
High-Rise
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Narrated by:
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Tom Hiddleston
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By:
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J. G. Ballard
British actor Tom Hiddleston, well-known for portraying the supervillain Loki (The Avengers, Thor: The Dark World) and the writer F. Scott Fitzgerald (Midnight in Paris), brings his acting versatility and smooth voice to this visionary tale by acclaimed author J.G. Ballard (Empire of the Sun). When a class war erupts inside a luxurious apartment block, modern elevators become violent battlegrounds, and cocktail parties degenerate into marauding attacks on "enemy" floors. Human society slips into violent reverse as once-peaceful residents, driven by primal urges, re-create a world ruled by the laws of the jungle.
©1975 J. G. Ballard (P)2015 Audible Inc.Listeners also enjoyed...




















Critic reviews
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This tale is a psychological fantasy where a single building becomes a microcosm for the larger collection of humans into densely packed cities. While much of the action appears unrealistic, it is simply mirroring behaviors happening all the time in most large metropolitan cities,
The narration is exceptional. Tom Hiddleston renders an excellent performance. It should be noted that Tom was sufficiently impressed with the writing to go on to produce and star in a cinematic adaptation of the work.
Heart of Darkness / Lord of the Flies skyscraper
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I found it a little disappointing that no women's perspectives were explored and we mostly had three men's perspective, but it was the '70s and I guess J.G. Ballard wasn't all that woke. On the other hand, it was the '70s but things felt very modern. Every now and again there would be a mention of a pay phone or a film camera but generally speaking, this felt like it could be set in 2018 as easily as any other late 20th/early 21st century era.
Bonkers Dystopia
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The story starts in a rather mundane manner and slowly draws you in for later contrast. O found this whole story unsettling. If you are squeamish be prepared for discomfort, after all discomfort makes for a good look inward and challenges your point of view.
My reactions at times were a desire to strangle some of the characters.
I am recommending this story to anyone I can. Finishing it was a sweet release.
Society in Micro
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While Tom Hiddleston is a great actor and wonderful in films....his narration is fairly pedantic and unenthusiastic.
Fairly one beat storytelling
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Hard To Swallow
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A dream voice for a nightmare story
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Interesting book
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Captivating story
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It ends abruptly
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Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?
Probably not. I liked the story, the manner in which it explored the basest impulses of human nature, how people can descend into animalism. But, the narrative was full of "info dumps," and was structured more as a rather repetitive lecture rather than a story arc. The story arc was there, but the rising action was too quick, there was no real turning point, no real climax, and the falling action fell with a thump. The ending was done well, though, giving the story a cyclical feeling with the idea that the whole thing could happen all over again. The writing was stilted, and there was very little dialogue at all. Characterization was more tell than show. Lots of telling in this story, in fact. Yet, if this book was meant to break the molds of typical writing and was meant in itself to be a breakdown of the societal norms then it did the job.What other book might you compare High-Rise to and why?
High Rise is like no other book that I've read, other than perhaps Lord of the Flies.What does Tom Hiddleston bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Tom Hiddleston's reading kept me interested in the story. He took the dry, rambling narrative and gave it life and character. He made the parts that were repetitive of each other and gave them different tones and emphases. He brought the "feeling" out of a rather unfeeling style of writing.Do you think High-Rise needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?
No. Not at all.Dry narrative, odd structure, great performance
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