hikari1993's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
celise_winter's review against another edition
5.0
I feel like I've been waiting for a book like this my entire life, and here it was all this time, published long before I was even born.
Is the light cast upon race and gender in this novel wrong and inappropriate? Most definitely. However, I read this book ignoring these things, not out of ignorance as the word would imply, but with an acceptance of the flaws, and deciding instead to fall in love with the adventure and the horrible violence of Tarzan's growing up in the jungle. I didn't read this looking for a realistic survival study on apes and men either.
I was not expecting the gritty and gruesome nature of the story, as my only experience of Tarzan prior to reading this novel is with the Disney animated movie version. There is no child-friendly telling of Tarzan winning the love of the great ape Kerchak and Jane teaching him how to read, or Tarzan gallivanting around with his ape buddy Terk and the elephant Tantor. This adventure is much more primal than that, and so fucking beautiful I couldn't finish it without crying. Others will find this much more flawed than I have, I'm sure, but it's been a long time since I've loved reading and this book has brought me out of that slump.
Sidenote: Margot Robbie and Alexander Skarsdård will be starring in next year's Tarzan adaptation, based off of one of the sequels in this book series. That's my dream cast for any movie so I'm super excited, and hoping that they keep to the darker nature of the novels.
Is the light cast upon race and gender in this novel wrong and inappropriate? Most definitely. However, I read this book ignoring these things, not out of ignorance as the word would imply, but with an acceptance of the flaws, and deciding instead to fall in love with the adventure and the horrible violence of Tarzan's growing up in the jungle. I didn't read this looking for a realistic survival study on apes and men either.
I was not expecting the gritty and gruesome nature of the story, as my only experience of Tarzan prior to reading this novel is with the Disney animated movie version. There is no child-friendly telling of Tarzan winning the love of the great ape Kerchak and Jane teaching him how to read, or Tarzan gallivanting around with his ape buddy Terk
Spoiler
Terkoz is actually an antagonist hereSidenote: Margot Robbie and Alexander Skarsdård will be starring in next year's Tarzan adaptation, based off of one of the sequels in this book series. That's my dream cast for any movie so I'm super excited, and hoping that they keep to the darker nature of the novels.
joaniemaloney's review against another edition
3.0
Most if not all of what I know about Tarzan comes from the Disney adaptation; the Phil Collins soundtrack runs through my head whenever I think of that movie. So I picked this up out of curiousity to compare the two, and for a quick read.
Well, it went by fast. And there are quite a few obvious differences, as is usually the case when Disney adapts any story. Kala is close to what I remember, but I think I was being too optimistic when I expected the same for Kerchak and his relationships with the rest of the tribe. Damn it, Disney. Oof, there are a number of cringe-worthy moments in this original which given the time period makes a lot more sense but still makes the reader quite uncomfortable. It's too blatant to ignore, even with context.
That said, Edgar Rice Burroughs is a fine storyteller with how he spins it all. This book had such a strong start from the doomed fates of Lord and Lady Greystoke to the childhood of Tarzan that I couldn't put it down, even though I knew what was going to happen. I mean, we all do. There's quite a bit of violence to keep you on your toes, plenty of adventure and survival, more violence, and a bit of necessary romance. Oh, and this desire for knowledge, which as unbelievable as it was that Tarzan taught himself to read English before learning to speak it, which I enjoyed reading about. Apparently I can't get enough of reading about people reading.
I have a hard time choosing between Tarzan reading or the mystical descriptions of his chiseled features and strength and manliness from the point of view of the others as my favourite bits in the book. It's an infallible mix for entertainment.
Well, it went by fast. And there are quite a few obvious differences, as is usually the case when Disney adapts any story. Kala is close to what I remember, but I think I was being too optimistic when I expected the same for Kerchak and his relationships with the rest of the tribe. Damn it, Disney. Oof, there are a number of cringe-worthy moments in this original which given the time period makes a lot more sense but still makes the reader quite uncomfortable. It's too blatant to ignore, even with context.
That said, Edgar Rice Burroughs is a fine storyteller with how he spins it all. This book had such a strong start from the doomed fates of Lord and Lady Greystoke to the childhood of Tarzan that I couldn't put it down, even though I knew what was going to happen. I mean, we all do. There's quite a bit of violence to keep you on your toes, plenty of adventure and survival, more violence, and a bit of necessary romance. Oh, and this desire for knowledge, which as unbelievable as it was that Tarzan taught himself to read English before learning to speak it, which I enjoyed reading about. Apparently I can't get enough of reading about people reading.
I have a hard time choosing between Tarzan reading or the mystical descriptions of his chiseled features and strength and manliness from the point of view of the others as my favourite bits in the book. It's an infallible mix for entertainment.
hellotherefromlaura's review against another edition
4.0
The ending is such a cliff hanger!
I really liked the book. It was not what I expected based on watching the movies growing up. I will definitely read the entire series to see what happens next!
I really liked the book. It was not what I expected based on watching the movies growing up. I will definitely read the entire series to see what happens next!
lauribooks's review against another edition
5.0
Me ha gustado muchísimo.
No se parece casi nada a la película de Disney, cogieron los conceptos clave del libro y elaboraron su propia historia y su propio final.
Me gusta mucho la figura de Tarzán en el libro, es un hombre creado entre bestias que ha sabido coger lo mejor de ambas especies. Es muy fuerte, ágil y valiente, capaz de matar a cualquier animal que le amenace con pocas herramientas. Y, a la vez, es inteligente y estratega. Es capaz de aprender a escribir y leer él solo y puede aprender a hablar un idioma bastante rápido. Pero, sobre todo, me gusta lo que representa. Al final demuestra ser todo un caballero, que salva a personas de forma completamente altruista, las cuida y les entrega todo lo que necesiten sin esperar nada a cambio. Y ese gran gesto del final... me ha partido un poco el corazón, pero al final solo refuerza la humanidad y la bondad que hay en este hombre, capaz de anteponer la felicidad de cualquiera a la suya. Me parece un personaje muy bueno y me quedo con eso.
Los demás personajes, Jane incluida, son secundarios. Este libro habla de las aventuras de Tarzán, su vida, sus hazañas, sus enamoramientos y desengaños, y los demás personajes tienen algo de peso en la historia y en la vida de Tarzán, pero no los llegamos a conocer tanto como a él.
Me ha fascinado esta historia y se la recomiendo a todo el mundo (niños no, igual se quedan un poquito traumatizados con algunas escenas...)
No se parece casi nada a la película de Disney, cogieron los conceptos clave del libro y elaboraron su propia historia y su propio final.
Me gusta mucho la figura de Tarzán en el libro, es un hombre creado entre bestias que ha sabido coger lo mejor de ambas especies. Es muy fuerte, ágil y valiente, capaz de matar a cualquier animal que le amenace con pocas herramientas. Y, a la vez, es inteligente y estratega. Es capaz de aprender a escribir y leer él solo y puede aprender a hablar un idioma bastante rápido. Pero, sobre todo, me gusta lo que representa. Al final demuestra ser todo un caballero, que salva a personas de forma completamente altruista, las cuida y les entrega todo lo que necesiten sin esperar nada a cambio. Y ese gran gesto del final... me ha partido un poco el corazón, pero al final solo refuerza la humanidad y la bondad que hay en este hombre, capaz de anteponer la felicidad de cualquiera a la suya. Me parece un personaje muy bueno y me quedo con eso.
Los demás personajes, Jane incluida, son secundarios. Este libro habla de las aventuras de Tarzán, su vida, sus hazañas, sus enamoramientos y desengaños, y los demás personajes tienen algo de peso en la historia y en la vida de Tarzán, pero no los llegamos a conocer tanto como a él.
Me ha fascinado esta historia y se la recomiendo a todo el mundo (niños no, igual se quedan un poquito traumatizados con algunas escenas...)
altruest's review against another edition
5.0
Making my way through the first 8 Tarzan books. The first was great! Very exciting.
eeclayton's review against another edition
3.0
You'll need plenty of suspension of disbelief, but it's a surprisingly well written and entertaining little book.
krismoon's review against another edition
5.0
This is my version of chick-lit. There's gotta be lion killing in there, ape verses man battles, Tarzan's scalp partially pulled off in said battle, and, oh yeah, Tarzan love Jane.
No one writes adventure like Burroughs. Nobody.
Spoiler: This is easily one of the most heart-breaking books I have ever read. Just don't read this and I Am Legend back-to-back, unless you want to send yourself into a downward spiral of despair and sadness.
Spoiler 2: So, um, hey Tarzan. Heard you're single. Haaaaaaaay.
No one writes adventure like Burroughs. Nobody.
Spoiler: This is easily one of the most heart-breaking books I have ever read. Just don't read this and I Am Legend back-to-back, unless you want to send yourself into a downward spiral of despair and sadness.
Spoiler 2: So, um, hey Tarzan. Heard you're single. Haaaaaaaay.
hotlizard's review against another edition
5.0
Notwithstanding the problematic language of the time, Edgar Rice Burroughs is one hell of a writer and produced the most incredible landscapes filled with introspection for the ages. You feel all of the jungle, beastliness and primal loneliness that is described on these pages.
thereadingtrashqueen's review against another edition
2.0
This book was read for Back to the Classics’ ‘Name in Title’ prompt
Tut, tut, Burroughs.
It’s 1am and I just listened to this in one go. I did not care for it, though I am glad I didn’t read this physically as I know I would have gotten stuck on the racism. It paints a caricature picture of African men without it being exaggerated on purpose. Here is a guy who grew up around anthropoid apes, and is fully convinced his mother is one of those apes, and yet sees black men (The Blacks) as different from him. Less than him.
Also, the instalove is the absolute worst here. He kisses her without warning or literally anything, and she is like *freezes* and then she loves him too. It’s just.. ugh.
I did like the ending; Jane’s thoughts casting doubt upon the instalove, and Tarzan choosing the higher ground. I know there are sequels that will ruin this ending so I am glad I have no desire whatsoever to continue. I’ll just rewatch the Disney movie.
*belts out Stranger Like Me*
This could have been an okay 3 star read. Alas, it was not. I firmly believe in taking the time it was written in into account. Product of its time. In this case, it went too far. And not just a little bit.
Would not recommend.
Tut, tut, Burroughs.
It’s 1am and I just listened to this in one go. I did not care for it, though I am glad I didn’t read this physically as I know I would have gotten stuck on the racism. It paints a caricature picture of African men without it being exaggerated on purpose. Here is a guy who grew up around anthropoid apes, and is fully convinced his mother is one of those apes, and yet sees black men (The Blacks) as different from him. Less than him.
Also, the instalove is the absolute worst here. He kisses her without warning or literally anything, and she is like *freezes* and then she loves him too. It’s just.. ugh.
I did like the ending; Jane’s thoughts casting doubt upon the instalove, and Tarzan choosing the higher ground. I know there are sequels that will ruin this ending so I am glad I have no desire whatsoever to continue. I’ll just rewatch the Disney movie.
*belts out Stranger Like Me*
This could have been an okay 3 star read. Alas, it was not. I firmly believe in taking the time it was written in into account. Product of its time. In this case, it went too far. And not just a little bit.
Would not recommend.