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angelo_vossen's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Jonathan Swift's "Gulliver's Travels," often lauded as a satirical masterpiece, may simply not have been for me. While it undeniably offers a rich tapestry of political and social commentary, the novel suffers from several flaws that render it, at best, mediocre in my opinion.
Firstly, the book's episodic structure, which takes the reader through four distinct voyages, lacks cohesion. Each part — Lilliput, Brobdingnag, Laputa, and the land of the Houyhnhnms — functions almost as a standalone narrative with little to tie them together beyond the protagonist's presence. This fragmented storytelling can make the novel feel disjointed and uneven, diminishing the overall impact.
I think that character development is another weak point. Gulliver, the protagonist, is less a fully fleshed-out character and more a vessel for Swift's satirical observations. His personality and motivations are underdeveloped, making it difficult for readers to form a meaningful connection with him. This lack of depth in the central character reduces the emotional engagement and investment in the story.
Additionally, the book's pacing is inconsistent. Certain sections, such as the detailed descriptions of the Houyhnhnms' society, drag on excessively and disrupt the narrative flow. These slow segments can test the reader's patience and diminish the overall reading experience.
Finally, the language and style, while reflective of Swift's time, can be cumbersome for modern readers. The archaic prose and dense passages may pose a barrier to accessibility and enjoyment, particularly for those not accustomed to 18th-century literature.
I usually really enjoy if an author‘s writing style is very descriptive and includes lots of details. Swift definitely has a way of writing very detailed, maybe though to a fault. To some extent, I sometimes really wished that Swift would have decided to include some less details in certain sections of the book since the reading experience could have been really improved at times.
In conclusion, while "Gulliver's Travels" has its merits as a work of satire and social critiques which in my opinion especially came through in the fourth and, in m opinion, most interesting part of this book, its structural flaws, underdeveloped characters, inconsistent pacing and dated language collectively contribute to its mediocrity. Nevertheless, it remains a significant historical work which I am happy to finally have read.
I am certain that during Swift‘s lifetime this book was ground-breaking and can definitely see the appeal it might have head for people at that time. In total, I cannot say that this book was bad in any way, but I definitely felt more exhausted than with many other books I have read so far. If you have got time to spare and are in for a challenging reading experience, „Gulliver‘s Travels“ might just be the boo for you!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Excrement, Misogyny, Slavery, and Sexism
Minor: Animal death, Colonisation, Genocide, War, Blood, Violence, Animal cruelty, Vomit, Classism, Incest, and Death
apersonfromflorida's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Ableism, and Racism
jessgreads's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Rating: ⭐⬜⬜⬜⬜
Title: Gulliver's Travels
Author: Jonathan Swift
Genre: Classics / Fiction
Setting: Lilliput / Brobdingnag / England
Month Read: April 2022
Book Type: Paperback
Publication: Original: 1726
Publisher: Barnes and Noble Classics
Pages: 317
*PBS Great American Reads Pick
TRIGGER WARNING-
Abandonement / Sexual Content / Violence / Outdated References / Maybe Bestiality?
"Every man desires to live long, but no man wishes to be old."
No Spoiler Summary:
Gulliver's Travels is a book about a Doctor and Sailor, and his adventures to several places. He writes detailed entries about the locations, people, and his life while on his travels.
Review:
I did a buddy read with @Reading_and_Wrighting and we did not have as good of a time as we did with Gone with the Wind. Most of our back and forth was about how we haven't read the book in a few days, or can this be over with, or how there were a few good things about the book, but it gets so old so fast.
This entire book is like being in a conversation of jokes that you don't get the references to. I just absolutely hated it. I'm also fine saying I just didn't understand the book, or the purpose of the book. At the end of the day I read it, and it can go be retired to a bookshelf now. I am surprised, that 4 books into the 'classics' I'm doing off the Great American Reads list, this was the first one that I really didn't like at all. I've been pretty lucky, and hoping my next few reads are great.
"Of so little weight are the greatest services to princes, when put into the balance with a refusal to gratify their passions."
See more reviews at: https://jessgreads.wixsite.com
Content Warnings
Moderate: Confinement, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Violence, Racism, Abandonment, Ableism, Animal cruelty, Classism, Colonisation, Excrement, and Misogyny
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