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karenleigh's review against another edition
5.0
I believe that in a former Victorian lifetime, I was a teenage boy who went to sea.
waqasmhd's review against another edition
3.0
Last year i got a chance to read first two chapters of this book on my friend's kindle and i thought to give it a try. It had been in my to-read list since last year when it was also shortlisted for Booker Prize 2011.
If i hadn't read few pages last year, i wouldn't have picked it up because i wasn't interested in it after reading the blurb, thought it wouldn't be my type and it still isn't.
But its an entertaining read for sure specially the start which got me hooked after all. Story is interesting enough for most of the first half as it remained true to its title but suddenly in the middle of the book something happens which makes you think that the purpose of the book has been served already i.e. the reason they went to sea was done for and I was thinking what could happen in other half of the book.
Thats what intrigued me but thats also where things start to get slow down and it feels like a drag. It changes its tone completely and you actually forget it has anything to do with menagerie storyline that we just read a few chapters earlier. reminded me of Life of Pie in a way. In this middle part which drags till the end, it gets intense and some unexpected things happen which i m not sure i liked.
It could've been 4 stars out of 5 if it had continued like the way it started till the end or may be if it had ended a bit earlier.
If i hadn't read few pages last year, i wouldn't have picked it up because i wasn't interested in it after reading the blurb, thought it wouldn't be my type and it still isn't.
But its an entertaining read for sure specially the start which got me hooked after all. Story is interesting enough for most of the first half as it remained true to its title but suddenly in the middle of the book something happens which makes you think that the purpose of the book has been served already i.e. the reason they went to sea was done for and I was thinking what could happen in other half of the book.
Thats what intrigued me but thats also where things start to get slow down and it feels like a drag. It changes its tone completely and you actually forget it has anything to do with menagerie storyline that we just read a few chapters earlier. reminded me of Life of Pie in a way. In this middle part which drags till the end, it gets intense and some unexpected things happen which i m not sure i liked.
It could've been 4 stars out of 5 if it had continued like the way it started till the end or may be if it had ended a bit earlier.
thebobsphere's review against another edition
3.5
Jamrach's Menagerie starts strongly. In fact for about 200 pages this novel is addictive. The writing is fantastic and the plot just keeps unfurling. However round the 210 mark the novel starts to flag and it becomes rather dull slog until the last 20 pages or so.
The story is about Jaffy, a boy in 19th century UK who gets along with animals and comes across animal trader, Mr. Jamrach, who hires him. After a while Jamrach hears of the Komodo Dragon and wants him for his collection. Despite warnings Jaffy goes and attends the voyage on a whaling ship.
This part of the story is brilliant - even faultless.
As soon as the dragon his caught the story goes downhill. Jaffy and the ship's crew are launched into a series of unfortunate happenings which just gets worse until the soul searching end.
So much potential - if the depressing part of the book was shortened this novel would be a cult classic. Still if you have yearn for a less cerebral life of Pi then this is perfect.
The story is about Jaffy, a boy in 19th century UK who gets along with animals and comes across animal trader, Mr. Jamrach, who hires him. After a while Jamrach hears of the Komodo Dragon and wants him for his collection. Despite warnings Jaffy goes and attends the voyage on a whaling ship.
This part of the story is brilliant - even faultless.
As soon as the dragon his caught the story goes downhill. Jaffy and the ship's crew are launched into a series of unfortunate happenings which just gets worse until the soul searching end.
So much potential - if the depressing part of the book was shortened this novel would be a cult classic. Still if you have yearn for a less cerebral life of Pi then this is perfect.
ebc111's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
sailor_marmar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
gingerjane's review against another edition
4.0
I'm totally surprised at the number of books I've read that involve people eating other people.
krobart's review against another edition
4.0
See my review here:
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2019/04/02/review-1334-jamrachs-menagerie/
https://whatmeread.wordpress.com/2019/04/02/review-1334-jamrachs-menagerie/
star_bound_shelves's review against another edition
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Animal cruelty
akenny614's review against another edition
4.0
Very good book. Started out so fun and care-free. Ended rather dark and sad.