I know I am supposed to revel in classic texts, or whatever I'm supposed to do with them, but they're just not my favorite type of writing. I can see I know I am supposed to revel in classic texts, or whatever I'm supposed to do with them, but they're just not my favorite type of writing. I can see the beauty here, in the endless allegories, parallels, symbolism and stripping away of the narrator's world beliefs. It's just not my favorite type of read. Unsophisticated am I? Sure, perhaps. Or, just personal preference.
I picked this up because I learned that someone I'm working with once read it and found it moving. Most fascinating to me is the many parallels I was able to see between their life and the narrator's (we never do learn his name, right?). In fact it's almost eerie - though perhaps if you go in looking for coincidences, it no coincidence when you find them. From the perceived invisibility to the move north, the leaving school to head to the city, the disillusionment with force-as-entertainment and self-interest of those that claim to help, as well as the house fire, lunatics, death of loved ones, and more. Oof.
I think I would have enjoyed reading more in a group or a class to really dive into the various contours of the text. Alone, I'm somewhat helpless. But, alas....more
So I'm not sure I get it. I was excited to read the book because it is so heavily cited and relied upon in Neil Postman's 'Amusing Ourselves to Death,So I'm not sure I get it. I was excited to read the book because it is so heavily cited and relied upon in Neil Postman's 'Amusing Ourselves to Death,' a book I thoroughly enjoyed. Now having dead both, I'm inclined to say that I found Postman's interpretation of Huxley much more interesting than the book itself.
So, Huxley presents a world covered by science, by rationalization and civilization - where feelings are allowed but controlled such that passions are unthinkable. Classes of children are produced and raised for a maximally consuming and producing society - complete efficiency with each in their place and each to placated to care.
And incomes soma. The mind numbing drug that seems to be the back bone of the brave new world. Through daily doses and encouraged self medication, no one ever thinks too hard or cares too much. A foreshadowing to the overmedicalizarion of society that seems unquestionably on point. Yet still, I think there is undoubtedly stacks of social commentary here that I'm missing.
The story itself was interesting but left me wanting more from the characters and more from the world itself. Why exactly is it as it is, how did it come about, what truly is so strange about the savage and why is he really so uncomfortable? And, what is it that he really want?
Questions that some will likely find the answers to within the pages of the book but that I simply happened to miss. So, if you ever want to fill me in, I'd be happy to hear, thanks!...more
This was the first Steinbeck that I've read without being assigned or force fed and boy was I glad I did! Scouring tWhat an incredibly enjoyable book!
This was the first Steinbeck that I've read without being assigned or force fed and boy was I glad I did! Scouring the cluttered shelves of Itaewon's What the Book I found my self inexplicably drawn to the Classics section. Perhaps it was because at least the authors seemed familiar while the fiction shelves were packed with cheap romantic novels and sci-fi reads left behind by the plethora of LBH's to pass through Seoul.
While I've never purposely been driven towards Classics, my pleasurable happen-chance encounter with Jack London convinced me that I might be missing something. So, recognizing Steinbeck's name and remembering that I must have enjoyed Of Mice and Men as well as The Grapes of Wrath to some degree, I decided I'd give Cannery Row a spin!
It took me a few pages before I realized that I was ready about 'cannery' row and not 'canary' row but in the end it all makes sense!
In such a short story, Steinbeck manages to develop such interesting characters and paint a scene that is so vivid I can't help but put the book down every now and then to just watch what is happening. What I really liked about this book was how easy it is to read. The prose are so simple that is almost comes off as a children's book. Even so, the story itself is so wonderful wound around such interesting characters that I couldn't help but fall in love with the people of Cannery Row, even the good intentioned but maligned residents of the Palace Flophouse!
If you're a human being with half an interest in other human beings I don't doubt this book will tickle you as much as it did me! ...more
As a huge fan of the Mississippi river and, well, New Orleans in particular, I really really wanted to enjoy this book! I was so excited to find it inAs a huge fan of the Mississippi river and, well, New Orleans in particular, I really really wanted to enjoy this book! I was so excited to find it in the classics section of What the Book in Seoul, namely because I usually would never explore this area of a used bookstore. Having not read Twain since he was assigned to me as a teenager, I had high hopes for this acclaimed author. Unfortunately, it took every ounce of patience I could muster to make it through this never ending tale of nothing in particular. Sure, there were interesting bits here and there but the 'story' itself doesn't actually ever surface.
Twain rides the river. It used to be hopping. Now it ain't. Boatmen lie. The river changes. But even so, it remains the same.
I hope that I'm not so disappointed by the next Twain piece I come in to seeing as how even though I did not enjoy this particular book, I simply can't imagine that the legend of this man is built around nothing of substance!
Short and awkward review. Off to south-east Asia. Books will be consumed but likely left unreviewed until a later date at which point comments will be limited!