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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
I will never love Robert Louis Stevenson and that's just how it is.
Now and then, it’s good to go back. Back to old friends and memories. This book and Treasure Island, Up Periscope, Swiss Family Robinson and so many others formed the basis of my love for stories. My parents read to us all the time as we were growing up. Bedtime, family evening times, when we were home sick, long car trips for vacations…we didn’t have Netflix, DVD’s or even a VHS player. We had books. So we read. This was one of them. And Robert Louis Stevenson knew how to tell a story of adventure as well (or better) than anyone! Kidnapping, dark towers, shipwrecks, muskets, Redcoats and bagpipes. Not to mention devious kinfolk after your fortune and shady Highlanders fleeing the country to add a little spice to life.
Somehow this old childhood friend found its way onto my TBR and I listened to someone else read it to me. Undoubtedly, they did the Scottish accents far better than my Dad (and certainly than my Mom), and I thoroughly enjoyed the return to the adventure classic. David Balfour seems just as clever and brave and resourceful as I remembered him. And Alan Breck as trustworthy and treacherous an ally as ever. I was unexpectedly disappointed by the ending, which I don’t remember feeling as a kid. The story just sort of stops awkwardly after all that escaping and hiding and avenging. But here is a happy end! I learned for the first time that there is a sequel!! Perhaps that will right the only wrong of Kidnapped and finish the end of the story that just begs for something more.
On to David Balfour by Robert Louis Stevenson (#2 to Kidnapped’s #1) I’ll keep you posted…
Somehow this old childhood friend found its way onto my TBR and I listened to someone else read it to me. Undoubtedly, they did the Scottish accents far better than my Dad (and certainly than my Mom), and I thoroughly enjoyed the return to the adventure classic. David Balfour seems just as clever and brave and resourceful as I remembered him. And Alan Breck as trustworthy and treacherous an ally as ever. I was unexpectedly disappointed by the ending, which I don’t remember feeling as a kid. The story just sort of stops awkwardly after all that escaping and hiding and avenging. But here is a happy end! I learned for the first time that there is a sequel!! Perhaps that will right the only wrong of Kidnapped and finish the end of the story that just begs for something more.
On to David Balfour by Robert Louis Stevenson (#2 to Kidnapped’s #1) I’ll keep you posted…
I have to admit that the first few days I was reading this I had it completely confused with the movie Shipwrecked that I watched as a kid on the Disney Channel, and I was waiting the whole time for David Balfour to land on the coast of North Carolina to find a bunch of treasure. I was sorely mistaken, probably to my benefit.
Balfour and Alan Breck are a timeless pair, and like other seafaring adventure stories (i.e. Master and Commander (film)) serves as an experience in exploring masculinity almost as much as an adventure narrative. The whole novel reads like some sort of upper class Odyssey, and more than a few times I was reminded of Frodo and Sam's adventures through Middle Earth to Mordor. I can see explicitly in this story line how Tolkien borrowed from Stevenson's tone in galavanting over moor and mountain to reach some restful landing place.
Overall, this book seems more of an exercise in disseminating gentlemanly manners than actually reveling in adventure. It seems class conscious at times, particularly in that it looks down on the un-mannered commoner, but it treats the Scottish Highlander with more respect than I would except at the time it was published. Given my ancestors actually fought for Bonnie Prince Charlie in the mid-18th century uprising, Stevenson manages to hit a nerve at the value of a righteous outlaw on the run.
Balfour and Alan Breck are a timeless pair, and like other seafaring adventure stories (i.e. Master and Commander (film)) serves as an experience in exploring masculinity almost as much as an adventure narrative. The whole novel reads like some sort of upper class Odyssey, and more than a few times I was reminded of Frodo and Sam's adventures through Middle Earth to Mordor. I can see explicitly in this story line how Tolkien borrowed from Stevenson's tone in galavanting over moor and mountain to reach some restful landing place.
Overall, this book seems more of an exercise in disseminating gentlemanly manners than actually reveling in adventure. It seems class conscious at times, particularly in that it looks down on the un-mannered commoner, but it treats the Scottish Highlander with more respect than I would except at the time it was published. Given my ancestors actually fought for Bonnie Prince Charlie in the mid-18th century uprising, Stevenson manages to hit a nerve at the value of a righteous outlaw on the run.
adventurous
Read for Ambleside online yr 4. The five star rating was given by my yr 4 students. Their quick reviews:
"I liked it because it was exciting and I like adventure stories about shipwrecks like Robinson Crusoe. My favorite Character was Alan because he was a man of action. "
"It was an exciting book it felt real. I like adventurous stories. My favorite character was David because he was brave and daring."
"I liked it because it was exciting and I like adventure stories about shipwrecks like Robinson Crusoe. My favorite Character was Alan because he was a man of action. "
"It was an exciting book it felt real. I like adventurous stories. My favorite character was David because he was brave and daring."
Overall quick read and pretty enjoyable, but the second lead, Alan is kinda annoying. Writing style can be slow at times. Overall it was a good book that I finished while on the bus.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
'There are two things that men should never weary of, goodness and humility; we get none too much of them in this rough world among cold, proud people.'
3.5/5.
3.5/5.
3.5/5 stars
An adventure story about a young man by Robert Louis Stevenson, originally released in 1886. The title is more intriguing than the plot itself. This is similar to Treasure Island, so if you liked that one, then Kidnapped is worth a try. But Treasure Island is definitely the superior of the two.
An adventure story about a young man by Robert Louis Stevenson, originally released in 1886. The title is more intriguing than the plot itself. This is similar to Treasure Island, so if you liked that one, then Kidnapped is worth a try. But Treasure Island is definitely the superior of the two.
adventurous
fast-paced
David Balfour is orphaned, kidnapped, and restored.