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29th out of 157 books
—
19 voters
The End of the World News: An Entertainment
Paperback, 400 pages
Published
June 5th 1984
by Penguin Books
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92nd out of 161 books
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49 voters
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I'm an Anthony Burgess fan. He really was one of the most inventive writers around. For some reason, which I do not know, he has been somewhat neglected (he will never be completely neglected though because of A Clockwork Orange). But, his novels are some of the most original pieces of prose written in the 20th century. He never wrote the same book twice and loved playing with prose.
This book is one of his more interesting experiments and also one of his most frustration in terms of success. Th...more
This book is one of his more interesting experiments and also one of his most frustration in terms of success. Th...more
This book did not entertain me as much as A Clockwork Orange or The Wanting Seed. Personally, this book was a bit of a slog to read, although at least one character would spice things up with ridiculously Elizabethan insults.
That being said, it did have an interesting structure. There is a futuristic plot of a planet from outside the solar system barreling down on Earth and stealing the moon, a biographical story of Sigmund Freud and the early days of psychoanalysis, and a musical of Leo Trotsk...more
That being said, it did have an interesting structure. There is a futuristic plot of a planet from outside the solar system barreling down on Earth and stealing the moon, a biographical story of Sigmund Freud and the early days of psychoanalysis, and a musical of Leo Trotsk...more
Jan 02, 2012
Michael
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Freudians, Sci fi fans, Writers
Recommended to Michael by:
Serendipity
Shelves:
biography,
science-fiction
I first read this book in college, when I was more interested in experimental writing styles and moving-target plotlines. I think even then it disappointed me somewhat. What Burgess has done here is to write three separate stories and intermix them (without chapters or other obvious cues when the narrative shifts from one to another) into a single novel. According to his blurb, these "three stories are all the same story," but I did not find that this concept worked. Therefore, I will review the...more
I read this years ago but have always remembered this poem from it:
"I loved you. And love for you has not yet burned out of my soul. But
don't let my love cause you distress any more. I don't wish to bring you
grief. I loved you silently, hopelessly, sometimes in joy, sometimes in
jealousy. I loved you so sincerely, so tenderly. Ah, may God grant that
you be so loved by another."
Just beautiful.
"I loved you. And love for you has not yet burned out of my soul. But
don't let my love cause you distress any more. I don't wish to bring you
grief. I loved you silently, hopelessly, sometimes in joy, sometimes in
jealousy. I loved you so sincerely, so tenderly. Ah, may God grant that
you be so loved by another."
Just beautiful.
Dec 11, 2011
Michelle
is currently reading it
the fact that its caght me in a net and i cant stop reading it is one think but now im on the last 18 pages and i dont want it to end... im like "please book continue, continue" but the book has to end someday... it makes me sad when i end a book... i swear to my life for anybody who has never read this book... READ IT!!! its a absolute exelent historical fiction with sigmund freud....
This is a terrific book that's taking me about a thousand years or so to read. Mr. Burgess describes his work as being akin to watching several TVs at once, but I liken it more to channel surfing between a historical docudrama about Freud on IFC, a musical based on Trotsky's visit to New York on PBS (during a pledge drive) and a blockbuster endtimes science fiction thriller set in the future on Space Network. I'll justify the length of time it's taking me to get through it by reiterating that I'...more
It is a travesty that it has taken me 20 years to find this book. 'Jesus Jobbernol Goosecap Christ All Grouthead Gnatsnapper Mighty!' Alas,
'The young things who frequent movie palaces
Know nothing of psychoanalysis.
But Herr Doktor Freud
Is not really annoyed.
Let them cling to their long-standing fallacies.'
'The young things who frequent movie palaces
Know nothing of psychoanalysis.
But Herr Doktor Freud
Is not really annoyed.
Let them cling to their long-standing fallacies.'
Historic fiction at it's best. This is my favorite Anthony Burgess novel.
Burgess hooked me with this tale.
Probably my favorite novel. Anthony Burgess plays with the form of the novel, involving everything from the guest foreword to the bookjacket in the telling of three interrelated stories about Freud, Trotsky, and the end of the world. But I'm the only person I know who's read this book, so I've never really been able to discuss it with anyone. Maybe it's not actually as good as I give it credit for.
this is my favorite Anthony Burgess book. My husband and I like to quote it to each other.
Since I read a lot of science fiction, I tend to be wary, and then incredibly disappointed, when other authors get anywhere near my genre. But this one pays off, so I enjoy the SF elements.
Don't miss the preface, written by A.B. under his two middle names.
Since I read a lot of science fiction, I tend to be wary, and then incredibly disappointed, when other authors get anywhere near my genre. But this one pays off, so I enjoy the SF elements.
Don't miss the preface, written by A.B. under his two middle names.
i like books that further convince me that life is nothing without culture,love, and art. i guess i'm pure cheese at heart. (i'm also too flighty to get a "real"job.)
an all too real sense of the end of the world, with global climate change and a force too big even for the good ole US of A.
burgess is right on top with the cynicism and accuracy of a prophet .
an all too real sense of the end of the world, with global climate change and a force too big even for the good ole US of A.
burgess is right on top with the cynicism and accuracy of a prophet .
This is probably my favorite bk that I've read by Burgess. It interweaves (I know, I know, that's an overused word in this type of context) 3 stories: one of wch is all about Freud. Learning about the genesis of psychoanalysis was esp interesting for me. I never realized what an INVENTION it was - not even necessarily by doctors.
Only Burgess could pull of a novel based on the idea of watching several T.V.'s at once, or at least only Burgess could make such a novel stir every emotion, change the way you think about the end of the world and feel like you really were watching the three best television programmes you ever watched all at the same time.
This was recommended by my father as his favorite book by Burgess. I can see why: it is a really fun read, and very artfully written. Unfortunately, it seems to be out of print and is a little hard to find -- I was scanning used book stores for it for years before I finally found it.
Oh, boy..... where to begin. I read this book years ago, and it was probably the first book I really, really was excited to read, though at times, parts of it were over my head. Three completely different stories which all tie together. If you see this book, pick it up.
i think i liked it a little more when i knew nothing about the communist revolution and freud...
no, really, though, a great book, maybe just a little better pacing?
no, really, though, a great book, maybe just a little better pacing?
one of my all time favorites.
biographies of Freud and Trotsky enveloped in a SciFi story. Very insightful and sensitively written and extremely funny.
biographies of Freud and Trotsky enveloped in a SciFi story. Very insightful and sensitively written and extremely funny.
la mia recensione: http://xmau.com/notiziole/archives/00...
May 22, 2013
Eleni Kr
is currently reading it
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Anthony Burgess was a British novelist, critic and composer. He was also a librettist, poet, playwright, screenwriter, essayist, travel writer, broadcaster, translator, linguist and educationalist. Born in Manchester, he lived for long periods in Southeast Asia, the USA and Mediterranean Europe as well as in England. His fiction includes the Malayan trilogy (The Long Day Wanes) on the dying days o...more
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“(James Joyce, in conversation with Carl Jung:)"Literary artists know more about the human mind than you fellers have a hope in hell of knowing. Ha. My craft is ebbing. I am yung and easily freudened. One of these days I'll show the lot of you what the unconscious mind is really like. I don't need any of you. In a sense I am Freud."
Jung looked gloomily guilty at the name. "Yes?"
"What's Freud in English?"
"Joy."
"Joy and Joyce. There's little enough difference. Except that I add C and E for Creative Endeavour. I spit in all your eyes.”
—
3 people liked it
Jung looked gloomily guilty at the name. "Yes?"
"What's Freud in English?"
"Joy."
"Joy and Joyce. There's little enough difference. Except that I add C and E for Creative Endeavour. I spit in all your eyes.”
“English is a curiously expressive language. Womb, room, tomb. It sums up living in three words.”
—
3 people liked it
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