The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
missalessia's review against another edition
2.0
the level of detail in this book is impressive, considering it’s regarded as the first novel in the English language, but it’s quite slow as a result and I only appreciated it once my lecturer explained it to me.
just not my cup of tea
just not my cup of tea
miredwig's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
3.0
passthesalt's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
you can tell they were figuring out novels back then. feels like I'll end up saying that for most if not all of the eighteenth century novels I was assigned to read. it rings true for Robinson Crusoe as well, unfortunately. many things that seem interesting to me get mentioned in passing and the things I couldn't care about if I tried get described in utterly excruciating detail
I'm sure all that was very inspiring to some people. to me it was mostly just dreadfully boring
I'm sure all that was very inspiring to some people. to me it was mostly just dreadfully boring
methrix's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
A dull slog that i'm giving some leeway due to its age. The titular Robbie is thoroughly unlikeable, and everyone else is either an unnamed extra or just there to stroke Crusoe's ego. Reading this really puts you in the mindset of a child being forced to read classics in English class.
Not to mention all the unsurprising 1700s quirks, like Crusoe literally enslaving a guy and converting him to Christianity, all the talk about 'pagan cannibal savages', the frequent mentions of God and Providence and Crusoe's daily Bible readings, etc.
Also, it ends with a sequel hook. Seriously?Â
Not to mention all the unsurprising 1700s quirks, like Crusoe literally enslaving a guy and converting him to Christianity, all the talk about 'pagan cannibal savages', the frequent mentions of God and Providence and Crusoe's daily Bible readings, etc.
Also, it ends with a sequel hook. Seriously?Â
rookjupiter's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
mostlyreadaholic's review against another edition
1.0
I had the most unfortunate experience of reading this boring, annoying book. I read this for a literature class and I can't count on how many times I've cursed the author. 100% NOT recommended for a beginner classic reader.
imogen_reads_books's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
extraextrareadallaboutit's review against another edition
3.0
My feelings around this book are pretty mixed.
Being first published just shy of 300 years ago, the language used places you swiftly in the past. Overall I really enjoyed the way this book was written and how could one deny the genius that is the overall storyline?
I particularly liked the beginning of the book however the parts in the middle where Defoe's goes in to intense detail to describe the tactics Crusoe employs for survival became somewhat tedious and bothersome. Initially I was enamoured at the resourcefulness of Crusoe which had myself thinking on several occasions how I would not have the know-how to survive as he had been able but the details of the examples became too many. I guess the rather boring goings-on that map out his 28 years on the island probably serve to authentically capture what life was like on the island - spurts of excitement and long patches of nothingness.
At times I was disappointed that we didn't get to learn more of what was going on in Crusoe's head, instead often hearing much of what he did rather than what he thought. Really enjoying when we did get some insight such as in the initial retelling of his promises to God for deliverance and then the quick forgetfulness of all such things which took place promptly once delivered. These passages I found very entertaining and on reflection, very honest.
Being first published just shy of 300 years ago, the language used places you swiftly in the past. Overall I really enjoyed the way this book was written and how could one deny the genius that is the overall storyline?
I particularly liked the beginning of the book however the parts in the middle where Defoe's goes in to intense detail to describe the tactics Crusoe employs for survival became somewhat tedious and bothersome. Initially I was enamoured at the resourcefulness of Crusoe which had myself thinking on several occasions how I would not have the know-how to survive as he had been able but the details of the examples became too many. I guess the rather boring goings-on that map out his 28 years on the island probably serve to authentically capture what life was like on the island - spurts of excitement and long patches of nothingness.
At times I was disappointed that we didn't get to learn more of what was going on in Crusoe's head, instead often hearing much of what he did rather than what he thought. Really enjoying when we did get some insight such as in the initial retelling of his promises to God for deliverance and then the quick forgetfulness of all such things which took place promptly once delivered. These passages I found very entertaining and on reflection, very honest.