The Man in the High Castle

Having read other Philip K. Dick novels, I didn't really expect this book to have a point or a clear conclusion, but I never expected to find it so.. upsetting. The vision presented in the novel is frightening, interesting at times, and at other times boring enough to make me skim through the pages. And then the entire thing just sort of fizzles out and ends with a whimper. 2.5, I guess? It was okay.

Another book I would have never read if not for my book club, especially because I don't really enjoy narratives where the Nazis win. And being such an old book, I had some trouble understanding the writing style and sometimes even the vocabulary, and I feel like a lot of the meta commentary and philosophizing went way above my head. I also didn't care much for any of the characters to feel invested in.

I still thought it might have a good ending that would make it worth my effort but that conclusion just blew my mind because I did not understand a single thing about what actually happened. What the f was that???? Just makes it feel like all the time I spent reading was pointless.

If you enjoy reading older books and award winners, then this might be for you. But like me, if you are more into modern writing styles and more accessible storytelling, I wouldn't recommend picking this one.