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joey_p_dub's review against another edition
5.0
I read this because Jesse Jarnow claimed in "Heads" that this was the Grateful Dead's favorite book. I can seen why. Homo Gestalt was literally how the Dead performed. 5-6 people acting as one. Will definitely re-read sometime.
carlthulhu's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
nyarlathotep's review against another edition
4.0
For such a short book this felt very epic. I had to really concentrate to follow the story as it jumped about a bit but overall it was a satisfying read which dealt with some very philosophical and existential ideas. Hard to believe it was first published in 1953, although some word usage gave it away in places.
leelee_draws_pictures's review against another edition
2.0
Gave it 100 pages, then wound up giving up.
I'm not sure what it is about old fiction (this is from 1953) that turns me off so much. I have so many literary friends that read a mix of old and new, but when I'm forced to read anything before, say, 1980, I cannot stay focused. (There are a few exceptions; for example, I found Tale of Two Cities and Jane Eyre captivating.) To me, old books are like old computers, outdated and dull and earth-shatteringly slow. I want this year's model.
This is a bias that, I suppose, everyone who reads my reviews should know about -- but it'll rarely be relevant, because I pretty much only read books written in the past 30 years or so.
I'm not sure what it is about old fiction (this is from 1953) that turns me off so much. I have so many literary friends that read a mix of old and new, but when I'm forced to read anything before, say, 1980, I cannot stay focused. (There are a few exceptions; for example, I found Tale of Two Cities and Jane Eyre captivating.) To me, old books are like old computers, outdated and dull and earth-shatteringly slow. I want this year's model.
This is a bias that, I suppose, everyone who reads my reviews should know about -- but it'll rarely be relevant, because I pretty much only read books written in the past 30 years or so.
ssmcquay's review against another edition
5.0
A few children with special powers (think X-Men, but replace the capes with unwashed clothes and bravado with fear and neglect) come together as cast-offs and try to learn how to live and what it means to be human. Beautiful, very thought-provoking book.
skc73's review against another edition
5.0
Another classic from the golden age of scifi. A little heavy on Freud, but still a great read. Interesting distinction between ethos and morality to help resolve the final problem.
charliebvnj's review against another edition
3.0
Enjoyed this until about half way through but then it became a slog. It was praised at the time it was published 70 years ago and it is highly creative but things that were more novel at the time - such as characters with superpowers and implicit albeit oblique critiques of racism and ableism - just hit different now.
jennimcg's review against another edition
1.0
I found this to be really confusing to read. I understand the point of telling the story from multiple perspectives, but it didn't help with clarity.