Reviews

Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson

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pinks_paperbacks's review against another edition

4.0

It took me on an adventure along with the characters. Adventure not limiting to the value of the sceneries in various locations but extending to their state of mind in every situation into which they fell. This is one of the earliest classics I know of that has presented us with 'bromance' throughout the book with such simplicity of the emotion. Initially I did have trouble with the language because I am not used to Scottish English (feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about the language) but by the context of the sentence and common sense, the story absorbed my attention.

To conclude, it is a story narrated to us simply and straightforwardly yet stimulatingly.

warrenl's review against another edition

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4.0

I read this as an early teen, and more than thirty years later all I could remember of it was a lot of scrambling about in heather. There was no lasting impression. It was my first and (for the time being) last attempt to read Stevenson. Reading it again now, I see why. The historical background and geography would have been entirely lost on the 14-year-old me, along with Stevenson's rendering of Scotch English, and what would have seemed an interminable scramble across Scotland. I'm now wondering if I even made it through to the end!

To a 46-year-old man of the world, however, "Kidnapped" is an entirely different pan of drammach. It's a history lesson, a geography lesson and an adventure all rolled up in one quick, satisfying read. The ending is strange though. It cuts off almost as if there were some pages missing from the manuscript when it was handed to the publisher and nobody noticed. Maybe some of these loose ends will be resolved when I read "Catriona"?

Still, "Kidnapped" remains one of the great adventure novels, and very worthy of its prominent place in the pantheon.

shelliu13's review against another edition

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adventurous slow-paced

4.25

erikayung's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

1000unreadpages's review against another edition

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adventurous tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

umutulker's review

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i had been looking for this book since my childhood. i remember that i picked it up from under a desk at school and read it, but i returned it in case it might belong to someone who was looking for it. for years it’s been eating at my brain that i couldn’t remember the name of the book but now i have it!!!

i remember the uncle creeped me out soooo badly tho… sometimes you read books as a kid that you have no business reading and this was one of them