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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
I remember my mom had this book when I was a little kid, but I didn't know what it was about. It turns out to be a classic, and I'm glad I finally read it.
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