katrinkirjat's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Merten gorilla oli oikeasti hyvä lastenkirja, vaikka kun sanon lastenkirja, niin epäröin. En vieläkään tiedä oikein minkä ikäisille kirjaa itse suosittelisin. En ainakaan kovin nuorelle, ehkäpä sitten 5. luokasta ylöspäin aikaisintaan! Kirjassa on synkät sävyt, ja siinä käsitellään mm. lähisuhdeväkivaltaa, väkivaltarikosta, murhaa, kuolemaa, vankilassa oloa, masennusta, surua ja syrjimistä. Tarinassa vilisee sanoja kuten bordelli, juottola, viina ja merimiesten elämä on muutenkin kuvattu paikoin riehakkaasti. Aikuiselle lukijalle kirja sopii hyvin, ja ainakin itse viihdyin kirjan parissa.
Ilahduin kirjassa erityisesti sen tunnelmaan (synkkä miellyttää) ja henkilöhahmoihin, sekä tarinan syvyyteen. Tarina on seikkailukertomus, mutta se ei onneksi etene hirmuista vauhtia, vaan kirjassa pysähdytään hetkiin, rakennetaan tarinaa ja syvennetään hahmoja - pidin siitä paljon.
Hieman yli 600 sivuinen kirja jaksoi kantaa melkein loppuun asti. Hieman lopussa aloin kokea väsähdystä, kun kirjan pääjuoni oli jo ratkennut, mutta kirjassa haluttiin vielä antaa tilaa sille, mitä tapahtui "kaiken jälkeen". Se oli ihan kiva, mutta minä varmaan malttamaton lukija.
Kirjassa vähän särähti se, kun päähenkilö matkustaa Intiaan ja kuvaa paikallisia ihmisiä. Siinä oli erään miehen kulmakarvoja verrattu "tavallisen miehen viiksiin" - kenet lasketaan tavalliseksi mieheksi? Miksi gorilla miettisi yhtään kenenkään karvoitusta ollessaan itse äärimmäisen karvainen? Ei tällaista, kiitos.
Suosittelen kirjaa, mutta varauksella pienemmille lukijoille aiheidensa puolesta.
Ilahduin kirjassa erityisesti sen tunnelmaan (synkkä miellyttää) ja henkilöhahmoihin, sekä tarinan syvyyteen. Tarina on seikkailukertomus, mutta se ei onneksi etene hirmuista vauhtia, vaan kirjassa pysähdytään hetkiin, rakennetaan tarinaa ja syvennetään hahmoja - pidin siitä paljon.
Hieman yli 600 sivuinen kirja jaksoi kantaa melkein loppuun asti. Hieman lopussa aloin kokea väsähdystä, kun kirjan pääjuoni oli jo ratkennut, mutta kirjassa haluttiin vielä antaa tilaa sille, mitä tapahtui "kaiken jälkeen". Se oli ihan kiva, mutta minä varmaan malttamaton lukija.
Kirjassa vähän särähti se, kun päähenkilö matkustaa Intiaan ja kuvaa paikallisia ihmisiä. Siinä oli erään miehen kulmakarvoja verrattu "tavallisen miehen viiksiin" - kenet lasketaan tavalliseksi mieheksi? Miksi gorilla miettisi yhtään kenenkään karvoitusta ollessaan itse äärimmäisen karvainen? Ei tällaista, kiitos.
Suosittelen kirjaa, mutta varauksella pienemmille lukijoille aiheidensa puolesta.
kkflow's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
bethpreston's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
4.0
toraelisek's review against another edition
5.0
Favorittboka mi da jeg var yngre. Historien er utrolig kul og spennende, med masse detaljer.
awakeniingg's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
dustspectre's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
fast-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? No
3.0
I liked Part One and the last 25 or so pages. I also found that most of the characters, while incredibly one-dimensional, were lovable, and I'm sure as a kid I'd've loved them a lot. Similar to the plot as a whole: for a younger audience, it feels like the perfect book to read to them
However, as an adult, I didn't enjoy it so much. While I normally at least try to take the intended audience into consideration, the middle was just so much of a slog.
Essentially, each chapter was only a few pages long, each detailing a different event. I say detailing, but the writing style was so simplistic that I barely felt connected to the story at all. The most egregious example I can think of is
"[The maharaja said] "I'll have to put on something a bit extra at this display.... What do you think about looping the loop? It can't be difficult, surely?"
[Sally Jones] gave him a thumbs up, hoping he was just joking. He wasn't! But flying upside down proved to be not too bad anyway". The loop is never mentioned in further detail or even brought up again. (Note, the spoiler is fairly late into the book, but isn't an important plot point)
Anything mechanical was described in much more detail, especially when describing something being fixed, so maybe events being so sparse was a way to get into the mind of Sally Jones, who was a ships engineer? Either way, I just didn't enjoy it.
Also, if you're like me and going into this expecting a fun "unusual character solves the case!" story, you are going to be sorely disappointed: only about 25% of the story is dedicated to that plot thread, and of the other 75%, only half of that is still enjoyable on some level. 60% of this book is just filler, and the main plot straight up dissapears and is not mentioned for a solid 100 pages about halfway through. Probably alright as a children's story, but if you're an adult going to read this to yourself or a child, just be prepared to be bored.
Final note: while I cannot pin down any explicit examples of xenophobia/racism, the whole section where Sally Jones is in India just feels... off to me. It just feels like a very steriotypical depiction of India, and while that applies to literally every location and character in this book, it still doesn't feel right. So, just be warned
However, as an adult, I didn't enjoy it so much. While I normally at least try to take the intended audience into consideration, the middle was just so much of a slog.
Essentially, each chapter was only a few pages long, each detailing a different event. I say detailing, but the writing style was so simplistic that I barely felt connected to the story at all. The most egregious example I can think of is
Spoiler
fairly late into the book, Sally Jones, the main character, regularly rides an aeroplane with a maharaja. The maharaja (who has only been flying for a few months at this point) decides to fly a loop-de-loop in order to impress his courtiers and outshine his cousin. The exact passage for this, I kid you not, is"[The maharaja said] "I'll have to put on something a bit extra at this display.... What do you think about looping the loop? It can't be difficult, surely?"
[Sally Jones] gave him a thumbs up, hoping he was just joking. He wasn't! But flying upside down proved to be not too bad anyway". The loop is never mentioned in further detail or even brought up again.
Anything mechanical was described in much more detail, especially when describing something being fixed, so maybe events being so sparse was a way to get into the mind of Sally Jones, who was a ships engineer? Either way, I just didn't enjoy it.
Also, if you're like me and going into this expecting a fun "unusual character solves the case!" story, you are going to be sorely disappointed: only about 25% of the story is dedicated to that plot thread, and of the other 75%, only half of that is still enjoyable on some level. 60% of this book is just filler, and the main plot straight up dissapears and is not mentioned for a solid 100 pages about halfway through. Probably alright as a children's story, but if you're an adult going to read this to yourself or a child, just be prepared to be bored.
Final note: while I cannot pin down any explicit examples of xenophobia/racism, the whole section where Sally Jones is in India just feels... off to me. It just feels like a very steriotypical depiction of India, and while that applies to literally every location and character in this book, it still doesn't feel right. So, just be warned
ssunier's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
galexy_brain's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Kinda xenophobic for a kids' book
Content Warnings
Minor: Alcohol, Classism, Colonisation, Gun violence, Stalking, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Outing, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Trafficking, Xenophobia, Violence, Mental illness, Grief, and Kidnapping