Brave New World

How to rate this classic? Not the same way I did in school - with meticulous examination. Perhaps best to rate influence and story.

Influence, this is a solid 4-5 stars. The dystopia, the differences, the impact - even today. Everybody knows this story, and it has been referenced frequently. It is basically a love letter to Shakespeare, with more than just the title quote. However...

Story, this is in the 1-2 star range. It starts off well, describing the world and the people, but then the savage enters and everything crashes to a halt. An entire chapter of the savage (basically the new main character) debating the world controller on religion and happiness. Maybe good for the author, but awful for the story. The final ascetic chapter doesn't really fit the rest.

Another problem - the main female character Lenina, who starts the novel with a good story and some growth, is relegated to the background once the savage is in - and worse is the target of scorn. and later attack. Is there a point to the added misogyny? I can't see it.

I understand that Huxley was reacting to the Utopian novels of his time, and to a lesser extent to conditioning, but many readings of 1984 and a recent read of Animal Farm show that a dystopian novel can also have a plot. The overall rating for me is in the 2-3 star range. I'm not sure I will seek out the non-fiction Brave New World Revisited, and I'm not sure the opinions of a committed eugenicist are that interesting.

Should it be banned? No. Is it pornography? Of course not. Can I recommend it? Only with reservations.