Ambassador of Books ~ Book Club Madam ~ Blogger Gal

Thursday, May 27, 2010

The Invisible Man

by HG Wells
audiobook: 6.2 hours
narrated by Scott Brick
originally published in 1897


*** About the Book ***

In this classic of science fiction a young scientist invents a process whereby he makes himself invisible. He didn’t think things through ahead of time though, and quickly realizes that surviving in secret as an invisible man is very difficult. He also realizes that he can get away with just about any crime …


*** Why I Read It ***

I recently upgraded from a “you-can-only-use-it-to-call-people” phone to the Droid phone, complete with lots of bells and whistles. One of the greatest things about this phone is that it can run my library’s audiobook program! As soon as I figured this out I immediately began browsing for something I could download right away, and this book was available. I love the movie The League of Extraordinary Gentleman, and the character of the Invisible Man is one of the only characters whose original story I had not read; hence my decision to check this one out. AND it will count for the Mind Voyages Challenge.


*** My Thoughts ***

What a deliciously creepy tale! I absolutely loved listening to this book! Not only did the narrator do a wonderful job but the story was fascinating and kept me on the edge of my seat. (I ran my phone’s battery down more than once while listening to this!)

There is a definite moral question in this story: if you can do something and get away with it, does that make you more likely to do it? It’s an interesting question to consider …


*** Your Thoughts ***

Are you familiar with this story? Do you agree that knowing you could get away with something makes you more likely to (at least consider) doing it?

5 comments:

Ryan said...

This is one of those books that has always been on my "I'm going to get to someday" list, so that you for your review. I'm seriously thinking that I'm going to have to put more thought into buying it next time I go to the store.

Dreamybee said...

I've always just sort of known *of* this book, not much *about* it. I had no idea it would be "deliciously creepy!" Now I want to read it!

Oh, man, I would totally be tempted to do things if I knew I could get away with them, things that I wouldn't even think of doing otherwise. Nothing ultimately terrible, you know, but just things that you'd love to do if you knew nobody could ever pin you down for them.

Literary Feline said...

Another reason to get a Droid! I'm like you were, with one of those phones that is only good for making calls. I've been wanting to upgrade though. Now you've given me an idea!

I haven't read this particular book but I've seen the movie. I know, that doesn't count. :-) It does sound like a great book. I'll have to look for it.

As for your question about doing something knowing I could get away with it . . . Maybe eating that last cookie, but I don't think I could in cases of right versus wrong.

Heather J. @ TLC Book Tours said...

Ryan - Definitely give it a shot!

Dreamybee - The thought of what you could get away with (nothing ultimately "bad") really is intriguing, isn't it?

Literary Feline - My Droid is serving as an e-reader and audiobook player every day - it is FANTASTIC!

Rebecca Reid said...

I don't know anything about this book. I actually clicked over here because from the post title I thought it was Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man! how funny. This sounds quite different.

Blog Widget by LinkWithin