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laestaci's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
serenasbooks's review against another edition
4.5
it's a classic for a reason and an underrated one for that matter.
pnutbutterprincess's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
juulisbad's review against another edition
3.0
I loooooved how the author included so many scientific explanations in this adventure novel. Great. I liked it
graciegrace1178's review against another edition
5.0
Tentatively placed into favorites of all time folder. Wow! Couldn't have asked for a book more relevant to my studies, and one that's well-written no less. So begins the new Jules Verne kick.
PT: paleo-sciences, geology, reading around the world: Iceland, books with black covers, THE PHANEROZOIC!!!
WIL
1) PHYSICAL RECORD OF THE ABSTRACT SJHXWJBDWKHDNW. Walking through the silurian rock record and recalling Silurian life??????? Iām positively OVERJOYED!!! AMAZING!!
2) geology. I am but a Simple Nerd. Give me a geology book and I will fawn over it forever.
3) Character-y characters. Y'know in all this post-modern lit, there are so many "morally grey" or "complex" characters or whatever. That's great, and I do love me a good complicated character, but these guys? These characters? They're ALL so old school. They have very simple motivations, very clear paths, and very well defined limits. The obstacles and conflicts are almost all man v. nature. It's just so *clean.* None of that absurdity with social complications. Nah, this is just three dudes getting mad lost and charting their way along like intrepid explorers way way far underground, and I'm LIVING for it.
4) BURGESS SHALE. God, okay, nerd rant. This book was published in *1864.* Access to information was obviously much more difficult at the time, so this is just a blanket appreciation to Verne for all the crazy amount of research he put into this. Importantly though, 1864 MEANS THE BURGESS SHALE WASN'T EVEN DISCOVERED YET. THAT WASN'T FOUND TIL LIKE 1909 WHICH MEANS THAT VERNE WAS BASICALLY WORKING FROM NOTHING. I mean, yea, obviously the main depositional principles were already established and everything, but??? The fossil record for Cambrian to Silurian was like... nothing. WHICH IS INSANE. He probably had to consult with SO SO many geologists and libraries to get even a SCRAP of information. BUT HIS DESCRIPTIONS ARE STILL SO VIVID. SOIGEOAI INCREDIBLE. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. HIS DEDICATION?? HIS PATIENCE?? WOW. W O W.
WIDL
1) why didn't they all die? Like actually they really REALLY should've died. If not in that storm then in the 120+ degree *sustained* temperatures from which they had *no* protection. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they did survive but... they really shouldn't have. Maybe Verne just couldn't find a way to let the gang out if not through those should-be-human-murdering temperatures.
Neutral ground
1) this is really just mary Pope Osborne for adults isnt it? Incredible!! My book taste has obviously not changed since I was seven
2) I've been eyeing this book for *so* long. My brother received a copy years and years ago (2011 maybe??), and at the time I thought it seemed interesting, but I wasn't excited enough about it to borrow it. Flash forward several years and I became OBSESSED with the movie. Honestly, I think the movie made as significant impact on my degree choice as did my later readings of Michael Crichton and earlier readings of random geology textbooks I found in libraries and people's houses. I never bothered to read the actual book though, lest it ruin my love of the movie. (I loved the movie THAT much. That bit with the mica?? Fantastic. Cinematic genius. Forever ingrained in my memory.) Granted, I tried a few times, but the beginning just didn't hook me quite enough, and I was always busy with other things. But WOW. WOWOWOWOW I LOVE THIS. And OHMYGOD I READ IT AT SUCH AN APPROPRIATE TIME!! Nice compliment to my phanerozoic studies!
PT: paleo-sciences, geology, reading around the world: Iceland, books with black covers, THE PHANEROZOIC!!!
WIL
1) PHYSICAL RECORD OF THE ABSTRACT SJHXWJBDWKHDNW. Walking through the silurian rock record and recalling Silurian life??????? Iām positively OVERJOYED!!! AMAZING!!
2) geology. I am but a Simple Nerd. Give me a geology book and I will fawn over it forever.
3) Character-y characters. Y'know in all this post-modern lit, there are so many "morally grey" or "complex" characters or whatever. That's great, and I do love me a good complicated character, but these guys? These characters? They're ALL so old school. They have very simple motivations, very clear paths, and very well defined limits. The obstacles and conflicts are almost all man v. nature. It's just so *clean.* None of that absurdity with social complications. Nah, this is just three dudes getting mad lost and charting their way along like intrepid explorers way way far underground, and I'm LIVING for it.
4) BURGESS SHALE. God, okay, nerd rant. This book was published in *1864.* Access to information was obviously much more difficult at the time, so this is just a blanket appreciation to Verne for all the crazy amount of research he put into this. Importantly though, 1864 MEANS THE BURGESS SHALE WASN'T EVEN DISCOVERED YET. THAT WASN'T FOUND TIL LIKE 1909 WHICH MEANS THAT VERNE WAS BASICALLY WORKING FROM NOTHING. I mean, yea, obviously the main depositional principles were already established and everything, but??? The fossil record for Cambrian to Silurian was like... nothing. WHICH IS INSANE. He probably had to consult with SO SO many geologists and libraries to get even a SCRAP of information. BUT HIS DESCRIPTIONS ARE STILL SO VIVID. SOIGEOAI INCREDIBLE. ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE. HIS DEDICATION?? HIS PATIENCE?? WOW. W O W.
WIDL
1) why didn't they all die? Like actually they really REALLY should've died. If not in that storm then in the 120+ degree *sustained* temperatures from which they had *no* protection. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad they did survive but... they really shouldn't have. Maybe Verne just couldn't find a way to let the gang out if not through those should-be-human-murdering temperatures.
Neutral ground
1) this is really just mary Pope Osborne for adults isnt it? Incredible!! My book taste has obviously not changed since I was seven
2) I've been eyeing this book for *so* long. My brother received a copy years and years ago (2011 maybe??), and at the time I thought it seemed interesting, but I wasn't excited enough about it to borrow it. Flash forward several years and I became OBSESSED with the movie. Honestly, I think the movie made as significant impact on my degree choice as did my later readings of Michael Crichton and earlier readings of random geology textbooks I found in libraries and people's houses. I never bothered to read the actual book though, lest it ruin my love of the movie. (I loved the movie THAT much. That bit with the mica?? Fantastic. Cinematic genius. Forever ingrained in my memory.) Granted, I tried a few times, but the beginning just didn't hook me quite enough, and I was always busy with other things. But WOW. WOWOWOWOW I LOVE THIS. And OHMYGOD I READ IT AT SUCH AN APPROPRIATE TIME!! Nice compliment to my phanerozoic studies!
negative40's review against another edition
2.0
Journey to the Center of the Earth is the tale of the somewhat crazy scientist Professor Otto Liedenbrock, his whiny nephew and narrator Axel, and the unflappable superhero of a guide Hans as they make their way down a passage that hopes to lead to the center of the Earth. It starts off quite interesting, as the Professor finds a mysterious document from an obscure Icelandic scientist that seems to suggest that this Icelander traveled to the center of the Earth. Of course, Liedenbrock decides to rush from Germany to Iceland to follow the Icelander's steps, with Axel whining the entire time that he would rather not go.
This is about when the book starts getting rather tedious. I do give leeway to the fact that adventures in the context of 1864 are a bit different than they are today. Most of the first 100 pages are devoted to describing in detail the journey from Germany to Iceland, which I'm sure was mysterious and interesting in 1864 but not so exciting in 2012. After that, the journey down is a lot of scientific discussion on the nature of the crust of the Earth, and not really too much action is involved. On top of that, most of the science is now known to be wrong. I imagine this book was sort of like a nineteenth-century Michael Crichton book, where the central plot is buffeted by a wealth of scientific explanation that is sometimes dubious.
It is a fanciful book, and I imagine that it was a rollicking adventure for John Q. 19th-Century. My main disappointment was that the mystery that started the whole journey is shuffled to the background early on. It's never given any thought and never really explained either. I can look past a bit of the casual sexism and the need to be stuffy and academic in its writing to give an air of legitimacy; this was 1864, after all. I perhaps just thought that this book would have a different tone and style.
This is about when the book starts getting rather tedious. I do give leeway to the fact that adventures in the context of 1864 are a bit different than they are today. Most of the first 100 pages are devoted to describing in detail the journey from Germany to Iceland, which I'm sure was mysterious and interesting in 1864 but not so exciting in 2012. After that, the journey down is a lot of scientific discussion on the nature of the crust of the Earth, and not really too much action is involved. On top of that, most of the science is now known to be wrong. I imagine this book was sort of like a nineteenth-century Michael Crichton book, where the central plot is buffeted by a wealth of scientific explanation that is sometimes dubious.
It is a fanciful book, and I imagine that it was a rollicking adventure for John Q. 19th-Century. My main disappointment was that the mystery that started the whole journey is shuffled to the background early on. It's never given any thought and never really explained either. I can look past a bit of the casual sexism and the need to be stuffy and academic in its writing to give an air of legitimacy; this was 1864, after all. I perhaps just thought that this book would have a different tone and style.