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3.17 AVERAGE
3.17 AVERAGE
Narrated as if someone was telling you every excruciating detail of their day for 300 pages. "I did this. Then I did this. And I did this." Almost unbearably repetitive and dull.
It's probably a good thing Robinson spent most of the book alone because really, no one should be within 100 miles of him. His complete lack of judgement drags everyone around him down too.
It's probably a good thing Robinson spent most of the book alone because really, no one should be within 100 miles of him. His complete lack of judgement drags everyone around him down too.
I was tempted to round down to four stars because the book became rather dull after his rescue. I listened to an audio version of this book and I'm really glad that I did. Sure, there are problematic things in it if we consider it from today's social lens. But it really is an amazing piece of work for the early 1700s. No wonder it has remained popular for centuries. Even some of the religious philosophizing could be of value today--such as not judging others' sins and appreciating what you have by knowing there are others who have far less.
adventurous
challenging
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was reminded by my update feed that I finished this book over a month ago without putting in a review.
How does one review a classic written almost 200 years ago? Not only does everyone already know the story, but the writing style of the time was completely different.
First of all, the surprise for me as I read the book was just how wrong I was in my "knowledge" of the story. For example, he spends almost 20 years, nearly three-fourths of the book, alone on the island before ever meeting "Friday." His adventures run the gamut from the mundane scavenging for food to the exciting encounters with cannibals. There is much more to the tale both before and after his time on the island than I ever realized. I could see how some of the details could be boring to many modern readers, but I found it fascinating.
As to the writing style, it does get a little tiresome. There is a lot of repetition, and there were many times I found myself wishing he'd just get on with it. It almost felt as though it were published serially, with each part designed to taunt the readers about future events to keep them hooked. I suppose people could object to some of the language and attitudes regarding the natives of the islands, but Crusoe's own enlightenment on the subject is one of the main ideas of the book.
Overall, I found it a very enjoyable read, but also one I wasn't eager to recommend to others. I really enjoyed fantasizing myself in his situation and wondering how I would fare, so it definitely captured my imagination. However, I could easily see how the same text could seem dreadfully uneventful for modern readers.
How does one review a classic written almost 200 years ago? Not only does everyone already know the story, but the writing style of the time was completely different.
First of all, the surprise for me as I read the book was just how wrong I was in my "knowledge" of the story. For example, he spends almost 20 years, nearly three-fourths of the book, alone on the island before ever meeting "Friday." His adventures run the gamut from the mundane scavenging for food to the exciting encounters with cannibals. There is much more to the tale both before and after his time on the island than I ever realized. I could see how some of the details could be boring to many modern readers, but I found it fascinating.
As to the writing style, it does get a little tiresome. There is a lot of repetition, and there were many times I found myself wishing he'd just get on with it. It almost felt as though it were published serially, with each part designed to taunt the readers about future events to keep them hooked. I suppose people could object to some of the language and attitudes regarding the natives of the islands, but Crusoe's own enlightenment on the subject is one of the main ideas of the book.
Overall, I found it a very enjoyable read, but also one I wasn't eager to recommend to others. I really enjoyed fantasizing myself in his situation and wondering how I would fare, so it definitely captured my imagination. However, I could easily see how the same text could seem dreadfully uneventful for modern readers.
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Just not my type of book. I stopped reading it after the protagonist exhibits gross disregard for wildlife. I get that it’s an adventure novel steeped in history, but it’s too outdated for me to glean anything significant out of it - not even pleasure.
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
Il s'agit d'un récit colonial où un colon britannique s'accapare une île, sa nature, ses habitants et prend un autochtone comme esclave, l'objectifiant en l'appelant Vendredi et lui enseignant comment l'appeler Maître. C'était la pensée dominante de l'époque.
I enjoyed this book, definitely of it's time in terms of attitude but good nonetheless