Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
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.
adventurous
dark
tense
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:
No
I had to read it for Film Club for work, to be honest...I have no idea what just happened. *Insert nervous laugh*
adventurous
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
This is another entry on the 1001 Books list I can appreciate for its historical literary value but didn’t necessarily enjoy reading that much. It does move quickly, and the fact that it was originally serialized is obvious. However, Hannay is a quintessential Marty Stu and knowing he would always find a harebrained way out of any problem really lessened the tension. I’m also not a fan of spy stories (and even read the Wikipedia page after finishing to make sure I hadn’t missed anything), so I think I just was destined to not get along with this story.
I'm kind of wavering between three and four stars on this one. The entire book was ridiculous, unlikely, and faintly nonsensical; and most of it seemed to comprise of Richard Hannay running away from Germans in disguise until he meets someone who shelters him, gives him another disguise, and then runs away until he meets someone else, who shelters him and gives him a new disguise... and so on and so forth.
But.
I kind of enjoyed it anyway. It was a short, fun, quick read. 3.5 stars. Probably.
But.
I kind of enjoyed it anyway. It was a short, fun, quick read. 3.5 stars. Probably.
It only took me two weeks to finish a 100 page book! Yayyyyyy. :P
One if those books that really shows its age. I can appreciate the adventure element and importance to jump starting the spy genre, but ugh to the rest. the only reference to a “she” is a boat, colonialism and empire were viewed as positives. There was so much white wealthy European male privilege on display it didn’t sit well with me.
Fun, short thriller that really seems to be the precursor to so many spy novels. Ordinary guy who is bored out of his mind, stumbles onto a big national secret, and is promptly chased by the bad guys.