Dead Poets Society

by N.H. Kleinbaum, Tom Schulman (Original Work (Motion Picture))

Todd Anderson and his friends at Welton Academy can hardly believe how different life is since their new English professor, the flamboyant John Keating, has challenged them to "make your lives extraordinary! " Inspired by Keating, the boys resurrect the Dead Poets Society--a secret club where, free from the constraints and expectations of school and parents, they let their passions run wild. As Keating turns the boys on to the great words of Byron, Shelley, and Keats, they discover not only the beauty of language, but the importance of making each moment count. But the Dead Poets pledges soon realize that their newfound freedom can have tragic consequences. Can the club and the individuality it inspires survive the pressure from authorities determined to destroy their dreams?

Genres: Classics, Dark Academia, Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary, Poetry, Coming Of Age

166 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

About the author

Nancy Horowitz Kleinbaum was an American writer and journalist. She is the author of the novel Dead Poets Society, which is based on the movie of the same name.

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went to the woods because I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life! To put to rout all that was not life. And not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

“Carpe Diem,”... “Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary.”

I watched Deat Poets Society movie a few years ago and I still sometimes watch its clips. It’s one of my all-time favorite
movies. A week ago I was scrolling through my Goodreads feeds and found this book and I screamed like
WHAT??? THIS BOOK DO EXIST?!! Boy, my emotions at that moment!!!
This book isn’t only about poetry, it’s about life, dreams, love, everything. It’s a silver line in the clouds
of despair and helplessness we feel. Parents think that they are doing the best with their children but
often they don’t. While dreaming big for the children, they don’t pause for a moment to ask them,
“what do you want?”, “are you happy” or “what makes you happy?.” The pressure they put on children often leads to what happened at the end of this book.
I think every other person who reads or watch Dead Poets Society will feel this connection with the characters because we all have been through what Neil, Todd and the others were feeling. Since I knew what was going to happen, I just couldn’t stop my tears as I was reading Neil getting excited about acting, doing his best to get the part and dancing with joy when he got it. He was so full of life. He brought back the Dead Poet Society, he made his friends do what they love, he was there for Todd, he was just the perfect human being!. And when he took his life, it was like he took a piece of my heart with him. As Todd said, “Neil wouldn’t kill himself! He loved living!” Damn it, he loved living!
And Todd, Todd is so precious. His poems, his love, his loneliness, you can’t help but love him and want to comfort him. I love how he stands for the Captain at the end and told his parents off.
Charlie, my Nuwanda boy! I love him. And I love Knox. Meeks, Pitts, all of them. My dead poets!!!
And how can I forget about John Keating! “O Captain! My Captain!”. Keating is like The Person we all need to meet at least once in our life time and it’s our misfortune that rarely we meet people like him.

Here are some of Keating’s quotes:

“I say—drivel! One reads poetry because he is a member of the human race, and the human race is filled
with passion! Medicine, law, banking—these are necessary to sustain life. But poetry, romance, love, beauty? These are what we stay alive for!

“That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse.” …”What will your verse be?”

“And don’t limit poetry to the word. Poetry can be found in music, a photograph, in the way a meal is prepared—anything with the stuff of revelation in it. It can exist in the most everyday things but it must never, never be ordinary. By all means, write about the sky or a girl’s smile, but when you do, let your poetry conjure up salvation day, doomsday, any day. I don’t care, as long as it enlightens us, thrills us and—if it’s inspired—makes us feel a bit immortal.”

“Lads, there is a great need in all of us to be accepted, but you must trust what is unique or different about yourself, even if it is odd or unpopular.”

I can talk and talk about this book. This will ever be in my heart.

[Emily (Books with Emily Fox on Youtube) · Rating 1 out of 5]

What is wrong with the author.

Watch the movie. This book shouldn't exist.

The author wrote it after the movie and decided to add a pointless SA scene and some other questionable things... it's just nowhere near as good so don't waste your time.

*It made it to my worst books of 2022: https://youtu.be/yaBImu6ejEM

[marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

take me to the lakes where all the poets went to die

[Lucy 🫶 · Rating 1 out of 5]

lacked the homoerotic subtext of the movie, absolutely pointless

[Maro · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would've liked it more if it was gayer tbh

[persephone ☾ · Rating 3 out of 5]

i didn't expect the ending at all, but like never in a million years would i have predicted that ?? also, don't know about y'all, but Neil and Todd's relationship seemed very homoerotic to me 😏

[nika · Rating 4 out of 5]

should’ve been gayer idc

[bruna (coming back) · Rating 2 out of 5]

★ 2 stars

“The boys had seized the cave, and in it they’d found a home away from Welton, away from parents, teachers, and friends—a place where they could be people they never dreamed they’d be. The Dead Poets Society was alive and thriving and ready to seize the day.”

i first watched Dead Poets Society when i was 12 years old and i fell in love with it right away. guess you could say it was love at first sight, because it was. it’s a beautiful, enthralling, memorable and impactful film. it profoundly affected and captivated me, and touched my soul in so many ways — watching it was truly a life changing experience for me. it’s one of my all time favorites for a reason.

so you must be wondering why i’m giving this novelization such a low rating. well, i’m gonna go straight to the point: it didn’t properly capture the essence of the film. i dare say it failed quite miserably.

see, i’m not a person who reads novelizations of screenplays — in fact, this is the first one i read, so for that reason i was expecting something different. i thought “oh okay, it’s a book based on the movie, which means it will be as good as the movie, right?” as you can notice, i was wrong. very wrong.

this book is unnecessarily rushed, not very well written and weak — no other way to put it. it didn’t match the greatness of the movie at all; not even close. there’s no depth whatsoever, the characters whom i deeply love felt one-dimensional here, we have a few unnecessary additions/changes and, dear lord, the writing was awful for most of the time.

just to clarify, i wasn’t expecting this to be better than the movie, i honestly didn’t even think that it was possible anyway. but i also wasn’t expecting this to be so bland and extremely disappointing. come on, the potential was there, and yet the author managed to waste it. such a shame.

i’m giving this two stars because it’s a short book and that’s exactly what i needed to help with my reading slump so at least there’s a positive thing. also, the first few pages weren’t so bad and i foolishly believed it was going to be a good book that would become a new favorite of mine (laughable, isn’t it?) but then you know what happened... it went downhill. for my own sanity, i’m going to pretend this book doesn’t exist and i’m going to rewatch the film so i can wipe this from my mind completely.

if you never watched Dead Poets Society, don’t make the mistake of reading this book first (or perhaps don’t make the mistake of reading this book at all). go watch the film, i guarantee it’s a million times better and more magical. and i promise you won’t regret of watching this literal masterpiece.

“O Captain! My Captain!”

︵‿︵‿︵‿ ꒰💌꒱ ‿︵‿︵‿︵

ᰔ quotes:

“No matter what anyone tells you, words and ideas have the power to change the world.”

“Carpe Diem. Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary.”

“One reads poetry because he is a member of the human race, and the human race is filled with passion. Medicine, law, banking—these are necessary to sustain life. But poetry, romance, love, beauty? These are what we stay alive for.”

“And don’t limit poetry to the word. Poetry can be found in music, a photograph, in the way a meal is prepared—anything with the stuff of revelation in it. It can exist in the most everyday things but it must never, never be ordinary.”

“When you read, don’t consider only what the author thinks, but take time to consider what you think.”

“You must strive to find your own voice, boys, and the longer you wait to begin, the less likely you are to find it at all.”

“I feel like I’ve never been alive. For years, I’ve been risking nothing. I have no idea what I am or what I want to do.”

“And acting!” Neil bubbled. “It’s got to be one of the most wonderful things in the world. Most people, if they’re lucky, live about half an exciting life. If I could get the parts, I could live dozens of great lives!”

─────────────────────

➷ pre-review:

i just need something short to help with my mini reading slump and i feel like this might help! not only because it’s a short book, but also because Dead Poets Society is one of my favorite movies of all time so i think i’ll enjoy the book. 🥹🤎

please ignore the fact that i’m now reading four books at the same time.

[فؤاد · Rating 3 out of 5]

دو تا مقاله در نقد و ردّ دیدگاه این فیلم/کتاب خوندم که بین دو دیدگاه تعادل برقرار بشه. بازم لازمه مطالب بیشتری بخونم، ولی فعلاً مهم‌ترین چیزی که دستگیرم شد اینه:

بزرگ‌ترین نقد وارد به روش آموزشی کیتینگ، اینه که بچه‌ها و احساسات بچه‌ها رو خام بار می‌آورد. البته لازم و ضروریه که بچه‌ها با نگاه متفاوت به جهان نگاه کنن، همون قدر به احساس بها بدن که به «افتخار و شرافت» و باقی شعارهای مدرسه بها می‌دادن، و لازم و ضروریه که بچه‌ها راه خودشون رو کشف کنن و بسازن، اما روش تربیتی کیتینگ در همین جا متوقف می‌شه. فقط به بچه‌ها می‌گه راه خودتون رو برید، فقط به بچه‌ها میگه شعر و جهان رو با احساسی سرشار بخونید و زندگی کنید، اما دیگه تلاشی برای تربیت این احساسات سرشار نمی‌کنه. و احساسات تربیت نشده، همیشه خامه. احساسات بدون تفکر انتقادی، همیشه در سطحی‌ترین حالت باقی می‌مونه.

نظریات و تئوری‌های مختلف بهمون یاد میدن هنگام خوندن شعر یا جهان، احساس‌های جدیدی رو تجربه کنیم که قبلاً فکر نمی‌کردیم وجود دارن، و خودمون، جهانمون و شعر رو از نظرگاه‌های مختلف ببینیم و بشناسیم که قبلاً بهشون توجه نداشتیم. و در تمام این‌ها تفکر انتقادی هم لازمه تا اسیر یک دیدگاه نشیم و قادر باشیم فراتر از حیطهٔ احساس و دیدگاه فعلی‌مون رو هم ببینیم.

اما در روش آموزشی کیتینگ، نظریات مختلف و تفکر انتقادی، فقط با برچسب آکادمیک بودن، کنار گذاشته می‌شن و در عمل چیزی که باقی می‌مونه، احساسات‌گرایی خام و پرورش نیافته است، احساسات‌گرایی خامی که باعث میشه خیلی از شاعرها از برنامهٔ درسی کیتینگ کنار گذاشته بشن و فقط رمانتیک‌ها باقی بمونن، احساسات‌گرایی خامی که باعث می‌شه نهایت لذتی که بچه‌ها از خوندن شکسپیر سر کلاس می‌برن، به خاطر تقلید صدای کیتینگ باشه، احساسات‌گرایی خامی که باعث می‌شه یک دانش‌آموز مستعد در اولین مواجهه با ناکامی خودکشی کنه.

[val :) · Rating 4 out of 5]

this ruined me so im gonna pretend the last chapters didnt happen and im gonna pretend Neil followed his dream and is happily married with Todd :D

[Saranya · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Carpe, Carpe Diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.”

movie rating: 4.5 stars
novel rating: 2 stars

Having just finished the book, I immediately jumped to the the film adaptation. Popular opinion held that the movie was vastly superior and after witnessing it myself, I completely agree. Compared to the film, the book's atmosphere fell short. It didn't quite capture the magic of the film for me. Where the movie was inspiring and effortlessly poetic, the novelisation felt bogged down. So the beauty and emotional resonance of the screen adaptation just didn't translate to the page for me.

.˚⟡˖ ࣪
╰┈➤ˎˊ˗ 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚍: 18 May 2026
╰┈➤ˎˊ 𝚏𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚎𝚍: 20 May 2026

[KyneWynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I started to read this book -- and couldn't get past the first chapter -- unfortunately, like other, books written after the movie was made, it falls short of literary sparkle. I love the movie though, and for me it will always be a reminder. My husband, son, and daughter were in a stage version of this play -- for opening night. My husband died that night. This is a poem I wrote about the juxtaposition of the two:


In Fifty-five Words

Father and son,
Playing father and son:
On stage, the dialogue
Between the character
Neil
and his father was electric;
Excellent casting decision.
It was just like watching them
At home.
Teenage angst,
Overbearing father--
In a way,
Disturbing.
In the end,
on stage,
the son committed suicide.
At home, that night,
My husband
Died.

PS: It is now nine years later, and while in many ways it has gotten easier, the two will be forever entwined. In remembrance, every year on the anniversary of Kelly's death, I watch Dead Poets Society; it feel fitting somehow.

[nour ༉‧₊˚✧ · Rating 3 out of 5]

the last two chapters were the best parts and the only parts that actually held my attention. overall, could’ve been gayer 🙃

[madii ੈ✩ ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

sobbing. this is why i love literature.

“one reads poetry because he is a member of the human race, and the human race is filled with passion! medicine, law, banking—these are necessary to sustain life. but poetry, romance, love, beauty? these are what we stay alive for!”

the only book i have ever finished and wanted to reread from page one again immediately. i swear each page was written for me and about me, perfectly capturing my worldview in all its complexity and reflecting the beauty of literature and art in our lives. this story changed me.

"the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse.”

neil perry you will always be the most precious character i have ever read about <3

[Maede · Rating 4 out of 5]

با خیلی از آدم‌ها که صحبت می‌کنی، یک معلم ادبیات یا زبان در زندگیشون هست که پررنگ‌تر از بقیه به‌ یاد مونده، یکی که حرف‌هاش و خاطره‌ کلاسش رو گذرِ همه‌‌ی این سال‌ها خاکستری نکرده

فکر می‌کنم که این جادوی زبان و ادبیاته که ماهیتشون نگه‌داشتنِ اندیشه‌ها، احساسات و ایده‌های جدید و انتقالشون به آدم‌های دیگه‌ست. همیشه با خودم گفتم که ای‌کاش بتونم یکی از این معلم‌ها بشم که می‌مونن و تغییراتِ کوچک ایجاد می‌کنن. دوست دارم یکی سال‌ها بعد به دوستی بگه که «من معلمی داشتم که عشق به زبان/کتاب/یادگیری رو ازش یاد گرفتم.» کیتینگ مظهرِ چنین معلمیه؛ معلمی که تمامِ انرژیِ شعر، ادبیات و کلمات رو به‌ کار گرفته تا به این پسرانِ هفده‌ساله نشون بده که زندگی بیشتر از درس خوندنه، زندگی بیشتر از کسی شدنه و زندگی همین لحظه‌هاست که ما رو به‌ سوی مرگ می‌برن؛ که ما خوراکِ کرم‌هاییم و کود برای قاصدک‌ها

نقدهای مثبت از این فیلم و کتاب زیاد هست و برای همین به سراغِ منفی‌ها رفتم: این‌که «انجمن شاعران مرده» ایده‌ٔ درستی از مطالعه‌ٔ ادبیات در ذهنِ افراد ایجاد نمی‌کنه. این‌که کیتینگ این پسرانِ تأثیرپذیر رو با جملاتش در خطر قرار می‌ده و در واقع بهشون یاد نمی‌ده که چطور باید برای خودشون فکر کنند، بلکه ایده‌های معلمشون رو کورکورانه پیاده می‌کنن؛ این‌که اشعار استفاده‌شده گاهی تکه‌تکه شدن و خارج از قالبِ اصلی استفاده شدن. من همه‌ٔ این‌ها رو خوندم و باز هم معتقدم که با کیتینگ نباید این‌طور موشکافانه برخورد کرد چون فقط نمادِ تغییریه که ما احتیاج داریم و لزوماً بهترین روش رو برای انجامِ این کار انتخاب نکرده. کیتینگ نشانه‌ی نیاز به نظامِ آموزشی‌ایه که تفکرِ انتقادی رو به ذهن‌های جوان یاد بده

کم پیش میاد که از کتابی/فیلمی یک جمله این‌طور دقیق در خاطرم بمونه و توی ذهنم دائم بپیچه

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately.

و این «آگاهانه و عامدانه و از روی قصد زندگی کردن»، مهم‌ترین حرفِ این داستان و تکاپوی این سال‌های منه

جالبه که در این مورد برعکسه و کتاب از روی فیلم نوشته شده. می‌شه گفت کتاب و فیلم کاملاً مکملِ هم‌دیگه‌ هستن و واقعاً توصیه می‌کنم که بخونید و ببینید. بعضی داستان‌ها اون‌قدری ارزش دارن که چشممون رو (آگاهانه) روی ایراداتی که گذرِ زمان روشون می‌ذاره، ببندیم

۹۹/۱۲/۷


کتاب رو می‌تونید از اینجا دانلود کنید
Maede's Books

[Emma.catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book I have been wanting to read for some time now and my initial reaction when I set my eyes upon it was how very small it is. At just over 150 pages I don’t know how they managed to cram what is a 2 hour movie into such a small book. Furthermore, an interesting thought regarding this book is that the book was written based on the film rather than the film on the book; I thought this was most unusual but was ready to give it a read.

I have seen so many negative 1 🌟 reviews about this book and in all honesty I can’t understand why. Maybe reading the book before watching the movie was a good call, idk but I enjoyed it. I found some of the poetry written by Knox in the latter half of the book really sweet and moving 🥹🥲I think this is one of those books that the rating is based more on the way the book makes you FEEL rather than the plot itself.

The book begins with a new school year and from the very beginning the boys are addressed : Gentlemen, what are the four pillars? Tradition! Honor! Discipline! Excellence! Was shouted in unison by the boys - these four pillars will become the cornerstones to your lives here at the best preparatory school in the United States.

They very quickly meet and become inspired by their teacher Mr. Keating who teaches them many life lessons including: ‘“Carpe Diem” - Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary.’

“We don’t read and write poetry because it’s cute. We read and write poetry because we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion. And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for,”

“We are dreaming of a new day when the new day’s here already.”

However, the boys simultaneously become interested in ‘The Dead Poet’s Society’ which Mr. Keating was a former member of. They get rather caught up with it and before long are completely preoccupied by this secret club. This made for the perfect read for a gloomy late August day…slowly preparing myself for an Autumn of dark academia reads 📚

The last few chapter totally caught me off guard and SHOCKED me to my core. Nj I was almost in tears with how moving it was. It’s those small subtle touches that just get me 🥺

Now that I have read the book, I will, of course, go and watch the film to compare.

UPDATE: I have watched the film and I MUCH prefer the book no matter what all the other reviews say. I did like the film but I felt more of a connection through the book 📖


🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Mina · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't remember ever rating a book at one star. Oh, yes I do. Wuthering Heights. And I HATE that book.

Okay. I love this film. Loved it in the late 80s and I love it still. The movie is not based on the book; the book is based on the movie.

It's not great. It's little more than a copy of the screen play. (Which probably would have been a better read.) The writing was poor. Drab. Telling. The author quoted the school dog. "Gggrrr." I'm not kidding. There were some small liberties taken, as I assume there would need to be for legal purposes. And while they were still poorly written, at least those scenes did not have quite the same feel as having to sit and listen to my mother tell me about a great movie she saw in real-movie time. The rest of the novel did.

The plus? Takes less time to read than watching the movie. So I guess if you're pressed for time ... nah. Just watch the movie. It's a bazillion times better. And then you get to watch young, cute, tortured Sean Robert Leonard for 2 hours. It's a win-win.

(Now how to be diplomatic about this next week at my first-ever attending of a book club I've joined, for which I read this "novel." I may have to keep on the quiet side.)

[AMEERA · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspirational story 💜💜

[layan · Rating 5 out of 5]

i just love pain

[Hoda · Rating 5 out of 5]

So beautiful ❤️
Running to watch the movie🏃🏻‍♀️ i hope it’s as beautiful as this 🙏🏻

Quotes

“Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary.”

“One reads poetry because he is a member of the human race, and the human race is filled with passion! Medicine, law, banking.these are necessary to sustain life. But poetry, romance, love, beauty?These are what we stay
alive for!”

“If you’re sure about something,force yourself to think about it another way, even if you know its wrong or silly.
When you read, don’t consider only what the author thinks, but take time to consider what you think.”

“I feel like I’ve never been alive,”

“don’t limit poetry to the word. Poetry can be found in music, a photograph, in the way a meal is prepared anything with the stuff of revelation in it. It can exist in the most everyday things but it must never,never be ordinary.”

“A woman is a cathedral, boys. Worship one at every chance you get,”

“I went to the woods because I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life! To put to rout all that was not life. And not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.”

“there must be poetry and we must stop to notice it in even the simplest acts of living or we will have wasted much of what life has to offer.”

[Franco Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

¡Oh Capitán! ¡Mi Capitán! Nuestro terrible viaje ha terminado,
la nave ha sorteado todos los escollos, hemos obtenido el premio que anhelábamos,
el puerto está cerca, oigo las campanas, la gente toda jubilosa,
mientras sus miradas siguen la firme quilla, el navío imponente y osado.

Mas, ¡oh, corazón! ¡Corazón! ¡Corazón!
¡Oh, las sangrantes gotas carmesí
sobre el puente, donde mi Capitán yace,
caído, frío y muerto!

¡Oh, Capitán! ¡Mi Capitán! Levántate y escucha las campanas;
Levántate, por ti se ha derribado la bandera, por ti suena el clarín,
por ti los ramilletes y coronas con cintas, por ti las rebosantes riberas
a ti te llaman las oscilantes muchedumbres volviendo sus anhelantes rostros.

¡Vamos, Capitán, querido padre!
¡El brazo bajo tu cabeza!
Tan solo es un sueño que sobre el puente,
hayas caído, frío y muerto.

Mi Capitán no contesta, sus labios están pálidos e inmóviles,
mi padre no siente mi brazo, no tiene pulso ni voluntad,
el navío está anclado sano y salvo, su viaje cerrado y terminado.
del terrible viaje el navío victorioso regresa con su objetivo cumplido.

¡Regocijaos riberas, y tañed campanas!
que yo, con afligidos pasos,
recorro el puente donde mi Capitán yace,
caído, frío y muerto.

[Kealyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dead Poets Society by N.H. Kleinbaum (Tom Schulman, wrote the original script.)

2/5 stars

Dead Poets Society is one my favorite movies ever. I have seen it a million times and it just.. It just touches my heart and soul every single time I watch it. The ending is agonizing and so beautiful as well. I cry every single time. And for years it deluded my brain that Kleinbaum wrote an accompanying novel after the movie. So when I finally figured out this book existed I had to read it of course.

But.. I am not sure what I am feeling. I feel so utterly disappointed. This book doesn't have any of the magic that the movie has. I realise the brilliant actors really brought the story to life and they added so much depth and emotion. This book isn't even full length. It's a novella and it feels like it is the script written in book form but without adding any emotions, depth or engaging characters. It's just this happens, that happens and that was that. 

I could cry.. I feel that disappointed. Uhm. I'll first give a short summary of the book before I start to ramble and not make any sense anymore. 

Dead Poets Society is about an all boy school in 1959. The school is a 100 years old and has very strict rules. The teachers and headmaster have been there for a long time and it has a very structured system. Until a teacher retires from English lit and Mr. Keating replaces him. Mr. Keating was born to teach, he is young and all he wants is to open the minds of the youngsters and let them explore poetry and literature. He wants them to be free and follow their hearts and their passions and dreams. 

And goodness gracious the boys. I will always hold those boys in my heart. Neil is an artistic boy that thrives on expressing himself through acting and art and being creative. But his father has a very strict plan for him to follow and he hates that his son tries to be artistic in any shape or form. Then there is Todd. A boy who is extremely insecure and is afraid to show himself in any setting. He doesn't want to take up any room in any setting and I love how hard Mr. Keating helps and pushes him to open up. In the best way possible. He shows Todd that he has a right to exist and we see Todd grow throughout the story/movie. Knox is desperately in love and I love how the boys and Mr. Keating support that. Every boy explores, evolves and when one of them digs up that Mr. Keating was a part of the Dead Poets Society they want to know what that was and ask him. It was a society where boys and girls could be free. Read poetry, express themselves, be bold, loud and live. And the boys, they revive it and one by one they become these fearless boys that chase their dreams and see the world in a whole other perspective.

It is so beautiful to see them grow. Mr. Keating is so inspiring and their character growth is just so damn beautiful. But unfortunately the time, the school, the teachers and the parents are stuck in the rigid rules of the time and they detest Mr. Keating and what he teaches and how the boys change due to his class. 

And then something brutal happens. Something very brutal and heartbreaking and incredibly painful. And everything explodes and withers away. Until one defying act. That makes your heart thump with joy and pain and love and admiration.

Well I kinda recited the movie. Because this all sounds so badass and inspiring and beautiful. And the book was everything accept that. It's literally a book of this happens, that happens and that is that. I truly expected even more depth than the movie holds. But not a single emotion is inflected. Yes the movie is quoted literally and at times I felt something because I intricately conjured up the movie in my brain, but it wasn't on the page. There isn't a single sentence of Mr. Keating looking one of the boys in their eyes to emphasize his words. Mr. Keating doesn't have a personality and neither do the boys. I mean... how... how can these two be so different? It was like the soul was sucked out of the story and what was left was dropped on the page.

There wasn't any set up to any emotional scene whatsoever. And the ending, which is the most heartbreaking and beautiful part of the story, was so incredibly short that it was done in like 10 to 20 pages. The core, the heart, the soul was squished into that and that was that. I did not feel a single thing.

Well I must be honest. The scene where Neil walks downstairs. I did feel something then. But not a lot. And not what I felt in the movie. In the movie my throat closes up and I can't breathe anymore. And that last scene. Those last words. Todd's bravery. It was utterly soulless. Like how.. I truly cannot understand how something so beautiful can be broken down into something so soulless?

Even the friendship between the boys was so dull. Like it's supposed to be the heart of the book. And the bond between the boys and Mr. Keating was even more soulless. He didn't inspire me whatsoever. It didn't feel like he saw their souls inside their chests and encouraged them to trust in their own soul. It just wasn't there.

Now I am tearing up. Oh gosh and now a tear is rolling down my face. This feels like such a waste. I just cannot understand how something so beautiful can get destroyed by words written on a page. It's just heartbreaking. 

I truly hope I don't come across unkind or hateful. I only want to express what I felt while reading and how much pain it caused me. I don't mean to insult the author or anything like that. I am just trying to explain why the story didn't work for me personally. So sorry if I do come across offensive, I truly don't mean my words unkind in any way. It just hurts physically that the book didn't live up to the movie.

If you are drawn to the overall storyline. Please watch the movie. It's an oldie, from 1989, but it's a masterpiece from start to finish. And it's so inspiring, beautiful, painful and heartfelt all the way through. It's full of brave characters and beauty is woven through every single scene. The cast is top notch and you won't be disappointed.

But the book.. I hate to give this rating. But it's a 2 out of 5 star book for me. Just because I love the movie and because the beautiful quotes are still in here I couldn't rate it any lower. 

Maybe people who haven't seen the movie might enjoy the book way more. Maybe it's a me thing and not a book thing. I am not sure. Give it a shot if you are curious. It's a short story about 166 pages, and the pages are small, so you 'll fly through it. So you'll probably read it in one go. But yeah. Decide for yourself. But if you love the movie like I did. Know that none of the emotions of the movie were transferred to the pages.

[Elle_bow &#x1fa77; · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this review and rating is gonna be super biased because Dead Poets Society is one of my fav movies of all time (hence why I read the book). I didn’t actually know that the book was based off the movie and you can kinda tell.

This book reads more like someone rewriting the movie from memory. It’s got all the iconic moments in it but some other parts are completely different.

Like this wouldn’t be a good book if you haven’t seen the movie first. And if you had watched the movie first, then there’s no real reason to read the book.

I still cried tho

[Evoli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know how long it will take me to recover from this book and story and, genuinely speaking, I don't think I'll ever recover from it anyway.
Definitely feeling completely drained emotionally speaking and also extremely unwell.
(Still have to watch the movie, possibly today, to break me even more.)
Needless to say, this story definitely shaped me and left a profound impact on my psyche and understanding of the world.
Adding this to my "favourites" shelf.

P.S. Yes, I love tragic books and yes, I love having my heart ripped out of my chest and torn into tiniest pieces, as well as my soul aching in despair and frustration for the character. Since I'm a quite logically driven person and not really emotional overall in life, I like it when books have a certain effect on me because it's rare that something "shakes me awake". It's hard to make me sob because I try to over rationalise characters, their mindsets, lifestyles as well as their (in my opinion overly silly and unrealistic) actions, which often solely leads to annoyance or indifference related to the story, so I'm just glad when I can actually cry because of a book and "it hits a nerve".
That story was definitely "IT" for me!! I feel weird saying this buttt I managed to finally cry after something that felt like an eternity of books that left me feeling empty (not in the sense of emotionally spent buttt in the sense of leaving ZERO impact on an emotional, psychological and philosophical level).

[Gypsy · Rating 3 out of 5]

کتاب نتونست اونقدی که رو بقیه تأثیر گذاشت، رو من تأثیر بذاره. بهتر بگم، ترجمه! من ترجمه اصلی رو نخونده بودم، خیلی دنبال کتاب بودم و اصلاً نتونستم پیداش کنم. نمدونم الان نایاب حساب می‌شه یا واقعاً تو این شهر درندشت نتونستم پیداش کنم. ناچار شدم ترجمه اینترنتی رو بخونم، سال‌ها بود دلم می‌خواست انجمن شاعران مرده رو بخونم و شعرهاشو این ور اون ور خونده بودم و داستانشو می‌دونستم و فیلمش هم خیلی بچه بودم دیدم و فقط ازش یه سری پسرای مدرسه‌ای یادم می‌اومد و رابین ویلیامز. همین. :)) و به‌شدت برام مهم بود خوندنش و آخرم اینقد سخت خوندم.

ترجمه اجحاف(اجهاف؟ اجحاف؟) بزرگی به کتاب و منِ مخاطب بود. نمدونم از کی بود، بد هم تایپ شده بود و سانسور داشت. یه سری جملات ادبی و یه سری دست و پا شکسته. می‌تونین تصور کنین چه زجری کشیدم و چقد حرص خوردم. بارها خواستم بذارم کنار. اما کشش داستان و اشتیاق چندساله‌م نمی‌ذاشت. دیگه نمی‌دونستم کِی می‌تونم نسخه اصلی رو گیر بیارم و دیدم همین‌طوری‌شم دارم اینقد دیر می‌خونم. پس گفتم کارپه دیم و رفتم تا آخرش.

هم‌زمان باهاش فیلمش هم دیدم. تمام این مدت نگه داشته بودم حتماً بعد کتاب ببینم. با دیدن فیلم گریه‌م گرفت، به‌خاطر اون پایانش و نحوه‌ی بدرقه‌ی بچه‌ها. توی کتاب شخصیت پسرها رو دوست داشتم. همه‌شونو، به‌طرز عجیبی. من که خیلی سخت با شخصیت‌های پسر ارتباط می‌گیرم و خیلی سریع منزجر می‌شم، همه‌شون برام ملموس و دوست‌داشتنی بودن. چارلی به‌خصوص، تاد، نیل... وای نیل... نیل فوق‌العاده. فکر کنم شخصیت‌ها ازونایی بودن که هرکی می‌خونه حس می‌کنه خودش تو یکی ازینا یا حتی همه‌شون پخش شده.

از وقتی تمومش کردم خیلی اتفاقا افتاد. رفتم جشن امضای آلبوم علیرضا قربانی و دوتا از دوستامو دیدم که دیگه باهاشون در ارتباط نیستم، جز با اینستاگرام. اصلاً نمی‌خواستم برم آشنایی بدم و باهاشون روبه‌رو شم، به‌نظرم خیلی تغییر کرده بودم و البته چیز مثبتی تو خودم نمی‌دیدم که مثلاً منو ببینن خوشحال شن. ولی گفتم کارپه دیم و رفتم جلو. رفتم جلو و با هرکدوم‌شون کلی حرف زدم و صحبت‌مون گل انداخت و... عااا به خودم امیدوار شدم. :دی

اونقد لجم گرفته بود از ترجمه که برای سه اومده بودم. ولی حالا می‌بینم چار بدم منصفانه‌تره.

[mia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ok so I don't regularly write actual reviews but the DPS movie is very important to me, so I actually wanted to sit down and talk about this book properly.

I hated it.

I started this book months ago around late November and I read about half of it until I really didn't feel like picking it back up. It was a mix of the book not being very good and my hyperfixation being over. DPS has recently become quite popular on tiktok which caused me to hyperfixate on it once more, even though I never enjoyed it, I had been meaning to finish the book just for the sake of finishing it, so I used this opportunity to finish it today. In case you don't know, this book is based on the movie, and it was published 9 years after the movie was released. This movie didn't need to be a book.

Perhaps it could've been a good book, if it had been written from Neil's or Todd's perspective, or if it had actually gone into depth about the movie's themes. Instead of doing any of those things, this book is simply the movie and its deleted scenes adapted into a book format. Movies tend to be fast-paced considering they usually only last around two hours, because of this they usually don't get to go in depth and detail about things in the same way a book can. This is where the problem comes in if you're going to adapt a movie into a book and not add anything, you end up with a book that comes off as rushed and shallow. Not only was barely anything added but some things were cut even. The scene where Neil and Todd chuck the desk set is a beautiful scene and one of my favorites, but in the book, it's cut short for no apparent reason.

I'll give them points for giving Charlie's character a bit more depth and a character arc. They also made Meeks and Pitts slightly more prominent than in the movies which was appreciated. These were nice touches but any points it may have earned the book are taken away by the fact that they stripped Knox down to only a chris-obsessed man. I don't condone of Knox's actions in the movie as is but in the book, there is not one moment where he speaks of something without it being related to Chris and how much he "loves" her. He comes off as overtly creepy in his infatuation and (spoiler alert perhaps) downright sexually assaults her during Chet's party. Additionally, the characters at times did things that I found to be out of character, but I won't make a big point about it considering that's a pretty subjective topic.

I don't think its ever necessary to adapt a screenplay into a book, it's a difficult and unnecessary task considering the story was written with the purpose of being displayed on the silver screen. Regardless, it could've potentially been good, but it was executed very poorly.

P.S.
I’ve read the original screenplay and if you’re looking to read the movie that’s a much better choice.

[Ivana Simanungkalit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carpe Diem!
Seize the day!!
This is my favorite movie and novel all the time. Poets, wise words, experiences, love, passion and youth are things that make life beautiful. This story is a best learning for student-wants-to-be-teacher in the future (yeah..just like me) because lots of things mentioned in this story should be realized by us...all of us.

[rayyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

—4 stars ⭐—

Age rating (imo): 13/14+
Genres: Classics, Fiction, Drama

What I think about the:
Writing: 6/10
Characters: 9/10
Romance: The imaginary romance that I made up in my head is a 10/10 but the real romance is like a 3/10

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚My thoughts˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

⚠SPOILERSSS⚠

I don’t even know how to put what I’m feeling into words rn. I love these boys so much.

The writing itself wasn’t the best but it was fine and easy to follow. I do like how the author added the movie’s deleted scene and also added some of her own scenes. I also really really loved how we got more of Todd’s characters and his relationship with his parents. We don’t get much of that in the movie. However, she did cut out the “I was good… I was really good” part which kinda made me sad bc that part HITS :( Idrk if I can review the story itself bc she didn’t come up with it but I love it so much obviously. Whoever the original writer of the movie is I love you sm 😭😭 But I also hate you bc WHY’D YOU MAKE NEIL DIE THATS NOT FAIR HE WAS SUPPOSED TO MARRY TODD AND LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER
I can understand how a lot of people think that this book is pointless. If I'm being completely honest I could’ve lived without it but I just love this story so much I'll eat up anything related to it.

Characters:

Neil If I could sacrifice myself for him to live (a happy life mind you) I would. He's so ajskajskja and I love him so so much.

Todd My baby. I love him. I also relate to him a little too much. I love him a lot.

Charlie Nuwanda He is so silly I love him too even if he was kinda annoying at times

Knox Idk he was an alright character. He was sweet and fun BUT the SA scene at the party was sooo unnecessary. Like we could’ve not done that thank you. It kinda ruined his character for me

Meeks/Pitts so adorable but deserve more page/screen time

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚My fave quotes˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

“One day, hard as it is to believe, each and every one of us is going to stop breathing, turn cold, and die.”
“Poetry! I’m being chased by Walt Whitman!”
“A woman is a cathedral, boys. Worship one at every chance you get”

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚Songs˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

Stick Season by Noah Kahan
The Lakes by Taylor Swift
Champagne Problems by Taylor Swift
Place In Me by Luke Hemmings
Todd and Neil playlist
Taylor's Version playlist

Thank you for taking the time to read this <33 Stay safe and drink some water !!

------------------------------------------
Pre-read review
Sorry I am the kind of person to (sometimes) watch the movie first it's just easier 😭

[Beatriz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una inspiradora y emotiva novela, en que asistimos a un fragmento de la vida de sus personajes; solo un momento que, probablemente, marcará el resto de sus vidas, para bien o para mal.

Es casi nada lo que se profundiza en la figura del Sr. Keating y como logró “sobrevivir” a su propia educación en Walton. La autora se centra en lo que quiere contar y cumple sobradamente su objetivo: una conmovedora evocación a vencer los obstáculos, abandonar el conformismo y seguir el difícil camino de nuestros sueños.

Sin embargo, mirándolo en retrospectiva, tampoco libero de toda responsabilidad al propio John Keating de los sucesos que desencadenan el desenlace, pero en el sentido de que no fue capaz de prever cómo sus enseñanzas ahondarían la desesperanza en jóvenes que aún no tenían todas las herramientas para enfrentar la vida, sobre todo en una época marcada por los prejuicios.

Por último y a pesar de que no he visto la película todavía, es imposible dejar de imaginar a Robin Williams en el papel del Sr. Keating.

Reto #4 PopSugar 2020: Un libro acerca de un Club de Lectura

[Arghiiw · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know what to do with my life now 🥺
This isn't what we deserve...
Fuck the school system.