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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
adventurous
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:
No
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The highlight of the book is without a doubt its antagonist: Wolf Larsen is brutal and without moral but also intelligent and self-educated, feared and hated by all but looking for intellectual companionship. He is complex and I enjoyed his interactions with the protagonist, Humphrey, a lot. Hump has the typical ark of never having sailed before and learning to live the rough life on a ship, which also really appeals to me. The writing is quite beautiful as well.
Unfortunately, none of the other characters, including another main one joining the cast later on, ever came near to being that interesting, but they fulfilled their role well.
Unfortunately, none of the other characters, including another main one joining the cast later on, ever came near to being that interesting, but they fulfilled their role well.
Before Maud enters the scene, the book is 4-stars good. Wolf Larsen is such a fun character, being king brute who also enjoys navel gazing and realism. Humphrey is annoying, but whatever, he's the audience surrogate. The boat crew is fun. I had a whole write-up I planned about Jack London during this part: about his open celebration of 'going back to nature', his take on masculinity and if he thought there was such a thing as too much masculinity, Wolf and Hump's views on the world and how they feel still relevant in 2019.
Then Maud comes along. The rest of the story from this point on is probably one and a half stars tops.
There are only a few sorts of scenes from this point on. One is the kind where it's just a bunch of boat lingo thrown around, where, not having ever worked on a boat, I have no idea what's going on and just speed read through it. Example
"Slacking away on the boom–tackle and hoisting an equivalent amount on the shears–tackle, I brought the butt of the mast into position directly over the hole in the deck. Then I gave Maud careful instructions for lowering away and went into the hold to the step on the schooner's bottom."
dooooont care.
Or it's the protagonist talking about how much he loves Maud, the character with no personality besides having the same likes as the author and supposedly being a good writer. He. Is. Insufferable. Example.
'There must have been a touch of the melodramatic in my pose and voice, for Maud smiled. Her appreciation of the ridiculous was keen, and in all things she unerringly saw and felt, where it existed, the touch of sham, the overshading, the overtone. It was this which had given poise and penetration to her own work and made her of worth to the world. The serious critic, with the sense of humour and the power of expression, must inevitably command the world's ear. And so it was that she had commanded. Her sense of humour was really the artist's instinct for proportion.'
I had to deal with this crap, so you do too.
The final type of scene is Wolf Larsen does thing. Where Wolf does something stupid and tries to kill them and Hump and Maud do EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER to let him keep doing it. Because of their 'ideals' or something, but moreso so Jack could pad the story more and let Wolf do such fascinating things as...start a fire that Hump easily puts out. Ugh.
If you're going to make Wolf coincidentally crash with his boat on your undiscovered island, at least make him strong enough to be interesting! The stakes were so low that Jack had to pad it with the fucking boring boat description scenes from.above that drove me crazy.
Honestly, I think that's why I finished this as quick as I did. I mostly zoned out as Hump rambled on about his hots for Maud but was too much of a wuss to kiss her hand? Or how Hump hoisted the jib to the butt or something. So bad. So bad.
I was going to make this a 3*, but the more I talk about this latter half the more annoyed I get. Good lord.
Again, just read it until Maud shows up, and then start reading anything else.
edit: Nah, it's a 3*
Then Maud comes along. The rest of the story from this point on is probably one and a half stars tops.
There are only a few sorts of scenes from this point on. One is the kind where it's just a bunch of boat lingo thrown around, where, not having ever worked on a boat, I have no idea what's going on and just speed read through it. Example
"Slacking away on the boom–tackle and hoisting an equivalent amount on the shears–tackle, I brought the butt of the mast into position directly over the hole in the deck. Then I gave Maud careful instructions for lowering away and went into the hold to the step on the schooner's bottom."
dooooont care.
Or it's the protagonist talking about how much he loves Maud, the character with no personality besides having the same likes as the author and supposedly being a good writer. He. Is. Insufferable. Example.
'There must have been a touch of the melodramatic in my pose and voice, for Maud smiled. Her appreciation of the ridiculous was keen, and in all things she unerringly saw and felt, where it existed, the touch of sham, the overshading, the overtone. It was this which had given poise and penetration to her own work and made her of worth to the world. The serious critic, with the sense of humour and the power of expression, must inevitably command the world's ear. And so it was that she had commanded. Her sense of humour was really the artist's instinct for proportion.'
I had to deal with this crap, so you do too.
The final type of scene is Wolf Larsen does thing. Where Wolf does something stupid and tries to kill them and Hump and Maud do EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER to let him keep doing it. Because of their 'ideals' or something, but moreso so Jack could pad the story more and let Wolf do such fascinating things as...start a fire that Hump easily puts out. Ugh.
If you're going to make Wolf coincidentally crash with his boat on your undiscovered island, at least make him strong enough to be interesting! The stakes were so low that Jack had to pad it with the fucking boring boat description scenes from.above that drove me crazy.
Honestly, I think that's why I finished this as quick as I did. I mostly zoned out as Hump rambled on about his hots for Maud but was too much of a wuss to kiss her hand? Or how Hump hoisted the jib to the butt or something. So bad. So bad.
I was going to make this a 3*, but the more I talk about this latter half the more annoyed I get. Good lord.
Again, just read it until Maud shows up, and then start reading anything else.
edit: Nah, it's a 3*
Finally. Slogging through this book reminded of all the reasons I’m wary of reading The Classics, and also of certain reads required in school — dull even during the action scenes, overly intellectual, not formulaic per se but overt in its themes and morals.
I did enjoy the pirate-y vibe of life on a poacher’s ship, but I had a hard time caring about Humphrey and his benevolent sexism/possessiveness toward Maud, or Wolf Larson and his eyes (“blue as the clear sea”) and awful strength and materialistic musings and his feud with his brother Death Larson. There just didn’t seem to be much point to the plot, and added to my indifference towards the characters it just didn’t make for an at all engaging experience.
I did enjoy the pirate-y vibe of life on a poacher’s ship, but I had a hard time caring about Humphrey and his benevolent sexism/possessiveness toward Maud, or Wolf Larson and his eyes (“blue as the clear sea”) and awful strength and materialistic musings and his feud with his brother Death Larson. There just didn’t seem to be much point to the plot, and added to my indifference towards the characters it just didn’t make for an at all engaging experience.
Who knew a fantastic sea-faring adventure story could also be a philosophical treatise on the human condition? Really a very enjoyable classic with only two major weaknesses: the first, that the captain of the ship, Wolf Larsen is the only character that is remotely interesting. The second, that some of the passages are so exaggeratedly eloquent as to be almost ridiculous. By and large London does fine until describing physical beauty or a scene of romance, then it becomes gaggingly overdone. The section describing Wolf Larsen's eyes alone comprise nearly half a chapter...
what a great writer
the foil dynamic between humphrey van weyden and wolf larsen is one of the most expertly crafted dynamics i’ve ever read. the plot went askew after the halfway mark but the writing never strayed.
i still firmly believe hump was attracted to wolf larsen !
the foil dynamic between humphrey van weyden and wolf larsen is one of the most expertly crafted dynamics i’ve ever read. the plot went askew after the halfway mark but the writing never strayed.
i still firmly believe hump was attracted to wolf larsen !
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wolf Larsen may be the peak of male attractiveness, but since it's written from Humphrey van Weyden's point of view the gay vibes just go through the roof and I'm living for it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Chronic illness, Alcohol
As Wolf Larsen said " we live to live." I live to read this book! Jack London is one of those authors who's books I initially think is not the type of book I would typically enjoy. Yet he has done it again with his descriptive way of writing and stories of peril and thrill! Needless to say with in the first few lines this book had me hook, line, and sinker.
The Sea Wolf is about a sheltered book worm who finds himself in the most unlikely of places and Hells, aboard The Ghost a ship run by the most despicable and evil of men Wolf Larsen. Yet through all of his evil and soulless ways one finds themselves captivated and inslaved by him as the men of the boat.
Full of great quotes and exciting adventure this story will suit who ever has enough bravery to pick it up! Jack London once again proves not to judge a book by it's cover.
The Sea Wolf is about a sheltered book worm who finds himself in the most unlikely of places and Hells, aboard The Ghost a ship run by the most despicable and evil of men Wolf Larsen. Yet through all of his evil and soulless ways one finds themselves captivated and inslaved by him as the men of the boat.
Full of great quotes and exciting adventure this story will suit who ever has enough bravery to pick it up! Jack London once again proves not to judge a book by it's cover.