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3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
Technically I haven't finished this book, but I feel like I've invested enough in it for it to count still.
I know it's meant to be satire, it's meant to hold a mirror up to the most ridiculous elements of human nature. But the writing is so dry and repetitive that I just can't see it that way. If it were just Lilliput, or one of the other lands, I think I would have enjoyed it, but its essentially the same story four times with only slight differences each time and I found it too arduous.
I know it's meant to be satire, it's meant to hold a mirror up to the most ridiculous elements of human nature. But the writing is so dry and repetitive that I just can't see it that way. If it were just Lilliput, or one of the other lands, I think I would have enjoyed it, but its essentially the same story four times with only slight differences each time and I found it too arduous.
It’s crazy we let men write and then have continued to do so since.
Let’s get this out of the way early on… this is my least favorite classic to date. I have never, in my whole life, come across one work that discussed as many bodily fluids and functions – ever! But that was not why I disliked this work, believe it or not. So let’s get into it…
This is a satirical novel that takes readers on four fantastical voyages with Lemuel Gulliver, a ship's surgeon. Throughout his travels, Gulliver encounters various societies with extremely funny names (Yahoos being one of them): the tiny Lilliputians, the giant Brobdingnagians, the scientifically obsessed Laputans and the rational Houyhnhnms – had a really difficult time pronouncing two of these and wondered why Swift was so stingy with their vowels.
The novel started off promisingly, with intriguing prose and a clever premise. The author’s not-so-subtle critique of human nature, government and society did not escape me and I appreciated the genius behind that. His cultural and political commentary even had me chuckle a few times and added layers of meaning to the story. Sadly, it was not enough to salvage this work for me, though…
And, as the novel progressed, it became increasingly repetitive. Each journey felt like a variation of the previous one, with different “people” but the same underlying structure. After the second voyage, the novelty wore off, and the plot began to feel predictable and tedious. The satire, while sharp, started to lose its impact due to this repetition and I gradually lost interest.
That’s it. I have nothing more to add about this forgettable work. It really did not resonate with me and I won’t even attempt to watch the movie – I feel it would be even sillier than the work itself.
I rate simply: 5 = liked it, 3 = meh, and 1 = didn't like it.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
There is nudity and public urination.
adventurous
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I don't think this book is bad, I just didn't enjoy it very much. It's written like a journal rather than a traditional novel and there's little dialogue in the text. The first part is reminiscent of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland (despite Gulliver's Travels being published 100 years prior), but the remaining parts weren't as entertaining. I suppose I didn't really know what I was actually reading.
adventurous
challenging
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
