A chilling alternate reality

Having recently read this novel in anticipation of Ben Wheatley's film adaptation, it was good to have the opportunity to hear the story read by one of its stars. Hiddleston's reading of the text seems to bring out the unsettling nature of the tale by its very calm clarity. The characterisations and accents of his co-stars are convincingly carried off, and I think that this will be a great companion to the film. This story of anarchy in a high class tower block is not for the faint hearted, and since Ballard's writings are turning out to occasionally be prophetic, it makes you wonder what really goes on behind the closed doors of the rich.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

Not my favorite

I tried so very hard to like this story and in parts i really did.

I felt the story itself was ok but it just didn't grab me like i was hoping it would.

When reading the summery i though this book sounded great and the fact that Tom Hiddleston was narrating meant i was excited to start listening to this one.

In the end however i personal wasn't blown away with Toms voice. I found myself having to rewind this book on more than a few occasion as i kept loosing track of the story and nodding off.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

High-Rise

Brilliant!! 👏

I thought Ballard did a great job of pulling you into the mindset of the characters and their world. I really liked his style of prose - It made me feel the words rather than just read/hear them. The overall feelings I had were of claustrophobia, isolation and a sense of being tense and on high alert at all times.

The main thing that annoyed me was that many of the characters were leaving the building each day. Surely they should have been immersed in their world rather than coming and going?

The message from the book is nothing we don't already know and see on the news every single day - No matter how civilized we are (or think we are), this can all be stripped away in an instant, showing us for what we really are - primitive beings following basic urges.
The them and us mentality is hard wired and we will do everything to preserve the in group and tear down the out group. We adapt and hone in on the best chance for survival of our species - That's all we are really. We just like to think that we're more than that - better than that.

I personally struggle with accepting this, as I'm sure most do. I need to wear a shroud of cognitive dissonance to get myself through the day.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Brilliant!

Such a great reading by Tom Hiddleston, whose crisp annunciation captures the elegant decline of the high rise and its citizens perfectly.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

When genius tips into madness

This is a very good book but its just doesn't quite hang together for me.

It has great imagery and character. The story is interesting. The idea of social break down and developing new class and tribal structures is fascinating.....

But and its a big but i can not lie ...

The fundamental reasoning behind why people stay in the high rise never seem (to me) to be satisfactory answered (and i waited for the plot twist reason which never came).

In world were refugees travel 100s of miles to find a new home and having watched films like snowpiercer (where people are stuck) the idea that people just don't leave the high rise and cover up its problems seems just unreal.

The whole book reminded me of dream from which the characters were trying to wake; and maybe it is trying to show some irony of modern life or illusionary truth... But for me it just undermines the whole book!

Put simply this book is full genius with an idea that tips just to far into madness.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Another Dystopia?

Would you listen to High-Rise again? Why?

I read this book as a young teenager and couldn't locate it anywhere when I wanted to reread it in anticipation of the release of the film adaptation, so I tried the audio and was not disappointed at all. Would happily listen to this book again.

What other book might you compare High-Rise to, and why?

Ballard is in a class of his own (in my opinion) High-Rise itself has similarities of the violence of A Clockwork Orange but mainly I've always viewed this as an adult version of Lord of the Flies. Both books are a deeply disturbing portrayal about the barbarity of human nature, and how anyone, if forced into a life or death situation, could reduce their moral and ethic code to such a low standard to be barely human.

What about Tom Hiddleston’s performance did you like?

Excellent performance - good timing and characterisations. Particularly enjoyed the Welsh accent.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Laughed at parts (whether intentional of Ballard - or Hiddleston - or not) but most of the book is rather shocking. It's not exactly a tear-jerker in my opinion, nor is it it a comedy.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

The heady delights of the High Rise!

Tom gives this story the tasty relish it needs! Delicious!

J G Ballard lived his formative years in a WWII internment camp, deprived of many resources, but not the exposure to humanity at it's most base. Here in High Rise he dispenses with civilizations niceties within a progressively more chaotic 1980s apartment block. We the listeners can enjoy the slide into barbarism safely via this fine audioreading. Hugely reccommended!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Magical reading of an unusual tale.

Tom Hiddleston reads beautifully. He has a calm tone but easily conveys the pace of events. My first Ballard novel did not disappoint, nice to hear something just a bit different for s change.
It's sometimes hard to find a novel I really want to hear but this was a wild card winner.....predominantly because of the reader.
Off to choose another wildcard.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Amazing

My favourite book of all time read beautifully by an amazing performer! High rise is a must for all modern literature fans!

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Okay story but great narration.

After reading the summary I was intrigued especially when it had been made into a movie I was keen to read it. But I found the story quite unique, dark and unnerving, and a bit hard to follow sometimes and had to rewind a few times to understand what was going on.
Glad it was only 6 hrs otherwise I think I would have stopped reading it. It’s certainly different.
Toms narration was good.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!