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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
adventurous
fast-paced
adventurous
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I read this many years ago in my teens and seem to recall I wasn't that impressed. Time moves on though and I found this new edition, a lovely tidy hardcover with black and white title illustrations, on sale. So I picked it up to give it another shot.
Given it's almost a hundred years old it still reads easily, though is slightly dated in some aspects. It's a pulp thriller, swift and straight to the point, spending most of the duration after the set up in pursuit. It's thrilling.
The Scottish countryside is brought vividly to life creating a bleak and expansive world for our hero to get lost in (not that successfully though, as they seem to keep finding him). For me this long middle section was the most interesting. Starting light and jovial, becoming all the darker and more desperate. Cracking stuff and a real window to a different time and way of life.
It's almost a let down when he stops the chase and we get back to 'the plot'. The ending comes swiftly and to me is a little disappointing after everything that has come before, though there is a nice sweet/sour little coda.
The book itself is a delight to look at and hold and given it's age and intent, it's a worthy read. A classic of the genre and the prototype for many a Hollywood movie ever since.
Given it's almost a hundred years old it still reads easily, though is slightly dated in some aspects. It's a pulp thriller, swift and straight to the point, spending most of the duration after the set up in pursuit. It's thrilling.
The Scottish countryside is brought vividly to life creating a bleak and expansive world for our hero to get lost in (not that successfully though, as they seem to keep finding him). For me this long middle section was the most interesting. Starting light and jovial, becoming all the darker and more desperate. Cracking stuff and a real window to a different time and way of life.
It's almost a let down when he stops the chase and we get back to 'the plot'. The ending comes swiftly and to me is a little disappointing after everything that has come before, though there is a nice sweet/sour little coda.
The book itself is a delight to look at and hold and given it's age and intent, it's a worthy read. A classic of the genre and the prototype for many a Hollywood movie ever since.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
While this adventure/spy novel wasn't particularly tense or exciting, it's short enough that it didn't get too dull.
To a modern reader, used to double agents, moles, and triple-crossers, the plot seems rather straight forward, and Rochard Hannay is no James Bond. Despite being the hero, he doesn't actually display that much ingenuity; most of his escapes are made possible by random coincidence and the good luck of meeting a lot of ridiculously kind and trusting folks. One aspect I did enjoy was his disguises and quick-thinking when it came to inventing a new persona. He's no action hero, nor genius, but he can talk himself out of a tight spot, and all in all he's a decent, likable guy who does have a certain talent.
The other part of the novel that appealed to me was the Scottish setting and moorland descriptions, and being able to recognise places near where I live. But for anyone who tires quickly of barren Scottish heaths, I'd warn you to stay away from this! Probably half of this 100 page novel is taken up with Hannay running around and hiding on the moors, reminding me of the first part of the last Harry Potter book.
All in all, it's worth reading if you're interested in either Scottish literature or the origins of the spy genre, but I don't think you're missing much if you decide not to bother.
To a modern reader, used to double agents, moles, and triple-crossers, the plot seems rather straight forward, and Rochard Hannay is no James Bond. Despite being the hero, he doesn't actually display that much ingenuity; most of his escapes are made possible by random coincidence and the good luck of meeting a lot of ridiculously kind and trusting folks. One aspect I did enjoy was his disguises and quick-thinking when it came to inventing a new persona. He's no action hero, nor genius, but he can talk himself out of a tight spot, and all in all he's a decent, likable guy who does have a certain talent.
The other part of the novel that appealed to me was the Scottish setting and moorland descriptions, and being able to recognise places near where I live. But for anyone who tires quickly of barren Scottish heaths, I'd warn you to stay away from this! Probably half of this 100 page novel is taken up with Hannay running around and hiding on the moors, reminding me of the first part of the last Harry Potter book.
All in all, it's worth reading if you're interested in either Scottish literature or the origins of the spy genre, but I don't think you're missing much if you decide not to bother.
Decided to read this after watching the Hitchcock film… The film was better.
A script masquerading as a novel. And film adaptations it did spawn including Hitchcock so on that basis it was a success.
I did enjoy reading this book for all that and think my knowledge of films based on it caused the book to suffer by comparison.
A quick read if you are persuaded to it - certainly it could be read to its end on a train from London to Dumfries - if there was still a direct line!
I did enjoy reading this book for all that and think my knowledge of films based on it caused the book to suffer by comparison.
A quick read if you are persuaded to it - certainly it could be read to its end on a train from London to Dumfries - if there was still a direct line!
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A