bibliovino'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
1.5
Ooph-that was a painful trip down memory lane. I had read a few of the Dirk Pitt adventures several years ago and remembered enjoying them somewhat. So when I needed a book written in the year I was born, I grabbed this one, thinking if it was made into a movie, it must be pretty good.
Oh no, my friends. It was not.
While most of the major plot points were interesting and exciting, the rabbit-out-of-a-hat delivery became tiring very quickly. It probably shouldn’t have surprised me how often this “Voila!” method of story telling was employed considering how little the main character was actually on the narrative stage. Dirk Pitt barely shows up until 60% of the book is done.
The backstory aspects of the plot were really intriguing, but while I enjoyed them, we also don’t really get down to the Titanic’s involvement until about a third of the way through. Between subplots and side characters, this is barely a story about the ship at all.
The worst part of this experience was the blatant and mind-bogglingly disgusting misogyny that coats every hint of female involvement in the story. I have no problem with Pitt being a ladies man with a love ‘em and leave ‘em outlook, but this was so much worse. The fact that the self hating, constantly mansplained and dehumanized female lead was one of the better drawn characters here is appalling, but a clear demonstration of the juvenile rendering of every single person we meet.
I thought I might watch the movie after reading, but I think I’ve had enough.
Oh no, my friends. It was not.
While most of the major plot points were interesting and exciting, the rabbit-out-of-a-hat delivery became tiring very quickly. It probably shouldn’t have surprised me how often this “Voila!” method of story telling was employed considering how little the main character was actually on the narrative stage. Dirk Pitt barely shows up until 60% of the book is done.
The backstory aspects of the plot were really intriguing, but while I enjoyed them, we also don’t really get down to the Titanic’s involvement until about a third of the way through. Between subplots and side characters, this is barely a story about the ship at all.
The worst part of this experience was the blatant and mind-bogglingly disgusting misogyny that coats every hint of female involvement in the story. I have no problem with Pitt being a ladies man with a love ‘em and leave ‘em outlook, but this was so much worse. The fact that the self hating, constantly mansplained and dehumanized female lead was one of the better drawn characters here is appalling, but a clear demonstration of the juvenile rendering of every single person we meet.
I thought I might watch the movie after reading, but I think I’ve had enough.
balthazarlawson's review
3.0
This book was written 1976, 9 years before the wreck of the Titanic was found, so a lot of things about the wreck in this book are wrong. But at the time of writing it was all speculation about the actual fate of the ship, perhaps this is why the book is set in 1988.
There are a lot of story lines in the book and it starts out as nothing to do with Dirk Pitt, even though it is the 4th book in the series. He comes into the book for real when it is discovered something is on the Titanic that needs to be recovered and the services of NUMA are required. But first they have to find the ship wreck and when they do they have to work out how to raise the ship. Pitt heads up this mission. Unfortunately, there are many obstacles thrown into their path, like Soviet spies and hurricanes.
But there are some stories lines that were not needed and just feel like it was put in for the sake of padding out the story in an attempt to make it a more round tale. But it only makes it long and drawn out. Perhaps that is why there are so many characters, one can easily get lost as to who is who in the zoo.
Not the super adventurous story like other books in the series but it was entertaining enough.
There are a lot of story lines in the book and it starts out as nothing to do with Dirk Pitt, even though it is the 4th book in the series. He comes into the book for real when it is discovered something is on the Titanic that needs to be recovered and the services of NUMA are required. But first they have to find the ship wreck and when they do they have to work out how to raise the ship. Pitt heads up this mission. Unfortunately, there are many obstacles thrown into their path, like Soviet spies and hurricanes.
But there are some stories lines that were not needed and just feel like it was put in for the sake of padding out the story in an attempt to make it a more round tale. But it only makes it long and drawn out. Perhaps that is why there are so many characters, one can easily get lost as to who is who in the zoo.
Not the super adventurous story like other books in the series but it was entertaining enough.
55_sallymander's review against another edition
5.0
Raise the Titanic! (Dirk Pitt, #4) by Clive Cussler
Raise the Titanic sounds like something amazing. Would get great if they truly could retrieve the devastated ship.
It was good, action packed.
Raise the Titanic sounds like something amazing. Would get great if they truly could retrieve the devastated ship.
It was good, action packed.
bookhawk's review against another edition
4.0
This 4th book in the Dirk Pitt is the best of the first four and was a fast paced fun page turner.
rory_oconnor's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
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
3.25
I read this a long time ago and liked it, but I wasn’t sure it would age well. It really didn’t, adventure novels with male protagonists written in the 70s? It contains everything you’d think it would. A touch of misogyny, racism, etc. Barring the obvious flaws, I thought this was a fun story written before the Titanic was found. I reread it because of the Titan sub incident.
onlybob's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
frahorus's review against another edition
3.0
Quarta avventura del mitico avventuriero Dirk Pitt, stavolta dovrà affrontare un'incredibile impresa: nientepopodimeno che far tornare a galla il Titanic.
christoke's review against another edition
3.0
Just a fun Clive Cussler read, not much more, not much less