I just finished the book, and I have to admit that I didn't enjoy it as much as anything else we've read so far.
As I was reading it, I found the themes to be somewhat...overt or self-evident. Perhaps these aren't the right descriptors. Basically I felt like I was reading someone rant about how terrible the Patriot Act is and how "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." etc. etc. These are all things I agree with certainly, but I didn't really enjoy the way they were illustrated. It felt as if he just took 1984 and tried to make it a teen novel. Maybe the problem is that we've just read a lot of Ted Chiang, who I feel like writes short stories with more intriguing messages and multiple things you can take away from them.
As I was reading this I felt like I was watching Secret Agent Cody Banks as he defies all odds and takes down the big bad DHS. I understand that it's geared to be accessible for "young adults" as well, but I wasn't impressed with the writing itself either.
I don't know, what do you guys think? I'm willing to reassess my view of it, that's just what I took away after reading it through.
I enjoyed the book, but I agree that the message of the book was almost too obvious. This is probably due to its "young adult novel" status. I probably would have loved this book in middle school, but reading this right after Chiang's short stories makes it seem shallow in comparison.
ReplyDeleteI would agree that there isn't as much substance as some of the short stories we've read in Little Brother, but I don't think that was the point. I appreciated that even though it was setting speculative, it wasn't very far off from what we could see in the future.
ReplyDeleteAs for the 1984 comparisons, I don't really think there are that many beyond the "Ever-watching government". Society in this book still had the ability to fight back, the state of California actually ends up being a protagonist in the end.
I really enjoyed it. It wasn't particularly fine literature, but it hit home and had a really well done story and developed characters.
One thing that kind of bugged me was the sort of "kids vs. adults" theme in the book- it sometimes came went a little too far (especially when the journalists contacting Marcus had their "press conference" and couldn't figure out how to move around in the game). Doctorow spent a lot of the book trying to make it seem like the adults were clueless and blind. It was definitely aimed at a younger audience, though, so you have to take it for what it is.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I completely forgot about Secret Agent Cody Banks, but now that you mention it that's definitely what this book reminds me of.
I had thought that Little Brother would be my favorite story when I first read it, but my mind has changed after our discussions in class today. I agree that the themes were very self-evident and that it was slightly banal in presentation. I think that I was just initially drawn by the use of technology and ability to relate to the characters in their youth. Outside of that, I think that after reading Ted Chiang you begin to look for some deeper understanding and life meaning in a story rather than look for political ideologies and sentiments of adolescent angst.
ReplyDeleteI still appreciate the story for what it is and do think that it would be great on a required reading list for high schools. Maybe just coming from a small private high school where these sorts of discussions are encouraged, I see that it might positively affect teens and bring some awareness of government into their lives.
Well, I suppose it isn't a direct translation of 1984. But certainly the setting and main themes are at least similar. Plus with the title he's almost begging for someone to validate him as the "Young Adult's George Orwell".
ReplyDeleteI guess that personally when I'm done with a scifi work I want to sit back and say "huhm, well that's interesting/intriguing/weird". I just didn't get that from his novel.
I personally enjoyed the book. I'm a big fan of young adult novels, so maybe that was part of the reason. When I read for fun, I tend more towards fast-paced stories that hold my attention. I'll agree that the message was pretty heavy handed. I liked it more as an entertaining read than a particularly unique or philosophical one.
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