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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Michael Crichton books are always so fun! Couldn’t stop listening!
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
So much technical talk about computers and half-fake history. It makes me impressed with Crichton's creative mind, but makes for a very uninteresting read. The themes of modern colonization are compelling, but overall I left this book feeling empty.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Admittedly, what brought this up from a 3 star for me was that I was just really interested in the science and history packed into this. It’s like a snapshot of computer science and a bit of spec fiction coupled with interesting stuff about primates and diamonds. The actual structure and plot is pretty basic, but I found it to be fun.
Two scientists team up with a mercenary and a very unique gorilla to go searching in the jungles of Congo for a lost city, a lost home, and invaluable treasures. Overall, this was an enjoyable read with a few faults that keeps it from being top notch.
Crichton is in his typical form here combining adventure, exploration, and science into a great story. Elliot and Ross were somewhat cookie cutter characters, but I found Monroe and Amy to be true memorable standouts. I wasn't alive during the time period of the setting, so I'm not sure how accurate any of his descriptions of the technology used are, but his descriptions sound believable. I also learned a lot about the various technology and animals the expedition revolved around. The concept of teaching gorillas sign language and the doors that would open to animal-human communication is really captivating. While the novel is pretty short, it really gets exciting in the 3rd act when the expedition encounters the greys.
That being said, there were a few issues I feel worth mentioning. At some point towards the end of the novel the tone and narration shift so the reader realizes we're reading about the events after they've taken place, not while they're taking place. To me, that took away some of the tension of the ending of the book because you know the outcome before it happens. Also, the sheer amount of gear they had would've simply been impossible for such a small crew to ruck through a jungle. It’s fiction, but when it’s grounded as scientifically as this novel is… no way. There are also a few times when Crichton lingers on historical context or scientific theory just a little too long and it slows the flow of the novel.
Beyond that this was a really fun read that gets a 3.5/5 from me rounded up to 4 stars for Goodreads. It’s not Crichton at his best, but it’s an enjoyable novel that I’d definitely recommend to fans of Crichton or adventure/thriller novels.
Crichton is in his typical form here combining adventure, exploration, and science into a great story. Elliot and Ross were somewhat cookie cutter characters, but I found Monroe and Amy to be true memorable standouts. I wasn't alive during the time period of the setting, so I'm not sure how accurate any of his descriptions of the technology used are, but his descriptions sound believable. I also learned a lot about the various technology and animals the expedition revolved around. The concept of teaching gorillas sign language and the doors that would open to animal-human communication is really captivating. While the novel is pretty short, it really gets exciting in the 3rd act when the expedition encounters the greys.
That being said, there were a few issues I feel worth mentioning. At some point towards the end of the novel the tone and narration shift so the reader realizes we're reading about the events after they've taken place, not while they're taking place. To me, that took away some of the tension of the ending of the book because you know the outcome before it happens. Also, the sheer amount of gear they had would've simply been impossible for such a small crew to ruck through a jungle. It’s fiction, but when it’s grounded as scientifically as this novel is… no way. There are also a few times when Crichton lingers on historical context or scientific theory just a little too long and it slows the flow of the novel.
Beyond that this was a really fun read that gets a 3.5/5 from me rounded up to 4 stars for Goodreads. It’s not Crichton at his best, but it’s an enjoyable novel that I’d definitely recommend to fans of Crichton or adventure/thriller novels.
A technologist, rogue mercenary, a gorilla specialist, and a gorilla are racing against a nefarious Japanese corporation deep into the congo to recover diamonds that will change the world. Each character has their own reasons to be there, whether it's money, acclaim, or understanding; however, they will all question these reasons while exploring the mysterious congo jungle and come upon a lost city.
I absolutely loved Congo and think it's on MC's upper tier of books, including dragon teeth and Jurassic Park. I was delighted and fascinated by Amy, the gorilla, and her endearing, humorous and perspective on this classic adventure. MC perfectly threads the needle between science, technology, and plot. My only critique is that the last 8th of the book felt rushed and anti-climatic after building so much suspense and excitement. I wish MC spent a little more time exploring how they got home and how the character's death-defying journey impacted them.
I absolutely loved Congo and think it's on MC's upper tier of books, including dragon teeth and Jurassic Park. I was delighted and fascinated by Amy, the gorilla, and her endearing, humorous and perspective on this classic adventure. MC perfectly threads the needle between science, technology, and plot. My only critique is that the last 8th of the book felt rushed and anti-climatic after building so much suspense and excitement. I wish MC spent a little more time exploring how they got home and how the character's death-defying journey impacted them.
For a book with talking (signing) gorillas, LASERS, VOLCANOES, CANNIBALS, and ANCIENT LOST CITIES that have been FOUND again, this book was so, so boring.
Especially the end. It felt like MC had already come up with some ideas for new books and was just ready to wrap this one up. Seriously. We went from the expedition party engaging in combat with a group of cannibals in the wreckage of a cargo plane in the middle of the Congo to the END OF THE BOOK in FOUR PAGES. Call me old fashioned but I like the lay in the afterglow of my rainforest battles for a *scooch* longer.
Amy is my hero and Karen Ross is my least favorite MC heroine to date. I liked the girl from Rising Sun better, and she literally spent the whole book being dead.
Especially the end. It felt like MC had already come up with some ideas for new books and was just ready to wrap this one up. Seriously. We went from the expedition party engaging in combat with a group of cannibals in the wreckage of a cargo plane in the middle of the Congo to the END OF THE BOOK in FOUR PAGES. Call me old fashioned but I like the lay in the afterglow of my rainforest battles for a *scooch* longer.
Amy is my hero and Karen Ross is my least favorite MC heroine to date. I liked the girl from Rising Sun better, and she literally spent the whole book being dead.