Reviews - The Mysterious Island

A fitting end for captain nemo! Jules verne truly is the master when it comes to the adventure novel. This one was very similiar to Robinson Crusoe bit far better because Jules Verne has always been able to reach the dark depths of the human psyche and conjure up really dark tales.

caitm8's review

4.0

3.5 ✨

mmullerm's review

5.0

So is man’s heart. The desire to perform a work which will endure, which will survive him, is the origin of his superiority over all other living creatures here below. It is this which has established his dominion, and this it is which justifies it, all over the world.

I enjoyed [b:The Mysterious Island|8152416|The Mysterious Island|Jules Verne|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327350382l/8152416._SY75_.jpg|1167706] and legitimately read all 524 pages. Thankfully, I resisted the urge to look up spoilers of what was going to happen and it was so nice to let it all unfold. I was on the edge of my seat until the very end. Epic, suspenseful, mysterious, adventure. 5 stars. [a:Jules Verne|696805|Jules Verne|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1322911579p2/696805.jpg] is simply awesome.

kunalsen's review against another edition

4.0

I read it first in a Bengali translation in my early teen years and immediately fell in love with it. By that time I had already developed a deep love for science and technology, and this novel was a celebration of human ingenuity, where a bunch of castaways use their brain and their scientific knowledge to create modern living conditions in a deserted island. Sitting in one corner of India, I did not realize then that the characters in this book are not from Jules Verne’s France, but were American’s escaping a Civil War prison. Neither did I see the prevalent attitude towards black people or the great apes. While it did make me cringe at times as I read the book after 40 years, this time in English, I could see that the author was only reflecting what most white people believed in those days.

It is nothing short of amazing that this century and a half old novel still reads as a great adventure and remains a page turner. Our understanding of many things have changed since this book was written, but the spirit of enlightenment still remain valid. It still effectively conveys the idea that with knowledge and rational thinking we can overcome many of our adversities. The most satisfying thing for me is to return to one of my most favorite fictional characters from my childhood – Captain Nemo of Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.

murphyaka's review

1.0

I just don't like Verne's style I've come to find. Dnf

bobproct's review against another edition

4.0

The book "The Mysterious Island" by Jules Verne was good, a long listen of 16.5 hrs. The book follows the adventures of five men and a dog who escape from a Confederate prison during the American Civil War by hijacking a hot air balloon. They are blown off course and crash-land on a remote and uncharted island in the Pacific Ocean. The group, led by the ingenious engineer Cyrus Smith, includes journalist Gideon Spilett, sailor Pencroff, his young protégé Harbert Brown, and former slave Nab. Together, they work to survive and explore the island, which they name Lincoln Island. This is one of Jules Verne's best SciFi books.

cascadiansatyr's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous hopeful lighthearted slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

A little weaker and slower than other, more famous Verne. But makes a great children's adventure story.

Content Warnings

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