cooeeaus's review against another edition
4.0
The film with Brooke and Chris was based on this book, overall I liked both film and book.
There are some improbable moments I think but overall the book is enjoyable. Though I have always disliked how it ended. I do recommend this book to those who like island romance and some fantasy or unreal things, though who knows what might really happen if two children were left on a isolated island by themselves!
There are some improbable moments I think but overall the book is enjoyable. Though I have always disliked how it ended. I do recommend this book to those who like island romance and some fantasy or unreal things, though who knows what might really happen if two children were left on a isolated island by themselves!
catra121's review against another edition
4.0
This was a great listen. I got the booktrack edition of the audiobook and it was such a pleasure. Beautiful descriptions, interesting story and characters...I just lost myself in it.
pixieparliament's review against another edition
4.0
This book was first published over a 100 years ago, but despite that I still really enjoyed it. Except for Paddy Buttons Irish speak I found it an easy read.
Emmeline Lestrange and her cousin Dick are travelling through the South Seas when they become ship wrecked. Luckily they have Paddy to look after them for the first two years. They then have to deal with life, death, birth, all on their own.
Although you could say that nothing profound happens, I'd say that the profound happening is them finding love. The innocence of being a child stays with them for all the years till their late teens. Even though they are cousins, they become lovers, but this is not dirty or sinful because it comes across as pure love. This innocence stays with them, even when she gives birth to their son Hannah she doesn't fully realise he comes from her body.
The ending is good but would have liked an epilogue or slight further explanation.
Emmeline Lestrange and her cousin Dick are travelling through the South Seas when they become ship wrecked. Luckily they have Paddy to look after them for the first two years. They then have to deal with life, death, birth, all on their own.
Although you could say that nothing profound happens, I'd say that the profound happening is them finding love. The innocence of being a child stays with them for all the years till their late teens. Even though they are cousins, they become lovers, but this is not dirty or sinful because it comes across as pure love. This innocence stays with them, even when she gives birth to their son Hannah she doesn't fully realise he comes from her body.
The ending is good but would have liked an epilogue or slight further explanation.
lucyblackbirdreads's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
3 stars is generous. This book was boring to me, a situation where the movie was better, but I feel like 2 stars is too harsh.
alisa_finch's review against another edition
4.0
have a newfound appreciation of the prelapsarian Adam and Eve references:
- 'An affair absolutely natural, absolutely blameless, and without sin.'
- 'So happy in their ignorance were they'
- 'An affair absolutely natural, absolutely blameless, and without sin.'
- 'So happy in their ignorance were they'
sararo23's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
kargoforth's review against another edition
5.0
This is a beautiful story of shipwreck, love, and awakening. It was written in the 1920's and is a good read.
mmorlok's review against another edition
3.0
I would give it a 3.5. This was an incredibly quick read. I wanted there to be more to the story. I may read the sequels if they are available
marinaschulz's review against another edition
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Honestly, I don't understand all the hate this book gets; even the 1980's movie wasn't what I'd necessarily call bad. I rather enjoyed it!
I think people mistakenly get the impression this book is all about sex between frolicking children; it isn't. The one scene occurs at fade to black. It's mostly just the tale of two children, who get shipwrecked at a young age, and learn to survive, and deal with their tensions and sadness, with only each other for company and nobody to teach them the way to be. The prose, however, by far, is the best part, as Mr. Stacpoole is wonderfully descriptive and poetic in his description, with the parts wherein he talks about the beautiful natural setting being without a question the reason to read this book. One feels captures by the so lifelike vivid images of his words, that one almost can smell the sea and feel the sand.
I think people mistakenly get the impression this book is all about sex between frolicking children; it isn't. The one scene occurs at fade to black. It's mostly just the tale of two children, who get shipwrecked at a young age, and learn to survive, and deal with their tensions and sadness, with only each other for company and nobody to teach them the way to be. The prose, however, by far, is the best part, as Mr. Stacpoole is wonderfully descriptive and poetic in his description, with the parts wherein he talks about the beautiful natural setting being without a question the reason to read this book. One feels captures by the so lifelike vivid images of his words, that one almost can smell the sea and feel the sand.
lestatmalfoy's review against another edition
4.0
This was really pretty. I liked it more than the movie.
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