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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
I cannot begin to tell you how much I have enjoyed this novel. Needless to say that I first heard of Tarzan because of the Disney movie since I was a young child when it came out. When I first started reading this novel, I was in such a bad mood because of airport security and weather issues. Tarzan of the Apes actually improved my mood to the point when I did not mind being kept waiting as long as I could read. If you think that the novel and Disney animated movie are the same then you are MISTAKEN & WILL BE DISAPPOINTED. There are big differences between the novel and movie but I like the differences. Disney made an animated movie that children and everyone else could see and enjoy the book. Another thing was that they wanted to make Jane Porter a stronger female character, which I appreciate since I think the animated character is great. However, she is still smart and kind as a character in both novel and animated movie but there are differences because of the time periods. Keep in mind this book was written in the earlier 1900s. The "darker" themes of the novel were cut out mostly and things were changed in the animated movie. As an adult reading this novel, I greatly enjoyed seeing the darker and more difficult issues that Tarzan and others faced throughout the book. It made me feel an even deeper connection to Tarzan because I could understand his thought process and slowly his emotional understanding of feelings he did not feel before. All in all I am so glad that I own this novel and will be rereading again!
This book is deeply, deeply racist, and it's also just not very good.
Still a gripping, wildly improbable adventure story and coming-of-age tale. The racism will make you catch your breath.
Unlike my revisit to "The Princess of Mars", Tarzan just doesn't live up to my memory of the book. Plus it's the worst kind of cliffhanger.
20-40% Tarzan grows up with the apes and becomes their leader by use of his cunning.
Finally Jane appears and insta love after he rescues her... but Jane is a twit. She leaves Tarzan in the jungle after semi believing the lies of her peers. She returns to America to become engaged to a jerk who basically blackmails her into it.
In the meantime Tarzan and his friend the French/Belgian Captain, has returned to society and learned to behave like a civilized 'modern' man.
Then in the last 5% Tarzan goes to America to rescue Jane from fire in the nick of time. But Jane then turns around and in a contrived bit of reasoning by the author, pledges herself to Tarzan's cousin. The Cousin still doesn't know that Tarzan is the real heir.
So you see, Tarzan is almost an almost unbearably perfect specimen of manhood and Jane is a twit who lacks loyalty and constancy in her 'so called love' of Tarzan. Plus she's the first human female he's ever seen (not counting the cannibal chicks). he could do better than that faithless, feckless wimp. (Kinda reminds me of Jay's love for Daisy in The Great Gatsby... Why???).
So anyways, you have to read the next book for the happily ever after, but don't expect much.
Spoiler
10% Tarzan's parents are abandoned to their fate in the jungle by mutineers20-40% Tarzan grows up with the apes and becomes their leader by use of his cunning.
Finally Jane appears and insta love after he rescues her... but Jane is a twit. She leaves Tarzan in the jungle after semi believing the lies of her peers. She returns to America to become engaged to a jerk who basically blackmails her into it.
In the meantime Tarzan and his friend the French/Belgian Captain, has returned to society and learned to behave like a civilized 'modern' man.
Then in the last 5% Tarzan goes to America to rescue Jane from fire in the nick of time. But Jane then turns around and in a contrived bit of reasoning by the author, pledges herself to Tarzan's cousin. The Cousin still doesn't know that Tarzan is the real heir.
So you see, Tarzan is almost an almost unbearably perfect specimen of manhood and Jane is a twit who lacks loyalty and constancy in her 'so called love' of Tarzan. Plus she's the first human female he's ever seen (not counting the cannibal chicks). he could do better than that faithless, feckless wimp. (Kinda reminds me of Jay's love for Daisy in The Great Gatsby... Why???).
So anyways, you have to read the next book for the happily ever after, but don't expect much.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Death, Gun violence, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Medical content, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Classism
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
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
adventurous
medium-paced
I've been meaning to read this for a while, as I didn't really know anything about it. It was alright. On the downside was the extraordinarily blatant racism, and the sheer stupidity of Jane deciding, when the lioness tries to come through her window, to shoot herself instead of the lion. On the other hand, the pacing is excellent - really, it's the best thing about the book. Given the constant drooling depictions of Tarzan's beauty and manliness, however, I can't decide who is more in love with him: Burroughs or Jane.
I do think that if Burroughs were writing today, it'd be were-apes and paranormal romance, though.
I do think that if Burroughs were writing today, it'd be were-apes and paranormal romance, though.