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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
This entire book seems to be about the perfect representation of white heterosexual masculinity. It focuses a lot on what traits make a man a "man", or a good man. Tarzan performs many unbelievable and miraculous feats of strength even from a young age. This can be hard to get past for some, and not so much for others.
When Jane, her father the professor, and two other men are stranded on the deserted part of the African Coastline, in the same spot that Tarzan's parents were is like a flashback. Tarzan falls instantly in love with Jane, and though he has never been privy to white society and how he should act he is a gentleman. He is polite and tries to win her over instead of just ravishing her like one would assume a man raised by animals would. Burroughs seems to be making a statement that Tarzan is from good stock. He was a product of good breeding, of good people, and therefore he was born a gentleman and remained one.
Personally there was too much unbelievable in this book and I had difficulty getting over it. This is not to say that I don't love books where I have to "pretend" but I did not "fall" into this world. I was not drawn in and willing to believe whatever Burroughs told me. That being said, I'd read the second one because I am interested in how he and Jane get together (because we all know they will).
When Jane, her father the professor, and two other men are stranded on the deserted part of the African Coastline, in the same spot that Tarzan's parents were is like a flashback. Tarzan falls instantly in love with Jane, and though he has never been privy to white society and how he should act he is a gentleman. He is polite and tries to win her over instead of just ravishing her like one would assume a man raised by animals would. Burroughs seems to be making a statement that Tarzan is from good stock. He was a product of good breeding, of good people, and therefore he was born a gentleman and remained one.
Personally there was too much unbelievable in this book and I had difficulty getting over it. This is not to say that I don't love books where I have to "pretend" but I did not "fall" into this world. I was not drawn in and willing to believe whatever Burroughs told me. That being said, I'd read the second one because I am interested in how he and Jane get together (because we all know they will).
Not a bad book, you know, except for the horrible racist prejudices of the day. Such awful attitudes based on the psuedo-science of eugenics. Oy. This was not a particularly deep or thought-provoking book, but it was an enjoyable and easy read. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys pulp novels and is already acquainted and somewhat steeled against the predominant racist ideologies.
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
All machines were down at work today and this was the only book I had access to…I wish I would have just found coworkers to talk to instead. Feels like I wasted my time
This is such a book of its time, which being 1912, is as much praise as it is condemnation.
I almost gave up on it about a third of the way through, but once the romance arc with Jane started it really won me over.
Not something I would recommend, but I really enjoyed elements of this. There are some wonderful adventures, full of heroism, tragedy, and romance, but there is also a lot of racism, imperialism, and sexism, amongst other distasteful elements.
If an Edwardian, romantic power-fantasy is of interest to you, despite all the baggage that entails, then great, else I would steer clear of this classic.
I almost gave up on it about a third of the way through, but once the romance arc with Jane started it really won me over.
Not something I would recommend, but I really enjoyed elements of this. There are some wonderful adventures, full of heroism, tragedy, and romance, but there is also a lot of racism, imperialism, and sexism, amongst other distasteful elements.
If an Edwardian, romantic power-fantasy is of interest to you, despite all the baggage that entails, then great, else I would steer clear of this classic.
adventurous
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Thank you for recommending this book to me, Sister Amy Gallup.
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
As far as classics go, it’s not terrible in regards to language or plot. However there were some things I wasn’t a fan of (which likely are due to me being spoiled by the Disney movie).
The first thing I disliked was that the story seemed to meander for quite a bit until Jane arrived on scene. Also the way Tarzan is made to be this brilliant and very human person, despite growing up with any knowledge of humanity was a bit… unrealistic. What mostly got me for this was when Tarzan decided to not be cannibalistic because he was a man. Also the fact he taught himself to read and write in perfect English.
Jane as a character was fairly limp. Things happened to her and she was mostly just along for the ride and made out to be very… childish.
I did also get frustrated with the stylistic need to use everyone’s full names all the time. After a point it was like… I get it. I know their name, I know who’s talking.
The first thing I disliked was that the story seemed to meander for quite a bit until Jane arrived on scene. Also the way Tarzan is made to be this brilliant and very human person, despite growing up with any knowledge of humanity was a bit… unrealistic. What mostly got me for this was when Tarzan decided to not be cannibalistic because he was a man. Also the fact he taught himself to read and write in perfect English.
Jane as a character was fairly limp. Things happened to her and she was mostly just along for the ride and made out to be very… childish.
I did also get frustrated with the stylistic need to use everyone’s full names all the time. After a point it was like… I get it. I know their name, I know who’s talking.