Divided Kingdom
2 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by tangledthreads from Derby, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Monday, November 15, 2004
(Pre-publication proof paperback edition.)
"'I'm not interested in the colour of someone's skin. It's their thoughts that bother me. The new racism is psychological. What's strange is, we seem to need it - to thrive on it. If we don't have someone to despise, we feel uncomfortable, we feel we haven't properly defined ourselves. Hate gives us hard edges. And the authorities knew that, of course. In fact, they were banking on it. They force-fed us our own weakness - our intolerance, our bigotry. They rammed it down our throats.' He paused. 'They took the worst part of us and built a system out of it...I was classified as a choleric,' Fernandez said, 'which is something I dispute, of course, something I resent as well, and yet I seem to be getting more and more choleric with every year that passes. It's ironic, don't you think?'"
In the near future, the once United Kingdom is divided along ley lines into four quarters. Every person in the country is classified as one of four personality 'types': sanguine, choleric, melancholic, and phlegmatic; then ripped away from their existing family and re-housed in the relevant red, yellow, blue or green quarter of the new divided kingdom. Like lives with like, and the government congratulates itself on minimising dischord.
Thomas Parry is sanguine until an official visit to the Blue Quarter opens up suppressed aspects of his character and he finds himself rebelling against the system. The straightforward, matter-of-fact narration reminded me of John Wyndham's style, and the subject was also similar (especially the telepathic communication of 'the white people', after recently reading 'The Chrysalids'). Ultimately, though, I wasn't especially moved by the novel, although it was very readable.
Passing on as an extra to my secret santa...
"'I'm not interested in the colour of someone's skin. It's their thoughts that bother me. The new racism is psychological. What's strange is, we seem to need it - to thrive on it. If we don't have someone to despise, we feel uncomfortable, we feel we haven't properly defined ourselves. Hate gives us hard edges. And the authorities knew that, of course. In fact, they were banking on it. They force-fed us our own weakness - our intolerance, our bigotry. They rammed it down our throats.' He paused. 'They took the worst part of us and built a system out of it...I was classified as a choleric,' Fernandez said, 'which is something I dispute, of course, something I resent as well, and yet I seem to be getting more and more choleric with every year that passes. It's ironic, don't you think?'"
In the near future, the once United Kingdom is divided along ley lines into four quarters. Every person in the country is classified as one of four personality 'types': sanguine, choleric, melancholic, and phlegmatic; then ripped away from their existing family and re-housed in the relevant red, yellow, blue or green quarter of the new divided kingdom. Like lives with like, and the government congratulates itself on minimising dischord.
Thomas Parry is sanguine until an official visit to the Blue Quarter opens up suppressed aspects of his character and he finds himself rebelling against the system. The straightforward, matter-of-fact narration reminded me of John Wyndham's style, and the subject was also similar (especially the telepathic communication of 'the white people', after recently reading 'The Chrysalids'). Ultimately, though, I wasn't especially moved by the novel, although it was very readable.
Passing on as an extra to my secret santa...
Journal Entry 2 by tangledthreads from Derby, Derbyshire United Kingdom on Saturday, November 27, 2004
On way to saladoor for Secret Santa...
Wow!
I am going to prioritise this book and give it the going over as soon as i can. Many many thanks.
I am going to prioritise this book and give it the going over as soon as i can. Many many thanks.
