Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was such good use of a short book. The plot could have been spread out a little bit more evenly with some parts being slow and long and the ending being a little rushed. I am very content with the story and the appropriate amount of time given to every side character. This was the first war/spy/ mystery book I’ve read for enjoyment in a long time. Basing the entire story around a character and having each part be revealed through his development was so fun. Richard Hannay is complex person that is fully rounded out in just 100 pages. Buchan’s prose is lighthearted and intriguing while taking concepts that would be simple in any other scenario and making them important. We see this main character struggle to find purpose, he is bored after exploring parts of the world and right before he is about to give up on his home, we see what just one person’s actions can do to alter his entire life.
A story about obsession, greed, and to what extent we can justify our unethical actions for a greater good. In reality, Richard harmed more people than he helped, but through his point of view we see him struggle because of the consequence of his actions and yet his need for justice overrules everything he does. At the begging of the book Richard “envied people for having something to do”, we go through this journey with him now wondering if this is all really necessary or if it was him just looking for something to do. Who was deciding Richard’s life for him? Why was he so disappointed with the state of his life? And what was it going to take for him to feel like a regular person again? It’s telling that Scudder’s murder was the only thing that could bring Richard’s sense of purpose back, we wonder whether Scudder really saw Hannay as someone who could help him or someone who needed help.
Aside from the fact that we really only had one character to analyze, the spy story alone was easy to follow with many little surprises along the way. If you were looking for a quick book that gets you thinking, this is it.
A story about obsession, greed, and to what extent we can justify our unethical actions for a greater good. In reality, Richard harmed more people than he helped, but through his point of view we see him struggle because of the consequence of his actions and yet his need for justice overrules everything he does. At the begging of the book Richard “envied people for having something to do”, we go through this journey with him now wondering if this is all really necessary or if it was him just looking for something to do. Who was deciding Richard’s life for him? Why was he so disappointed with the state of his life? And what was it going to take for him to feel like a regular person again? It’s telling that Scudder’s murder was the only thing that could bring Richard’s sense of purpose back, we wonder whether Scudder really saw Hannay as someone who could help him or someone who needed help.
Aside from the fact that we really only had one character to analyze, the spy story alone was easy to follow with many little surprises along the way. If you were looking for a quick book that gets you thinking, this is it.
Although the overarching structure is the same, and so are the protagonist and a few of the incidents, this is pretty astonishingly different from both the Hitchcock film and the recent Masterpiece adaptation. There is no silly love interest subplot at all (thank goodness). Not surprisingly, I found the film superior in creating suspense.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Lots of running around Scotland borrowing clothes with rather far fetched plot turns, but still enjoyable.
A good short novel that's easy to read in a day or two. A classic mystery novel - I can see why it attracted Hitchcock to make a film of it.
riotous fun - full review here
http://0651frombrighton.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-39-steps-john-buchan-and-secret.html
http://0651frombrighton.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/the-39-steps-john-buchan-and-secret.html
This is a short story, so not a total waste. My problem is honestly dumb. It is basically an old radio show. I had trouble focusing on the story because the train whistles and such were very distracting in the background. I am curious how this plays out in the movie version.
The Thirty Nine Steps was written in 1915 and the language, attitudes and plot clearly reflect that. However it is also a timeless adventure about an ordinary and innocent man on the run that bears many hallmarks of the best thrillers, from The Pelican Brief to William Boyd's Ordinary Thunderstorms.
It's a short book and the action kicks off almost immediately. The narrator, Richard Hannay, is freshly returned to the UK after living most of his life in Southern Africa. One of his neighbors, Scudder, tells him a story about having discovered a plot run by an organization known only as "The Black Stone" to murder the Greek Premier and initiate WW1. Shortly afterwards, Hannay returns to his home to find Scudder murdered. He goes on the run, realizing that he will be seen by police as the murder suspect, but also knowing that he is the only one who can prevent the plotters from executing their plan.
Hannay hides out in Scotland with both the police and his enemies close on his tail. The descriptions of the Scottish countryside are stunning and there is a genuine sense of tension throughout the book as he tries to elude his chasers. The key he realizes is to immerse himself into his surroundings. The final section of the book has him returning to London to prevent the Black Stone's plot taking effect, hence becoming the pursuer himself. While the majority of the plot is driven by the action, the finale is more of a psychological thriller and for this reason every film adaptation has chosen a more dramatic ending.
The plot is riddled with coincidences and makes abrupt jumps, but overall it's a tremendously readable adventure that succeeds in part because of its likable narrator.
It's a short book and the action kicks off almost immediately. The narrator, Richard Hannay, is freshly returned to the UK after living most of his life in Southern Africa. One of his neighbors, Scudder, tells him a story about having discovered a plot run by an organization known only as "The Black Stone" to murder the Greek Premier and initiate WW1. Shortly afterwards, Hannay returns to his home to find Scudder murdered. He goes on the run, realizing that he will be seen by police as the murder suspect, but also knowing that he is the only one who can prevent the plotters from executing their plan.
Hannay hides out in Scotland with both the police and his enemies close on his tail. The descriptions of the Scottish countryside are stunning and there is a genuine sense of tension throughout the book as he tries to elude his chasers. The key he realizes is to immerse himself into his surroundings. The final section of the book has him returning to London to prevent the Black Stone's plot taking effect, hence becoming the pursuer himself. While the majority of the plot is driven by the action, the finale is more of a psychological thriller and for this reason every film adaptation has chosen a more dramatic ending.
The plot is riddled with coincidences and makes abrupt jumps, but overall it's a tremendously readable adventure that succeeds in part because of its likable narrator.