This was Audible's freebie for the month, so I gave it a go, especially as I like a couple of the narrators when they act. I hated it though. We all kThis was Audible's freebie for the month, so I gave it a go, especially as I like a couple of the narrators when they act. I hated it though. We all know the story and I thought this dramatisation might have given it a fresh feeling. But no. Stick with the old-fashioned book form.
I’m trying to read more classics this year, and not be tempted by all the shiny new things… It’s not working but I have managed to fit in War of the WI’m trying to read more classics this year, and not be tempted by all the shiny new things… It’s not working but I have managed to fit in War of the Worlds, a classic most are familiar with due to its numerous interpretations. Overall, I found it a bit disappointing.
Written in 1897, this was originally a serialisation for a magazine and I think it shows. It’s really a set of scenes and it doesn’t really link as well as it should. The other thing lacking is connection with the characters. Most, including the narrator, remain unnamed and Wells places no importance on characterisation. Actually the narrator is not very likeable at all; at times he is cowardly and selfish, and generally I never really cared nor fretted over his fate.
I always liked the 50s movie but the book is quite a bit different. One thing which was the same was the sounds the Martians use to communicate - always so creepy in the movie, it was also pretty creepy in the book. That, and the tentacle looking around the corner when the narrator was trapped in the buried house, were my favourite parts.
I suppose this book remains important due to the groundbreaking ideas it introduced, sci fi and dystopian world-wise. The invasion plot and the ‘handful of survivors remaining’ scenario have been copied on numerous occasions since.
I listened via Audible with David Tennant performing. Despite me loving his accent, I doubt the narrator was supposed to be from Scotland!
I grabbed this as a freebie on Audible and for starters, I need to mention Jenny Agutter’s narration - she was sooo good. I will definitely be checkinI grabbed this as a freebie on Audible and for starters, I need to mention Jenny Agutter’s narration - she was sooo good. I will definitely be checking to see if she’s done any other audio books.
I Capture the Castle is written in the form of diary entries by Cassandra, the 17-year-old middle child of a very eccentric, and very English, Mortmain family. Set in the 1930s, the story covers around six months when the Mortmains meet and befriend the Cottons, the American family who actually own the castle where the Mortmains reside. Cassandra supposes that her older sister, Rose, being the beauty of the family, will catch the eye of one of the very eligible, and very rich, Cotton brothers. What she doesn’t count on though is how this will affect her.
The book is touted as a coming of age novel on Goodreads, but other than Cassandra’s age, I didn’t get this vibe at all. Smith was obviously greatly influenced by Jane Austen and I wouldn’t call her books ‘coming of age’, even though Austen’s main characters are often as young as Cassandra.
I loved the humour of the book. I laughed out loud a lot. I also found the book very romantic, even though I did guess a couple of the romantic ‘twists’.
I had actually never heard of this book before seeing it offered on Audible but I’m unsure why it isn’t talked about more because it's a great read.
I had to read this for school and I remember I enjoyed it (rare, I think I hated 90% of the books they made us read). But, as this many many years agoI had to read this for school and I remember I enjoyed it (rare, I think I hated 90% of the books they made us read). But, as this many many years ago, that’s about all I could remember. I didn’t even recall any of the plotline apart from knowing triffids were plants that eat people (and, let’s face it, everyone knows that whether they’ve read the book or watched the adaptations or not).
I would say this must be one of the first books which depicted end of civilisation and post-apocalyptic situations. Wyndham uses blindness as the ‘virus’ which wipes out most of the population after people go out and watch a meteor shower. Our hero, Bill, wakes up in hospital, where he was getting treatment on his eyes, to find chaos already reigning (in a scene very reminiscent to the first eppy of The Walking Dead). Afterwards, the deadly triffid plants, which had been until this time farmed and confined, are able to approach their victims without detection. This too has been done many times since, with most writers now just replacing the triffids with zombies.
As this was released in the 50s, there’s lots of communism paranoia metaphors you have to ignore. You also have to ignore the misogynism but I didn’t actually find it that bad and have read much worse. The triffids are a result of biological warfare, so Wyndham did predict this charming development correctly.
The triffids were quite creepy throughout, especially when they’re surrounding houses etc, waiting for the blind occupants to come out in search of food. The ending was well done and, again, has been copied quite a few times since.
I’m definitely going to give Wyndham’s other books a go.
Why hadn't I read this book earlier? It's an Australian classic, but I needed an American to shove me into reading it? How does that work? Despite theWhy hadn't I read this book earlier? It's an Australian classic, but I needed an American to shove me into reading it? How does that work? Despite the title, Alice Springs doesn't feature in the book much. Neither does Malaysia, which surprised me. I thought most of it was set in these two places! Most of the action happens in a fictional town of Far North Queensland! Obviously Shute must have visited the region some time, because he has the details of the area all very correct. There's even a mention of where I live! Which excited me anyway. They also spend some time on Green Island. :) The thought of these places back then makes me shudder and thankful for airco. Now I need to watch one of the movie/tv versions....more
Lee at ReadWriteWish
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