A review by sims2machinima
The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells

dark mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

i listened to an audiobook while reading, and the narrator kinda sounded like willem dafoe in nosferatu, which led me to imaging dr. moreau as willem dafoe for the entirety of the book... i am unfraid i will never be unable to unsee this (and tbf he would absolutely kill it)

no but seriously, this is definitely an interesting read. i had to read the book from a pro-vivisection/anti-vivisection perspective for a class presentation, and i think its commentary on human nature is very thought-provoking yet at the same time quite upsetting. at the end of the day, even when presented with something horrible happening, most of us will do nothing about it and instead focus on our own self-preservation. 

(yes, i do realize h.g. wells supported vivisection in specific circumstances, but i felt it was hard to see the piece as pro-vivisection because of how difficult it is to sympathize with prendick, who only acts in ways that promote human superiority and hypocrisy; i do not think the intended humanism was successful) 
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