Scan barcode
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review against another edition
4.0
"The Last Bookaneer" is a fun and lively read, focusing on a flukey period of time in the late 19th century when copyright laws were such that books could be published without the permission of the author with all profits going to the publisher. This little loophole is about to be closed, and several bookaneers, the adventurers who steal books from authors and flog them directly to publishing houses, go after what might be their last prize--and what a prize it will be! The last work of Robert Louis Stevenson, who has been living in the south seas and, since he's dying, must certainly be working on a book. Getting to Samoa was difficult enough and then. . . there's Stevenson himself. Perhaps the voyage was not the most difficult part of this final adventure.
Lovers of books and book history will certainly enjoy this novel. I have some quibbles with Fergins choice of Clover for a confidant. Why make this character a mulatto Pullman waiter and never do anything with it? He's an interesting guy but the special aspect he could bring to the story is never explored.
Still, it is fun and literary, and if there were no real bookaneers, I'd be amazed.
Lovers of books and book history will certainly enjoy this novel. I have some quibbles with Fergins choice of Clover for a confidant. Why make this character a mulatto Pullman waiter and never do anything with it? He's an interesting guy but the special aspect he could bring to the story is never explored.
Still, it is fun and literary, and if there were no real bookaneers, I'd be amazed.
jwilliams1284's review against another edition
2.0
The title and the synopsis had me hooked and I couldn’t wait to dive in to this novel. I expected excitement, action and crazy adventures. While the underlying plot and eventual conclusion was exciting, I was ultimately left disappointed in the novel as a whole. The writing style was never able to truly draw me in and keep my attention. I don’t give up on books though – even if they are slow, rough reads, I always finish them.
Check out my blog to see the rest of my thoughts on this book! http://booksandbarrels.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-last-bookaneer.html
Check out my blog to see the rest of my thoughts on this book! http://booksandbarrels.blogspot.com/2016/05/the-last-bookaneer.html
gwalt118's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this book, but there were some sections the progressed too slowly for me. It wasn't as good as Pearl's other novels -- my favorite is still The Last Dickens -- but it was still a good book. You really have to like literary and/or historical fiction to enjoy this story. It has quite a bit of mystery in it, so it's a nice book for the fall season!
duparker's review against another edition
3.0
So, I loved the Dante Club. Couldn't get enough of it. I haven't felt the same way about any other Matthew Pearl book. I don't dislike them, I just don't love them. He has an amazing ability to make you feel like you're in the Victorian era, and knows how to convey the atmosphere in his character's minds, but the actual stories, I am not every in love with.
astiflo's review against another edition
3.0
Review of an ARC Copy
So.. First I have to say that I absolutely adored "The Dante Club"and really liked "The Poe Shadow". "The Last Bookaneer" though did not live up to my expectations. It is well written, Matthew Pearl is a good writer, but sadly I felt that he did not pull all he could out of the interesting premise he sought for his novel. At times I felt as if the book had been artificially lengthened and that it would greatly profit from a more severe editing. Some parts were boring and did not add anything significant to the storytelling. On the positive I found the characters well crafted, which did not surprise me because I think this is one of Mr Pearls's greatest talent.
So.. First I have to say that I absolutely adored "The Dante Club"and really liked "The Poe Shadow". "The Last Bookaneer" though did not live up to my expectations. It is well written, Matthew Pearl is a good writer, but sadly I felt that he did not pull all he could out of the interesting premise he sought for his novel. At times I felt as if the book had been artificially lengthened and that it would greatly profit from a more severe editing. Some parts were boring and did not add anything significant to the storytelling. On the positive I found the characters well crafted, which did not surprise me because I think this is one of Mr Pearls's greatest talent.
ccoelophysis's review against another edition
4.0
Read this in audiobook format. Entertaining until the end which got weird and improbable and a little bit Heart of Darkness. Probably worth your time if you love classic literature.
lunaeclipse's review against another edition
5.0
I love books about books. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, The City of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers are my two favorites. I find it irresistible when I come across a book that is a story about books. Mr Penumbra's 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan - awesome! The Club Dumas by Arturo Pérez-Reverte - great. Anyways, when I saw this book I knew I had to give it a chance.
I have in the past tried reading The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl and had given up only a chapter or two in, so I really didn't believe I'd make it far. However this book was different. I found myself in the middle of the day wondering if Davenport would revel anything about himself. I wondered if Davenport and Fergin's would be able to steal from Stevenson. I wanted to hear more of Clover's story.
This book does not disappoint. If you love books about books, literary pirates, little island nations, love lost, then this really is a book you should read.
I have in the past tried reading The Dante Club by Matthew Pearl and had given up only a chapter or two in, so I really didn't believe I'd make it far. However this book was different. I found myself in the middle of the day wondering if Davenport would revel anything about himself. I wondered if Davenport and Fergin's would be able to steal from Stevenson. I wanted to hear more of Clover's story.
This book does not disappoint. If you love books about books, literary pirates, little island nations, love lost, then this really is a book you should read.
mcdevimm's review against another edition
1.0
So disappointed. It sounded like such an interesting story and it failed on so many levels.
jkkb332's review against another edition
4.0
Fun adventure story, great twist at the end with Fergins
mattneely's review against another edition
4.0
Quite fun on adventure, character, books, 19th c. derivative.