A review by zackolantern
Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

3.0

"The cheer followed—that was a matter of course; but it rang out so full and hearty, that I confess I could hardly believe these same men were plotting for our blood."

Felt like it was my duty as a Tampa native to read a pirate book during Gasparilla season. Stevenson stated that he wanted Treasure Island "to be a story for boys; no need of psychology or fine writing...". While this story is very plot heavy and catered to young boys (there is only one woman in the whole book), I found that it was also filled with fine writing and observations about our mysterious nature:

•"A man who has been three years biting his nails on a desert island, Jim, can’t expect to appear as sane as you or me."

•"Gradually my mind came back again, my pulses quieted down to a more natural time, and I was once more in possession of myself."

•"I do not know what it rightly is to faint, but I do know that for the next little while the whole world swam away from before me in a whirling mist"

One of the more memorable themes in this book is its clear stance against alcohol ("if you keep on drinking rum, the world will soon be quit of a very dirty scoundrel!"). The Surgeon General is a busy guy that probably didn't want to spend a minute on Treasure Island while working on the Alcohol and Cancer Risk Advisory, but this book could have given it some much needed ✨literary flair✨.

While there were moments where this book definitely dragged, overall I found it to be a positive and interesting reading experience. Thanks to the magic of the public domain, you can read the entire book here.