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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
The first thing that caught my eye about this book was the gorgeous Neil Adams cover. The next was the realization that I have never actually read the book! Another “it’s about time
Merged review:
The first thing that caught my eye about this book was the gorgeous Neil Adams cover. The next was the realization that I have never actually read the book! Another
Merged review:
The first thing that caught my eye about this book was the gorgeous Neil Adams cover. The next was the realization that I have never actually read the book! Another
what a great story! totally enjoyed it! the love story is cheesy though... and it looks like I'm gonna have to get the second book to finish the story between Tarzan and Jane!
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I read this to fill my 1900-1950 category and because I wanted a book I felt no pressure to have a good opinion of. I was curious to see how it was disneyfied, and since it was published in 1912 I expected there to be some racism. I was not expecting the Central Theme to be Racism and White Supremacy. Edgar Rice Burroughs heard about evolution and got really horny for the the "superiority" of English Lords.
The racism in here is WAY WORSE than in Robinson Crusoe, but there is no religious justification for it or messiah complex, so in some ways Robinson Crusoe got on my nerves more. Burroughs really tries for "scientific" justification for the racism, which is bullshit, but being as it wasn't the flavor of racism I was raised with I can dismiss it with fewer icky feelings. The misogyny seemed run of the mill compared with other books I've read from this time period or a little earlier. I was surprised that it acknowledges King Leopold's and Belgium's atrocities in the Congo, but it does it to highlight the righteousness and benevolence of the English Lord, so not really a win.
It was fast paced, with lots of descriptive fight scenes. The tension stays up there, even when the audience knows what will happen, or what something means ages before Tarzan does. I do appreciate that at the beginning the narrator doesn't claim the story as fact "you have to believe me because I heard it from a Methodist and we all know that Methodists never lie." The Narrator claims it as plausible, "the records I was able to verify show these people did sail on this date, and nothing I've uncovered has disproven the story, so though it is extraordinary, it is possible. I believe it, but I will let you decide after having related the tale." I find fabricated explanations for how a story came to be in print amusing, and this seemed like one step away from that. Like how the first Percy Jackson Book starts by saying that the reader could be a demigod and that it's dangerous if you are, but this is his story.
The racism in here is WAY WORSE than in Robinson Crusoe, but there is no religious justification for it or messiah complex, so in some ways Robinson Crusoe got on my nerves more. Burroughs really tries for "scientific" justification for the racism, which is bullshit, but being as it wasn't the flavor of racism I was raised with I can dismiss it with fewer icky feelings. The misogyny seemed run of the mill compared with other books I've read from this time period or a little earlier. I was surprised that it acknowledges King Leopold's and Belgium's atrocities in the Congo, but it does it to highlight the righteousness and benevolence of the English Lord, so not really a win.
It was fast paced, with lots of descriptive fight scenes. The tension stays up there, even when the audience knows what will happen, or what something means ages before Tarzan does. I do appreciate that at the beginning the narrator doesn't claim the story as fact "you have to believe me because I heard it from a Methodist and we all know that Methodists never lie." The Narrator claims it as plausible, "the records I was able to verify show these people did sail on this date, and nothing I've uncovered has disproven the story, so though it is extraordinary, it is possible. I believe it, but I will let you decide after having related the tale." I find fabricated explanations for how a story came to be in print amusing, and this seemed like one step away from that. Like how the first Percy Jackson Book starts by saying that the reader could be a demigod and that it's dangerous if you are, but this is his story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Xenophobia
Moderate: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death of parent
Minor: Blood
I really liked this book! I wish Jane wasn't such a coward at the end. Tarzan literally changed his ENTIRE LIFE for her and she was like "Meh." What the heck!! But I liked the story and I wanted to find out what would happen enough to keep me reading. It was well written too. Squeaky clean!!
The book that started it all certainly tests your suspense of disbelief and it is rather racist and sexist. Nevertheless, it is an interesting story, especially in the context of its timeframe, and it's always good to become familiar with the origins of such an iconic character. I very much doubt I'll read the entire series, but Tarzan of the Apes was a worthwile read on its own.
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix