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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
adventurous
mysterious
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
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
3.75 stars. I found myself going back and forth with what to rate this book, if I'm honest. I can see why it's a classic, and I'm sure that, especially for the time when it was written, it was pivotal fictional literature. Of course, seeing as it is around 150 years old, the futurism is a bit dated, but I still found that it held up well, and that the story itself, while science fiction, was also very complex in terms of characters and thematic. There were definitely lulls in the story, and it wasn't entirely captivating in its entirety, but when it was good, it was really good. There's a certain mysticism that this book captures, specifically regarding technology, the sea, and humanity, and I can see how some of my favorite forms of media (the Bioshock games for instance) may have been influenced by this book. I did have fun with this, and I would suggest it to people, so long as they don't mind a bit of rambling and science, as well as a plethora of descriptors (they were very vivid though). I am actually really interested in continuing this series, specifically because the last chapter or so were so insane and moving and also kind of just batshit crazy.
3.5
Dense at times, and definitely has "product of it's time" syndrome, but overall still interesting.
Dense at times, and definitely has "product of it's time" syndrome, but overall still interesting.
Imagine reading this in the 1870’s. If you wanted to see the oceans you had to be either rich, sponsored by a university or museum, or stake your entire life’s savings on a once in a lifetime journey. Jules Verne gives readers a nearly complete tour of the Earth’s oceans unlike anything before or since. That must have been mind blowing for 19th century readers. It’s easy for modern audiences in the age of tv documentaries and Royal Caribbean cruises to not appreciate the level of wonder and adventure this book offered. That’s definitely the selling point, and if you’re not grabbed by the journey itself, you’re not going to enjoy this story. It’s very light of plot and character motivations, it only hints at Nemo’s backstory, and it does have a bit of a cop out ending. Issues that the Disney film of the 1950’s addresses fairly well if you’ve haven’t seen that. I still enjoyed it very much and look forward to more of Verne’s works.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I did mostly enjoy this book. It had a strong start in part 1 that tapered off, and part 2 was solid although I found the ending abrupt and unsatisfying.
There was a pretty cool journey overall where the characters explored some interesting places and phenomena but I found it a bit of a struggle to hold my attention at parts with what felt like lots of filler just naming the flora and fauna they saw although I suppose it’s accurate to the story since we’re supposed to be reading the memoirs of a marine expert.
There was a pretty cool journey overall where the characters explored some interesting places and phenomena but I found it a bit of a struggle to hold my attention at parts with what felt like lots of filler just naming the flora and fauna they saw although I suppose it’s accurate to the story since we’re supposed to be reading the memoirs of a marine expert.