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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was so much better than I thought it would be. Yeah, I did have low expectations, but, it was good, insightful and beautiful in the portrayal of humans vs the animal world, and the characterisation of primeval vs manners/rules and what most matters.
I’ll likely read the next one too. I found out there are 24 books in total. Not sure if I’m eager for all of that but at least one more definitely.
I’ll likely read the next one too. I found out there are 24 books in total. Not sure if I’m eager for all of that but at least one more definitely.
Tarzan of the Apes for the most part is a riveting tale. Burroughs can make you turn one page after another. He keeps moving the plot along effortlessly. However, it is not flawless. The book can roughly be divided into two parts: the jungle adventures of Tarzan, and Tarzan’s interaction with the mariners who happen upon the island with the beginning first chapters being a sort of prologue.
The former is where the book shines. Tarzan grows up in an hostile environment where most denizens far surpass him in all kinds of physical prowess. He instead has to use his humanity: his wit, his cleverness, his ingenuity to outsmart and outperform his enemies. This not only results in some great episodes of adventure, but also becomes philosophical about the difference between man and beast.
But Burroughs replaces this theme with another in the second part. It’s now the primeval man Tarzan encountering the civilized men who have come to Africa. While this could have been another entertaining investigation, he employs romance to do this. One of the sailors who land on the coast is a young girl whom Tarzan cannot help but feel smitten towards. And while I am not saying that romance is not a worthy enough subject (as love is as old as time and even older than it), the introduction of romance turns this tale of survival and adventure into a kind of victorian melodrama. And this persists until the final page (albeit there are some lingering vestiges of the first part present in the second). This saps the tale of the powerful and primal energy that was driving the story up to this point. And even Tarzan starts changing himself as he learns more about and from these men, so it is not like Burroughs was unaware about what he was trying to accomplish. But turning a tale of adventure into a Jane Austen-esque drama is a drastic step, and in my opinion, a faulty one.
But Tarzan of the Apes is nonetheless a great tale. In its around three hundred pages, it will provide you with a narrative much more sumptuous than what any modern bulky tome would have, and for sure with their many sins against Burroughs’ one.
I do think that if Burroughs should have kept in mind what R. L. Stevenson’s stepson Lloyd had told him while chartering the evergreen story of Treasure Island, Tarzan would have been even more magnificent:
No women in the story, Lloyd’s orders; and who so blithe to obey?
The former is where the book shines. Tarzan grows up in an hostile environment where most denizens far surpass him in all kinds of physical prowess. He instead has to use his humanity: his wit, his cleverness, his ingenuity to outsmart and outperform his enemies. This not only results in some great episodes of adventure, but also becomes philosophical about the difference between man and beast.
But Burroughs replaces this theme with another in the second part. It’s now the primeval man Tarzan encountering the civilized men who have come to Africa. While this could have been another entertaining investigation, he employs romance to do this. One of the sailors who land on the coast is a young girl whom Tarzan cannot help but feel smitten towards. And while I am not saying that romance is not a worthy enough subject (as love is as old as time and even older than it), the introduction of romance turns this tale of survival and adventure into a kind of victorian melodrama. And this persists until the final page (albeit there are some lingering vestiges of the first part present in the second). This saps the tale of the powerful and primal energy that was driving the story up to this point. And even Tarzan starts changing himself as he learns more about and from these men, so it is not like Burroughs was unaware about what he was trying to accomplish. But turning a tale of adventure into a Jane Austen-esque drama is a drastic step, and in my opinion, a faulty one.
But Tarzan of the Apes is nonetheless a great tale. In its around three hundred pages, it will provide you with a narrative much more sumptuous than what any modern bulky tome would have, and for sure with their many sins against Burroughs’ one.
I do think that if Burroughs should have kept in mind what R. L. Stevenson’s stepson Lloyd had told him while chartering the evergreen story of Treasure Island, Tarzan would have been even more magnificent:
No women in the story, Lloyd’s orders; and who so blithe to obey?
Old-timey adventure story with old-timey views on race and gender norms. Also some very questionable ideas about evolution and anthropology. I enjoyed the nonsense of the action but couldn’t quite get past the way Tarzan had a code against killing animals for sport, but seemed to be okay killing the “savage men” he came across in his jungle.
Another amazing tale from ERB. Written in a tongue that knows no age. It read as exiting and fast as any action film of or time. While also crafting characters of such depth that when they ache you ache with and for them. Overall a wonderful read.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
not very readable today: would recommend the Johnny Weismuller movies instead (though the racism there is rampant :( )
This was the book that launched my love of reading when I was a child. I was 6 and found a first edition (1914), complete with original wood-cut chapter illustrations, at a garage sale for 25 cents. Unfortunately it doesn't really stand the test of time. Burroughs' writing can be racist, relies too much on fantastic coincidence, and the dialog is often horrendous, but I have to admit he can write action and adventure like nobody's business. A great piece of adventure fiction for its time.
Kind of an abrupt ending, but I enjoyed finally reading the original. Warning: it is an older book and with it comes dated ideas and thoughts. The narrator for this audio edition did a great job, until the Porters came into play. She became a little monotone when doing the dialogue for this section of the book.