The Children of Men by P.D. James Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Children of Men
Book Review: Doomsday book, with a new wrinkle
Summary: 4 Stars
As I was reading THE CHILDREN OF MEN, I couldn't help thinking about 1984 and BRAVE NEW WORLD. The similarities are certainly there. It's 2021 and England now has a dictator (or Warden). On the surface he seems benevolent enough, but he will do anything to stay in power. P.D. James also likes to employ the Greek alphabet, labeling the two sections of the book Omega and Alpha. The children born in the year 1995 are called Omegas. They are not only physically striking and intelligent, but also violent and cruel.
The book starts on Friday, January 1, 2021 and the last human being to be born on earth has been killed in a pub brawl. He was twenty-five years old. The narrator of the book is a college professor, Theo Faron, first cousin of the Warden of England and also once his principal adviser.
Faron joins forces with five people who are plotting against the warden's policies of voluntary suicide and deporting of criminals to the Isle of Man as well as the virtual enslavement of immigrants called Sojourners. Faron falls in love with one of the females, Julian, who he later learns is pregnant.
The theme of the novel seems to be "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts completely." The warden, a man named Xan, apparently started out with good intentions, but then used "the end justifies the means" to keep the surviving citizens of England safe. James shows us Xan's background to some degree, but I think he could use a bit more meat on his bones. Where did he go wrong? What incident provoked him into employing nefarious methods?
Much of the book reads like a thriller as Theo tries to help the five escape to Wales. James kept me turning pages and that's all you can ask from any book. I was especially impressed with the ending in that it merely suggests what might happen next, but she leaves enough clues so that you shouldn't have too much trouble formulating the ending she had in mind.
Book Review: Dystopic Future
Summary: 3 Stars
Differs somewhat from the Britain portrayed in the movie. Way to personaly reflective at some points. Otherwise well written.Book Review: Every page is a gem....
Summary: 5 Stars
every sentence is beautifully written. A wonderful, wonderful reading experience from one of the masters. Five stars.Book Review: Food for thought
Summary: 5 Stars
I saw the trailer for the movie first, and thought that I had better read the book before I saw the movie. I read the entire book in 4 days, and with a 3 year old, that is a feat that could only be accomplished by writing that makes you hungry to read more. There is so much beauty in this book, even though it speaks of the end of mankind as we know it. The main character, Theo, changes completely from a man who has lost all hope and feeling, to a man with strength of heart who, even in "middle age" learns to love and to allow himself to be loved. The book is fabulous, from beginning to end.Book Review: Good book.
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this book after seeing the movie of the same title. I really loved the book, even though I discovered that the movie was very loosely based on this story. The book has a more realistic scenario, and I was much happier with the ending in the book.