5 Books Update: Brave New World

Finally!  A Five Books update!  I certainly took my precious time about it didn’t I?  I blame my cheap copy of the Virgin Suicides, a second-hand copy of 1984 and a growing obsession with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for distracting me.  Anyway, I’ve decided to use the same format for all 5 Books posts from here on out.  It’s just easier that way.  So before I ramble for any longer, here’s what I thought about Brave New World:

Why Did I Pick it?

I have heard a lot of good things about Brave New World but ultimately it was this quote that convinced me to read it:

"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."

What Did I Like?

I like how he managed to create a utopia/dystopia that could at first glance be rather nice to live in but that is actually just overwhelmingly creepy.  I’m by no means a traditionalist or even a conservative thinker but the society he creates just feels so wrong.  And twisted really…

My favourite part of the book was near the end where the Savage and Mustapha Mond have a discussion in his office.  Incidentally, it’s where the quote above comes from too.  At the end of the day, I would choose all those things over eternal comfort and stability too.  You have to deal with the uncomfortableness of life to be able to really appreciate the goodness.

What Didn’t I Like?

I wish there more of an explanation for certain things.  For example, what exactly is centrifugal bumble puppy?  And what exactly do they mean when they say pneumatic?  I realize that neither of these are really essential to the story line so it’s a minor criticism.

Anything Else?

Why yes, thanks for asking.  I actually read 1984 shortly after I finished Brave New World and if I found the Brave New World creepy, 1984 was utterly terrifying!!!

Have you read Brave New World?  What did you think?

I’m hoping to track down the Bell Jar or South of the Border, West of the Sun next.  I’ll keep you posted.