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adorkablesmile's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
For a novel that's more than a century old now, it's clearly a product of its time. The story is rife with the xenophobia and paranoia typical to a world in the midst of war, and there's some early-20th-century antisemitism which mars a first reading of the book in the modern age.
However for all of that, when the adventure gets going it's easy to lose yourself in the chase. There are twists and turns, and protagonist Richard Hannay always feels one foul step away from death or disaster. John Buchan knows his craft and he puts together a superb mystery thriller - it's outdated, but it's a classic for a reason.
However for all of that, when the adventure gets going it's easy to lose yourself in the chase. There are twists and turns, and protagonist Richard Hannay always feels one foul step away from death or disaster. John Buchan knows his craft and he puts together a superb mystery thriller - it's outdated, but it's a classic for a reason.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Antisemitism
Moderate: Xenophobia
dhughes10's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Antisemitism
noonjinx's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Totally ludicrous "boys own" adventure. The writing style flows nicely but the characters are all stereotypes, none of them have any common sense, and the plot is full of holes.
If a stranger comes to you and says, "I've disfigured a corpse and left it in my room so everyone will think I'm dead. Can I stay with you for a while?" What do you do? Of course you invite him in and become firm friends. After that things start to get less believable.
The new friend gets murdered so the hero goes on the run to scotland. There he happens to walk into the home of one of the murderers. Well I guess there were only 3 million people in scotland when this was written so the odds of that happening were shorter back then.
The baddy is no smarter than the hero. He locks him up in a store room full of explosives so he' able to blow his way out.
All the way through the novel, the hero gets helped by people who trust him even though he's being hunted by the police. Finally, at the end of the book, the authorities seem perfectly happy to let him take charge of their anti terrorist operation even though he's just a civilian.
Nice and short. A flowing style. But completely daft and of it's time.
If a stranger comes to you and says, "I've disfigured a corpse and left it in my room so everyone will think I'm dead. Can I stay with you for a while?" What do you do? Of course you invite him in and become firm friends. After that things start to get less believable.
The new friend gets murdered so the hero goes on the run to scotland. There he happens to walk into the home of one of the murderers. Well I guess there were only 3 million people in scotland when this was written so the odds of that happening were shorter back then.
The baddy is no smarter than the hero. He locks him up in a store room full of explosives so he' able to blow his way out.
All the way through the novel, the hero gets helped by people who trust him even though he's being hunted by the police. Finally, at the end of the book, the authorities seem perfectly happy to let him take charge of their anti terrorist operation even though he's just a civilian.
Nice and short. A flowing style. But completely daft and of it's time.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia and Antisemitism