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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
Entertaining. I'm a little sad that Jane and Tarzan didn't end up together living in Africa like they do in the Disney movie. But I'm glad that Jane ended up being a woman who actually has a brain amongst all the men in this book.
My biggest critique is something that stems from the fact that it was published in 1914. The characterization of the servant Esmeralda is racist and the tribal members are all "savage" or "primitive". As a student of anthropology I've just been conditioned to never say a civilization is savage or primitive so those things were very blatant to me. All while Tarzan is intellectually and physically superior because of his white, noble birth. Due to the fact that social ideas of what's acceptable and science changes in 100 years since publication.
My biggest critique is something that stems from the fact that it was published in 1914. The characterization of the servant Esmeralda is racist and the tribal members are all "savage" or "primitive". As a student of anthropology I've just been conditioned to never say a civilization is savage or primitive so those things were very blatant to me. All while Tarzan is intellectually and physically superior because of his white, noble birth. Due to the fact that social ideas of what's acceptable and science changes in 100 years since publication.
This is not your Disney Tarzan nor Johnny Weissmuller this is the real deal. ERB went all out here, and I followed him into the deep dark jungle. He does man with primitives much better than "Clan of the Cave Bear" you believe the Great Apes can communicate.
Going along for the ride as Tarzan discovers himself and then chases after his love is an amazing journey. Do not be turned off by the date this was written. There is a little bias towards the natives of Africa but one must take in the time it was written and get past it and enjoy the narrative.
All in all an incredible story that left me longing for more...which you need as this Tarzan ends in a literal cliffhanger!
Going along for the ride as Tarzan discovers himself and then chases after his love is an amazing journey. Do not be turned off by the date this was written. There is a little bias towards the natives of Africa but one must take in the time it was written and get past it and enjoy the narrative.
All in all an incredible story that left me longing for more...which you need as this Tarzan ends in a literal cliffhanger!
So much to unpack with this story.
I liked this more than I thought I was going to. The whole, "Lord of the Jungle" action adventure never really appealed to me, but this is a classic that has influenced so many novels so I had to give it a chance. I only had a passing knowledge of this story.
I have read enough classics to know that no matter how forward thinking they tend to be, there is more than likely outdated thinking and stereotypes played up in them. This novel does no different. The racial depictions in this novel aren't very flattering to most non-white characters. Jane comes across as flighty, a little shallow, a tad mercenary, and fairly thirsty (when she is describing her first encounter with Tarzan). Her father sells her. SELLS her to a debt collector to save his name from being ruined by unpaid debts. Tarzan has been living in the jungle for all these years and he has shampoo commercial level hair, all his teeth, and at the age of 10, was stronger than most men in their 30s. He taught himself how to read. He can overpower any animal in the jungle. Due to good breeding genes, he even knows to bow over a lady's hand and kiss it for goodness sakes.
Sorry, that eyeroll took longer than I thought it would.
This story is a series of contrived situations. There are so many times Burroughs wrote Tarzan out of a perilous situation with a convenient coincidence. The instalove was strong in this book, which I wasn't expecting, but it moved the story along, so I'm fine with it.
Even with all this, I really enjoyed this novel. I liked the story line. I loved the OTT occurrences. Take it for what it is and don't put lofty aspirations to it. Keep in mind the time it was written and it's a fun experience. So much so that I think I'm going to read the next one.
I liked this more than I thought I was going to. The whole, "Lord of the Jungle" action adventure never really appealed to me, but this is a classic that has influenced so many novels so I had to give it a chance. I only had a passing knowledge of this story.
I have read enough classics to know that no matter how forward thinking they tend to be, there is more than likely outdated thinking and stereotypes played up in them. This novel does no different. The racial depictions in this novel aren't very flattering to most non-white characters. Jane comes across as flighty, a little shallow, a tad mercenary, and fairly thirsty (when she is describing her first encounter with Tarzan). Her father sells her. SELLS her to a debt collector to save his name from being ruined by unpaid debts. Tarzan has been living in the jungle for all these years and he has shampoo commercial level hair, all his teeth, and at the age of 10, was stronger than most men in their 30s. He taught himself how to read. He can overpower any animal in the jungle. Due to good breeding genes, he even knows to bow over a lady's hand and kiss it for goodness sakes.
Sorry, that eyeroll took longer than I thought it would.
This story is a series of contrived situations. There are so many times Burroughs wrote Tarzan out of a perilous situation with a convenient coincidence. The instalove was strong in this book, which I wasn't expecting, but it moved the story along, so I'm fine with it.
Even with all this, I really enjoyed this novel. I liked the story line. I loved the OTT occurrences. Take it for what it is and don't put lofty aspirations to it. Keep in mind the time it was written and it's a fun experience. So much so that I think I'm going to read the next one.
adventurous
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I probably never would have read this book, but I got a free eReader app on my iPhone and this was a free book which came with the application, so I just started reading it to check out how the eReader worked. The book was surprisingly engaging and I was quickly engrossed and following along with the story. I felt the first 3/4 were far better than the last fourth of the book. The ending was very unsatisfying and the direction the storyline took didn't seem to suit the rest of the previous book. I think Burroughs was just in a rush to wrap up the story. Although, it also seems that he clearly intended sequels because he sort of left the reader hanging at the end, too.
Some would find great faults in this novel. If you look you can find undertones from time period in which Burroughs first penned this novel.
For me I an find no wrong.
The originality of the work often copied but never duplicated.
For me I an find no wrong.
The originality of the work often copied but never duplicated.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No