Reviews

Le Meilleur des mondes by Aldous Huxley

miss_jules's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

Leerzaam, maar wat een afschuwelijk boek.

alysnow427's review against another edition

5.0

"But I don't want comfort. I want God, I want poetry, I want real danger, I want freedom, I want goodness. I want sin."

"In fact," said Mustapha Mond, "you're claiming the right to be unhappy."

"All right then," said the Savage defiantly, "I'm claiming the right to be unhappy."

How marvelously Huxley molds these characters, each a separate representation of the mind. Wherein, confusion and anxiety to choose the true hero persist until the end. Shall I choose happiness or stability? Passion or comfort? A beautiful, barbaric honesty over the conflict of progress and freedom that demands the acknowledgement of our darkest desire---at an end, to completely abandon the very things that make us human, in order to exist in absolute harmony.

jedakel's review against another edition

3.0

It feels like sacrilege to give this book 3 stars, but my mind started wandering by the second half. Glad I finally read it, it’s one of those books that everyone should read, but I didn’t like it as much as some of the other “classics”.

cindilm76's review against another edition

No rating bc I can't finish this one. Don't like the writing or the subject matter.

lighthousebooks's review against another edition

Did not finish my second attempt at reading this. It’s true the content is disturbing, but I can tolerate disturbing for the sake of a good theme that has value. My problem is the writing style. I just can’t do it.

jrod9291's review against another edition

3.0

Personally, it was difficult to get into this book. I'm glad I have it under my belt but I wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it to others. Strange read.

alymcf's review against another edition

4.0

This book seems very much a product of its time. As such, aspects of it when read in 2015 seem a bit silly, as well as racist and sexist. That said, it explores important topics and raises thought-provoking questions. For example, are people truly happier when they are able to drug themselves into oblivion and lead an infantile, unexamined life, devoid of parents, God, bad smells and committed relationships?

khrysweetie's review against another edition

3.0

At the beginning it could be a little tough to get into, but the end is worth it and scary. Scary because I can almost see how this "Brave New World" can come about in real life with enough science and a lot less God.

It's a snapshot of the genetic engineering gone horrible wrong and twisted into God-playing. Terrifying.

whimsical_pixel's review against another edition

3.0

I really really really wanted to like it. And I didn’t... still force myself to finish it though.

govika's review against another edition

4.0

My favorite of the dystopian novel settings, Brave New World gives a harrowing look at fascism and utilitarianism at its extreme. Eugenics dictates who can do certain human functions, particularly populate the species. What I love about this book is it shows the dystopia through eyes of people who really love it and think it is a good thing, unlike Fahrenheit 451 or 1984 who have protagonists who know from the beginning or find out soon how awful it is. In this, it takes a complete outsider to tell them the error of the world. The sudden turn of nihilism or overwhelming ennui end the book with a dreaded thrill.