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Awix (3310 KP) rated The Day of the Triffids in Books

Sep 5, 2019  
The Day of the Triffids
The Day of the Triffids
John Wyndham | 1951 | Science Fiction/Fantasy
10
7.6 (8 Ratings)
Book Rating
Famous and highly influential British catastrophe novel. The collapse of global civilisation, after what appears to be an encounter with a comet blinds the majority of the world's population, is made even worse by the existence of sentient, mobile, lethal carnivorous plants, genetically engineered before the disaster. It sounds schlocky written down like that - and most screen adaptations end up that way - but Wyndham's dry, cultured, understated voice means this is a chillingly plausible and deeply affecting depiction of the end of the world.

In some ways this is very much of its time, but in others it is a remarkably prescient book, touching on issues such as the weaponisation of satellites and genetically-modified foodstuffs. It is also a vehicle for Wyndham to explore some of the key issues of his novels - the moral decisions faced by survivors, and the conflict between the individual and the collective. The structure of the plot is somewhat idiosyncratic, and accusations that this is the kind of catastrophe where the really bad stuff just happens to other people may have some weight to them, but this is an immensely readable and thought-provoking book which still feels relevant today.
  
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Ari Augustine (10 KP) rated Catherine House in Books

May 4, 2020  
Catherine House
Catherine House
Elisabeth Thomas | 2020 | Fiction & Poetry, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
6
5.5 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
To be honest, this book sounded like a beautiful nightmare to me. Not to mention, it was compared to NEVER LET ME GO, one of my absolute favorite novels. I definitely give it props for the premise, which was amazing, and the suspense, which did keep me intrigued for a time. The whole concept of Catherine House and its secrets really drew me in.

On the flip side, the main character --Ines--did little for me. I struggled to connect with her. The dialogue was a bit clunky, the style a bit sparse, and the flow just didn't exist for me. It was actually hard for me to follow, which is odd because I love complicated plots! I live for them and have read them for years, but from page one, I found myself wondering what was going on. The story felt...disjointed. This made it hard to keep my interest, to be honest. I think this book would be GREAT for readers who enjoy a slower pace and have the time to get lost while waiting for loose ends to tie. Unfortunately, I am not one of those readers.