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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
Exceptionally adventurous story with almost every chapter finding Tarzan fighting a battle. I've seen quite a few of the Tarzan movies (Johnny Weissmuller be still my heart), but as much as I love them, Tarzan can come across as a cliched, one dimensional character who is rather obtuse. In the novel, Tarzan has more depth and is very aware of his surroundings and smart. He learns how to read English through books but is taught to speak French by a French soldier.
Unlike the movie, the majority of this book is set in the jungle, Tarzan is unaware that he is the true Lord Greystoke, and he does not end up with Jane. That's all for us to read in the second Tarzan book.
I did find some of the passages about Africa and the natives rather cringe worthy as they came across as derogatory and disparaging.
Unlike the movie, the majority of this book is set in the jungle, Tarzan is unaware that he is the true Lord Greystoke, and he does not end up with Jane. That's all for us to read in the second Tarzan book.
I did find some of the passages about Africa and the natives rather cringe worthy as they came across as derogatory and disparaging.
Disney made a version that comes no where near in accuracy. A classic read about the life of a child who grew up in the African jungle, and found himself becoming a civilized man in America.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Lots of fun. Tarzan is super goated for almost no reason. Quick and easy to read. Makes me want to watch the movie again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Downloaded (in ePub format) for free, Tarzan of the Apes is perhaps Edgar Rice Burroughs most famous creation.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the novel bears little resemblance to the Tarzan films of yore: in those, he was mainly depicted as living in the jungle and speaking very little (except for Jane - "me Tarzan, you Jane" - and, later, boy); while he doesn't speak for most of the novel by the end of it he has become remarkably fluent!
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the novel bears little resemblance to the Tarzan films of yore: in those, he was mainly depicted as living in the jungle and speaking very little (except for Jane - "me Tarzan, you Jane" - and, later, boy); while he doesn't speak for most of the novel by the end of it he has become remarkably fluent!
adventurous
medium-paced
As soon as humans got introduced the insanely racist overtones (not even undertones because there's no subtlety) became apparent and the book became insufferable. Also women never have agency either so it's basically just about how British white men are superior beings and are naturally meant to tame nature.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
sad
tense
medium-paced
A fun story for sure, but definitely a product of its time. Rife with racism, colonialism, white supremacist ideals, and female characters who…… are almost entirely useless, honestly, fainting constantly or being objects of desire for the men. It feels like every idea and character simply acts as a vessel for Burroughs to ham-fist his views to the readers, almost like they’re ALL self inserts. To quote one line spoken by Alice Greystroke, Tarzan’s mother, near the beginning of the book:
“Ah, John, I wish that I might be a man with a man’s philosophy, but I am but a woman, seeing with my heart rather than my head, and all that I can see is too horrible, too unthinkable to put into words.”
………lmao.
But I’ll try not to judge the value of the book based on the dated beliefs of the author! Rather, I’ll judge it based on how much I enjoyed it.
Needless to say, I’ve been DUPED into reading a romance; romances aren’t bad, but they aren’t my cup of tea. The concept of Tarzan overall is just so cool, isn’t it? It’s hard not to wish to be in the place of Tarzan, swinging around in the jungle, strong and free. I enjoyed the action, the very pulp adventure feel of the story, but I was expecting a lot more man v. nature. The first half of the book has plenty of it. Unfortunately, the second half of the book was Tarzan and Jane falling too hastily in love with one another (you think Disney is bad with fast romances, brother you ain’t seen nothin’) and pining after one another. Then there were complications with other guys wanting to marry her and….. man, I didn’t sign up for this.
Aside from that, Tarzan, while being cool as hell, has no weaknesses. He overcomes nothing, does everything flawlessly, and, despite having lived in the jungle his whole life being wild and getting into all sorts of scuffles, is in perfect, handsome condition. He’s got one visible scar just above his left eyebrow, curving around his head and stopping behind his ear, but that’s really the only blemish he’s got, as far as we are reminded. He’s beauty. He’s grace. He’s an Englishman by blood, so of course he’s somehow inherited the reason and intelligence from his English forefathers that allows him to teach himself how to read English (using a dictionary and nothing else, mind you) and command his Ape tribe with logic. He’s the perfect man, a “gentleman by heart”, despite the fact he’s still quite the brute. Oh, and did I mention he survived getting shot in the FACE without having to get the bullet removed or receiving some kind of scar?
Burroughs you coward, would’ve been so much more metal if he got a scar out of it, overcame the great pain through sheer will rather than shrugging it off. But you didn’t want to ruin your perfect little man, did you? Burroughs was so insistent that Tarzan was perfect and beautiful in every way, I’m almost inclined to believe he wanted Tarzan more than Jane did.
All in all, I did enjoy a lot of bits and pieces of the book. The segment where Mr Philanders and Professor Porter wandered off into the jungle had me in stitches; they’re like Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee, would’ve loved to see some more silly moments with them. The action was great. I’m hoping with the way this one ended, Tarzan returns to the wilderness in the next one and there is a much heavier focus on nature. I hope he actually has struggles to overcome, and I’d much rather have followed him through his training to becoming a proper civilized person, maybe facing inner conflict with yearning to be free in the jungle once more, rather than have read about 100+ pages of Tarzan chasing a chick across the world that he interacted with for 2 days.
“Ah, John, I wish that I might be a man with a man’s philosophy, but I am but a woman, seeing with my heart rather than my head, and all that I can see is too horrible, too unthinkable to put into words.”
………lmao.
But I’ll try not to judge the value of the book based on the dated beliefs of the author! Rather, I’ll judge it based on how much I enjoyed it.
Needless to say, I’ve been DUPED into reading a romance; romances aren’t bad, but they aren’t my cup of tea. The concept of Tarzan overall is just so cool, isn’t it? It’s hard not to wish to be in the place of Tarzan, swinging around in the jungle, strong and free. I enjoyed the action, the very pulp adventure feel of the story, but I was expecting a lot more man v. nature. The first half of the book has plenty of it. Unfortunately, the second half of the book was Tarzan and Jane falling too hastily in love with one another (you think Disney is bad with fast romances, brother you ain’t seen nothin’) and pining after one another. Then there were complications with other guys wanting to marry her and….. man, I didn’t sign up for this.
Aside from that, Tarzan, while being cool as hell, has no weaknesses. He overcomes nothing, does everything flawlessly, and, despite having lived in the jungle his whole life being wild and getting into all sorts of scuffles, is in perfect, handsome condition. He’s got one visible scar just above his left eyebrow, curving around his head and stopping behind his ear, but that’s really the only blemish he’s got, as far as we are reminded. He’s beauty. He’s grace. He’s an Englishman by blood, so of course he’s somehow inherited the reason and intelligence from his English forefathers that allows him to teach himself how to read English (using a dictionary and nothing else, mind you) and command his Ape tribe with logic. He’s the perfect man, a “gentleman by heart”, despite the fact he’s still quite the brute. Oh, and did I mention he survived getting shot in the FACE without having to get the bullet removed or receiving some kind of scar?
Burroughs you coward, would’ve been so much more metal if he got a scar out of it, overcame the great pain through sheer will rather than shrugging it off. But you didn’t want to ruin your perfect little man, did you? Burroughs was so insistent that Tarzan was perfect and beautiful in every way, I’m almost inclined to believe he wanted Tarzan more than Jane did.
All in all, I did enjoy a lot of bits and pieces of the book. The segment where Mr Philanders and Professor Porter wandered off into the jungle had me in stitches; they’re like Tweedle-dum and Tweedle-dee, would’ve loved to see some more silly moments with them. The action was great. I’m hoping with the way this one ended, Tarzan returns to the wilderness in the next one and there is a much heavier focus on nature. I hope he actually has struggles to overcome, and I’d much rather have followed him through his training to becoming a proper civilized person, maybe facing inner conflict with yearning to be free in the jungle once more, rather than have read about 100+ pages of Tarzan chasing a chick across the world that he interacted with for 2 days.
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If you can get past all the early-twentieth-century racism, this first Tarzan novel is a pretty fun adventure story. It's complete pulp fiction with larger-than-life escapades and improbable developments, but sometimes that sort of romp is just what you need in a book. Unfortunately, the author's prejudicial ideas of white nobility and black savagery make it really hard for a modern reader to just sit back and enjoy these capers for what they are.