mansize3141's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
I enjoyed the idea and concept the book portrayed and that is unfortunately still very relevant today but struggled to connect with the book on a whole.
antkneeomonster's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 maybe?
In the post apocalyptic world two things will survive: cockroaches and religion.
A deservedly revered classic bit of sci fi here, formed really by three novellas linked by a single order of monks over centuries. The first and third parts are fantastic, the middle section is a little uneven. Still, one can't fault the sheer scope of the well thought out ideas and societal implications.
This would have made a wonderful 70s sci fi flick, to be screened alongside the likes of The Illustrated Man or Soylent Green. Rarely shows its age, possibly relies a little too much on Latin, but ultimately a fascinating experience.
In the post apocalyptic world two things will survive: cockroaches and religion.
A deservedly revered classic bit of sci fi here, formed really by three novellas linked by a single order of monks over centuries. The first and third parts are fantastic, the middle section is a little uneven. Still, one can't fault the sheer scope of the well thought out ideas and societal implications.
This would have made a wonderful 70s sci fi flick, to be screened alongside the likes of The Illustrated Man or Soylent Green. Rarely shows its age, possibly relies a little too much on Latin, but ultimately a fascinating experience.
megapolisomancy's review against another edition
4.0
Are we doomed to it, Lord, chained to the pendulum of our own mad clockwork, helpless to halt its swing?
First: this book is atrociously written. Painfully so.
Second: the only meaningful female character doesn't show up until page 275 or so.
Those two caveats aside, though, I really enjoyed this-how could I not, with such a ruthless indictment of humanity?
Some day I'll read this back-to-back with Deus Irae-there are some interesting parallels there regarding the rebirth of innocence through a rejuvenated mute child.
Lastly: it's disconcerting to read a discussion of suffering and perseverance and the innate worth of life by a man who later took his own.
First: this book is atrociously written. Painfully so.
Second: the only meaningful female character doesn't show up until page 275 or so.
Those two caveats aside, though, I really enjoyed this-how could I not, with such a ruthless indictment of humanity?
Some day I'll read this back-to-back with Deus Irae-there are some interesting parallels there regarding the rebirth of innocence through a rejuvenated mute child.
Lastly: it's disconcerting to read a discussion of suffering and perseverance and the innate worth of life by a man who later took his own.
softrosemint's review against another edition
4.0
It is always interesting to experience works seminal for their genres for the first time and 'A Canticle for Leibowitz' is no exception of this.
Told with a healthy dose of humour and wit (that we almost seem to have lost in the mainstream of the genre nowadays), 'A Canticle for Leibowitz' feels like a reflection on human nature. It manages to highlight the cyclical nature of history and, alongside that, the inevitability of human acts. It asks if humankind is bound to repeat the same mistakes, going though the same motions over and over again. A true testament to its poignancy, in spite of having been published in 1959, looking forwards to a future far ahead, it still feels relevant to the challenges to the society of today, in 2023.
Told with a healthy dose of humour and wit (that we almost seem to have lost in the mainstream of the genre nowadays), 'A Canticle for Leibowitz' feels like a reflection on human nature. It manages to highlight the cyclical nature of history and, alongside that, the inevitability of human acts. It asks if humankind is bound to repeat the same mistakes, going though the same motions over and over again. A true testament to its poignancy, in spite of having been published in 1959, looking forwards to a future far ahead, it still feels relevant to the challenges to the society of today, in 2023.
gjpeace's review against another edition
5.0
Rating: 4.5
Overall, pretty awesome. The structure is interesting; I'm not sure it works throughout the whole novel though. The first half of Part 3 dragged just a little bit, which was disappointing, considering how much I loved the two preceding sections. Still, this checks off a lot of boxes on the Garrett Interest Inventory, so I was absorbed pretty much the whole way through. (Ecclesiastes is my favorite book of The Bible, which seems like the sort of thing that will tell you all you need to know about why I loved this book.)
One of my favorite reads in recent memory.
Overall, pretty awesome. The structure is interesting; I'm not sure it works throughout the whole novel though. The first half of Part 3 dragged just a little bit, which was disappointing, considering how much I loved the two preceding sections. Still, this checks off a lot of boxes on the Garrett Interest Inventory, so I was absorbed pretty much the whole way through. (Ecclesiastes is my favorite book of The Bible, which seems like the sort of thing that will tell you all you need to know about why I loved this book.)
One of my favorite reads in recent memory.
jenaw1n's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Story vacillates between bleak and hopeful. The characters are short lived but well written and memorable.
pharsaliamphilippos's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
prufrockian22's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
There are a few beautiful short stories inside of this over long poorly, edited novel. Book one had a lot of aspects to it and the story of Francis was interesting enough, and I loved the writing style. (And his death was hilarious). however, book 2 was dreary and went on forever. Book three- We really only had the interesting segment about the two headed woman near the end, and that portion would have made a stellar short story by itself. so I wished basically that this book instead had been short stories on a theme maybe or just a LOT shorter. I found a very hard to make it through this entire book.
Also - almost no women, and as a rift on sci fi meets Catholicism if you aren’t interested in the latter it is a tough read.
Also - almost no women, and as a rift on sci fi meets Catholicism if you aren’t interested in the latter it is a tough read.
aslanthegoat's review against another edition
dark
funny
hopeful
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0