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3.67 AVERAGE
3.67 AVERAGE
orinifyreads's review against another edition
4.0
Jules Verne would likely take you to a very unexpected expedition with his every book and this book is no different. In this thrilling novel, the readers are going on a polar expedition.
In this breathtaking novel, First Mate Shandon receives a mysterious letter asking him to build a steamship named Forward and he was also asked to recruit his crew members in Liverpool. A mysterious dog and a doctor were also joined with Shandon to an expedition to an unknown place.
Captain John Hatteras disguised as a crewman later revealed himself and expressed his unbelievable obsession to go to the North Pole. Hatteras was challenged by cold, hunger, and betrayal of his crew members but nothing stopped him from his expedition.
I would have given it five stars but the beginning was slow and boring but once the expedition begins the book is unputdownable.
In this breathtaking novel, First Mate Shandon receives a mysterious letter asking him to build a steamship named Forward and he was also asked to recruit his crew members in Liverpool. A mysterious dog and a doctor were also joined with Shandon to an expedition to an unknown place.
Captain John Hatteras disguised as a crewman later revealed himself and expressed his unbelievable obsession to go to the North Pole. Hatteras was challenged by cold, hunger, and betrayal of his crew members but nothing stopped him from his expedition.
I would have given it five stars but the beginning was slow and boring but once the expedition begins the book is unputdownable.
mdtazri's review against another edition
3.0
This story about captain Hatteras who want to invented new place in the world.it why he ready his own ship who name is Forward for go to the polar place of the earth where no one can't reach now..! But Forward ship journey start without captain..!other side ship soiler number is 18 with one dog.where is captain..
nostalgia_reader's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars. If it wasn't for the blah beginning half, I definitely would have given it 5 stars, no question.
The first part of the story was a bit dull. As in the "why am I still reading this?" kind of dull. However, I love Verne’s books and I almost never dnf a book, so. There wasn't really much going on after everyone was on the ship and it had left the harbor and the entire suspense of when Hatteras would arrive was quite boring and a bit predictable. The rest of the time was mostly filled up with Dr. Clawbonny relating the history of Arctic explorers, which although was interesting, wasn't at all what I was reading this book for. If I wanted to learn about factual Arctic exploration, I would have picked up my copy of The Man Who Ate His Boots, not this.
However, the second part WAS AWESOME. Verne got out all his geeking out over about actual explorers and finally focused on writing his explorers. The characters all became much more likeable and characterized and enjoyable to read.
They were fairly stereotypical Verne characters--the strong willed, stoic, adventurous lead who seems to never have any worries about the journey going wrong, the enthusiastic side character, and the not-so-enthusiastic side characters. And Duke. I loved Duke's loyalty and he was as much a well-written character as the human characters were. Hatteras is one of my favorite characters of all time… much more relateable than Captain Nemo, who he is a bit comparable to.
This second half is where the adventure, trials, tribulations, and exploration is. Although I know many people don't like Verne's wordy style, I find it the perfect amount of description, witty dialogue, and scientific explanations. The characters were written in a way that was very inspirational for writing and just made them very likable and personable... there were actually parts where I did genuinely laugh at the witty remarks or the eager determination of the characters, and that is what I genuinely love to see/read in these sorts of stories.
Although it's not one of Verne's more well-known stories, I think I liked it even better than some of the more common place titles. It's a definite read for Verne fans and even those who enjoy reading about explorers and arctic discoveries. Having read it as an ebook, I will definitely look for a real copy to add to my bookshelf.
The first part of the story was a bit dull. As in the "why am I still reading this?" kind of dull. However, I love Verne’s books and I almost never dnf a book, so. There wasn't really much going on after everyone was on the ship and it had left the harbor and the entire suspense of when Hatteras would arrive was quite boring and a bit predictable. The rest of the time was mostly filled up with Dr. Clawbonny relating the history of Arctic explorers, which although was interesting, wasn't at all what I was reading this book for. If I wanted to learn about factual Arctic exploration, I would have picked up my copy of The Man Who Ate His Boots, not this.
However, the second part WAS AWESOME. Verne got out all his geeking out over about actual explorers and finally focused on writing his explorers. The characters all became much more likeable and characterized and enjoyable to read.
Spoiler
(It did help, though, that Verne dwindled the cast down from seventeen crew members and a dog to only five members and a dog.)They were fairly stereotypical Verne characters--the strong willed, stoic, adventurous lead who seems to never have any worries about the journey going wrong, the enthusiastic side character, and the not-so-enthusiastic side characters. And Duke. I loved Duke's loyalty and he was as much a well-written character as the human characters were. Hatteras is one of my favorite characters of all time… much more relateable than Captain Nemo, who he is a bit comparable to.
This second half is where the adventure, trials, tribulations, and exploration is. Although I know many people don't like Verne's wordy style, I find it the perfect amount of description, witty dialogue, and scientific explanations. The characters were written in a way that was very inspirational for writing and just made them very likable and personable... there were actually parts where I did genuinely laugh at the witty remarks or the eager determination of the characters, and that is what I genuinely love to see/read in these sorts of stories.
Although it's not one of Verne's more well-known stories, I think I liked it even better than some of the more common place titles. It's a definite read for Verne fans and even those who enjoy reading about explorers and arctic discoveries. Having read it as an ebook, I will definitely look for a real copy to add to my bookshelf.
madsreadstheclassics's review against another edition
3.0
I swear Jules Verne, armchair expert on everything, honestly just writes these stories to info-dump about natural sciences and polar exploration and I completely respect him for that. It's probably an easier read if you know your arctic geography, but if I were reading this in the 1800s and learning everything about all the real expeditions via this novel I would be such a nerd about it. (Verne also once again proves that everybody into arctic explorers, including me, is obsessed with Joseph-René Bellot <3)
On the story note, unfortunately I always care more about the mutineer side than the captain's loyalists, and that was doubly true here because I was totally with Shandon, Hatteras was kind of a jerk. So the narrative was a little less compelling in Pt II of the adventure, although I liked the tension of British-American nationalistic hostilities and the improbable number of polar bear incidents.
On the story note, unfortunately I always care more about the mutineer side than the captain's loyalists, and that was doubly true here because I was totally with Shandon, Hatteras was kind of a jerk. So the narrative was a little less compelling in Pt II of the adventure, although I liked the tension of British-American nationalistic hostilities and the improbable number of polar bear incidents.
cupresferrite's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Complicated
3.75
sowalsky's review against another edition
4.0
When I picked up the second half of this two-part work last year, I didn't realize that I was starting in the middle of Verne's tale of Arctic exploration, although it soon became clear to me. Thus, I was eager to find out what I had missed, and was pleasantly reassured that each of these two halves stand quite nicely on their own, such that reading them in reverse order presented no obstacles.
Much of the commentary which I provided regarding the second half of this novel (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3578849202?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1) also applies here. I would like to add, however, a couple other observations which have come to mind. The first of these is how surreal it is, in 2021, to read a book the premise of which centers around the dire difficulties encountered in reaching the North Pole. So many of the challenges which the characters in Verne's novel must overcome no longer exist, as a result of climate change. Reaching the Pole today is, by comparison, a trivial affair. Far from robbing Verne's work of its intensity, though, this state of affairs actually heightens it by underscoring our own alarming circumstances some 150+ years later.
Second, in the light of the entire plethora of social justice issues which have come to the forefront of our cultural dialogue -- especially during the age of Trump -- Verne's novel stands as a perfect illustration of the ubiquity of colonialism in shaping the world as we have come to know it. The idea that the North Pole (or any geographic point, for that matter), is "there for the taking" by whichever dominant (i.e., white, Euro-centric) culture is first to plant its flag upon it seems ludicrous given a more critical assessment of world history, especially as it pertains to the U.S. and the U.K. Verne, as the saying goes, meant well and merely illustrates the mores of his age. But they were, in fact, the despicable mores of petty minds with but the dimmest understanding of the fullness of our human potential. None of which necessarily detracts from this novel's readability or the reader's enjoyment of it, so long as its historical context is held in mind. (Note: It may be useful to keep a map handy when reading this.)
Much of the commentary which I provided regarding the second half of this novel (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3578849202?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1) also applies here. I would like to add, however, a couple other observations which have come to mind. The first of these is how surreal it is, in 2021, to read a book the premise of which centers around the dire difficulties encountered in reaching the North Pole. So many of the challenges which the characters in Verne's novel must overcome no longer exist, as a result of climate change. Reaching the Pole today is, by comparison, a trivial affair. Far from robbing Verne's work of its intensity, though, this state of affairs actually heightens it by underscoring our own alarming circumstances some 150+ years later.
Second, in the light of the entire plethora of social justice issues which have come to the forefront of our cultural dialogue -- especially during the age of Trump -- Verne's novel stands as a perfect illustration of the ubiquity of colonialism in shaping the world as we have come to know it. The idea that the North Pole (or any geographic point, for that matter), is "there for the taking" by whichever dominant (i.e., white, Euro-centric) culture is first to plant its flag upon it seems ludicrous given a more critical assessment of world history, especially as it pertains to the U.S. and the U.K. Verne, as the saying goes, meant well and merely illustrates the mores of his age. But they were, in fact, the despicable mores of petty minds with but the dimmest understanding of the fullness of our human potential. None of which necessarily detracts from this novel's readability or the reader's enjoyment of it, so long as its historical context is held in mind. (Note: It may be useful to keep a map handy when reading this.)
mysteriousnorse's review against another edition
4.0
The second of the Fantastic Voyages series and is, as the introduction to the academic edition I have, an underread gem. Hatteras is both mysterious at the start and fascinating at the end, much as Verne's stiff prose hiders it some. It also contains the joyous and brilliant Dr. Clawbonny who brings levity and someone to root for. He's the hero we need. It's interesting that both the published version, altered by Verne's editor, and the surviving pieces of Verne's original center on the problems of nationalism and how it hinders science: an excellent subject to lean into. I actually like the ideas of both versions. Also, one could use this as a great prompt to teach a child science. It's a solid, if stiffly written, tale that deserves wider reading.
Jules Verne Ranked
1. Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Seas (1869–70) [VE #6] 5 Stars
2. The Adventures of Captain Hatteras (1866) [VE #2] 4 Stars
3. Around the World in 80 Days (1872) [VE #11] 4 Stars
4. From the Earth to the Moon (1865) [VE #4] 3.5 Stars
5. The Mysterious Island (1873) [VE #10] 3.5 Stars
6. The Fur Country (1873) [VE #10] 3 Stars
7. Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864, revised 1867) [VE #3] 3 Stars
8. In Search of the Castaways (1867–68) [VE #5] 2.5 Stars
9. Five Weeks in a Balloon (1863) [VE #1] 2.5 Stars
10.A Floating City (1871) [VE #8] 2 Stars
11. Round the Moon (1870) [VE #7] 2 Stars
12. Three Englishmen and Three Russians in South Africa (1872) [VE #9] 1 Star
Jules Verne Ranked
1. Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Seas (1869–70) [VE #6] 5 Stars
2. The Adventures of Captain Hatteras (1866) [VE #2] 4 Stars
3. Around the World in 80 Days (1872) [VE #11] 4 Stars
4. From the Earth to the Moon (1865) [VE #4] 3.5 Stars
5. The Mysterious Island (1873) [VE #10] 3.5 Stars
6. The Fur Country (1873) [VE #10] 3 Stars
7. Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864, revised 1867) [VE #3] 3 Stars
8. In Search of the Castaways (1867–68) [VE #5] 2.5 Stars
9. Five Weeks in a Balloon (1863) [VE #1] 2.5 Stars
10.A Floating City (1871) [VE #8] 2 Stars
11. Round the Moon (1870) [VE #7] 2 Stars
12. Three Englishmen and Three Russians in South Africa (1872) [VE #9] 1 Star
thadeusbraun's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
thadeusbraun's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
emasvingerova's review against another edition
4.0
Kniha byla rozdělena na dvě části. První jsem přelouskala za dva týdny, věřte nebo ne. nebyla dlouhá, ale nudná.
Samé geologické údaje, názvy, roky....Prokousávala jsem se jen tak tak. Ale pak už to šlo.
Druhá část byla konečně napínavá. Bylo to nejen pro silné žaludky, ale prostě v tom bylo určité kouzlo.
Kniha mi dala zabrat, ale zvládla jsem to. Verne je úžasný a zároveň nudný spisovatel.
Mimochodem, ten konec je moc smutný. Moc :( Byla jsem na spisovatele tak naštvaná, že to tomu určitému člověku způsobil...
Ale nic :)
Samé geologické údaje, názvy, roky....Prokousávala jsem se jen tak tak. Ale pak už to šlo.
Druhá část byla konečně napínavá. Bylo to nejen pro silné žaludky, ale prostě v tom bylo určité kouzlo.
Kniha mi dala zabrat, ale zvládla jsem to. Verne je úžasný a zároveň nudný spisovatel.
Mimochodem, ten konec je moc smutný. Moc :( Byla jsem na spisovatele tak naštvaná, že to tomu určitému člověku způsobil...
Ale nic :)