Scan barcode
faerin82's review against another edition
5.0
This is a shipwreck story of three boys in a tropical setting. Truthfully, this is probably not 5-star literature, but I have fond memories of this book, which I’ve read several times. I can remember reading it in the dead of winter and mulling over the description of the beautiful surroundings.
mybookishhedgemaze's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
literaryheidi's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
trilled_meow's review against another edition
2.0
This felt much longer than it was, which is never a good thing. The two-star review shouldn't be a surprise: the novel became increasingly racist, imperialistic, and brow-beatingly religious as the shipwrecked boys come more and more into contact with natives.
The Coral Island was written between Defoe's Robinson Crusoe and Stevenson's Treasure Island. The first half or so is a lot like the former (though the kids' efforts were comparatively aimless), and the second half is more similar to the latter. This won't endure for me as well as the other two, but it was a large influence on Treasure Island. I can easily see how the character of Long John Silver may have been inspired by a rather minor and unexplored character in this book.
As a reader, I felt like there was an abrupt change in the genre I was reading, which made the entire island half feel like mere exposition. Again, I think Stevenson improved upon this by figuring out a way to integrate the island within the greater story, so the narrative goal wasn't as disjointed.
It was okay, but I wouldn't go so far as to say I liked it. Ballantyne was writing for boys approaching 200 years ago, not for a cynical 30-year-old woman. Nevertheless, I think the read was valuable for being able to better contextualize other literature. I expect an even bigger payoff when I finally get around to reading Lord of the Flies, which I've read was written as a contrast to this.
The Coral Island was written between Defoe's Robinson Crusoe and Stevenson's Treasure Island. The first half or so is a lot like the former (though the kids' efforts were comparatively aimless), and the second half is more similar to the latter. This won't endure for me as well as the other two, but it was a large influence on Treasure Island. I can easily see how the character of Long John Silver may have been inspired by a rather minor and unexplored character in this book.
As a reader, I felt like there was an abrupt change in the genre I was reading, which made the entire island half feel like mere exposition. Again, I think Stevenson improved upon this by figuring out a way to integrate the island within the greater story, so the narrative goal wasn't as disjointed.
It was okay, but I wouldn't go so far as to say I liked it. Ballantyne was writing for boys approaching 200 years ago, not for a cynical 30-year-old woman. Nevertheless, I think the read was valuable for being able to better contextualize other literature. I expect an even bigger payoff when I finally get around to reading Lord of the Flies, which I've read was written as a contrast to this.
_amy_'s review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Loved the desriptions of the islands, and the reefs, made me feel as though I was on the island with them.
rubygranger's review against another edition
3.0
This book was one of the first children's books for boys -- you can definitely see it setting the tradition of Treasure Island, and drawing on those from Gulliver's Travels. It was fast-paced and engaging and there were some lovely descriptions of their island. Also a striking focus on rationalising and scientifically analysing aspects of the island (in the tradition of the Enlightenment period).
The second half was, however, very difficult to read because it is so incredibly racist. The second half of this book is effectively a propagandistic call for missionaries to go and convert indigenous people. The language and narrative of this is disturbing, especially when you know that this material was being given to young and impressionable children...
The second half was, however, very difficult to read because it is so incredibly racist. The second half of this book is effectively a propagandistic call for missionaries to go and convert indigenous people. The language and narrative of this is disturbing, especially when you know that this material was being given to young and impressionable children...
curlyhairedbooklover's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book and although at first I found it hard to get my head around the writing style once I got it I really liked it.
traveller1's review against another edition
4.0
A gift from my childhood, in fact I cannot recall the story in detail, but I remember I re-read this several times. Great fun. Nor this cover, a cover with an orange sky and the 3 lads.
superdilettante's review against another edition
2.0
So let me get this straight.
You're a teenage sailor, shipwrecked with 2 buddies on a pacific island. You get along pretty well, and are fairly happy with your lot there, but one day you see a big ship arrive and you flag it down, but O NOES it's Pirates. The pirate ship captures one of you, and sails away with you, and you are treated to all sorts of horrors including cannibalism. Nobody is any good except this one other guy, and then one day you have a chance to fool all the bad guys and you do, and they get captured by the savage cannibals (or is it cannibal savages?) and while the savages are dancing and whooping around their tied-up bodies, the Good Guy and you escape on the nice big pirate ship. But the good guy is mortally wounded, and he dies. Nevertheless, you keep going, returning to the island where you last saw your buddies. You find them! Hurrah! Also you have a boat! So you load it up with more provisions (because it's already pretty sweet, being a real live pirate ship) and you could head back to civilization or England or wherever it was you came from, but your buddy says HOLD ON A MINUTE THERE'S ONE LAST THING WE NEED TO DO. So you head off to an island where you try to save -one- island girl from being married to a guy she doesn't want to be married to. YOU COULD SAVE YOURSELVES, YOU HAVE A BOAT, BUT INSTEAD okay anyway, they're tremendously thwarted in their attempts, and it's lucky they don't end up "long pigs" on the cannibal fire, but instead they're just in prison for a few months, by which I mean a cave. Probably the whole time thinking, WE HAD A BOAT, GODDAMN IT.
Of course it all ends up ok, because one day they're led from prison and their bonds are cut and it's all because a really convincing missionary (separate from the existing Island Missionary, who I guess didn't have the chops) showed up and convinced the Chief to convert to Christianity and he builds a church and lets the Island Girl love who she pleases. And she gets to marry her Christian chief and the guys say "Phew, I guess we can go home now."
Praise Jesus.
You're a teenage sailor, shipwrecked with 2 buddies on a pacific island. You get along pretty well, and are fairly happy with your lot there, but one day you see a big ship arrive and you flag it down, but O NOES it's Pirates. The pirate ship captures one of you, and sails away with you, and you are treated to all sorts of horrors including cannibalism. Nobody is any good except this one other guy, and then one day you have a chance to fool all the bad guys and you do, and they get captured by the savage cannibals (or is it cannibal savages?) and while the savages are dancing and whooping around their tied-up bodies, the Good Guy and you escape on the nice big pirate ship. But the good guy is mortally wounded, and he dies. Nevertheless, you keep going, returning to the island where you last saw your buddies. You find them! Hurrah! Also you have a boat! So you load it up with more provisions (because it's already pretty sweet, being a real live pirate ship) and you could head back to civilization or England or wherever it was you came from, but your buddy says HOLD ON A MINUTE THERE'S ONE LAST THING WE NEED TO DO. So you head off to an island where you try to save -one- island girl from being married to a guy she doesn't want to be married to. YOU COULD SAVE YOURSELVES, YOU HAVE A BOAT, BUT INSTEAD okay anyway, they're tremendously thwarted in their attempts, and it's lucky they don't end up "long pigs" on the cannibal fire, but instead they're just in prison for a few months, by which I mean a cave. Probably the whole time thinking, WE HAD A BOAT, GODDAMN IT.
Of course it all ends up ok, because one day they're led from prison and their bonds are cut and it's all because a really convincing missionary (separate from the existing Island Missionary, who I guess didn't have the chops) showed up and convinced the Chief to convert to Christianity and he builds a church and lets the Island Girl love who she pleases. And she gets to marry her Christian chief and the guys say "Phew, I guess we can go home now."
Praise Jesus.
debnanceatreaderbuzz's review against another edition
3.0
Another 1001 book read. Adventure. Action. Pirates. Cannibals. Murder. Treasure. Mystery. What more does a book need?