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amyvrizzo's review against another edition
3.0
The first third of this book was deathly boring, but the remainder was interesting and enjoyable to read, albeit full of misogyny. Huxley always strikes me as a brilliant predictor of the future - in this book published in 1925 he predicts a future of an international community enabled by fast, long-range communication and transport. “In a few generations it may be that the whole planet will be covered by one vast American-speaking tribe, all thinking and acting in the same way”.
phoebegordon's review against another edition
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nikiforova's review against another edition
3.0
Just some thoughts about Those Barren Leaves which can also be applied to Huxley's first two novels: great satire (it did make me laugh), rather boring characters, not much in terms of a plot (but it gets better), the necessary use of at least two foreign and/or anciant languages (because that's Huxley and that's what he does).
To sum up: I feel like I don't have much to say about Those Barren Leaves because it is so much like Crome Yellow. But I like Huxley's style and I don't think that reading his early works and seeing the development of the ideas that will later be expressed in Brave New World is a waste of time.
To sum up: I feel like I don't have much to say about Those Barren Leaves because it is so much like Crome Yellow. But I like Huxley's style and I don't think that reading his early works and seeing the development of the ideas that will later be expressed in Brave New World is a waste of time.
chaoticbookgremlin's review against another edition
challenging
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
christensen5's review against another edition
3.0
3+
Satire and philosophy! Who else but Huxley can meld really biting criticism so unselfconsciously with airy contemplation? On the satirical side this one reads rather like Crome Yellow (if memory serves), though with the great distinction that the satire pulls back from total caricature, sharing quite earnestly with the reader the inner experience of the characters being mocked. Therein lies much of the philosophy (the rest is in dialogue between said characters), and is no less thoughtful for being voiced by men and women whose flaws we witness in excruciating detail.
The overall effect was sometimes amusing, often quite thought provoking and scattered with moments of Huxley's characterisic prescience. That said, it is a rather scattered novel, and could really do without the sometimes dismissive takes on women and their motivations. It was also interesting to see Huxley brushing with the Eastern contemplative tradition at this early point in his career - I do wonder how influential he was in spreading these ideas in the Anglophone West.
Satire and philosophy! Who else but Huxley can meld really biting criticism so unselfconsciously with airy contemplation? On the satirical side this one reads rather like Crome Yellow (if memory serves), though with the great distinction that the satire pulls back from total caricature, sharing quite earnestly with the reader the inner experience of the characters being mocked. Therein lies much of the philosophy (the rest is in dialogue between said characters), and is no less thoughtful for being voiced by men and women whose flaws we witness in excruciating detail.
The overall effect was sometimes amusing, often quite thought provoking and scattered with moments of Huxley's characterisic prescience. That said, it is a rather scattered novel, and could really do without the sometimes dismissive takes on women and their motivations. It was also interesting to see Huxley brushing with the Eastern contemplative tradition at this early point in his career - I do wonder how influential he was in spreading these ideas in the Anglophone West.
epictetsocrate's review against another edition
3.0
Era îmbrăcată într-o rochie ecosez cu carouri mari albastre pe fond alb, cu talia foarte ridicată şi fusta, foarte lungă şi largă : era o rochie demodată şi totodată extrem de modernă, simplă, ca o uniformă, de şcolăriţă şi totuși emancipată, modestă dar în acelaşi, timp mult mai îndrăzneață decât cele care se purtau în saloanele din Chelsea. Faţa-i era foarte netedă, bucălată şi palidă, atît de netedă şi bucălată încât nimeni nu i-ar fi dat cei 30 de ani bătuţi pe muchie. Avea trăsături delicate,, ochii căprui închis, iar sprâncenele arcuite erau parcă trase cu penelul de un pictor oriental pe o mască, din porţelan. Părul, aproape negru, strâns într-un coc bogat pe ceafă, îi lăsa fruntea liberă. Urechile, descoperite, erau foarte albe şi mici. Era o faţă inexpresivă, ca de păpuşă, dar o păpuşă extrem de inteligentă.
earth_to_haley's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
sophieh's review
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
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