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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
A great classic tale of being wronged and seeking revenge.
When I was a kid, I would have told you Robert Louis Stevenson was one of my favorite authors. Idk, I guess I read A Child's Garden of Verses and Treasure Island? But I didn't know anything about him, really. Reading this, I learned that he was Scottish. This is a very Scottish book, and I was very thankful for the glossary. ๐ Like a Scottish Dickens. Poor young hopeful boy, whisked into a whirlwind of danger and a world of dubious characters. A good old fashioned adventure story.
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I read this as an early teen, and more than thirty years later all I could remember of it was a lot of scrambling about in heather. There was no lasting impression. It was my first and (for the time being) last attempt to read Stevenson. Reading it again now, I see why. The historical background and geography would have been entirely lost on the 14-year-old me, along with Stevenson's rendering of Scotch English, and what would have seemed an interminable scramble across Scotland. I'm now wondering if I even made it through to the end!
To a 46-year-old man of the world, however, "Kidnapped" is an entirely different pan of drammach. It's a history lesson, a geography lesson and an adventure all rolled up in one quick, satisfying read. The ending is strange though. It cuts off almost as if there were some pages missing from the manuscript when it was handed to the publisher and nobody noticed. Maybe some of these loose ends will be resolved when I read "Catriona"?
Still, "Kidnapped" remains one of the great adventure novels, and very worthy of its prominent place in the pantheon.
To a 46-year-old man of the world, however, "Kidnapped" is an entirely different pan of drammach. It's a history lesson, a geography lesson and an adventure all rolled up in one quick, satisfying read. The ending is strange though. It cuts off almost as if there were some pages missing from the manuscript when it was handed to the publisher and nobody noticed. Maybe some of these loose ends will be resolved when I read "Catriona"?
Still, "Kidnapped" remains one of the great adventure novels, and very worthy of its prominent place in the pantheon.
adventurous
dark
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
This book is outside of my normal reading pattern, which is one of the reasons I joined this group - to encourage that. Although I have read a number of books from this era (1886), never one by RL Stevenson. Well written and I enjoyed it, but it got quite deep into very specific regional politics of the time. Also, it spent a considerable amount of time on the hardships faced during the adventure. In the end, glad I read it, but does not encourage me to read more of his work.
A good swashbuckling tale of adventure from a master. Truly a classic tale of inheritance and revenge. Some clever twists, some deus ex machina, and a rousing musical battle. This is the story of David Balfour's strange friendship with Alan Breck Stewart during a rambunctious time of Scottish history. Pure fun.
This is a great adventure story written as the autobiography of David Balfour following the death of his parents and his 'adventures' on and off the Covenant. Once again Stevenson shows his prowess and skill at weaving a great story with good characters that grips you from start to finish. This is certainly a story aimed at young adults, boys in particular with all of the traditional boy based fun of ships, guns, desert islands etc. A traditionally joyful read.
I read this book three times as a kid and it was my introduction to swashbucklers and Scotland.