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akross 's review for:
Robinson Crusoe
by Daniel Defoe
I've read some awful books this year (and wonderful as well!), and this is definitely on the shortlist of Worst Books Ever Read. Amanda had warned me I wasn't going to like it, friends who saw I was reading it pleaded Why?! and I knew it was coming-- but guh. Culturally insensitive religious propaganda that rarely, if ever, verges on being a well-written adventure story. While I understand that this was perhaps the 'way things were' back in Defoe's time, and that as one of the first 'novels' it had its own appeal... there's no rhyme or reason in my head as to why it's a classic today.
I'll probably reread it after I get through Coetzee's Foe (my only reason for picking up RC in the first place), but otherwise hope to never see it again.
Also, the edition I borrowed- the Bantam as it were- had an awful summary on the back, primarily because it was completely wrong. I know being the person who writes those little paragraphs isn't the most glam job, but could you read the book? While the embellishments on RC are bad enough, you could also double-check and notice that he does NOT have only a pipe, etc. starting off on the island, and he makes contact with people FAR before his 24th year. Thanks, shitty summary writer.
I'll probably reread it after I get through Coetzee's Foe (my only reason for picking up RC in the first place), but otherwise hope to never see it again.
Also, the edition I borrowed- the Bantam as it were- had an awful summary on the back, primarily because it was completely wrong. I know being the person who writes those little paragraphs isn't the most glam job, but could you read the book? While the embellishments on RC are bad enough, you could also double-check and notice that he does NOT have only a pipe, etc. starting off on the island, and he makes contact with people FAR before his 24th year. Thanks, shitty summary writer.