A World in Disarray - AGood Read
351093
The book arrived as confirmed. I have not completed reading it, but it does meet my expectations.
344688
This book is interesting on the one hand, but in the whole the reading has been an agony. Contents are very controversial in addition, excitingly. In a very aggressive way J.M. Coetzee represents the situation in the today's south Africa. Throughout the novel the characters represent certain issues, South Africa has to deal with nowadays. Therefore "Disgrace" is a recommendation to those who are interrested in the present South Africa and its time after the abolishment of apartheid.
4782007
Shades of Grey takes place in an absurd dystopia that resembles a mix of Brave New World, Kafka, and Monty Python. In the book's reality, it's centuries after some ill-defined cataclysm, and the world is now full of strange things like living roads, man-eating trees, small gravity-defying relics, and wandering balls of electrical energy. More significantly, humans are now divided by their ability to see different parts of the color spectrum, and some colors have interesting physiological effects when looked at.

The characters of the novel live in a dysfunctional collectivist society that assigns social standing by color, has a less-than-awe-inspiring Big Brother figure, and is bound by all sorts of ridiculous, Kafka-esque rules -- e.g. cars aren't allowed, except for Model Ts; everyone must pretend that certain people don't exist; and manufacture of spoons is forbidden (turning them into a valuable "beige market" good). The protagonist, Eddie Russet, is a guileless young man determined to be a good citizen and secure himself a socially advantageous marriage to a certain tiresome young lady. At least, he is until he meets an low-caste young "grey" named Jane, whose brand of civil disobedience might be better called just "disobedience".

Fforde's sensibilities are an interesting mix of laugh-out-loud-funny and a bit dark. There's a lot of subversive fun mixing the social rigidity of its characters with their self-serving schemes to exploit loopholes in the rules and/or manipulate others, but there's also a discomfiting bite in the obliviousness with which most of them accept (or even embrace) their society's injustice and warped logic. Humorous or grim, though, I enjoyed Fforde's inventiveness and the process of discovering how everything in the world fit together, which held a few hints at the larger history. From time to time, we get Canticle for Leibowitz-esque references to things left behind after the collapse of our own world, interpreted in a way that's half loopy, half insightful.

That said, the overall story, themes, and writing aren't quite as original as the setting. Towards the end, things start to fall into molds that'll be familiar to readers of more traditional escapist fiction, which leaves some of the initial potential for satire and mind-bending on the table. Still, I liked the creativity quite a lot, and who knows what Fforde might do with the forthcoming sequel.

It's my firm opinion that you have to pick up the audiobook to really get the full effect of the cheeky British humor. The untroubled tone the narrator gives to Eddie (speaking as he is from inside a carnivorous tree) is an amusing fit, as are the voices of several other characters.
1902884
A reader must have an open mind to all things unseen. Much of the ecological damage to the world has been into effect, such as the poplars melting. Mary's message reminds us of what the apocalypse can look like when the world is literally turned upside down. The introductory chapters seem superfluous since most Christians who have read the New Testament and who know the background of Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. However, the introduction to the Spirit World is intriguing. I did not understand the summaries of each chapter in Revelation. People may not read this because they may wonder how Mary, the mother of Jesus, could dictate a book. Did a medium write this? I read it cover to cover because I am interested in improving myself spiritually.
4725943
Searching for Stability, written by an Octogenarian, takes a hard look at many of our imperfect world's seemingly insoluble problems in the 21st Century, and tells us what we should do about them.  It's a very thought provoking book, but he eventually concludes that the prospects for a more stable world are not bright.
2863757
Sadly, this book is more than relevant in America right now. I'd like to suggest another choice, The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood especially if you are concerned about women's issues.
546613
Two people from two different worlds have a lot of things separating them and it leaves the reader turning pages to see what happens next with all the conflicts that they encounter.
1737986
This book brings to light the intricacies of global development and the unexpected consequences that are affecting the East today. It's sobering, the issue is seemingly overwhelming, but it is unacceptable for us to simply read this book, put up our hands and say 'there's nothing I can do'.
583646
Prof Amy Chua's 'World on Fire' is an alarming and depressing read. She lists the intra-ethnic barbarisms that have arisen over the past century or so, from the Holocaust to Rwanda to Serbia, taking in Indonesia's anti-Chinese riots and the Los Angeles anti-Korean riots, and highlighting the common features they share: an aggrieved majority, stirred up to hatred by demogagues against a market-dominant minority. In many countries, some of the minority (Jews in Russia, Chinese in SE Asia, Asians in Kenya, Lebanese in Sierra Leone) have disproportionately benefited from crony capitalism, supporting corrupt political leaders who enable them to become rich while the majority of the populace remains in poverty - until there is a violent explosion. Prof Chua points out that the US' enthusiasm for encouraging unfettered 19th century capitalism in these evolving and unstable countries with no social safety-nets while simultaneously promoting democracy is a recipe for instability. (Her thesis helps to explain the current argument in Iraq between the majority Shia who seek immediate direct elections, and the market-dominant Iraqi exiles and Kurds, who prefer a more gradual transition to raw democracy.)
More alarmingly, she encourages us to see the USA as the market-dominant minority in the world, infinitely richer than most of its citizens, and increasingly seen by many as the reason for their poverty and humiliation. Her prescription for the market-dominent majority in unstable nations is that they should make conspicuous contributions to the well-being of the majority in order to stave-off violence. Considering the current US administration's tendency to unilateralism, protectionism, and its low level of international humanitarian aid, advice to apply the same prescription to the US may be timely.
1326277
First book of the new year, and a harsh reality check it is. Halfway through, the author brings your attention to the year--not 1850, but 2007. It was not a secret, but having confronted 125 pages of unrelenting misery in the Mumbai slums, my mental images veered toward another era, before modernity and safety nets. A couple of brave hopeful characters here and a lesson as our western world also faces the dismal prospect of a stratified society of rich and poor.
4492704
Sarah is confronted with many of the social issues of our time.  Having just begun her young adult life, she has to face the evils of generations past and her own peers.  Terrorism, environmental destruction, power mongers, food insecurity, and a monolithic controlling government all push Sarah to the limit.  With such heavy issues this book could have be plodding and depressing.  Rather it's a lively, life affirming adventure that's a pleasure to read.  Written in a single voice you learn about the upside down world Sarah lives in right along with her.  What is this new world order and how it got that way is a mystery that is slowly unraveled with false starts and twists that creates a mind maze.
2192867
JAPAN 2041, The Last Bastion of Civilization, A Scenario Analysis ISBN: 9781927750940, Hamilton Bay Publishing is a Speculative Fiction book by Andrew Blencowe.
The author opens with a Preface which states: THIS IS A WORK OF FICTION. However, all statistics quoted before 2016 are true and accurate. There follows a series of individual papers reporting the results by purportedly future scientific and economic investigators along with their discoveries, remembrances, observations and/or conclusions. In summation, they proclaim that the present world-wide attitudes and trends in fuel consumption, increasing illegitimacy, declining interracial relationships, dependence upon government, food shortages, ignorance and/or failure to learn from history, dismal failure in education and a deep conviction that certain basic beliefs or dogma must be followed are developing a situation where chaos is approaching and unfortunately: The Age of Enlightenment is being extinguished in western universities in precisely the same way the first Dark Ages started  dogma trumping honesty. From this situation a
complete rearrangement of country alliances throughout the world is predicted to occur with Japan becoming the new super power. This will happen because they are more disciplined, family structured for intellectual development and more homogenous producing a Power of Harmony. They also provided evidence of having a greater ability to think outside-the-box.
  Discussion: The author has provided a most intriguing scenario recounting historical facts such as poor little Belgiums massive and horrific pre-war slave empire in Africa, Stalins responsibility for the death of countless thousands of individuals, the long-standing enmity between China and Japan, and others. His recounting of the present-day reminders one constantly receives from the media also are directly in line  the increasing illegitimacy, declining I.Q., food shortages, rioting, etc., etc. all leading to one chaotic situation after another. A truly engrossing presentation. Thus, this reviewers disappointment in the apparent lack of an attempt to meld the chapters into a smoother flowing presentation probably is picayune, but regrettably must be mentioned because a little thoughtful editing would have provided a large measure of reading enjoyment to this most captivating book.
  Conclusion: A most compelling speculative scenario that is regrettably depressing in that its actual implementation could be imminent.
344035
If I had to choose one word to describe this novel, it would be disturbing.  The (I guess you would call her) protagonist is a strange combination of well educated in an academic sense and incredibly ignorant in a human sense.  The choices she makes are difficult to understand and at times the narrative is confusing.

But it is a very interesting look at another world, at a culture so incredibly foreign.  It shows how groups like the IS (ISIL/ISIS) could come to exist and have any sort of support.

And it makes me sad for humanity, that people are raised to think this way.
3703114
In Caesar's Column: a man comes from his rural environment to the heart of a brutal capitalist oligarchy; he sees its corruptions firsthand, and witnesses its destruction.  The narrator is describing his experiences on a 1988 trip to New York. He is a man named Weltstein, a wool merchant from Uganda (early Zionist thinkers considered the possibility of founding a Jewish state in Uganda!!!). Weltstein wants to break the grip of an international cartel and sell wool directly to American manufacturers.  Just like today, when the world seems to be run by international cartels above the law, or owning Presidents (esp former Vice Presidents).

This book is a great utopian and dystopian novel, you get both, and that is fun in itself, however, what is also fascinating is the descriptions of 1988, which seems more like today than ever!

I think this is the book that schools should be offering, rather than 1984, for as sure as our personal liberties are being taken from us, the world is changing so fast that we need some grounding to look at it and start making some decisions about which way its changing.  Caesar's Column is a book to make you think about it.
4353515
It is hard to comprehend how part of the world lives.  What we call problems are so shallow compared to what she describes.  A good read in terms of religion and culture.
I hope she will be able to go back to her country but I doubt it in terms of safety.  But I wonder how much of this is her spin and how much is that of the news correspondant and her dad.  I find it hard that this young a person could analyze the total picture in such a way.  Pick it up.  You won't put it down.
4227494
This book is set in the not too distant future, and the predictions made of the changes that have taken place in the world are a bit frighteningly possible. There is a plan for Egypt to be accepted in the European Union and the citizens to be given the rights and privileges of all the other member states. Early on in the story the Prime Minister, Bryce, has a confrontation with a woman whose son had been killed in Afghanistan. She feels that her son died for a useless cause, as Afghanistan was handed back to the Mullahs in the end. The drug trade flourishes as before and the Territories were divided up again between the Warlords. To her disgust, the Taliban delegates had been welcomed to Downing Street, and Bryce tries to justify this as the reality of politics; terrorists of yesterday as today's politicians.
The woman feels that the Cairo treaty will be the final nail in the coffin for Britain, its culture and values. People are leaving Britain in droves but this has been covered up by manipulation of the statistics.
The two million refugees from surrounding wars, camped in the Egyptian desert, will all be eligible for E.U. citizenship and most will predictably head for Britain. Brice wants to delay the singing of the treaty and comes up against forces determined to take over his position and power.
One of the bombs is detonated at a mosque and hundreds of people are killed at prayer. Thing go wrong very quickly and revenge is sought by Islamic forces.
This is a courageous book which looks at the very bad things that happen in politics and it dares to deal with the topical subjects of an Islamic takeover of Britain and other E.U. countries, and a flourishing underground right wing organisation.
Some parts of the plot seem very credible and others just too far fetched, like the collusion of future members of the royal family in the conspiracy and the plan to build the biggest mosque in Europe in Whitehall. Nevertheless this is a book well worth reading, it is excellent writing, and I have no problem recommending it.
3240351
This book is somewhat disjointed but on the whole makes a good read. It gives the reader an excellent look at a future where the environment is changed and mankind is not working for a solution but an escape from the ravages of climate change.
It is worthwhile to read this as it shows how mankind can and will change in the near future.