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kimouise's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
1.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Cannibalism
ed_moore's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
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? No
1.75
“Why were they not saved and you lost, why were you singled out, is it better to be here or there”
Defoe’s 'Robinson Crusoe' is the tale of a castaway who spends 27 years surviving on a deserted island and the challenges he faces with his loneliness and survival. It was a work slightly better than ‘Roxana’ but still by no means any good in my opinion. Crusoe as a protagonist can only be described as cardboard. His narrative voice is so dull, he has no interesting traits, a lot of plot armour and conveniences falling his way to allow his survival and the whole story is almost just a list and recount of the years on the island with no real conflict that the reader can become invested in and no particulate excitement in the plot.
Not to mention Defoe and Crusoe are extremely racist. The slave trade is celebrated in the early chapters and ‘savages’ which are described completely inhumanely serve as the main antagonists, completely prejudiced and seen as animalistic due to practices and race. This does not make Crusoe an any more likeable character and he already had no positive traits so to use my earlier phrasing he is just extremely racist cardboard. Not to mention the focus on enforced religious conversion which also occurs within the book.
The ending is also so unsatisfying, some characters are complexity forgotten and see no conclusions where everything just works out way too easily for Crusoe.
lifewithmisskate's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
spageti's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
marc129's review against another edition
3.0
Very entertaining, even after 3 centuries. Surprising spiritual link: comparison with Job (reflections on the Providence). Unique theme: the noble savage, even the cannibals are represented as such.
skinnybutfast's review against another edition
4.0
Fun exploration into the concept of the lone man and what hes capable of with unlimited time; although a rather ideal and very English outcome for 20+ years of isolation.
Merged review:
Fun exploration into the concept of the lone man and what hes capable of with unlimited time; although a rather ideal and very English outcome for 20+ years of isolation.
Merged review:
Fun exploration into the concept of the lone man and what hes capable of with unlimited time; although a rather ideal and very English outcome for 20+ years of isolation.
mayagueraus's review
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0