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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:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I love the story of Tarzan; his transformation into the king of the forest and his intelligence while learning how to write. It really paints a fantastic story that is so fun to read. However, I wish it didn’t have had the racist comment about the tribesman’s physical features and the ridiculous portrayal of Esmeralda in the first half of the book. I also wish in his written note he would have referred to himself as ‘Man of the apes’, since he could only write English. He wouldn’t know how to sound out his name to spell it.
I read this book because it was chosen for our January book club read - each member takes a turn choosing which is a good thing because it makes me read things that I wouldn't normally choose. This is a case in point. I grew up watching Johnny Weissmuller swing through the trees on Saturday morning television, but had never even thought of reading the books. I'm really glad I did. I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. The animalistic aspects of Tarzan of the Apes is much more realistic than the tame version of the movies; however, there comes a point where maybe the movie is more a bit more believable. Good, fun read though.
Funny, gruesome, and easy to read. The ending left me soo curious, I’m tempted to read the other books in this series if I can get my hands on them!
I don't know why I didn't read these when I was younger. The writing is wonderful, the story of course is engaging. I'm hooked.
I was pleasantly surprised by this one for the first few hours, when the story followed Tarzan's parents who were marooned on an abandoned island, and then both (more or less) died at the hands of a fierce gorilla. It still held my attention for the first few years of Tarzan's life, as he adjusted to being raised by apes. But it's very hard to sustain interest when there's only one human character, and the apes (for the most part) don't talk. I gave up shortly after Tarzan taught himself how to read, even though I understand he does eventually reenter the world of men. Just didn't want to stick it out for that.
I didn’t fully understand just how racist this series is until I actually read one.
adventurous
Strong character development:
Yes
Unlike the Disney movie, this book does not have a main villain throughout. Tarzan's enemies are the animals in the jungle that wants to hurt/eat him. A recurring theme is how the african tribes feel they are mistreated by the european colonizers, which then creates stigma against europeans and leads to conflict with the american/european travelers. The native africans are often portrayed as primitive, aggresive and sometimes cannibals.
In retrospect, I really enjoyed the first Burrough book, but when I noticed the recurring themes and patterns to be the same throughout all of his other books, I found myself enjoying his works less and less with each book. The first paragraph was from my first read of this book, the same with the rating.
In retrospect, I really enjoyed the first Burrough book, but when I noticed the recurring themes and patterns to be the same throughout all of his other books, I found myself enjoying his works less and less with each book. The first paragraph was from my first read of this book, the same with the rating.
With 'The Legend of Tarzan' movie coming soon I wanted to read through the original source material, just like I did when Edgar Rice Burroughs' other pulp hero, 'John Carter', was brought to the screen. And much like his Martian hero, I really enjoyed Burroughs' story of the Lord of the Apes.
Very much a product of its time, first published in 1912, with the colonial descriptions of the native tribes, the mutineering sea crews etc. But that aside, it's a good story of a child that grows up among the Apes, exhibiting both the strength and power of his adoptive family and the intelligence of his human heritage, to be the Lord of the jungle. This is not the monosyllabic Tarzan we see in popular culture, as he teaches himself to read, and the end of the book, can speak fluent French and is good with English too.
His world changes when a group of people, that includes John Clayton, the current Lord Greystoke, and a certain Jane Porter, arrive on the beach after being marooned by the crew of their ship.
I love the Sci-Fi books by Edgar Rice Burroughs, and 'Tarzan Of The Apes' has a similar feel to them. It zips along at a cracking pace, the hero is noble and immediately falls for the girl he rescues.
A good slice of pulp fiction from one of the best.
Very much a product of its time, first published in 1912, with the colonial descriptions of the native tribes, the mutineering sea crews etc. But that aside, it's a good story of a child that grows up among the Apes, exhibiting both the strength and power of his adoptive family and the intelligence of his human heritage, to be the Lord of the jungle. This is not the monosyllabic Tarzan we see in popular culture, as he teaches himself to read, and the end of the book, can speak fluent French and is good with English too.
His world changes when a group of people, that includes John Clayton, the current Lord Greystoke, and a certain Jane Porter, arrive on the beach after being marooned by the crew of their ship.
I love the Sci-Fi books by Edgar Rice Burroughs, and 'Tarzan Of The Apes' has a similar feel to them. It zips along at a cracking pace, the hero is noble and immediately falls for the girl he rescues.
A good slice of pulp fiction from one of the best.