whippycleric's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
I found the plot of this book compelling and it progresses at a nice smooth pace. The characters are all well done but a bit one dimensional. I find Jules Vergnes style of describing characters directly rather than allowing the reader to understand via their thoughts or actions a little bit dull. Overall its a good read and quite exciting, worth a read but the style of characters leaves a little bit to be desired.
small_town_librarian's review against another edition
2.0
Just couldn't finish this one- due back to the library and quite long. It's a good read, especially for those interested in adventure/survival reads...
shayneh's review against another edition
2.0
A classic, and one that, while lengthy, does carry with it some satisfaction. It really screams to be read in a serial fashion, with all the cliff hangers, and in terms of sheer length -- one is never quite sure when it will end! The mystery bit does differentiate it from, say, Robinson Crusoe, but still feels weird when the reveal happens. Still, not bad.
feeona's review against another edition
4.0
Wonderful. I really enjoyed reading this. It is such a nice story, and even though it is about an exciting topic, the telling is very calm and easy but never boring. Some people might be annoyed that everything falls in place so easily, like yeah nobody could be this lucky, but for me this was really relaxing. I was always wondering and hoping with the main characters, but never really worried. Most of all I liked the ending.
benjfleck's review against another edition
3.0
This had SOOOOO MUCH POTENTIAL, and sadly I think it was mostly wasted. It was interesting to see the survivors construct a life on this island, but my expectations wanted more. What was really going on on this island and what did it mean in the grander scheme of life?
Also, I am not amiss in wishing there was a female character on the island to change the dynamic. Five guys is fine, but they all sort of became characterizations. The novel kept my interest despite it's almost basic, simple story structures and plot devices. One thing happened, solution. Another problem comes up, solution. There needed to be more character development, more involved relationships. They were just survivors surviving.
But the one thing that truly almost ruined the book for me was that ending. It was a massive disappointment and it left me questioning why I spent all this time reading this book. I'll give it three stars because I didn't NOT enjoy it. It was fine. But that ending was AWFUL and rushed and just BOO. That ending immediately receives -2 stars.
Mr. Verne, what's good? Treat us better, will ya? Treat yourself and treat your readers to an actual justified, interesting, and gratifying ending. This story had potential to be life-changing, but now I think I'll probably just forget about it in a few months, which is sad.
Spoiler
Unfortunately, that was not answered.Also, I am not amiss in wishing there was a female character on the island to change the dynamic. Five guys is fine, but they all sort of became characterizations. The novel kept my interest despite it's almost basic, simple story structures and plot devices. One thing happened, solution. Another problem comes up, solution. There needed to be more character development, more involved relationships. They were just survivors surviving.
But the one thing that truly almost ruined the book for me was that ending.
Spoiler
Captain fucking Nemo? Are you kidding me? What the hell was that??? NO!Mr. Verne, what's good? Treat us better, will ya? Treat yourself and treat your readers to an actual justified, interesting, and gratifying ending. This story had potential to be life-changing, but now I think I'll probably just forget about it in a few months, which is sad.
thomcat's review against another edition
5.0
I am very glad I dug up an unabridged translation for this masterwork of science fiction. I'm sure I read a 120 page cut-down version as a kid, and there is no comparison. Next step - find the unabridged 20,000 Leagues or Journey to the Center of the Earth. Jules Verne is a an artiste, as the French would say.
While reading it, my darling 8 year old asked about the dinosaurs, or other bits she's seen in the preview for the upcoming movie. Now to explain that the new movie has more in common with the loose adaptations of the 50's than a real translation.
This book was recommended by the 2012 Book Lover's Page-A-Day Calendar. Entry was for January 2, 2012.
While reading it, my darling 8 year old asked about the dinosaurs, or other bits she's seen in the preview for the upcoming movie. Now to explain that the new movie has more in common with the loose adaptations of the 50's than a real translation.
This book was recommended by the 2012 Book Lover's Page-A-Day Calendar. Entry was for January 2, 2012.
lynch626's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book better than Journey to the Center or the Earth, but still not quite as much as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. In both, however, I do love how Verne explains conditions around the book characters in such precise scientific detail. It makes you think that if you were in their situation, you could easily replicate their means of survival.
It did seem strange to me though, that at the beginning of the Mysterious Island, the group gets stranded there and, rather than coming up with a plan of how to escape, they seemed satisfied with their situation and started improving the conditions on their Island, later dubbed Lincoln Island after Abraham Lincoln. As the settlers go about building shelter, staying safe, securing enough food, and surveying their island, mysteriously things start happening. I made of list of these as I was reading (*below), and when Harding recounts them to the group later in the story, I realized I had listed them all... plus a few extras that seemed strange to me but evidently not so for the colonists. (Where in the world to monkeys and snow foxes exist in the same habitat?...). In the end, the crew finds out that it is actually Captain Nemo who has been their mysterious benefactor. I loved this twist, as it brought 20,000 leagues full circle for me - I'm only glad I read that book before I got to The Mysterious Island.
*Mysterious island list of mysterious things
-Harding turns up in a cave .25 miles inland after the crash landing on Lincoln Island (Top finds him and leads the other settlers to where he is)
-Top barking down the well at Granite House, but no one is there
-Top caught by a Dugang in the lake and Dugang is killed some some unknown force
-strange array of plants and animals on island (horses, arctic fox, monkeys, puma)
-lead shot found in a bird the settlers snared
-monkeys takeover and then flee from Granite House
-find treasure chest with guns, ammo, other useful items
-boat is cut loose to sea but washes up to settlers at just the right time for them to catch it
-Eirton says that he did not write the SOS note in the bottle that the settlers found washed up to Lincoln Island w the coordinates of Tabor Island
-Spolette, Pencroft & Herbert see a fire on Prospect heights to guide them back in from their trip to Tabor Island. ...but Captain Harding did not light any fire.
It did seem strange to me though, that at the beginning of the Mysterious Island, the group gets stranded there and, rather than coming up with a plan of how to escape, they seemed satisfied with their situation and started improving the conditions on their Island, later dubbed Lincoln Island after Abraham Lincoln. As the settlers go about building shelter, staying safe, securing enough food, and surveying their island, mysteriously things start happening. I made of list of these as I was reading (*below), and when Harding recounts them to the group later in the story, I realized I had listed them all... plus a few extras that seemed strange to me but evidently not so for the colonists. (Where in the world to monkeys and snow foxes exist in the same habitat?...). In the end, the crew finds out that it is actually Captain Nemo who has been their mysterious benefactor. I loved this twist, as it brought 20,000 leagues full circle for me - I'm only glad I read that book before I got to The Mysterious Island.
*Mysterious island list of mysterious things
-Harding turns up in a cave .25 miles inland after the crash landing on Lincoln Island (Top finds him and leads the other settlers to where he is)
-Top barking down the well at Granite House, but no one is there
-Top caught by a Dugang in the lake and Dugang is killed some some unknown force
-strange array of plants and animals on island (horses, arctic fox, monkeys, puma)
-lead shot found in a bird the settlers snared
-monkeys takeover and then flee from Granite House
-find treasure chest with guns, ammo, other useful items
-boat is cut loose to sea but washes up to settlers at just the right time for them to catch it
-Eirton says that he did not write the SOS note in the bottle that the settlers found washed up to Lincoln Island w the coordinates of Tabor Island
-Spolette, Pencroft & Herbert see a fire on Prospect heights to guide them back in from their trip to Tabor Island. ...but Captain Harding did not light any fire.
amoscreates's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
mrs3vam's review against another edition
2.0
Read the Spanish version.
read for my theater group when we were creating a play...
Jules Verne while a great author not my favorite at any means...this one I liked a little more than the 20,000 leagues one but still not a book I would re-read or even recommend to someone else. If you like Jules Verne, more power to you but not my cup of tea at all.
read for my theater group when we were creating a play...
Jules Verne while a great author not my favorite at any means...this one I liked a little more than the 20,000 leagues one but still not a book I would re-read or even recommend to someone else. If you like Jules Verne, more power to you but not my cup of tea at all.