Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was quite an exceptional book. I sometimes wonder if London likes nothing more than to take a strong, hearty, god-like man and show him that he is indeed mortal. But perhaps he also enjoys pointing out that a man is often made of sterner stuff than he might originally realize, that a man can be made as well as destroyed. There is something not so easily snuffed out in a storm; there is an endurance, a plundering steadily onward toward the cold and bitter end. There is reigning triumphant when the lion has finally fallen.
I don't particularly like how women are spoken of, but I remind myself of the era of Jack London, so I can neither be too reproachful nor surprised. I do, however, like the contrast of ethreal spirit and surprising strength in Maud Brewster. She is all the era might think of woman, and yet she is made more, as is Humphrey. These characters are not only jointed together as they are toughened and callused by their experience at sea, they are made more wholly human in their desire to self-sacrifice and survive. As for Wolf Larsen, he is humbled (as any man such as himself can be) and proven human after all.
I enjoyed the philosophical discussions brought about by all three characters. I find that I often found Wolf to be ultimately right in his debates. However, sitting on his superiority could not make him any less lonely, less pitiable, less deprived… for his mentality crippled him in ways his tumor couldn't. Is it better to be a self-righteous, materialistic, pragmatic realist? I would argue his self-service did him a disservice, even amidst is ironclad arguments. Honor and selflessness doesn't always produce better results, but in the end I'm left me with the notion that no philosophy is without exception. Ultimately, to be unbending is to be broken.
I don't particularly like how women are spoken of, but I remind myself of the era of Jack London, so I can neither be too reproachful nor surprised. I do, however, like the contrast of ethreal spirit and surprising strength in Maud Brewster. She is all the era might think of woman, and yet she is made more, as is Humphrey. These characters are not only jointed together as they are toughened and callused by their experience at sea, they are made more wholly human in their desire to self-sacrifice and survive. As for Wolf Larsen, he is humbled (as any man such as himself can be) and proven human after all.
I enjoyed the philosophical discussions brought about by all three characters. I find that I often found Wolf to be ultimately right in his debates. However, sitting on his superiority could not make him any less lonely, less pitiable, less deprived… for his mentality crippled him in ways his tumor couldn't. Is it better to be a self-righteous, materialistic, pragmatic realist? I would argue his self-service did him a disservice, even amidst is ironclad arguments. Honor and selflessness doesn't always produce better results, but in the end I'm left me with the notion that no philosophy is without exception. Ultimately, to be unbending is to be broken.
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
informative
fast-paced
Sorry Jack London. I love you, but this book was laughable. I liked the first half much better than the last, don't get me wrong. Wolf Larsen is dynamic and interesting and the way he died was perfect. But I was bored by the long speeches. They were interesting at first. Then they dragged. Then I felt like I was being preached at.
Then a woman is introduced and the laughing commences.
Humphrey and Maud's "romantic" relationship made me feel like I was reading some sort of love poem an ape wrote. He drops words like "mate" as if they were pet names. And Maud herself is the typical spineless female character of London's books, which I forgive him for due to his time period, but it doesn't help my opinion much. I only know they were in love because London announces it. Apparently she's Humphrey's true love. Whatever, Hump.
Wolf Larsen is the only thing that redeems this book for me. Great character. But honestly, London should have stuck to survival instead of romance.
Then a woman is introduced and the laughing commences.
Humphrey and Maud's "romantic" relationship made me feel like I was reading some sort of love poem an ape wrote. He drops words like "mate" as if they were pet names. And Maud herself is the typical spineless female character of London's books, which I forgive him for due to his time period, but it doesn't help my opinion much. I only know they were in love because London announces it. Apparently she's Humphrey's true love. Whatever, Hump.
Wolf Larsen is the only thing that redeems this book for me. Great character. But honestly, London should have stuck to survival instead of romance.
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A bit of a slow burn in the first half, The Sea Wolf shines brightest when it focuses on Wolf Larsen and Hump. The banter, philosophical debates, and homosexual undertones fuel this page turner as the adventure winds on.
The final act of the novel, while interesting in premise, can be inaccessible for readers who have little knowledge of boats and carpentry. However the relationships between the characters make up for this.
A classic in every sense, this is a must read for any Jack London fan, and for anyone with a sea faring inclination. The novel has aged well, except in regards to its treatment of women, which is archaic at best, and downright insulting at its worst. That being said, London was ahead of his time and the main female character does hold her own and has agency.
The final act of the novel, while interesting in premise, can be inaccessible for readers who have little knowledge of boats and carpentry. However the relationships between the characters make up for this.
A classic in every sense, this is a must read for any Jack London fan, and for anyone with a sea faring inclination. The novel has aged well, except in regards to its treatment of women, which is archaic at best, and downright insulting at its worst. That being said, London was ahead of his time and the main female character does hold her own and has agency.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
can't rate any higher due to thw second half. it was 5 stars until then.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence
Moderate: Chronic illness, Sexual assault, Torture, Kidnapping, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Racism, Sexism
adventurous
challenging
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4 stars for being an absolutely wild ride of a book
3.5 stars
It took me exponentially longer to read this than I wanted, partly due to life and partly due to the slowing in the second half and the introduction of romance… However, for a classic, it is deeply accessible, fun, funny, violent, and existential. The first half had me greatly amused by the antics on the ship.
It’s an underrated, swashbuckling, seafaring tale with a formidable (and handsome) foe at the centre, existing in the philosophically sociopathic captain Wolf Larsen. Must read for pirate lovers.
It took me exponentially longer to read this than I wanted, partly due to life and partly due to the slowing in the second half and the introduction of romance… However, for a classic, it is deeply accessible, fun, funny, violent, and existential. The first half had me greatly amused by the antics on the ship.
It’s an underrated, swashbuckling, seafaring tale with a formidable (and handsome) foe at the centre, existing in the philosophically sociopathic captain Wolf Larsen. Must read for pirate lovers.