You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
I haven’t read nearly as many Classics as I’d like and I’d heard it was a book worth reading!
I found the first few chapters a bit hard going and thought about putting the book down, was it really for me...? Not something I would usually read, but no. I’m no quitter, I wanted to see the story through and I can say, I’m glad that I did!
I enjoyed the storytelling, the clever ways he evaded capture from his pursuers and I was unsure how it was all going to be resolved..! It was intriguing and a nice little read overall, I thought it ended a little too quickly but still can understand why it’s on the BBC Big Read’s poll as one is the UKs best loved novels. I’m glad I gave it a chance and didn’t abandon it at the beginning! 3/5
I found the first few chapters a bit hard going and thought about putting the book down, was it really for me...? Not something I would usually read, but no. I’m no quitter, I wanted to see the story through and I can say, I’m glad that I did!
I enjoyed the storytelling, the clever ways he evaded capture from his pursuers and I was unsure how it was all going to be resolved..! It was intriguing and a nice little read overall, I thought it ended a little too quickly but still can understand why it’s on the BBC Big Read’s poll as one is the UKs best loved novels. I’m glad I gave it a chance and didn’t abandon it at the beginning! 3/5
I didn’t really get hooked and it was very slow-paced.
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
I'd seen the play "The Thirty-Nine Steps" years ago and enjoyed it so thought I'd read the book. I found it a little tedious although the narrator did a great job.
mysterious
tense
slow-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
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Early English "thriller" fiction... although kind of low on the "thrills" and kind of high on the in depth descriptions of the Scottish countryside.
I thought John Buchan's "The Thirty-Nine Steps" was just okay. Written as an early thriller, it features adventurer Richard Hannay, who gets embroiled in espionage and must escape the clutches of both the local police and some more sinister characters who are following him about.
The book was pretty fun initially, and I thought the framing of the story was really interesting. After Hannay's gazillionth escape from the people chasing him, it got a bit tired. It's odd to say that a 115-page book felt too long, but it did. This might have worked better as a short story.
The story ties up neatly in the end and made for a decent and fast read. It didn't, however, inspire me to read the remaining four books featuring Hannay.
The book was pretty fun initially, and I thought the framing of the story was really interesting. After Hannay's gazillionth escape from the people chasing him, it got a bit tired. It's odd to say that a 115-page book felt too long, but it did. This might have worked better as a short story.
The story ties up neatly in the end and made for a decent and fast read. It didn't, however, inspire me to read the remaining four books featuring Hannay.