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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
English degrees are painful. I personally didn’t see the need for a story 4 times over despite their differences.
Gulliver gets restless. Gulliver stumbles upon weird world. Gulliver is taken in by some kind of royalty. Gulliver somehow learns their language. Gulliver, after staying at least a few years, has to leave because of some miscommunication.
It was just a bit boring after a while. The fourth book did creep me out though.
Gulliver gets restless. Gulliver stumbles upon weird world. Gulliver is taken in by some kind of royalty. Gulliver somehow learns their language. Gulliver, after staying at least a few years, has to leave because of some miscommunication.
It was just a bit boring after a while. The fourth book did creep me out though.
3 Stars just because it's a classic, it's not even worth 1 star.
Finally finished this horrible book, it put me in a reading slump for so long. It made me wonder though, shall all the classics be read? Is it really important?
Finally finished this horrible book, it put me in a reading slump for so long. It made me wonder though, shall all the classics be read? Is it really important?
Certainly an interesting satire, but it drags at points--especially for the entire fourth book. The narrator's descriptions & retellings are often exhausting to read, though he constantly implores his reader to forgive him his recounting. The casual sexism is to be expected but is annoying to read nonetheless. I don't know why people try to claim this is a children's novel--there's not enough actual adventure in the tales to interest them, and there's too much politics for them to understand.
This book was written in 1726, and it's a very complex political allegory. That doesn't mean it's inaccessible, but if you want to read this, you should be aware that it's just complicated as freaking heck. I mean, if any of us were born in eighteenth-century Britain, I'm sure we wouldn't have a problem! xD But sadly, I find the population of that description much depleted. Just by a little. xD
Anyways, so unless you have a thorough understanding of eighteenth-century Britain and the political situations that were going down at that time, you're going to need a very well annotated version! Barnes & Noble classics are always good - they give you the bare necessities in footnotes, and if you need more by the end (like me) you can always go back and read the introduction you inevitably skipped out on at the beginning.
Despite not being "in" on all the cracks Swift was making at people left and right, I still thoroughly this book! To be honest, I don't think you could call the plot thrilling - it was, of course, written from the point of view of the fictional character, Capt. Gulliver, as if it were Gulliver's accounts of his travels upon his final return. The style is very matter-of-fact, and it mostly gives a very precise account of what occurred during Gulliver's "travels." So if you're not used to that sort of style, that would definitely be a drawback, and you might want to forgo reading this one. xD But really, it is a good book, even if it is too complex for the common man to understand! xD
Anyways, so unless you have a thorough understanding of eighteenth-century Britain and the political situations that were going down at that time, you're going to need a very well annotated version! Barnes & Noble classics are always good - they give you the bare necessities in footnotes, and if you need more by the end (like me) you can always go back and read the introduction you inevitably skipped out on at the beginning.
Despite not being "in" on all the cracks Swift was making at people left and right, I still thoroughly this book! To be honest, I don't think you could call the plot thrilling - it was, of course, written from the point of view of the fictional character, Capt. Gulliver, as if it were Gulliver's accounts of his travels upon his final return. The style is very matter-of-fact, and it mostly gives a very precise account of what occurred during Gulliver's "travels." So if you're not used to that sort of style, that would definitely be a drawback, and you might want to forgo reading this one. xD But really, it is a good book, even if it is too complex for the common man to understand! xD
I really enjoyed this book and find Swift to be a very funny writer. My favorite section was Part Two with the giants. The last two sections dragged a bit and weren't as entertaining as the first two but I loved the last part with horses. It was hilarious and quite unique. I know it is fiction but I don't understand why Lemuel Gulliver still traveled after the first two times he was captured. It just kept happening!
For a book written in the 1700s, Swift was certainly preoccupied with poop and genitals. Translate this to modern English, and you'll set all the middle school kids to uncontrollable giggling.
Aside from that, this was just okay. I knew the basics of the first 2 parts (I listened to this as an audiobook, so I'm not even going to attempt spelling). The tiny people and giants were expected,and that's where I thought it ended. Nope! We still have people who live on a flying Island, magicians who raise the dead for servants, and horse-people! Especially with the flying people, a lot was taken up explaining mechanics which I found incredibly dull. As a satire, the author/narrator/main character went to GREAT lengths to throw shade at (then) modern government and humanity. Comforting to know that all of our current qualms have been mirrored for at least 300 years. Some things never change.
Aside from that, this was just okay. I knew the basics of the first 2 parts (I listened to this as an audiobook, so I'm not even going to attempt spelling). The tiny people and giants were expected,and that's where I thought it ended. Nope! We still have people who live on a flying Island, magicians who raise the dead for servants, and horse-people! Especially with the flying people, a lot was taken up explaining mechanics which I found incredibly dull. As a satire, the author/narrator/main character went to GREAT lengths to throw shade at (then) modern government and humanity. Comforting to know that all of our current qualms have been mirrored for at least 300 years. Some things never change.
I'm not going to lie. This was a tough read. It's just so old that the writing and vocabulary are not what I'm used to.
But, in the end, we liked this book. At first, we laughed at the silliness, but by part 4, we really "got it." You have to think. You have to understand the point. With that, the creativity and presentation are inspiring.
But, in the end, we liked this book. At first, we laughed at the silliness, but by part 4, we really "got it." You have to think. You have to understand the point. With that, the creativity and presentation are inspiring.
Way cooler than I expected. Cannot get over Gulliver peeing on the royal palace.
A brilliant satire, but without having the context of 18th century life, it's a hard swallow. Of course, if you read it for pleasure you're sure to be in for a wild ride -- those Yahoos are strange creatures indeed.
adventurous
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced