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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
Cannot tell you how much I wanted to love this book, and I honestly did enjoy the beginning, until I realised that essentially that was all I was in for. The characters might do some entertaining survival work at first, but it turns into relentless descriptions of scientific processes/ biology/ any other possible complex subject. The characters have little to no interpersonal drama, literally every piece of important information comes from the same character (who the rest of them follow like hypnotised puppies for the whole book) and Captain Nemo is a Deus Ex Machina who literally destroys every possible moment of tension from start to finish.
Let them struggle! It would make for a far more interesting book! But I will say, I enjoy survival and adventure books, so though this one let me down, I had a good enough time with this all the same.
Let them struggle! It would make for a far more interesting book! But I will say, I enjoy survival and adventure books, so though this one let me down, I had a good enough time with this all the same.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Robinson Crusoe meets Gilligan's Island with a bit of mystery. A fun and adventurous novel and be prepared to suspend a bit of disbelief. Cyrus Harding is the ultimate MacGyver and the crew would have been lost without him. There is a small surprise at the end but if you are familiar with Jules Verne you may have already heard...
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Verne's masterpiece,it's a thrilling story containing lot of interesting knowledges and having suprising final. I really enjoyed this book and couldn't stop reading until finished.
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I don't have much to say review-wise, since what I think has probably been debated to death over the hundred-plus years since this book''s publication. If I had to note anything, it's to read Jordan Stump's translation: it evokes Verne's style and era of writing while retaining enough modern sensibilities for a wonderfully imaginative experience. I read it as a kid and have been looking for it ever since, and was only able to find it by looking for the cover graphic!
Oh the other thing! The Mysterious Island is most definitely a 19th-century novel. Which means a lot of scientific romanticism, man-over-nature framing, and racial stereotypes that, in my opinion, would be more offensive if they weren't so obviously antiquated (though they are still very problematic). I enjoyed the book despite it all, but a different reader might consider passing on it for those reasons.
Oh the other thing! The Mysterious Island is most definitely a 19th-century novel. Which means a lot of scientific romanticism, man-over-nature framing, and racial stereotypes that, in my opinion, would be more offensive if they weren't so obviously antiquated (though they are still very problematic). I enjoyed the book despite it all, but a different reader might consider passing on it for those reasons.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I'm a big fan of Jules Verne. One of his first books I read was Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. I was captivated by the characters, the descriptions of undersea beauty, and the efforts of good old Ned to escape. The mystery of the fate of rigid Captain Nemo was not the least bit intriguing, and I was glad when I came across this book, which promised to finish the tale. But this book started out so slow as to make me question whether I'd picked up the right book ;-) Verne can be quite long-winded, especially about how or why things or places work. But it picks up and when the action gets going, it's worth it.
It starts with several Union escapees from a Confederate prison during the Civil War. Bold, wise Captain Harding, loyal black servant Neb, intrepid reporter Spilett, rash, enthusiastic sailor Pencroft, and the eager youth Herbert. Stranded on an island when their hot air balloon crashes in a storm, they make the best of the situation and figure out how to survive, and even thrive, there. It doesn't hurt that Harding seems to know most anything about everything. From carving a house out of a mountain, manufacturing a clay oven, creating gunpowder, raising flocks of animals, even making a telegraph line—these castaways led by their Captain make it happen. Move over, Robinson Crusoe and Swiss Family! Harding and his crew transform the empty island into a veritable corner of advanced civilization.
Complicating their success on the island is the presence of a mysterious stranger. It's pretty clear he's on their side, as they are inexplicably helped by him out of sticky or even dire situations. Add to this a savage the castaways rescue from a nearby island, and restore to a redeemed member of human society. Then—pirates!! Pirates attack and the island inhabitants are forced into a fight for their very lives. The tension and mystery just increase in this book, racing to a thrilling conclusion that wraps up all three stories. With friendship, perseverance, wisdom, and the help of Providence, everything turns out all right.
It starts with several Union escapees from a Confederate prison during the Civil War. Bold, wise Captain Harding, loyal black servant Neb, intrepid reporter Spilett, rash, enthusiastic sailor Pencroft, and the eager youth Herbert. Stranded on an island when their hot air balloon crashes in a storm, they make the best of the situation and figure out how to survive, and even thrive, there. It doesn't hurt that Harding seems to know most anything about everything. From carving a house out of a mountain, manufacturing a clay oven, creating gunpowder, raising flocks of animals, even making a telegraph line—these castaways led by their Captain make it happen. Move over, Robinson Crusoe and Swiss Family! Harding and his crew transform the empty island into a veritable corner of advanced civilization.
Complicating their success on the island is the presence of a mysterious stranger. It's pretty clear he's on their side, as they are inexplicably helped by him out of sticky or even dire situations. Add to this a savage the castaways rescue from a nearby island, and restore to a redeemed member of human society. Then—pirates!! Pirates attack and the island inhabitants are forced into a fight for their very lives. The tension and mystery just increase in this book, racing to a thrilling conclusion that wraps up all three stories. With friendship, perseverance, wisdom, and the help of Providence, everything turns out all right.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A product of its time
This book was an enjoyable read. Sometimes Verne over-explained things to the point of tediousness, the language used was of course from a different time period and seemed a little silly at times. But I had no trouble visualizing the island and the home the men made for themselves. Overall an enjoyable book!