[Moonshadow]

I read that book, Brave New World, a long time ago.
I should give it another read at some point.

I am reading: I remember Lemuria by Richard Shaver, its a very odd book. He claims its not fiction that he actually remembered his life in Lemuria.

[trystan830]

I'm reading it because I've seen in a lot of places that the US isn't becoming like 1984, but more like Brave New World. And since I've never read it, I thought it was a good time to read it now.

[Moonshadow]

And do you agree? That is is more accurately reflective of the US now than 1984.
I read 1984 but a really long time ago too.

[trystan830]

from what I remember of 1984, the US isn't really like that...yet. XD

I'm only a few chapters into Brave New World... so I can't really say yet.

[Moonshadow]

Oh okay, if you remember can you give me your opinion on it.
I am very interested to know if it is more accurate than 1984.
Everyone talks about how big brother is already here and that I believe is true.

[trystan830]

in some ways Big Brother is here already.

also, I'd have to re-read 1984, but I have a TON of books to get from the library, now that I'm finished with Star Wars.

and I see the most important phrase in your post for me as well: "if you remember" ... I'm VERY good at forgetting. XD

[Quiet Man Cometh]

I wasn't a big fan of Brave New World, though I admit I didn't read all of it. I was in a hurry and it was for class so I read the parts we actually looked at and moved on. Personally, I found the book had a more dated feel as far as science fiction goes, and felt less relevant than it could have been. I was much more interested in the book We by Yevgeny Zamyatin. It felt much more poignant to me, and overall more frightening. We was actually written decades before Brave New World but was only published piecemeal until 1960, about the same time as Brave New World was published for the first time.

Unlike Brave New World, We is written from the perspective of a person who is a member of and believes in the superior and idyllic nature of their society, which is the current result of extreme revolution and cleansing.

[trystan830]

that one sounds interesting, Quiet Man!

I also have "It Can't Happen Here" by Sinclair Lewis on my to-read list as well - which is about what happens when America is run by a dictator. it was written in 1935, which was written a few years after Brave New World. I think one of the big differences is BNW takes place in England, and ICHH takes place in the US.

[Quiet Man Cometh]

On the "book you read in highschool" component of my challenge, I find my mind jumps right back to Island of the Blue Dolphins. I don't think I followed all of it at the time, but I remember it and remember liking it. I'm also considering Bridge to Terabithia, now that I know what's going to happen. Not a fan of sad books but maybe I can handle the school age sad ones now that I'm a grown up ;).

I'm also considering picking up Where the Red Fern Grows, as I've heard a lot about it. There are a few books I remember hearing lots about but never actually getting around to reading. Pretty sure my aunt got me an old copy of Red Fern for Christmas one year, but it's been lost over the years. She also gave us copies of Stewart Little and Trumpet of the Swan. I know I read Stewart Little. I remember starting White Fang and Call of the Wild but I'm not sure I finished either one of them. It might be time for me to go digging around in my mom's book shelves again, to see what I can pull out.

My library course has mentioned an article on story time for kids and I think back to when my dad would read to my sister and I before bed, specifically Ramona and Beezus books.

[trystan830]

I read Island of the Blue Dolphins in school - i really like that one, and then I re-read it... to my older daughter when she was little. Same as Stuart Little.

but all the other books, I actually have not read, believe it or not. (well, except for one of the Ramona books - Ramona the Pest, I have and read to at least my older daughter. the younger one wasn't really one for having books read to her though.

[Moonshadow]

There is an interesting book called Level 7. I read it a long time ago, but I remember I couldn't put it down.

[trystan830]

huh, that looks like it could be an interesting read.

[Moonshadow]

It actually was pretty interesting. I find those earlier syfy dystopian, end of the world, misery books the best. There was an early vampire book called the Omega Man by Richard Mathesen which was made into a movie called I am Legend with Will Smith. I read that one too.

[trystan830]

i go through phases with reading dystopian novels - sometimes i'm all about reading them, and other times i don't want to go near 'em. XD

[Moonshadow]

I tend to read books about the same topic, thinking I'm going to read something different, but its all the same. I need to discipline myself and just buy the best book about a topic, then leave it at that.

[Quiet Man Cometh]

Originally Posted by Moonshadow

It actually was pretty interesting. I find those earlier syfy dystopian, end of the world, misery books the best. There was an early vampire book called the Omega Man by Richard Mathesen which was made into a movie called I am Legend with Will Smith. I read that one too.

Bit of an error there. Matheson's book was "I Am Legend." Omega Man was one of the movies based off of it. Same with The Last Man on Earth and I Am Legend with Will Smith. It wouldn't surprise me if there were more.

I have Matheson's book in my "101 Books you must read and why" thread and was informed about the earlier movies since I didn't know about them at the time.