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adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I’m not sure I would have enjoyed reading the actual book, as the story is a little bizarre. But I found it very exciting listening to this adaptation of the story. There was such a interesting build up to the climax, which was a little bit of a let down. I found it rushed, after such an extraordinary journey to get there.
[Review in romanian]
John Buchan a publicat The 39 Steps in 1915, probabil cel mai cunoscut titlu al sau. Autor de romane de suspans, succesul celor 39 de Trepte l-a facut pe Buchan sa scrie inca patru romane cu Richard Hannay ca protagonist.
Este exact genul clasic de roman de suspans – misterios insa nu teribil de complicat, cu un personaj obisnuit ce are de trecut prin tot felul de intamplari mai putin obisnuite. Richard Hannay este implicat fara sa vrea intr-un complot ce pune in pericol siguranta nationala (actiunea se desfasoara cu putin timp inaintea declansarii razboiului). Personajul care ii povesteste despre acest complot este asasinat in apartamentul lui Hannay, care trebuie sa fuga atat de politie cat si de spionii ucigasi, iar in acelasi timp sa caute o modalitate de dezlegare a acestei probleme in care a fost implicat.
La o analiza putin mai riguroasa cred ca oricine s-ar intreba de ce Hannay este urmarit de acesti spioni, iar pe parcurs mai intalnim o serie de discrepante in poveste, insa nu cred ca un roman de ‘actiune’ trebuie sa fie judecat prea mult in acest sens. Cursa lui Hannay prin Scotia are momentele sale interesante, insa finalul si dezlegarea acestui mister nu prea se ridica la nivelul desfasurarii actiunii.
Romanul lui John Buchan a fost adaptat de trei ori pentru marele ecran, cea mai cunoscuta varianta fiind cea a lui Hitchcock din 1935. Hitch se afla inca in perioada sa britanica, iar succesul din ’34 cu The Man who knew too much i-a oferit ocazia de a ‘ataca’ un proiect la alegere. Acelasi Charles Bennet care a semnat scenariul pentru Man who knew too much a lucrat la aceasta adaptare, si cred ca a facut o treaba foarte buna.
John Buchan a publicat The 39 Steps in 1915, probabil cel mai cunoscut titlu al sau. Autor de romane de suspans, succesul celor 39 de Trepte l-a facut pe Buchan sa scrie inca patru romane cu Richard Hannay ca protagonist.
Este exact genul clasic de roman de suspans – misterios insa nu teribil de complicat, cu un personaj obisnuit ce are de trecut prin tot felul de intamplari mai putin obisnuite. Richard Hannay este implicat fara sa vrea intr-un complot ce pune in pericol siguranta nationala (actiunea se desfasoara cu putin timp inaintea declansarii razboiului). Personajul care ii povesteste despre acest complot este asasinat in apartamentul lui Hannay, care trebuie sa fuga atat de politie cat si de spionii ucigasi, iar in acelasi timp sa caute o modalitate de dezlegare a acestei probleme in care a fost implicat.
La o analiza putin mai riguroasa cred ca oricine s-ar intreba de ce Hannay este urmarit de acesti spioni, iar pe parcurs mai intalnim o serie de discrepante in poveste, insa nu cred ca un roman de ‘actiune’ trebuie sa fie judecat prea mult in acest sens. Cursa lui Hannay prin Scotia are momentele sale interesante, insa finalul si dezlegarea acestui mister nu prea se ridica la nivelul desfasurarii actiunii.
Romanul lui John Buchan a fost adaptat de trei ori pentru marele ecran, cea mai cunoscuta varianta fiind cea a lui Hitchcock din 1935. Hitch se afla inca in perioada sa britanica, iar succesul din ’34 cu The Man who knew too much i-a oferit ocazia de a ‘ataca’ un proiect la alegere. Acelasi Charles Bennet care a semnat scenariul pentru Man who knew too much a lucrat la aceasta adaptare, si cred ca a facut o treaba foarte buna.
this book had me gripped but the ending felt a bit drawn out and then rushed at the very end. Looking forward to see the tv adaptation to see what that is like.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-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:
Complicated
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
This book has very little to do with the Hitchcock movie, or rather vice versa: a couple of the main plot points (innocent man gets caught up in spy plot, has to run thru Scotland to stay ahead of the police and to prove his innocence) and a couple of twists; but some of the main points in the movie are pure fabrication: there is no music hall setting (minor point) and no woman brought in to the whole plot. There is actually no female characters at all, aside from a couple of unnamed women who are mentioned in passing.
That said, it's a fun first-person narrative thriller with lots of twists, tho a little provincial and oh so British.
The reader played the main character in the 1978 movie (which I understand is more closely based on the book than the Hitchcock film) and a subsequent British TV series. He did a great job with some of the dialects, especially the various Scottish characters who populate the middle section of the book.
That said, it's a fun first-person narrative thriller with lots of twists, tho a little provincial and oh so British.
The reader played the main character in the 1978 movie (which I understand is more closely based on the book than the Hitchcock film) and a subsequent British TV series. He did a great job with some of the dialects, especially the various Scottish characters who populate the middle section of the book.
I’ve never read a wartime spy/espionage novel before so this was a fun change for me! One thing I love about book boxes is picking up something I wouldn’t have picked up for myself, even if it isn’t a new favourite, it’s a new experience.
This book was entertaining and thrilling enough to keep me interested the whole way through, however it did have many clichéd moments. I’m sure this book would have been shocking when first published! The lead character, Richard Hannay, is a stereotypical wealthy British businessman who is bored with his life and is excited by the prospect of a little danger.
Ultimately this book was a short bit of fun that I am glad I had the opportunity to read. I can see why it’s a classic and how it has, and continues to, influence books in the spy thriller genre.
This book was entertaining and thrilling enough to keep me interested the whole way through, however it did have many clichéd moments. I’m sure this book would have been shocking when first published! The lead character, Richard Hannay, is a stereotypical wealthy British businessman who is bored with his life and is excited by the prospect of a little danger.
Ultimately this book was a short bit of fun that I am glad I had the opportunity to read. I can see why it’s a classic and how it has, and continues to, influence books in the spy thriller genre.
Really enjoyed this. It's an excellent thriller. There are some prejudicial attitudes and language due to the era the book is written.