A review by violetturtledove
Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne

adventurous informative mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

There's something very comforting about this book, although I'm not sure that was the original intention! It might not make for the most thrilling pace, but there's something reassuring in recognising someone else who likes making lists. That is, the lists of sea creatures, shells, etc. The detailed mentions of maritime events, latitude and longitude, and other measurements were another matter, my brain doesn't work in a way that finds those interesting or easy to read. 

This was originally published in serial form so it's quite episodic: many of the chapters end on cliffhangers and a few of the solutions are a bit underwhelming, and the events of one challenge don't have much effect on the plot as a whole. 

The few characters are good, Captain Nemo is a brilliantly flawed character, enigmatic and intriguing, prone to sudden changes in mood but with a strong (if mysterious) moral code.

The main three other characters are likeable and have some quite amusing interactions (Ned is probably the least likeable but also gets the best lines). The rest of the crew remain a mystery, being seen rarely and not speaking in a known language.

For a modern reader the format and pacing of this book might be a bit dated, but I still enjoyed the journey.