This version of the book has been reviewed in English(114) by readers.
|
| |||||||||||
Buy from Amazon
What are readers saying about The Chrysalids (Penguin Modern Classics)?
|
A reader posted a review at 2009-11-03 09:34:47.
(Language: English)
  
I first read this book as part of English class in high school, and I've spent the last seven years meaning to re-read it. Wyndham captures how delicate the world is and how easily we can be thrown into complete deviant chaos. It really makes you think, and that's why I love it. 
|
Yes (0) 
No (0) |
|
A reader posted a review at 2009-10-29 21:11:56.
(Language: English)
An unpresuming book, this story has much more to offer than what it is suggested by its airs of teenage science fiction. I would even say that, in at least some sense of the word, The Chrysalids is a masterpiece of an exploration of humanity and its relationship with its history and environment, and the idea of humanity itself. Simply told with minimal trimmings, I could not still but be brought into its future post-apocalyptic world of a puritan society reminiscent of 1700s New England a la The Crucible. It is is difficult to imagine that the book was actually written more than 50 years ago, given its themes of genetic mutation and evolution, and its preoccupations with diversity and our precious environment. And it opens up worlds of hope and completely different ways of thinking. It certainly has left an impression on me, in big part because of my knowledge of the song that was inspired by the book: Jefferson Airplane's "Crown of Creation". It is a bit of a strange story to have a song by a leading rock band of the time written using mostly just lines from a "teenage" science fiction book written a dozen or so years before. And that this song is of a serious and earnest nature, and uses probably some of the most poignant lines of the book. The music and book together, in my view, are now inseparable, and suggest that, at least from time to time, popular culture gets it right.
|
|
|
Stuart posted a review at 2009-10-29 13:04:33.
(Language: English)
Fantastic! A sci-fi novel which delves into issues which are still valid now. This would make a great film.
|
|
|
A reader posted a review at 2009-10-03 11:52:50.
(Language: English)
When I was a teenager this book was my introduction to Wyndham and the Science Fiction genre. For years now it has remained a favourite and so it was with with interest that I recently revisited the story as an audio book. After all these years the premise still remains bold, even profound. As a South African brought up during the Apartheid years I'm now aware that the subject matter which focuses on physical 'difference' is still especially relevant. The story too is well paced, firstly intriguing, then later on down right exciting. If there is a criticism, however, the finale is all a little 'safe'. Perhaps the modern audience is jaded from watching too many 'cliffhangers' at the cinema but I also feel the somewhat anticipated ending is a consequence of the author giving up on the action in order to squeeze in one more moralistic exposition. A serious flaw when the message was already obvious. Recommened? Defineatly flaws and all.
|
|
|
Katrina posted a review at 2009-09-15 01:52:40.
(Language: English)
An interesting little tale of human xenophobia.
|
|
|
A reader posted a review at 2009-08-17 21:33:45.
(Language: English)
One of my favorite books of all time. Read it in Junior Highschool, and it taught more than anyone could have about our human ways...touches on everything we deal with today, yet in a fictional world that could potentially become our world, if we don't learn our lessons....very powerful book
|
|
|
Alison posted a review at 2009-07-23 00:48:36.
(Language: English)
While the rest of my grade 9 English class was bemoaning this reading assignment, I was reading far ahead, engrossed by the story.
|
|
|
Jonathan posted a review at 2009-07-10 14:31:18.
(Language: English)
I want to read this again, i remember reading it when i was about 16 and really enjoying it, but i can't remember it well enough to go into detail.
|
|
|
A reader posted a review at 2009-06-29 13:36:58.
(Language: English)
I read this in high school and it was one of my favorites. Interesting story.
|
|
|
Rodney posted a review at 2009-06-19 13:55:28.
(Language: English)
Another in a line of futuristic, yet controlling societies, The Chrysalids takes a different approach. Similar to Anthem, in that anyone different than the norm is looked down upon, The Chrysalids tells of a young boy who discovers a power, that while an evolutionary advance, puts his life, and the lives of his friends, in danger. This was a very interesting book; it's a page turner. Again, though, as with many others, it wraps up too neatly at the end. I'm okay with a hopeful and positive ending, so long as that doesn't mean "utopia, here we come!" which is the case here. Read it and enjoy it, but don't get your hopes up for the ending!
|
Share your views!
Similar books
