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3.17 AVERAGE
3.17 AVERAGE
The pacing of the story is kind of weird. Defoe will spend paragraphs explaining exactly how many gold pieces and crates of sugar were distributed to a dozen benefactors, the debts that were made and squared away, and other financial minutiae among names we know almost nothing about. Then he'll "yada yada" 20 years of Spaniard history on the desert island post-rescue in a single paragraph. There's zero human contact for 25 years, then suddenly dozens upon dozens are accidentally bumbling their way onto Crusoe's island which he leverages into unquestioned leadership and authority over those men. We'll have to chalk it up to "being of the times" that despite Crusoe's supposed spiritual growth and introspection, Friday being his slave is treated as matter-of-fact as breathing oxygen and that Friday craves that domination. But that doesn't mean it won't leave an exceedingly bad taste in the modern mouth.
There are moments in the book when you kind of get the feeling that it could (and maybe wants to?) really make a pointed comment on "what truly makes a man wealthy?" And it kind of pays lip-service to the idea, even post-rescue. But any lessons on spirituality and morality are very conveniently ignored by the author post-rescue. Is God even brought up once, despite the major role Christianity apparently played in keeping Crusoe sane on the island? Is that supposed to be a comment on how easy it is to take life for granted even after having had nothing? Or is it just sloppy writing? It doesn't *feel* intentional in my reading of it.
Post-rescue portion is really quite boring, though Defoe tries to spice it up with a cartoonishly over-the-top wolf attack. And what was with the whole "Friday teased and killed a bear to make us laugh" part? Then the book ends. It just ends with a literal, "Now read book two." to which I reply, "No, thanks, that was enough."
There are moments in the book when you kind of get the feeling that it could (and maybe wants to?) really make a pointed comment on "what truly makes a man wealthy?" And it kind of pays lip-service to the idea, even post-rescue. But any lessons on spirituality and morality are very conveniently ignored by the author post-rescue. Is God even brought up once, despite the major role Christianity apparently played in keeping Crusoe sane on the island? Is that supposed to be a comment on how easy it is to take life for granted even after having had nothing? Or is it just sloppy writing? It doesn't *feel* intentional in my reading of it.
Post-rescue portion is really quite boring, though Defoe tries to spice it up with a cartoonishly over-the-top wolf attack. And what was with the whole "Friday teased and killed a bear to make us laugh" part? Then the book ends. It just ends with a literal, "Now read book two." to which I reply, "No, thanks, that was enough."
Some if this was quite good. A lot of it was uncomfortably racist. It suffers from being a product of its time (although it also gives an insight into the time). I give it two stars as a reading experience. Maybe I would think differently if I was studying it, but if you are after something pleasurable to read I would not recommend this novel.
(Also: this book is very famously about a man being stranded and isolated. If you read the wikipedia article, it lists very few named characters. And yet, somehow, against all odds, there are *two* people named Robinson. Did Defoe forget what he named his main character?)
(Also: this book is very famously about a man being stranded and isolated. If you read the wikipedia article, it lists very few named characters. And yet, somehow, against all odds, there are *two* people named Robinson. Did Defoe forget what he named his main character?)
I had to read this in school, and I can't really say that I looked forward to it. The language was harder then what I usually read and it took a long time to read it. It took me like 1,5-2 minutes to read one page. This book is not the best I've read, but it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, I mean it's a book from the 1700. It had some thrilling parts, but I guess it wasn't enough for me.
I had to read Robinson Crusoe for school and it was definitely one of those books you have to read. And I don't mean that as in "it's a must-read!!", I mean that it is something that feels like a chore to read. There have been books I read for school that I really enjoyed reading, books I kind of enjoyed reading, books that were insightful, books that I at least understood, if not enjoyed.
Robinson Crusoe wasn't actually required reading. We had to read a book from the Age of Enlightenment, and my group chose Robinson Crusoe because it was short. Not a good choice. The main point I'm trying to make here is that the book is BORING. I get that it's old, and literature was different back then, but gosh it's boring! The format makes you feel like you're reading a list. As for the survivalist aspect, if I learned any crucial information about making it out alive through decades on a desert island, I've definitely forgotten it. Build fences, I guess?
Two stars for "It was kinda cool how his home and farming improved through the years".
Robinson Crusoe wasn't actually required reading. We had to read a book from the Age of Enlightenment, and my group chose Robinson Crusoe because it was short. Not a good choice. The main point I'm trying to make here is that the book is BORING. I get that it's old, and literature was different back then, but gosh it's boring! The format makes you feel like you're reading a list. As for the survivalist aspect, if I learned any crucial information about making it out alive through decades on a desert island, I've definitely forgotten it. Build fences, I guess?
Two stars for "It was kinda cool how his home and farming improved through the years".
adventurous
relaxing
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
informative
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
N/A
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Recommend this to anyone who loves reading books that are about an intensely dislikeable character and are written in an incredibly slow and rambling style. If you don't love the pages of painstakingly detailed accounts of animal and plant husbandry, then maybe you'll instead enjoy the endless paragraphs of proselytising and banging on about "the true God". If you're looking for an exciting adventure book, then look elsewhere!
All that said, reading this will demonstrate just how far the English novel has come in the last 300 years, and make you appreciate all other books that little bit more.
All that said, reading this will demonstrate just how far the English novel has come in the last 300 years, and make you appreciate all other books that little bit more.
I'd love to say it didn't bore me tears, but it did. I rate it a two beacuse it was a real page turner on the heels of A Journal of the Plague Year. Maybe it's something I can appreciate more now that I'm older. I may try again one day.
only reason why it's not one star is bc it's thought-provoking