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3.17 AVERAGE
3.17 AVERAGE
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
The name "Robinson Crusoe" readily conjures up images of a sad castaway on a desert island, who after years of solitude comes up a man's footprint in the sand. But in reading Daniel Defoe's novel of 1719, I was surprised how different the work is from its common stereotype. Not until about 50 pages in does Crusoe end up a castaway, having before hand some misadventures as a young sailor. Instead of washing up on his island with just the clothes on his back, he in fact is able to get a great many useful tools and implements from his still intact wreck. And the man's footprint, instead of being the sign of another Crusoe subsequently encounters, is just a sign that some cannibals from the mainland visit the island on occassion.
All in all ROBINSON CRUSOE is an entertaining novel, one with much adventure and intrigue. One gets a lot of pleasure from reading of how Crusoe turns the basic furnishings of the island to his own use, having by the end of his confinement there such things as cheese, three houses, two canoes, and pottery. ROBINSON CRUSOE is also an interesting portrait of the times, for it was much influenced by popular attitudes of the early 1700s. Crusoe occasionally voices his dislike of the Spaniards, their atrocities in the Americas, and their Roman Catholic religion. But Defoe is hardly more charitable to the Native Americans, whose ignorance and godless depravity Crusoe deplores constantly.
To criticize a 300 year-old classic might be a silly exercise, but I doubt many readers will find this novel an elegantly crafted work. It's repetitive, for one. How many times do we need to read that Crusoe is reluctant to kill the maneaters? And the writer didn't seem to know when to stop, for after Crusoe's return to civilization we get an unnecessary battle with wolves in the woods of France. No wonder that the novel has so often circulated in abridgement.
I read this book in the Penguin Popular Classics edition, ISBN 0140623154, which I would recommend if you just want some reading material without making a permanent addition to your library. It is printed on poor quality paper, but is priced quite low. It has no notes or commentary, but you really don't need them. Indeed, I'm surprised how smoothly readable ROBINSON CRUSOE is considering that it was written in the English of 300 years ago (even later works like TRISTRAM SHANDY present more of a challenge), and I'd even recommend it to a young person wanting just a fun adventure story.
All in all ROBINSON CRUSOE is an entertaining novel, one with much adventure and intrigue. One gets a lot of pleasure from reading of how Crusoe turns the basic furnishings of the island to his own use, having by the end of his confinement there such things as cheese, three houses, two canoes, and pottery. ROBINSON CRUSOE is also an interesting portrait of the times, for it was much influenced by popular attitudes of the early 1700s. Crusoe occasionally voices his dislike of the Spaniards, their atrocities in the Americas, and their Roman Catholic religion. But Defoe is hardly more charitable to the Native Americans, whose ignorance and godless depravity Crusoe deplores constantly.
To criticize a 300 year-old classic might be a silly exercise, but I doubt many readers will find this novel an elegantly crafted work. It's repetitive, for one. How many times do we need to read that Crusoe is reluctant to kill the maneaters? And the writer didn't seem to know when to stop, for after Crusoe's return to civilization we get an unnecessary battle with wolves in the woods of France. No wonder that the novel has so often circulated in abridgement.
I read this book in the Penguin Popular Classics edition, ISBN 0140623154, which I would recommend if you just want some reading material without making a permanent addition to your library. It is printed on poor quality paper, but is priced quite low. It has no notes or commentary, but you really don't need them. Indeed, I'm surprised how smoothly readable ROBINSON CRUSOE is considering that it was written in the English of 300 years ago (even later works like TRISTRAM SHANDY present more of a challenge), and I'd even recommend it to a young person wanting just a fun adventure story.
adventurous
adventurous
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Quotes
It is never too late to be wise.”
My thought
Eshte nje liber mjaf terheqes dhe qe te meson. Ne fillim e paragjykova si liber por me vone ndyshova mendim. Jam mahmitur nga fuqia e Robisonit te krijonte dhe mbijetonte i vetem në një ishull te psbsnuar. Me ka pelqyer jashte mase menyra e shkrimit dhe pershkrimet detajiste. E rekomandoj sepse cdo lexues duhet te mari mesazhet qe percjell autori.
It is never too late to be wise.”
My thought
Eshte nje liber mjaf terheqes dhe qe te meson. Ne fillim e paragjykova si liber por me vone ndyshova mendim. Jam mahmitur nga fuqia e Robisonit te krijonte dhe mbijetonte i vetem në një ishull te psbsnuar. Me ka pelqyer jashte mase menyra e shkrimit dhe pershkrimet detajiste. E rekomandoj sepse cdo lexues duhet te mari mesazhet qe percjell autori.
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
It was slow, not in the mood for this sort of book will try again later
Content Warnings
Minor: Emotional abuse, Alcohol
adventurous
reflective
Bookclub read, this classic did not age too well in my opinion. The time span in which events happen also seemed illogical. I was just interested enough to finish it, but was very disappointed in how abruptly it ended.
adventurous
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
My copy was actually a different type of Oxford publication, targeted for kids but alas, I've picked this edition to review instead because I couldn't find what I have.
Robinson Crusoe was an exciting book to read. Surprisingly I like shipwrecked stories to read up on. It's scary and dangerous but it is also inspiring and may I say it? Fun. At this point in life, I'm in the mood for an adventure on an island, away from social media and pressures from life. Of course, I would need some kind of supplies and brush up on my survival skills.
It was brave of him to live alone on a foreign island, and he had great skills by building a life there but I found it a little iffy the way the POC characters were called savages and whenever he saved people, he immediately made them his slaves. But then again, what do you expect from an old white man published in the 1700s?
So apart from all that, I enjoyed this book as it was fast and adventurous.
Robinson Crusoe was an exciting book to read. Surprisingly I like shipwrecked stories to read up on. It's scary and dangerous but it is also inspiring and may I say it? Fun. At this point in life, I'm in the mood for an adventure on an island, away from social media and pressures from life. Of course, I would need some kind of supplies and brush up on my survival skills.
It was brave of him to live alone on a foreign island, and he had great skills by building a life there but I found it a little iffy the way the POC characters were called savages and whenever he saved people, he immediately made them his slaves. But then again, what do you expect from an old white man published in the 1700s?
So apart from all that, I enjoyed this book as it was fast and adventurous.