Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and other Classic Novels by Jules Verne

7 reviews

hjb_128's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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natashalg's review against another edition

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adventurous dark informative slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

The book was slow for me. There wasn't a lot that happened in the story, and it was incredibly science forward. I found it interesting, but at times it did see to drag on with explanation/descriptions of scientific topics. 
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sea_sea's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

A thrilling classic! It was very exciting and interesting. The depiction of sperm whales was far from accurate, but, oh well, it was written in 1870.
Captain Nemo was such a fascinating character! His motivations and background are a complete mystery and you only piece together fragments along with the main character. His love for the sea is truly unparalleled. Mr Aronnax (mc) and him share a really unique bond through this feeling. It is really interesting. 
(Also Captain Nemo and Mr. Aronnax definitely had a bit of queer tension ;> ) 

I also just loved all the parts where Jules Verne described all the different marine creatures! 
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eagleshouse's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

The story itself is great - the premise is incredibly interesting, the characters are complex, and the mystery that continues throughout the entire book left me wanting more.

HOWEVER - this book has taken me 6 entire months to finish, oftentimes leaving me in a reading slump. Whilst the story is great, and the prose is of its time yet easy to read and understand, half of the book was literally just the main character rambling about every single sea creature he could see. I understand it's because it's his character describing what he would have written down for scientific purposes, but genuinely, this book would be less than half the size and much easier and enjoyable to read without it, or perhaps just cutting down on the descriptions.

TLDR: the story is incredible and left me wanting to read the next book in the series, but unless you're happy to read entire 20 page chapters just analysing random fish, then I would perhaps steer clear!
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lily1304's review

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slow-paced
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

2.0

The main character is not interested in:
- figuring out what secrets Captain Nemo is keeping, or his apparently tragic backstory
- talking to literally any of the crew, or even learning their names
- planning an escape (another character does that for him)
- considering the ethical implications of the Nautilus and Nemo's labor

The main character IS interested in:
- describing every plant and animal he sees, describing how someone killed it, and then describing how it tastes

Also, it annoyed me to realize that "20,000 leagues" refers to the distance they traveled underwater, *not* how far underwater they are - and that's dumb
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ran_sophia's review against another edition

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challenging emotional mysterious sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

Although the book has an interesting topic I did not enjoy reading it. In my opinion, the story was too descriptive and boring.
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ggcd1981's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging mysterious reflective tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

TRIGGER WARNING:
Drowning


Eu não sabia o que esperar ao iniciar Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea (Vinte Mil Léguas Submarinas), provavelmente por isso o livro começou forte para mim. A ideia de uma tripulação em um barco do século XIX se juntando para ir em busca de um possível monstro marinho é muito empolgante. A obra possui apenas quatro personagens de destaque são esses: o Professor Pierre Aronnax, o narrador da história; seu leal “servo” Conseil; o lançador de arpão Ned Land; e finalmente o misterioso Capitão Nemo, criador do submarino Nautilus. A medida que eu li o livro, no entanto, a minha “empolgação” inicial foi se ajustando. O livro se mostrou com poucos momentos de ação e me fez sentir em grande parte como se eu estivesse simplesmente observando o dia a dia dos personagens a bordo do Nautilus. Na obra há diversos momentos de mera observação das maravilhas submarinas, dos segredos que o Oceano oculta. Vemos grande parte disso través dos olhos do Professor Aronnax.
Este foi feito prisioneiro juntamente com Conseil e Ned Land ao caírem do barco após a tripulação deste realizar um ataque ao Nautilus. Assim o Capitão Nemo os salvou porem determinou que estes não mais deixariam o submarino. Apesar do ritmo lento houveram momentos de ação, lutas com tubarões, polvos gigantes, culminando na fuga dos prisioneiros em meio a um redemoinho. O aspecto mais interessante da história foi quão intrigante e misterioso o personagem do Capitão Nemo se tornou aos olhos do narrador e também aos meus olhos. Porque ele deu as costas a sociedade? Qual sua história? Qual o real proposito do Nautilus? O que realmente aconteceu enquanto Aronnax, Conseil e Ned Land foram drogados e trancafiados? Nenhuma dessas perguntas foi respondida e isso deixa a obra com um ar mistério. De alguma forma não me sinto decepcionada por não ter descoberto. Acredito que qualquer explicação diminuiria a magnitude do personagem. Como ponto negativo cito o presente racismo e classismo, porém a obra é de 1870 então é esperado que o texto contenha esse tipo de problema. Outro ponto que na verdade apresenta uma dualidade, foi tanto negativo quanto positivo, foi a narração de Aronnax. Essa narração foi negativa por ser desnecessariamente descritiva, o professor descreveu cada planta, peixe, molusco e coral que contemplou, assim como descreveu o funcionamento de todas as maquinas a que teve acesso. Esse elemento deixou a escrita tediosa em alguns momentos, pelo menos para mim. A narração também foi positiva porque o Professor Aronnax passava a surpresa, a empolgação a contemplação maravilhada diante desse novo mundo submarino assim me empolgando também. Achei que a ambiguidade sobre o final de Nemo e do Nautilus foi adequada, teriam eles sobrevivido ao redemoinho ou não? Pergunta cabível para acentuar o ar de mistério sobre o personagem e sua embarcação.
Tirando os pontos negativos apresentados dou a obra um sólido 4.25 estrelas. No momento não decidi se continuarei com a série pois achei a obra satisfatoriamente encerrada. 

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