The Children of Men
by P.D. James
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Book Reviews of The Children of Men
Book Review: Boring
Summary: 1 Stars
Her central protagonist is a bore. Since we see most of the story from his point of view, this means we witness an incredibly interesting world from the view of a boring, emotionally stifled man. The two don't mix well.
Also, this protagonist is, by his own admission, a philanderer. However, nary a sexual thought passes through his mind. And his sudden attraction to the pregnant woman is presented suddenly and without any persuasive detail.
The story's pacing also gets bogged down in the description that others mention in their reviews.
In other words: See the movie, skip the novel.
Book Review: Food for thought
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw the trailer for the movie first, and thought that I had better read the book before I saw the movie. I read the entire book in 4 days, and with a 3 year old, that is a feat that could only be accomplished by writing that makes you hungry to read more. There is so much beauty in this book, even though it speaks of the end of mankind as we know it. The main character, Theo, changes completely from a man who has lost all hope and feeling, to a man with strength of heart who, even in "middle age" learns to love and to allow himself to be loved. The book is fabulous, from beginning to end.Book Review: elegant retro entertainment
Summary: 4 Stars
There is a certain theory of fiction about these days. It maintains that readers want conflict and action and anytime that's not spent setting up, describing, or analyzing the effects of action is wasted. By that theory, this is an awful book: broody and moody with a narrator who's interesting but not likable.
On the other hand, there are pages in this book that you will reread just for the pleasure of the words. There is also one of the most quietly horrible chapters (chapter 9) about a ritual called the Quietus.
Lynn Hoffman, author of bang BANG
Book Review: The movie's story is better told than that of the book on which it is based
Summary: 2 Stars
The movie's story is better told than that of the book on which it is based.
I have rule when starting to read a book: If the first 10 through 20 pages of a book bore the bejeesus out of me, I don't continue on with it. I would have applied this rule to P.D. James's "The Children of Men", if not for the fact that I started reading the book after having seen the superb movie on which the book is based. I am only continuing on--more truthfully, slogging through--because I am curious as to the difference between the story of the movie and the book.
Book Review: Better Than the Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
The book is everything that the movie is not: complex, thoughtful, and filled with suspense over the future of the human race. Although many fans of P.D. James have apparently been disappointed by this book based on the reviews that I've read, anyone who has an open mind for dystopian science fiction will be pleasantly surprised. The first part of the book is pretty slow, but it serves to set the stage for the roller coaster ride in the second part--so don't give up on this book early!