swfountaine's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
readhikerepeat's review against another edition
5.0
The social satire is as relevant today as it was when it was published in 1922, and if we were all honest with ourselves, we know someone a lot like Babbitt. The book is a perfect and timeless social satire that will force you to take a look at your own life, wants, and ambitions in a new light and I’m so glad that Nafisi's Republic of Imagination put it on my radar.
For the full review, visit The Book Wheel.
For the full review, visit The Book Wheel.
wwatts1734's review against another edition
3.0
Sinclair Lewis makes me laugh. In "Main Street", Lewis was shocked - SHOCKED!! mind you - that small town America is not a bastion of intellectual activity. In Babbit, Lewis extends his shock to the small city/Suburban setting. The main character, George F. Babbitt, is a white, middle-class profession in the early 1920s. Lewis describes him as pure Republican, pure Presbyterian, pure Real Estate Agent and pure Elk club member. And this description pretty much describes his character completely.
By principle I refuse to rate a caricature novel with higher than 3 stars, because the caricature novel is by definition superficial with one dimensional characters. Babbit is precisely this kind of novel. But, as far as caricature novels go, this one is not too bad. Granted that this novel really has no storyline. The characters do endure some struggle because they drink during prohibition, flirt while they are away from their wives and in general do mischief while still struggling to maintain their status as righteous pillars of the community. Even Babbit, the staunch Republican, flirts with liberal ideas and brings down the judgement of his neighbors as a result.
The most interesting part of this novel is that, although it takes place in the early 1920s, with slight changes in price levels, current events and popular slang usage, this novel could have taken place in the 1950s, the 1980s or even today. The crass consumerism, the professions pursued by Lewis's denizens of Zenith, the preoccupations with travel and the religious hypocrisy are perennial concerns in eras of prosperity. Perhaps this is the price of prosperity, that people embrace it at the cost of everything else.
Overall, this novel is an OK introduction to live in the 1920s, although I would more highly recommend other novels such as Fitzgerald's "Great Gatsby", Hemingway's "Sun Also Rises" or even Arthur Miller's play "Death of a Salesman."
By principle I refuse to rate a caricature novel with higher than 3 stars, because the caricature novel is by definition superficial with one dimensional characters. Babbit is precisely this kind of novel. But, as far as caricature novels go, this one is not too bad. Granted that this novel really has no storyline. The characters do endure some struggle because they drink during prohibition, flirt while they are away from their wives and in general do mischief while still struggling to maintain their status as righteous pillars of the community. Even Babbit, the staunch Republican, flirts with liberal ideas and brings down the judgement of his neighbors as a result.
The most interesting part of this novel is that, although it takes place in the early 1920s, with slight changes in price levels, current events and popular slang usage, this novel could have taken place in the 1950s, the 1980s or even today. The crass consumerism, the professions pursued by Lewis's denizens of Zenith, the preoccupations with travel and the religious hypocrisy are perennial concerns in eras of prosperity. Perhaps this is the price of prosperity, that people embrace it at the cost of everything else.
Overall, this novel is an OK introduction to live in the 1920s, although I would more highly recommend other novels such as Fitzgerald's "Great Gatsby", Hemingway's "Sun Also Rises" or even Arthur Miller's play "Death of a Salesman."
chairmanbernanke's review against another edition
3.0
The titular Babbitt hardly changes much at all over the novel’s course. Interesting to see how little people’s personalities have changed in the past century.
rltinha's review against another edition
4.0
Sátira ao capitalismo com quase um século mas de actualidade flagrante. Babbit habita num mundo uniformizado pela voluntariedade de quem mede pela quantidade (nem que seja a do preço) os mais diversos valores.
Temos neste chefe de família - caricatural resultado das suas circunstâncias - um modelo irónico pouco distante das mentes brilhantes que criam os memes IL, sendo porém dotado da conta justa e necessária para os mínimos olímpicos da empatia que garante a manutenção do interesse leitor.
Delicioso e imperdível.
Temos neste chefe de família - caricatural resultado das suas circunstâncias - um modelo irónico pouco distante das mentes brilhantes que criam os memes IL, sendo porém dotado da conta justa e necessária para os mínimos olímpicos da empatia que garante a manutenção do interesse leitor.
Delicioso e imperdível.
spinnerroweok's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fun book about a man who has a mid-life crisis in the 1920s. There is lots of situational humor and insight into the life of the upper middle class of the time. The language is a lot of fun too, but be prepared to get out your dictionary.
kemuenz's review against another edition
5.0
I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book! Lewis's wit is razor sharp, and even coming up on its 100th anniversary, Babbitt still has plenty to say about American culture.
jeli_reads's review against another edition
3.0
Good old middle class america true to form as a conforming urbanite should
codeimagine's review against another edition
2.0
It was okay, and only stuck through it for class. I don't ever plan on reading this again. It's basically about conformity.