Scan barcode
A review by katykelly
Chocky by John Wyndham
4.0
This is one of those books that, with time and exposure, must somewhat lose the 'shock factor' and surprise that the twist ending might have given to readers much less familiar with science fiction conventions when it was first written.
That's not to say Chocky doesn't make some excellent points.
Eleven year old adopted son Matthew begins talking to what appears to be an imaginary friend, whom he calls Chocky. His parents start to be concerned when he and Chocky appear to have very unusual conversations about subjects surely out of Matthew's sphere of understanding - the objectivity of time, binary numbers, renewable energy sources.
90% of the story moves us up to the revelation of the truth. It feels quite slow-paced for a 150 page book and could have worked as a 30 page short story as well, in my opinion.
It does work though, the father narrating Matthew's story, his feelings, the growing media interest in Matthew and Chocky's interactions. As a reader, you do a little guessing yourself.
I enjoyed it, though I felt for the younger sister Polly, who seems to be sometimes made fun of by the writer (for horse obsessions and her own earlier imaginary friend) or sidelined by Matthew's circumstances.
I only came across this recently and having enjoyed other Wyndham classics, thought I'd try this lesser-known story. It takes very little time and does have a few thinking points towards the denouement.
That's not to say Chocky doesn't make some excellent points.
Eleven year old adopted son Matthew begins talking to what appears to be an imaginary friend, whom he calls Chocky. His parents start to be concerned when he and Chocky appear to have very unusual conversations about subjects surely out of Matthew's sphere of understanding - the objectivity of time, binary numbers, renewable energy sources.
90% of the story moves us up to the revelation of the truth. It feels quite slow-paced for a 150 page book and could have worked as a 30 page short story as well, in my opinion.
It does work though, the father narrating Matthew's story, his feelings, the growing media interest in Matthew and Chocky's interactions. As a reader, you do a little guessing yourself.
I enjoyed it, though I felt for the younger sister Polly, who seems to be sometimes made fun of by the writer (for horse obsessions and her own earlier imaginary friend) or sidelined by Matthew's circumstances.
I only came across this recently and having enjoyed other Wyndham classics, thought I'd try this lesser-known story. It takes very little time and does have a few thinking points towards the denouement.