marpesea's review against another edition
3.0
Captain Hookbridge's life was a raucous series of events that eventually lead to him Neverland where he is trapped in an un-winnable conflict with the boy ruler, Peter Pan. Destined to watch his crew die while he is cursed to live, Hook's world (and the whole island) is upset when a grown up woman dreams her way to Neverland.
Overall this was a fascinating look at a fleshed out fantasy world. Captain Hook is flawed, but his growth feels genuine. I read this over the course of a sleepy Sunday and enjoyed it immensely. The elements playing with toxic masculinity and gendered expectations (even in childhood) were very clever.
That said, there are some problematic elements from the original work that could have used more tweaking. I wish Jensen had omitted the racial slurs (savage and r*****n). They only appear a few times and lessen as the story continues (presumably as Hook grows and develops relationships with other people), but I don't think their inclusion added enough to be warranted.
ETA: The longer this goes, the more I want to discuss it. Was this a boring "redeemed by the love of a good woman" narrative? Why was Stella so patient? Was it warranted? Neverland as both a refuge and a prison was clever, but where did the fairies fit in? I just don't know how I feel about it.
Overall this was a fascinating look at a fleshed out fantasy world. Captain Hook is flawed, but his growth feels genuine. I read this over the course of a sleepy Sunday and enjoyed it immensely. The elements playing with toxic masculinity and gendered expectations (even in childhood) were very clever.
That said, there are some problematic elements from the original work that could have used more tweaking. I wish Jensen had omitted the racial slurs (savage and r*****n). They only appear a few times and lessen as the story continues (presumably as Hook grows and develops relationships with other people), but I don't think their inclusion added enough to be warranted.
ETA: The longer this goes, the more I want to discuss it. Was this a boring "redeemed by the love of a good woman" narrative? Why was Stella so patient? Was it warranted? Neverland as both a refuge and a prison was clever, but where did the fairies fit in? I just don't know how I feel about it.
pagesofpins's review against another edition
2.0
The idea to make Neverland into a sort of creepy pergatory in which Hook can take no pleasure in the beautiful world he inhabits, nor escape the whims of a bratty child, was a great one. But I don't buy the idea that Hook was cursed to Neverland because of a youth debauching and pillaging. Hook's character is so sinister because he's a gentleman obsessed with good form, yet also a ruthless and unpredictable pirate. Why not curse Hook for his coldness after years in an elite boarding school, or after he spurned a well meaning child, or after years of pirating and killing gentleman's children? Just about any life suits his punishment better than drinking and whoring away his youth. Also, the pillow talk could use some work. "Whups, I've never done this one handed"? Really? I also disliked that they lost their memory at the end, but easily end up together. MAJOR COP OUT.
melanieapril's review against another edition
5.0
I wasn't sure what to make of this book when I first started reading it, but by the end I was hooked (pun intended). I loved adventuring all over Neverland with the not-so-sinister, existentially exhausted Captain Hook. And since I am currently teaching discussion sections for a course on childhood and fairy tales, I found Jensen's take on the divide between boys and men problematic but fascinating. One of my favorite novels I have read this year.
womanon's review against another edition
4.0
This gave me such an amazing insight to Hook's side of the story! It was super fun and imaginitive.
nikitanila's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alexperc_92's review against another edition
5.0
He is tortured. He carves love. He is Hook.
If I had to conclude my review in three sentences that would be them. This book was mindblowing in every sense from changing rapidly my childhood point of view for the story of "Peter Pan" to the character of "Hook" in general.
We all knew that Hook, mostly from the Disney movie, the adaption of the movie "Hook" and "Peter Pan", was the evil guy who mostly gets eaten, beaten and humiliated. In the book he is a tortured character with a painful past. From a father with great expectations for him to the prisons of the French James Hookbridge becomes a man of hate who sails later at the Carribean as a pirate.
If he met Jack Sparrow in the way, I have no idea ;)
But a spell and his behavior thrust him into Neverland, where he become a toy to Peter's mischief. For the first time, Peter was viewed as a villain, victim of his innocence, since there were no grown-ups to teach him, who likes to destroy Hook in every level. Stella was an amazing character. Smart, beautiful through Hook's eyes and witty, she had a different perception of Neverland and the way she loved Hook was the sweetest part of the book.
I would love to obtain this book on paperback if the chance will ever be given to me and even more after all the movies and stories we've seen and heard, I think that this one in particular would look great at the big screen. :)
If I had to conclude my review in three sentences that would be them. This book was mindblowing in every sense from changing rapidly my childhood point of view for the story of "Peter Pan" to the character of "Hook" in general.
We all knew that Hook, mostly from the Disney movie, the adaption of the movie "Hook" and "Peter Pan", was the evil guy who mostly gets eaten, beaten and humiliated. In the book he is a tortured character with a painful past. From a father with great expectations for him to the prisons of the French James Hookbridge becomes a man of hate who sails later at the Carribean as a pirate.
If he met Jack Sparrow in the way, I have no idea ;)
But a spell and his behavior thrust him into Neverland, where he become a toy to Peter's mischief. For the first time, Peter was viewed as a villain, victim of his innocence, since there were no grown-ups to teach him, who likes to destroy Hook in every level. Stella was an amazing character. Smart, beautiful through Hook's eyes and witty, she had a different perception of Neverland and the way she loved Hook was the sweetest part of the book.
I would love to obtain this book on paperback if the chance will ever be given to me and even more after all the movies and stories we've seen and heard, I think that this one in particular would look great at the big screen. :)