mariia_'s review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
beelzebean's review against another edition
4.0
A few givens when reading any Jules Verne book:
- The story will be male centric (It was the times).
- There will be a racist "loyal slave" trope character.
- Parts of the story will be looong and drawn out, with lots of extra descriptive detail.
With that being said, I can still say that Verne is one of my all time favorite authors. The combination of adventure and science (geology, zoology, botany, marine biology, vulcanology, etc.) always hooks me and the knowledge Verne displays is impressive, to say the least! (Even if he does place animals and plants in parts of the world that they do not exist. But that's part of the fun of suspending disbelief).
I will also admit that I may have as much of an affinity for hot air balloons as Verne had.
Next up: Around the World in Eighty Days.
- The story will be male centric (It was the times).
- There will be a racist "loyal slave" trope character.
- Parts of the story will be looong and drawn out, with lots of extra descriptive detail.
With that being said, I can still say that Verne is one of my all time favorite authors. The combination of adventure and science (geology, zoology, botany, marine biology, vulcanology, etc.) always hooks me and the knowledge Verne displays is impressive, to say the least! (Even if he does place animals and plants in parts of the world that they do not exist. But that's part of the fun of suspending disbelief).
I will also admit that I may have as much of an affinity for hot air balloons as Verne had.
Next up: Around the World in Eighty Days.
savage7's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.75
kylearnzen's review against another edition
In a word, dull. I kept waiting for some fantastic creatures or beasts to show up, but it never happened. I ended up reading the first hundred pages or so and then just skipping to the end to see if anyone survived.
alwroteabook's review against another edition
5.0
In a fit of whimsy, I hereby announce I will give everyone five stars, but the reviews may not reflect it.
I remember reading this years ago and enjoying it, so I decided to give it a listen to see how it stood the test of time. The book seemed just the same, but I've changed since then, and now the book reads like a textbook for colonialism. I know it's considered a classic by many, but I can't see it that way anymore.
I remember reading this years ago and enjoying it, so I decided to give it a listen to see how it stood the test of time. The book seemed just the same, but I've changed since then, and now the book reads like a textbook for colonialism. I know it's considered a classic by many, but I can't see it that way anymore.
signegsl's review against another edition
1.0
DNF
This book is toooo boring for me to finish. Too many scientific explanations. Everything is drawn out. I don’t even know how this book has an average rating of 4*, hooooow?
Had to stop before I lost my will to read haha.
This book is toooo boring for me to finish. Too many scientific explanations. Everything is drawn out. I don’t even know how this book has an average rating of 4*, hooooow?
Had to stop before I lost my will to read haha.
bookishwendy's review against another edition
3.0
Do NOT use this book as a survival manual!!
Right, now that we have that straightened out...what a book! I write this review with tongue in cheek, just as the author must have written this book. Why? well...
Five Union prisoners of war escape Richmond, VA in a Rebel spy balloon, and a mere five days later end up on a remote island in the Pacific. Being very resourceful (not to mention absolute geniuses) they do what anyone stranded on a deserted island would do: they forge their own iron and steel tools, make glass, an elevator, nitroglycerin, and even a telegraph using 100% natural materials (think the professor from Gilligan's Island). But in the course of their struggle against nature, strange incidents convince them that this island may not be as deserted as they thought...(insert ominous music)...
Be prepared for a kicker ending that will leave you choking on your lithodomus!
Right, now that we have that straightened out...what a book! I write this review with tongue in cheek, just as the author must have written this book. Why? well...
Five Union prisoners of war escape Richmond, VA in a Rebel spy balloon, and a mere five days later end up on a remote island in the Pacific. Being very resourceful (not to mention absolute geniuses) they do what anyone stranded on a deserted island would do: they forge their own iron and steel tools, make glass, an elevator, nitroglycerin, and even a telegraph using 100% natural materials (think the professor from Gilligan's Island). But in the course of their struggle against nature, strange incidents convince them that this island may not be as deserted as they thought...(insert ominous music)...
Be prepared for a kicker ending that will leave you choking on your lithodomus!
emuna's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
mabfred's review against another edition
5.0
Ta kniha se četla sama! Naprosto mě fascinovalo, co všechno postavy v ní vystupující ví a umí. Jedna z věcí, které mne ovlivnily v tom, že jsem nakonec chtěl být přírodovědcem (a ne třeba historikem).