yes I see direct correlations to all of the dystopian literature that I've read to the current world we live in. That's why it's my favorite kind.
While our country certainly has more than its share of "Orwellian" attributes (My favorite example to use is The Dept. of Defense, which has never acted in defense), I think Brave New World might be closer to what the U.S. is really like.
I also recommend A Clockwork Orange, but I'm hesitant to do so with The Handmaid's Tale and The Iron Heel. I love them both, but I don't think they're for everybody. (Not that you're "everybody, but I don't know you well enough.)
Let me know when you get to the part in Fahrenheit 451 when the aliens come down. That's the best part!
"One Flew Over..." is a great book, of course the movie with Jack Nichlson doesn't do it justice (they never do) but I think I'll rent it and watch it now that I have read the book.
I plan to read "Brave New World" very soon, probably after I finish Farenheit 451.
I am reading all of these particular books because they were recommended by a local San Diego Christian talk show host Paul McGuire. He talks about end times prophecy in the Bible and feels strongly that reading these books will give people an understanding of why things are the way they are, particularly why the government does certain things. That is the subject I am hoping to discuss in this post.
You better be kidding about the "alien" comment, I am at the part where Guy escapes from the city into the wilderness and meets up with the group of hobos.
Alls I can offer is that I read a lot of Lois Lowry's books in highschool.
@LMC - Do you remember liking them?
I never read the book, but I loved the flick version of "One Flew Over..." and from my understanding it was Nicholson's best role. Undeniably a classic.
LMC: Thanks for stoppong by! I did notice that pretty much every book on my list is high school reading, although I never read them until now. That made it hard finding them at the bookstore, and I didn't want to wait for Amazon.
GG: If you have time to read, I highly recommend it. It's probably better that you saw the movie first, seeing the movie after reading the book almost always results in disappointment.
OTB: What do you think of the comparison of 1984 to Farhrenheit 451? Some say Fahrenheit is more accurate to today.
I've been thinking about since my last reply, and I might have to take back what I said about Brave New World being more comparable to today's world. If I remember correctly, that's what blew me away about 1984. How incredibly accurate it was to today's times. (But then, after some research, only to find out that times really haven't changed that much.)
Another example would be how, in 1984, you never know who you're actually fighting. That's so relevant to today's "War on Terror"
I want to read them all now and then post a report on them, but it will have to wait. I've got a list of books that I must get to first. I'll let you know when I do post it, though.
Yes, I did.
Bullfrog, glad to hear you'll be back writing soon. I read 451 a long time ago, and yes, I loved it. Like Ghost, I saw One Flew at the cinema and loved it. Jack was great in it as was Louise Fletcher as Nurse Ratched. I think she won the Oscar that year.
Hey Dave,
I finished 451 last week, great book. I have to say at this point my favorite is 1984.
I think the year One flew Over movie was released it swept the Academy awards.
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