It's taken me quite a while to get around to doing one of these hasn't it?!
After I finish a book I'm so keen to move onto the next one, that I keep forgetting to write about them. Not that the books I read are so rubbish that I need to move on fast, I just want to ALWAYS be consuming books. Do you know that scene in that duck film?
I know, I know, you are overwhelmed yet again by my film knowledge. I'm not even sure I've seen this film but I remember this scene...
Well I want that, but with books. Before you start getting all fastidious, yes books would hurt, but so would gold coins so go D: yourself.
Should I get to the book bit?
This fine book was recommended to me by Hannah. She said it was amazing and she loved it, so, I said 'Okay!' and picked a copy up.
Usually, people pick up a book, and before they choose to buy it, they read the blurb, the reviews, maybe even just the publication date.
I forgot to do all this. Hannah had said it was good, so I just jumped straight in.
Lesson learned.
Although it is not good to judge a book by it's cover, it does help if you LOOK at it.
I don't know what I thought this book was about, maybe a guy that just really loved dice (which is kinda is), or perhaps a man that just frikking loves playing monopoly (which it isn't). Whatever I thought it was about, it was nowhere near what it is actually about.
Within the first few pages, there's a whole lot of rape talk, murder, general dickishness. Which is fine, I am no prude, but I should have prepared myself by reading the blurb.
Also, it was published in 1971! Who knew!?
So, in the interest of your potential interest in the book, here is the blurb. Read it!
'The cult classic that can still change your life... Let the dice decide! This is the philosophy that changes the life of bored psychiatrist Luke Rhinehart -- and in some ways changes the world as well. Because once you hand over your life to the dice, anything can happen. Entertaining, humorous, scary, shocking, subversive, The Dice Man is one of the cult bestsellers of our time. '
Done? Good.
It starts with Dr Rhinehart being bored of his life, his family, his job, which everyone can relate to. Instead of just grinding on, he starts to develop a new methodology, 'The Dice Life'. He starts letting the dice decide what he does, in the hope that it will allow every aspect of his personality to be satisfied. As he gives himself more to the die, his life becomes more and more chaotic...
I actually really enjoyed the book. I like the way that it's all over the place. Sometimes 1st person, sometimes 3rd, sometimes a chapter is just one sentence. I enjoyed the psychological aspects of the story. I find the habits of humans and society fascinating and I found myself not entirely disagreeing with Rhinehart's theories. If I was a crazier, or perhaps braver, person, I may have adopted the dice life myself.
I found it a slow read at first, but perhaps a third of the way in things do pick up. At times Rhineheart can become a little frustrating, because he is just so in love with himself and his 'genius' theory, but it doesn't entirely ruin the book. The ending suits the book, but some people may also find that frustrating. Don't read this book if you like neat endings. Also don't read this book if you don't like to think too much about life, and ALL aspects of your personality, the good AND the bad.
Overall I gave this a 4 out of 5 on GoodReads. It made me think, and I like that. Certain bits drag (like the parts from 'the book of die') but you can just skim over those. It's topics are still very relevant to today, and it's brutal honesty about human nature is refreshing.
Have you read this? What did you think?
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