whorriorr's review
4.0
This was a very short and simple, yet fresh and powerful tale. It is a satirical look at a dystopian society- but instead of being focused around taking down some sort of unjust government, the novel decides to explore something much darker. This novel centers around a average man- Jack Sperry, who lives in a city where no one lies. Everyone is conditioned by torture to feel physically ill every time they don't tell the truth- or the whole truth. This leads to some pretty comical advertisements such as the Honda Adequate, or eating "murdered cow" instead of hamburgers. Anyway, comfortable in his life Sperry is shocked when he learns his son has a fatal disease. This leads to a desperate attempt to cure what he is told cannot be cured- by the power of mind over matter. Sperry believes that if he can learn to lie, he can trick his son into going into remission by the power of positive thinking. Short story short its a very quick interesting read. It highlights both the benefit of lies... and the benefit of finally telling the truth.
A fathers love can be powerful so I hear... Happy Father's Day!
A fathers love can be powerful so I hear... Happy Father's Day!
cisphobic's review
1.0
I am frankly in disbelief how highly reviewed this novella is. From start to end, Morrow is a difficult author to stomach. The premise itself is interesting, a society where everyone must be completely truthful, but the execution is so poor it feels as though it was a half-assed excuse for terrible dialogue.
The male view in this is suffocating. From page 6, our protagonist, a married man, tells a woman he encounters in a bar that he wishes to sleep with her. The woman, knowing he is married, still flirts and is willing to sleep with him. He then returns to his wife and TELLS HER that he WANTED TO SLEEP WITH ANOTHER WOMAN. This woman then becomes a recurring character and the vehicle by which the plot progresses (hello??).
Sex becomes a recurring plot point for what feels as what is no reason other than male horniness. Other reviewers mention how the story has compelling social commentary which I find more baffling. Morrow's writing has about as much nuance as it has emotional intelligence. The terrible dystopian truth tellers are bad, but the underground liars are also bad. The world consists of moral shades of gray. If this is a revelation or thought provoking statement to anyone, I worry for the state of the world's critical thinking.
The male view in this is suffocating. From page 6, our protagonist, a married man, tells a woman he encounters in a bar that he wishes to sleep with her. The woman, knowing he is married, still flirts and is willing to sleep with him. He then returns to his wife and TELLS HER that he WANTED TO SLEEP WITH ANOTHER WOMAN. This woman then becomes a recurring character and the vehicle by which the plot progresses (hello??).
Sex becomes a recurring plot point for what feels as what is no reason other than male horniness. Other reviewers mention how the story has compelling social commentary which I find more baffling. Morrow's writing has about as much nuance as it has emotional intelligence. The terrible dystopian truth tellers are bad, but the underground liars are also bad. The world consists of moral shades of gray. If this is a revelation or thought provoking statement to anyone, I worry for the state of the world's critical thinking.
slomo_supernova's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A brilliantly conceived and executed story. Reads like a fever dream, but the best one you've never had -- remarkable for its linguistic thrills as well as its grappling with some big, scary social realities. So very recommended!
gslife's review
5.0
City of Truth is the first of what I hope will be many great book recommendations (she has Good Opinions) from my new book-best friend Lauren (as she's the only other person I interact with in a regular basis that reads books).
James Morrow's premise of a city where only the truth can be told starts as a satiric comedy. The cars have names like “Plymouth Adequate”; the protagonist's son attends “Camp Ditch-the-Kids”. However, a few chapters in, the transition to a tragedy begins. Suffice to say that nothing in fiction cuts me emotionally like fathers grieving for their children (see *Lost Boys*, *Pet Semetary*).
Morrow accomplishes a great feat of narrative also. Similes are used only as an examples of lies in chapter one, but by the fourth chapter, the narrator has passed from narrative similes to using full metaphors in his speech. His tight mask of truth has cracked, and he hasn't yet caught on.
The book is short (at under 175 pages), but Morrow packs so much in that its brevity is an asset. Lesser authors might have expanded the last few pages to a full chapter, but Morrow understands that after an emotional roller-coaster (yes, I cried, for the first time in a long while at a book) readers can connect many implied dots from action to action. It's my first book by Mr. Morrow, but I'll definitely be back (likely with Galapagos Regained; it's the one Lauren has been hyping).
James Morrow's premise of a city where only the truth can be told starts as a satiric comedy. The cars have names like “Plymouth Adequate”; the protagonist's son attends “Camp Ditch-the-Kids”. However, a few chapters in, the transition to a tragedy begins. Suffice to say that nothing in fiction cuts me emotionally like fathers grieving for their children (see *Lost Boys*, *Pet Semetary*).
Morrow accomplishes a great feat of narrative also. Similes are used only as an examples of lies in chapter one, but by the fourth chapter, the narrator has passed from narrative similes to using full metaphors in his speech. His tight mask of truth has cracked, and he hasn't yet caught on.
The book is short (at under 175 pages), but Morrow packs so much in that its brevity is an asset. Lesser authors might have expanded the last few pages to a full chapter, but Morrow understands that after an emotional roller-coaster (yes, I cried, for the first time in a long while at a book) readers can connect many implied dots from action to action. It's my first book by Mr. Morrow, but I'll definitely be back (likely with Galapagos Regained; it's the one Lauren has been hyping).
nithou's review
4.0
Interesting story, quite the same feeling as 1984 and A brave new world. Overall nice :)
jyan's review
4.0
As the book began, I found it drolls but nothing earth-shattering, but as the book reached it back nine, I found myself deeply moved by what it had to say. Rarely do I get choked up by a science fiction novel, but something in the later stages of this novel hit me, though I sense it's because the very theme of the book's late stages is in-and-of-itself a topic which would induce emotions. The message of "neither truth nor lies are in their essence bad, but reliance on either in totality leads to failure", is a good one, and a deep one, and I can appreciate just how much Morrow packed into these slim 140 pages.
bowienerd_82's review
3.0
The jacket summary of this book is far more entertaining than the book itself. Great idea, not particularly well executed.
theartolater's review
3.0
Some might remember the Ricky Gervais movie The Invention of Lying a few years back, which involved a society that always told the truth. City of Truth is a lot like that, only 15 years earlier and with higher stakes.
What's interesting about this, to me at least, is that, even at novella-length, this book feels unsatisfactory in trying to explore the society on a whole. It becomes more of an illness melodrama with the hook of the story relegated to the sidelines, resulting in a story that doesn't really work for the setting, and a setting that feels too conceptual for the story.
As someone who has enjoyed a number of Morrow's book, this is better as an idea than an executed tale. I ultimately wanted more from the sci-fi/fantasy elements and didn't get them, in spite of what was a decent tale on a whole.
What's interesting about this, to me at least, is that, even at novella-length, this book feels unsatisfactory in trying to explore the society on a whole. It becomes more of an illness melodrama with the hook of the story relegated to the sidelines, resulting in a story that doesn't really work for the setting, and a setting that feels too conceptual for the story.
As someone who has enjoyed a number of Morrow's book, this is better as an idea than an executed tale. I ultimately wanted more from the sci-fi/fantasy elements and didn't get them, in spite of what was a decent tale on a whole.
survivalisinsufficient's review
4.0
I really liked this little novelette about a city where people are conditioned (think Clockwork Orange-conditioned) not to lie and how that affects their lives. I even, umm, teared up at the end, because I am lame. A very quick read.