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3.59 AVERAGE
3.59 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
tense
medium-paced
Not sure if it was the abridgment, the voice, or just the story. Not for me.
The first Jules Verne I read was Around the World in 80 Days, way back when for a book report. I remember liking that one, so I wanted to give this one a try.
It's a classic and it must have been perceived as science fiction at the time. I'm glad I read it, but I'm left wanting a little...
The MC seems to passively undergo the events of the story he's telling rather than being an active participant in them. Plus, that Capt. Nemo is one weird dude. And the story reveals painfully little of what drives him to do the things he does.
Pretty sure I'm not going to be picking his one up again. Might give Around the World another whirl though
It's a classic and it must have been perceived as science fiction at the time. I'm glad I read it, but I'm left wanting a little...
The MC seems to passively undergo the events of the story he's telling rather than being an active participant in them. Plus, that Capt. Nemo is one weird dude. And the story reveals painfully little of what drives him to do the things he does.
Pretty sure I'm not going to be picking his one up again. Might give Around the World another whirl though
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
7/10
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A Classic that is one of my favourites
I respect what this book was at the time it was written. There's some engaging plot points and good philosophizing, but no story arc. Things just kind of happen. Jules Verne spends wayyyy too many pages describing the taxonomic classifications of marine life. Definitely some outdated discussion of "savages" (to be expected for the era but still cringe). It was fun to see what science was known and unknown at this point in history. But overall, I wouldn't necessarily recommend it.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
DNF. Takes too long to get going, very slow beginning.
I loved the plot to this story, but it definitely was one I had to force myself to finish.
Professor Aronnax is invited on an expedition to find a giant sea creature responsible for eating a hole in a steel ship and almost sinking it. Having a passion for studying the sea, he gratefully accepts and brings his assistant along with him. On the ship, they meet Canadian harpooner Ned Land who will be responsible for taking the beast down. It takes a while, but they eventually find the monster and pursue it. When they get close enough they try a shot at the beast, it looks like it does no damage. The beast takes aim at the ship and Prof. Aronnax and his mate go overboard.
In the water, far away from the ship, they also find Ned Land clinging to what looks like a piece of the beast. But it's made out of steel, surely it's not an animal. Suddenly a door opens and they are brought within this ship and kept captive. The beast they everyone has been trying to pursue is an advanced submarine.
Being kept captive on the ship, the trio is allowed to partake in the adventures they go on. They see things no one but those on the ship have seen and venture to places no one has been. It's obviously Verne had an incredible imagination to pull this book together and, despite it being 100+ years old, still reads like something that could happen today. This is where the book excels, as the characters are a bit weak. There was no purpose to Aronnax's assistant in the book at all. He provided absolutely not value to drive the plot forward. And even the main characters like Aronnax, Land, and Captain Nemo we don't find out too much about.
Even with this, the book's weakest point is the ending. It's like Verne couldn't figure out how to end the book so just gave up and said oh well we're done now. It's unfortunate as otherwise the book was pretty fun.
In the water, far away from the ship, they also find Ned Land clinging to what looks like a piece of the beast. But it's made out of steel, surely it's not an animal. Suddenly a door opens and they are brought within this ship and kept captive. The beast they everyone has been trying to pursue is an advanced submarine.
Being kept captive on the ship, the trio is allowed to partake in the adventures they go on. They see things no one but those on the ship have seen and venture to places no one has been. It's obviously Verne had an incredible imagination to pull this book together and, despite it being 100+ years old, still reads like something that could happen today. This is where the book excels, as the characters are a bit weak. There was no purpose to Aronnax's assistant in the book at all. He provided absolutely not value to drive the plot forward. And even the main characters like Aronnax, Land, and Captain Nemo we don't find out too much about.
Even with this, the book's weakest point is the ending. It's like Verne couldn't figure out how to end the book so just gave up and said oh well we're done now. It's unfortunate as otherwise the book was pretty fun.