Ludwick,+Kayla

Podcast Book Review

Entry Two: I have read 102 pages so far. They have just arrived at the savage reservation. It seems to be a Indian reservation. The average population of the world finds in completely wrong that they still have families, and children are still born, rather then develop in labs. Due to his oddness, and his disregard for social norms, he is going to be sent to Iceland when he returns to London. I don't think he will come back from the reservation as soon as everyone thinks. I think he may prefer the way these "savages" live. I meant to read more, but I passed out in my book. I can't wait to see what happens. I think I will read and do Entry Three in advance instead of next Tuesday night...

Entry One:

I will be studying the author Aldous Huxley and reading the novel Brave New World. I have read 86 pages so far.

The setting has been distinguished, a futuristic world displaying a caste system (distinguished by Greek letters Alpha[being the highest/smartest] through Epsilon[being the lowest]) and morals which are very dissimilar to the one's people value today. everyone is conditioned to believe certain things from birth, well so to speak. All infants are grown in labs, in fact the concept of having children and raising them in a family is considered highly immoral, and never happens. Most people are made sterile intentionally during development. Ironically lack of a need for sex has not resulting in no sex, but rather, in the novel, sex is something people just have with other people their own age. even little children play erotic games. It is not only acceptable, but actually encouraged to have many different lovers. All people are taught that their position in life is the best one for them. Every Alpha wants to be an Alpha, every Beta a Beta, and so on. This is put into their heads over and over while they are sleeping as infants, and is regarded as an unshakable truth. Everyone feels this way, except major character Bernard, an Alpha who isn't like the others, he is shorter (a trait typical of the lower castes) and he is socially awkward. Bernard feels he doesn't belong, he is out of place. He is unaffected by the temporary escape from reality that most people need despite the fact that they see reality as just as it should be. He plays along because it is socially acceptable, but it only makes him feel more isolated. He also reacted "abnormally" to a request on a date with an another major character, Lenina. She however, only asked him do to social pressures to date someone other than just her favorite lover. Their date is too be to see a Savage Reservation. (My summary is not very brief, but I think the setting in this story is important to understand to have any real discussion about it.)

So far I find the book very interesting. It is easy to read because it makes you want to read it. However, it is a tad bit difficult, I'm not sure I've ever heard many of the words used. I am extremely interested to know exactly what Savage Reservation is. I predict that Lenina and Bernard will both really question the government in place. Though, so far their seems to be no option out, unless the Savage Reservation would let them in, and I do not even know what that is yet.