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3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
Pretty awesome, my first Jack London read. About the viciously cruel captain of a seal hunting boat, who rescues and then essentially enslaves a gentleman who is shipwrecked on his way across the harbor from Sausalito to San Francisco. The sea captain, Wolf Larsen, forces the main character, Humphrey, to stay on his ship while he seal hunts all the way to Japan. Many adventures take place and much of it suspends belief, but it's a pretty good read.
I think I'll read Call of the Wild next.
I think I'll read Call of the Wild next.
Admittedly, I didn't understand a lot of the sailing jargon, but the characters and story are fascinating. The character development in particular is excellent and the story arc is extremely satisfying.
adventurous
This is not a review of the "BOOK"... which is quite good. It's a review of the AUDIBLE version. It has somewhat the same theme as "Call of the Wild". Instead of a housepet turning wild, a prissy gentleman turns he-man. Interesting as part of the Jack London oeuvre, as history, as a good tale.
However, I imagine that this is an early recorded book. We've come to expect the audible version of books to be performances. This is not. This is read like somebody reading the newspaper... quickly. Actually, what it brought to mind was a priest reading the gospel.
However, I imagine that this is an early recorded book. We've come to expect the audible version of books to be performances. This is not. This is read like somebody reading the newspaper... quickly. Actually, what it brought to mind was a priest reading the gospel.
adventurous
challenging
reflective
relaxing
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:
Complicated
This was not the nautical adventure I was expecting. Much more philosophy than sailing. It pits a tyrannical sea captain with materialist views against an idealist scholar, convinced of man's finer nature.
Yeah. Like a lot of London's works, this has not aged well. Early on I enjoyed the creation of the characters, and was involved in what the author was trying to achieve, but eventually - quite quickly really - I tired of the heavy-handedness and wooden atmosphere.
Perhaps I've been spoiled by more modern explorations of this theme - I'm thinking of something like The North Water by Ian McGuire here - in which the fuller sense of personality (i.e. sexuality, mental fragility, socialisation etc) brings a greater sophistication to what is presented here as a rather deterministic take on human nature.
Similarly, while I am certain that the presentation of Maud Brewster was quite revolutionary at the time, it seems utterly twee and condescending here. Best avoided.
Perhaps I've been spoiled by more modern explorations of this theme - I'm thinking of something like The North Water by Ian McGuire here - in which the fuller sense of personality (i.e. sexuality, mental fragility, socialisation etc) brings a greater sophistication to what is presented here as a rather deterministic take on human nature.
Similarly, while I am certain that the presentation of Maud Brewster was quite revolutionary at the time, it seems utterly twee and condescending here. Best avoided.
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was my first London story, and I was a little unsure at the start of how well I was going to enjoy this. The buildup of characters is slow, and takes well over half the book, but it was worth the wait. What a fascinating story of philosophy, humanity, hardship, and even love. I can see why London is a literary master, and thoroughly enjoyed this story in the end. I look forward to exploring his other stories as well.