The result of the latest Classics Club Spin was revealed today.
The idea of the Spin was to list twenty books from my Classics Club list, number them 1 to 20, and the number announced by the Classics Club represents the book I have to read before 7th August. The number that has been selected is…
5
And this means the book I need to read is…
The Chrysalids by John Wyndham
First published in 1955, The Chrysalids is a post-nuclear story of genetic mutation in a devastated world, which tells of the lengths the intolerant will go to to keep themselves pure.
David Strorm’s father doesn’t approve of Angus Morton’s unusually large horses, calling them blasphemies against nature. Little does he realize that his own son, his niece Rosalind and their friends, have their own secret aberration which would label them as mutants. But as David and Rosalind grow older it becomes more difficult to conceal their differences from the village elders. Soon they face a choice: wait for eventual discovery or flee to the terrifying and mutable Badlands…
~
Of all the books on my list, this is one I hadn’t expected to come up in the spin – I have no idea why, but it was a surprise! From the blurb, this is not the sort of book I would usually choose to read, but I have enjoyed others by John Wyndham so am looking forward to this one.
Have you read The Chrysalids? If you took part in the Spin, are you happy with your result?
She Reads Novels 
Way back when I used to have a copy of this but never read it, and now wish I’d hung on to my copy. Isn’t there a recent remake of this kicking about on some streaming service, or is it my imagination? Anyway, I’m relying on your review to push me to find a copy again! No pressure… 🙂
Yes, there are books I regret parting company with, either because I never read them or wish I could read them again. I hope you can get hold of another copy if my review turns out to be a positive one! 🙂
I’ve read some Wyndham back in the day but not this one – good luck, look forward to your thoughts!
Thanks! I’ve enjoyed everything else I’ve read by Wyndham, so I’m hoping this will be another good one.
I’ve never read any of Wyndham’s books. I just about remember all the hype about the TV adaptation of Day of the Triffids, when I was about 6, but it wasn’t my thing. Good luck!
I didn’t think Wyndham would be my thing either, but I decided to give The Midwich Cuckoos a try a few years ago and loved it. Looking forward to reading this one!
Yeah! Good choice. I read this a LONG time ago so don’t remember any details. I’ve always enjoyed his work though. A great British author.
I’ve read three of his books so far and really enjoyed all of them, so I’m very happy with this result!
Oh, I re-read this very recently and thought it was great! I hope you enjoy it – I think you will. Wyndham is never too SF-y – his books are really about how human beings treat each other, and The Chrysalids still feels very relevant…
Yes, I remember you reviewed it a few months ago. I’m looking forward to it! I’ve never been much of a sci-fi fan, but I’ve enjoyed all three of the Wyndham books I’ve read so far.
Good luck with this one. I hope it turns out to be a really good read. 🙂
Thank you. I hope so too!
I read The Chrysalids when I was at school in the 1970s – I think I liked it.
That’s good to know. I’m looking forward to it!
Enjoy–I think that one would give me nightmares!
I’m hoping it’s not as scary as it sounds!
I’ve read a couple of Wyndham’s novels but not this one. I hope you enjoy it!
Thanks! I’ve enjoyed the other three Wyndham books I’ve read, so I’m expecting to like this one too.
I thoroughly enjoyed it and I hope you will too. As FictionFan said it still feels very relevant today.
Yes, it does sound as though it still has a lot of relevance. I’m looking forward to it!
I haven’t read Wyndham before, though I do remember reading FictionFan’s review of it. Hope you enjoy the book, Helen.
Yes, I know FictionFan loved it, so I’m hoping I will too. I’ve read three other Wyndham books and enjoyed them all, particularly The Midwich Cuckoos.
I’ve never read anything by Wyndham… Hope you enjoy it!
Thanks! I’ve enjoyed three other books by Wyndham so have high hopes for this one.
That sounds like a fun one. I got Phineas Finn, which I know you have read.
Yes, I enjoyed Phineas Finn. I still have the last book in that series to read, but I haven’t been in the right mood for Trollope for a while.
I just started the series.