Journal Entry 1 by choclaholic from San Antonio, Texas USA on Monday, June 28, 2004

I requested the audiobook version of this book for my birthday. Not only did I get the CD, I also got a print copy :)

This is TBR.

 

Journal Entry 2 by choclaholic from San Antonio, Texas USA on Thursday, March 24, 2005

8 1/2 stars.

As I mentioned in my last journal, I got this on audibook for my birthday last year, and listened to it right away. A friend of mine Gorydetails encouraged me to go back and read all the audiobooks I listened to, so this is something I've decided to do.

Now that I've read this, though, it seems I didn't miss so much as I thought I might have just by listening. Except to say, that though this was still an excellent piece of work, it wasn't quite as emotionally startling the second time 'round. I guess hearing it for the first time, straight from the mouth of Micheal York, left quite an impact on me.

So, this is the story of individuals. In this conformist world, it is the story of these misfits -- Bernard and Lenina and John, and even Mustapha Mond -- which literally means Man of the World. Bernard, the non-conformist whose flaws, both physical and mental, seem to come from an accident in his foetal decanting. Lenina, the woman with the purple eyes, Lupus complexion and coral smile, who is attracted to the misfit males. John the savage, born indecently to an actual mother in the Old World. And Mustapha, scientist turned Controller who keeps God in the safe and Ford on the shelves.

I loved the futurisic world Huxley created, led by Our Ford of the Assembly line. The contrasts he created between the perfectly stable world of infantile-adults, born in genetic multidues of the Bokanovsky's process; perfectly conditioned; contolled of appetitites and passions; where "all natural impulses are allowed free play". That human utopia, put in direct contrast to the real world of angst and art and growth and love, complete with the drama of the "good fight against misfortune", and accompanied with traits like nobility and heroism. And still the question remains, wherein this spectrum would humans would most thrive?

Would the world be a better place with a drug like Soma: Morality in a bottle; Christianity without the tears? A gramme is better than a damn! A gramme is better than a damn!

Though I can feel something very profound in the ending, I can't say I fully understand it. Maybe someone could explain to me what is happening to John...

I'm lending this out to BXer First-Noel who expressed an interest in it. There's no hurry in getting it back to me, but please be kind enought to return it to my permanent collection when your done :) 

Journal Entry 3 by First-Noel from San Antonio, Texas USA on Friday, May 06, 2005

I can't believe I didn't journal this one. I was reading your page on http://www.twilightcreations.com/choclaholic/ and saw my name notated on this book.

I will definitly return to the personal collection. Thanks again for lending it. I'll try to get to this ASAP.