Bionic Jean’s review of The Boys From Brazil: > Likes and Comments
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Great review.
Fantastic review, Jean. Hmmm...did you know King wrote a very similar story? Seems he was influenced.
Thanks Roderick. No - I'll have a look if you recommend it though :)
It was only okay Jean. It was in the same collection as "The Shawshank Redemption" (excellent). The name is escaping me at the moment.
OK thanks - maybe I won't bother then.
I haven't read the book but remember the movie, it put me off Gregory Peck for awhile. What a truly hideous man Mengele was.
Doesn't it just show the versatility of the actor though, when you consider him as Atticus Finch?
I can recommend Ira Levin for a quick, page-turning read Bette :)
Read this book a long time ago but still remember bits of it, that's how strong a book it is. I love your review, Jean!
Never thought about reading this book since I saw the movie all those years ago and know the outcome. You have convinced me that it would be worth the time after all. It is still an assault on my sense of justice that Mengele escaped to a life after the war. Hard to imagine such evil.
I agree. After reading this I did a bit of research on him, and found some hairraising tales which seemed to show pretty conclusively that he continued his genetic experiments.
I think you have it mixed up with The mousetrap by Agatha Christie which is still onstage in London. I agree with everything you said, I just wanted to clarify what I believe. (i'm not trying to be a jerk.)
Never mind. I'm wrong. My apologies. I'm on a real winning streak. I've been wrong about everything lately. I'm sorry
"Deathtrap"? "Mousetrap"? LOL! No worries Ralph :)
Jean: I have seen the film starring Sir Laurence Olivier and Gregory Peck and loved it.
Wasn't it good?! I'd never seen Gregory Peck play the part of an evil man before! And Dustin Hoffman was excellent too, I thought. It was after seeing the film that I thought I'd like to read the original novel some time :)
Jean: Dustin Hoffman starred with Sir Laurence Olivier in "Marathon Man" in which the latter played a negative role and what a portrayal! It scared the s--t out of Hoffman.
Oh yes - sorry I was confusing the two (it's late here!) :D They do seem oddly similar tales ...
No problem, Jean. I knew you were confusing between the two as Sir Laurence Olivier starred in both. However, he was a good man in "The Boys from Brazil" and an evil person in "Marathon Man".
Yes I was focusing on Gregory Peck! And now I am thinking I should read Marathon Man to complete the circuit ;)
Oh! Then you focussed your attention on the right man, Jean. ;) Gregory Peck was truly handsome.
Let me know how you find William Goldman's book to be once you finish reading it. All the best. :)
When I saw the film years ago, probably in my teens, it was exciting, but part of me thought it so improbable that no one would really believe such a thing. I doubt I'd think that nowadays. Thanks for a fascinating and provocative review.
Thank you very much Cecily :) Yes, it is interesting how sometimes we can reverse - or even come full circle sometimes - in our opinions of a work.
I was actually thinking more generally - the rise of conspiracy theories.
I love the film but have never read the book, Jean. Maybe, it's time to catch up on that ...
Tristram wrote: "I love the film but have never read the book, Jean. Maybe, it's time to catch up on that ..."
It's the sort of book which seems to have been written with a film in mind, Tristram, if you know what I mean. I always think this when I read Michael Crichton's novels too.
One of my best assigned reads in high school (together with Patrick Süskind's "Perfume"). It drives home the futility of the "it can't happen here/again" philosophy.
Goodness me, you had an unusual selection of reading, Dimitri! Perfume: The Story of a Murderer gave me the heebie-jeebies. I listened to it on audio, but am not sure I could have coped with it at high school age!
Bionic Jean wrote: "Goodness me, you had an unusual selection of reading, Dimitri! Perfume: The Story of a Murderer gave me the heebie-jeebies. I listened to it on audio, but am not sure I could have coped ..."
Devoured it in 80 minutes & knew it by heart for next day's test :-) Not that it awakened any latent urges...
Why only three stars? Curious. Amazing reviews though.
Edward wrote: "Why only three stars? Curious. Amazing reviews though."
Thanks Edward :) Three stars is my default. According to the Goodreads ratings it means "I liked it", which I did! It takes a lot to shift off 2 stars from me - either way.
Excellent and really informative review thank you Jean. Are there anymore like it or focused on the South American Nazi theories would you know please?
Neil wrote: "Excellent and really informative review thank you Jean. Are there anymore like it or focused on the South American Nazi theories would you know please?"
Thank you so much Neil :) I'm sure there must be, but I'm afraid I don't know any.
Another brilliant analysis. Have you wondered whether Levin might in some way have been influenced by Agatha Christie’s ‘extravaganza’ Passenger to Frankfurt? The latter, published in 1970, deals with the appearance of Siegfried, Hitler’s illegitimate son, sinister leader of global youth unrest and violence. NB Levin was a great admirer of Agatha Christie and wrote an interesting introduction to an American edition of her plays.
Levin’s Kiss Before Dying is also a gem in which he experiments with the powers of a narrative to deceive and mislead.
Ray wrote: "Another brilliant analysis. Have you wondered whether Levin might in some way have been influenced by Agatha Christie’s ‘extravaganza’ Passenger to Frankfurt? ..."
What an intriguing idea Ray! You make a good case for this having put the seed of an idea in his mind. It just needed Ira Levin to think of that extra brilliant twist.
And thank you :)
Yes, I've reviewed A Kiss Before Dying LINK HERE and think it's an extraordinary achievement for a first novel.
I read this a long time ago, and saw the movie, but the Ira Levin I admire most is Rosemary' s Baby.
Susan wrote: "I read this a long time ago, and saw the movie, but the Ira Levin I admire most is Rosemary' s Baby."
Yes, I agree Susan, and gave it 5 stars! I've reviewed it LINK HERE
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SUSAN *Nevertheless,she persisted*
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Sep 27, 2014 03:59AM
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Fantastic review, Jean. Hmmm...did you know King wrote a very similar story? Seems he was influenced.
Thanks Roderick. No - I'll have a look if you recommend it though :)
It was only okay Jean. It was in the same collection as "The Shawshank Redemption" (excellent). The name is escaping me at the moment.
OK thanks - maybe I won't bother then.
I haven't read the book but remember the movie, it put me off Gregory Peck for awhile. What a truly hideous man Mengele was.
Doesn't it just show the versatility of the actor though, when you consider him as Atticus Finch?I can recommend Ira Levin for a quick, page-turning read Bette :)
Read this book a long time ago but still remember bits of it, that's how strong a book it is. I love your review, Jean!
Never thought about reading this book since I saw the movie all those years ago and know the outcome. You have convinced me that it would be worth the time after all. It is still an assault on my sense of justice that Mengele escaped to a life after the war. Hard to imagine such evil.
I agree. After reading this I did a bit of research on him, and found some hairraising tales which seemed to show pretty conclusively that he continued his genetic experiments.
I think you have it mixed up with The mousetrap by Agatha Christie which is still onstage in London. I agree with everything you said, I just wanted to clarify what I believe. (i'm not trying to be a jerk.)
Never mind. I'm wrong. My apologies. I'm on a real winning streak. I've been wrong about everything lately. I'm sorry
"Deathtrap"? "Mousetrap"? LOL! No worries Ralph :)
Jean: I have seen the film starring Sir Laurence Olivier and Gregory Peck and loved it.
Wasn't it good?! I'd never seen Gregory Peck play the part of an evil man before! And Dustin Hoffman was excellent too, I thought. It was after seeing the film that I thought I'd like to read the original novel some time :)
Jean: Dustin Hoffman starred with Sir Laurence Olivier in "Marathon Man" in which the latter played a negative role and what a portrayal! It scared the s--t out of Hoffman.
Oh yes - sorry I was confusing the two (it's late here!) :D They do seem oddly similar tales ...
No problem, Jean. I knew you were confusing between the two as Sir Laurence Olivier starred in both. However, he was a good man in "The Boys from Brazil" and an evil person in "Marathon Man".
Yes I was focusing on Gregory Peck! And now I am thinking I should read Marathon Man to complete the circuit ;)
Oh! Then you focussed your attention on the right man, Jean. ;) Gregory Peck was truly handsome. Let me know how you find William Goldman's book to be once you finish reading it. All the best. :)
When I saw the film years ago, probably in my teens, it was exciting, but part of me thought it so improbable that no one would really believe such a thing. I doubt I'd think that nowadays. Thanks for a fascinating and provocative review.
Thank you very much Cecily :) Yes, it is interesting how sometimes we can reverse - or even come full circle sometimes - in our opinions of a work.
I was actually thinking more generally - the rise of conspiracy theories.
I love the film but have never read the book, Jean. Maybe, it's time to catch up on that ...
Tristram wrote: "I love the film but have never read the book, Jean. Maybe, it's time to catch up on that ..."It's the sort of book which seems to have been written with a film in mind, Tristram, if you know what I mean. I always think this when I read Michael Crichton's novels too.
One of my best assigned reads in high school (together with Patrick Süskind's "Perfume"). It drives home the futility of the "it can't happen here/again" philosophy.
Goodness me, you had an unusual selection of reading, Dimitri! Perfume: The Story of a Murderer gave me the heebie-jeebies. I listened to it on audio, but am not sure I could have coped with it at high school age!
Bionic Jean wrote: "Goodness me, you had an unusual selection of reading, Dimitri! Perfume: The Story of a Murderer gave me the heebie-jeebies. I listened to it on audio, but am not sure I could have coped ..."Devoured it in 80 minutes & knew it by heart for next day's test :-) Not that it awakened any latent urges...
Why only three stars? Curious. Amazing reviews though.
Edward wrote: "Why only three stars? Curious. Amazing reviews though."Thanks Edward :) Three stars is my default. According to the Goodreads ratings it means "I liked it", which I did! It takes a lot to shift off 2 stars from me - either way.
Excellent and really informative review thank you Jean. Are there anymore like it or focused on the South American Nazi theories would you know please?
Neil wrote: "Excellent and really informative review thank you Jean. Are there anymore like it or focused on the South American Nazi theories would you know please?"Thank you so much Neil :) I'm sure there must be, but I'm afraid I don't know any.
Another brilliant analysis. Have you wondered whether Levin might in some way have been influenced by Agatha Christie’s ‘extravaganza’ Passenger to Frankfurt? The latter, published in 1970, deals with the appearance of Siegfried, Hitler’s illegitimate son, sinister leader of global youth unrest and violence. NB Levin was a great admirer of Agatha Christie and wrote an interesting introduction to an American edition of her plays.Levin’s Kiss Before Dying is also a gem in which he experiments with the powers of a narrative to deceive and mislead.
Ray wrote: "Another brilliant analysis. Have you wondered whether Levin might in some way have been influenced by Agatha Christie’s ‘extravaganza’ Passenger to Frankfurt? ..."What an intriguing idea Ray! You make a good case for this having put the seed of an idea in his mind. It just needed Ira Levin to think of that extra brilliant twist.
And thank you :)
Yes, I've reviewed A Kiss Before Dying LINK HERE and think it's an extraordinary achievement for a first novel.
I read this a long time ago, and saw the movie, but the Ira Levin I admire most is Rosemary' s Baby.
Susan wrote: "I read this a long time ago, and saw the movie, but the Ira Levin I admire most is Rosemary' s Baby."Yes, I agree Susan, and gave it 5 stars! I've reviewed it LINK HERE
