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3.28 AVERAGE
3.28 AVERAGE
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Why, oh, why did Hannay jump off that south-bound train? Buchan wanted him to have more adventure and meet many eccentric Scots, I imagine.
While this adventure/spy novel wasn't particularly tense or exciting, it's short enough that it didn't get too dull.
To a modern reader, used to double agents, moles, and triple-crossers, the plot seems rather straight forward, and Rochard Hannay is no James Bond. Despite being the hero, he doesn't actually display that much ingenuity; most of his escapes are made possible by random coincidence and the good luck of meeting a lot of ridiculously kind and trusting folks. One aspect I did enjoy was his disguises and quick-thinking when it came to inventing a new persona. He's no action hero, nor genius, but he can talk himself out of a tight spot, and all in all he's a decent, likable guy who does have a certain talent.
The other part of the novel that appealed to me was the Scottish setting and moorland descriptions, and being able to recognise places near where I live. But for anyone who tires quickly of barren Scottish heaths, I'd warn you to stay away from this! Probably half of this 100 page novel is taken up with Hannay running around and hiding on the moors, reminding me of the first part of the last Harry Potter book.
All in all, it's worth reading if you're interested in either Scottish literature or the origins of the spy genre, but I don't think you're missing much if you decide not to bother.
To a modern reader, used to double agents, moles, and triple-crossers, the plot seems rather straight forward, and Rochard Hannay is no James Bond. Despite being the hero, he doesn't actually display that much ingenuity; most of his escapes are made possible by random coincidence and the good luck of meeting a lot of ridiculously kind and trusting folks. One aspect I did enjoy was his disguises and quick-thinking when it came to inventing a new persona. He's no action hero, nor genius, but he can talk himself out of a tight spot, and all in all he's a decent, likable guy who does have a certain talent.
The other part of the novel that appealed to me was the Scottish setting and moorland descriptions, and being able to recognise places near where I live. But for anyone who tires quickly of barren Scottish heaths, I'd warn you to stay away from this! Probably half of this 100 page novel is taken up with Hannay running around and hiding on the moors, reminding me of the first part of the last Harry Potter book.
All in all, it's worth reading if you're interested in either Scottish literature or the origins of the spy genre, but I don't think you're missing much if you decide not to bother.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
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
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Very well written but not entirely what I was feeling right now
adventurous
medium-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
adventurous
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
Audiobook
Performed by Robert Powell
Short cat-and-mouse thriller whose main charm lies in its being old-timey and vintage. Robert Powell does a decent job of bringing the narration to life.
Seriously though, how lucky is Richard Hannay? I mean, OK, the situation he finds himself in is not so fortunate, but everyone he meets seems to be like, "I say, old boy, I believe your whole story! Have my clothes and some pie!"
And there are some very conveniently placed explosives nearby when he gets into a pickle. Which he happens to know how to use. And which he manages to deploy without losing any limbs.
That was probably one of the best bits to be fair.
I'm usually not great at absorbing narratives the auditory way, but I found The 39 Steps to be nice and restful before bed. Which probably means you'll be disappointed if you're expecting a high-octane thrill ride.
At least the story felt compact, and the division into Hannay's various tasks and ruses made it easy to enjoy in chunks.
Performed by Robert Powell
Short cat-and-mouse thriller whose main charm lies in its being old-timey and vintage. Robert Powell does a decent job of bringing the narration to life.
Seriously though, how lucky is Richard Hannay? I mean, OK, the situation he finds himself in is not so fortunate, but everyone he meets seems to be like, "I say, old boy, I believe your whole story! Have my clothes and some pie!"
And there are some very conveniently placed explosives nearby when he gets into a pickle. Which he happens to know how to use. And which he manages to deploy without losing any limbs.
That was probably one of the best bits to be fair.
I'm usually not great at absorbing narratives the auditory way, but I found The 39 Steps to be nice and restful before bed. Which probably means you'll be disappointed if you're expecting a high-octane thrill ride.
At least the story felt compact, and the division into Hannay's various tasks and ruses made it easy to enjoy in chunks.