You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.29 AVERAGE
3.29 AVERAGE
My goodness, font matters. This book was so much easier to read once I switched to the Kindle version. Good thing to remember, especially with classics, which are often reprinted in copious editions, the cheapest with the goal to be as short as possible. Or, like the first edition I had, include notes and essays and introductions and explanations.
It was a surprise to be that I enjoyed the second and third parts more than the first, which is so much more familiar. I found the satire of the second and third parts to be more relevant and funny. The fourth part, too, hit home in many ways. A few things were more striking in this part, though -- the belief that Nature is orderly, perfect, and healing; and the racism. This presentation of Nature is very present in many works from the 1800s; I hadn't realized it was a factor in the 1700s as well. The idea continues today, of course, but it was interesting to see how our better understanding of disease, illness, and medicine has forced us to change it in some ways to a certain extent. The racism was striking particularly in the inability to examine it as he examined other societal failings, and especially as he raised the nobility of animals to such a degree, but was unwilling to change his perception of other humans.
It was a surprise to be that I enjoyed the second and third parts more than the first, which is so much more familiar. I found the satire of the second and third parts to be more relevant and funny. The fourth part, too, hit home in many ways. A few things were more striking in this part, though -- the belief that Nature is orderly, perfect, and healing; and the racism. This presentation of Nature is very present in many works from the 1800s; I hadn't realized it was a factor in the 1700s as well. The idea continues today, of course, but it was interesting to see how our better understanding of disease, illness, and medicine has forced us to change it in some ways to a certain extent. The racism was striking particularly in the inability to examine it as he examined other societal failings, and especially as he raised the nobility of animals to such a degree, but was unwilling to change his perception of other humans.
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh Jonathan Swift, you really did not like humans. Very entertaining satire, reminiscent of Candide.
my god in between all the drab waffling and uselessly unnecessary detail is some of the most bat shit insane, hilarious pieces of writing and brilliantly described accounts on human nature, swift really is the king of satire I just wish i wasnt so fucking bored by it i was almost ripping my hair out trying to get to the end
Jonathan Swift was such a thorough satirist, that to the end he even mocked his own narrator; the irony was profound. The idea and context of the satire is brilliant, but the problem is they are too heavy handed, shoved right into the readers' faces, coupled that with the extremely dry and uninspiring writing, it makes an oftentimes half-tedious, half-irritating instead of amusing, satirical read. Gulliver's Travels feels like a reflection of the weary age from a weary man sickened by senseless war and violent-irrational-passionate conflicts after the Revolution in England, which makes the tone and writing style of this book, understandable.
Actu rating 3.5*
I really enjoyed Guliver's stories, although I really wasn't a fan of the way it was written.
I really enjoyed Guliver's stories, although I really wasn't a fan of the way it was written.
adventurous
slow-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
not in the mood... too much narration...
adventurous
slow-paced
Surprisingly readable and fun. The first half was great, the second half was fun but perhaps a little less so. But still fun, witty, and had a surprising amount of bodily humor. 300 years on, this book has some themes and situations that resonate!
adventurous
slow-paced
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I hated reading this book
Got very close to DNF’ing it, but I powered through. The satire is grand, don’t get me wrong, it’s just so boring. I was in middle school when I read it, but whatever. I got the version with a pretty cover which helps me like it a bit more.
I vividly despised the main character, our Gulliver, and thus found it hard to care about anything he did. At the end he just becomes insufferable. But that’s the point, no? Sorry Johnathan Swift, Irish king. This just isn’t for me.
Got very close to DNF’ing it, but I powered through. The satire is grand, don’t get me wrong, it’s just so boring. I was in middle school when I read it, but whatever. I got the version with a pretty cover which helps me like it a bit more.
I vividly despised the main character, our Gulliver, and thus found it hard to care about anything he did. At the end he just becomes insufferable. But that’s the point, no? Sorry Johnathan Swift, Irish king. This just isn’t for me.