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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
"...if people were paid for writing rot such as I read in some of those magazines, that I could write stories just as rotten." - Edgar Rice Burroughs
My vote is that he DEFINITELY wrote stories just as rotten. For a pulp action book, it spends a lot of time telling the reader how wonderful Lord Greystroke's aristocratic bloodlines are--which seemed really strange coming from an American although it quickly becomes very obvious that Burroughs was a Eugenicist. I might have made it through the book if it had just been pulp, but the racism and eugenics are pretty nauseating.
One positive note: one could probably have a great drinking game by taking a drink every time Burroughs writes "brute."
My vote is that he DEFINITELY wrote stories just as rotten. For a pulp action book, it spends a lot of time telling the reader how wonderful Lord Greystroke's aristocratic bloodlines are--which seemed really strange coming from an American although it quickly becomes very obvious that Burroughs was a Eugenicist. I might have made it through the book if it had just been pulp, but the racism and eugenics are pretty nauseating.
One positive note: one could probably have a great drinking game by taking a drink every time Burroughs writes "brute."
Glad I read it. Definitely not the same as the beloved Disney film.
Ray Bradbury once said that Burroughs is probably one of the most important writers of XXth century.
Not necessarily because of his literary merits but because of sheer amount of incredible writers he influenced. Not sure whether Bradbury consider himself an incredible writer but his wearing his influences on his sleeve. Without Burroughs we would never have Martian Chronicles and perhaps even 451 Fahrenheit.
Tarzan of the Apes is Jungle book without BULLSHIT. It's not here to tell you a moral Fable, nor to give you a moral lesson through parable - it is here to ENTERTAIN you, and it does its job pretty damn WELL.
Yes, it might be a guilty pleasure ...but PLEASURE nevertheless. Love him or hate him but Burroughs KNOWS how to write action. He knows his timing and rhythm. His pacing while formulaic is unmatched. Even when Jane is being kidnapped for the 20th time in a row ( sorry for the spoiler folks!) our hearts are still beating fast demanding an immediate justice...and guess what?
We are gonna get it! Cause that Burroughs guy is definitely gonna deliver it! And this, folks is a sign of a master.
Not necessarily because of his literary merits but because of sheer amount of incredible writers he influenced. Not sure whether Bradbury consider himself an incredible writer but his wearing his influences on his sleeve. Without Burroughs we would never have Martian Chronicles and perhaps even 451 Fahrenheit.
Tarzan of the Apes is Jungle book without BULLSHIT. It's not here to tell you a moral Fable, nor to give you a moral lesson through parable - it is here to ENTERTAIN you, and it does its job pretty damn WELL.
Yes, it might be a guilty pleasure ...but PLEASURE nevertheless. Love him or hate him but Burroughs KNOWS how to write action. He knows his timing and rhythm. His pacing while formulaic is unmatched. Even when Jane is being kidnapped for the 20th time in a row ( sorry for the spoiler folks!) our hearts are still beating fast demanding an immediate justice...and guess what?
We are gonna get it! Cause that Burroughs guy is definitely gonna deliver it! And this, folks is a sign of a master.
We all know Tarzan, most likely from the animated Disney adaptation. And like most Disney movies, it strays very far from its source. It was great to finally read this book. I have a bad history with classics, but I found Tarzan of the Apes to flow smoothly. It's a lot grittier in writing, highlighting the true animal nature of Tarzan. There were parts that I found a bit unrealistic, like how easily Tarzan was able to teach himself English from basic primers and the fact that there are somehow lions in the jungle. Overall a great read though, and a true classic.
I'd read this some years ago. Decided that listening to it again would be fun. Which it was. However, I'd forgotten that it ended on an unsatisfactory note, leaving me to decide whether I want to move along to the next book or not. Maybe I'll try reading it on my Kindle.
I'm very surprised, I enjoyed reading it very much. Of course I've seen the Disney movie when I was little but I did not really remember things much! The descriptive writing style is very beautiful and interesting. I loved the ending and the plot, definitely a must read if you want to read the story behind the Disney adaptation:)
I’ve never hated something so much I became obsessed with it until I read Tarzan
Definitely racist and fantastical, but a fun read and interesting to see what the actual story of Tarzan is.
adventurous
medium-paced