violetdelightshavevioletends's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
slow-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.25
thomasdj's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Moderate: Gun violence and Animal cruelty
Minor: Slavery, War, and Death
tas_takes_down_the_man's review against another edition
It got real racist real fast. Typical.
kendyl180's review against another edition
5.0
Listened to the audio book narrated by Harlan Ellison. It was delightful. So much animation and excitement! Will definitely need to read the actual book at some point. Can’t believe I’ve never done it until now.
kashexmachina's review against another edition
3.0
I think I would’ve loved this book if I’d been alive when it was first published. Oh to be an 1870s kid.
3.5 stars, mostly for the rootinest tootinest harpooninest Canadian to ever live. And also Conseil, who is undoubtedly gay for his master, who in turn is gay for Nemo. Who doesn’t love a good underwater love triangle?
3.5 stars, mostly for the rootinest tootinest harpooninest Canadian to ever live. And also Conseil, who is undoubtedly gay for his master, who in turn is gay for Nemo. Who doesn’t love a good underwater love triangle?
rafaglz18's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
martin_books's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-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? Yes
4.0
diegoup's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
ghostduchess's review against another edition
3.0
This is just not my cup of tea. The writing is excellent, but I am just not a fan of the style or content.
davehershey's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I believe I read this book about thirty years ago. That paperback copy has set on my shelves for decades with never a reread. Why reread now? Partly because Doc Brown, in the Back to the Future trilogy, constantly talks of the greatness of Jules Verne, so every time I rewatch those movies I am reminded of this book. Partly because I recently read All The Light We Cannot See in which this book played a role. Also, our local public museum has an underwater display with some reference to the book.
Sadly, I cannot justify more than three stars. I almost always give any book considered a classic at least four stars. Even if I do not like it, I suppose I sort of defer to its “classic” status. I could not do that here. The book starts off good enough as we meet our main characters - Professor Aronnax, Ned Land and Conseil - who are part of a crew searching for a mysterious giant sea monster. Soon they end up aboard this monster, which is actually the highly advanced submarine, Nautilus. Nautilus is the home of the enigmatic Captain Nemo.
Captain Nemo keeps Aronnax and the others as guests (prisoners) as they explore the seas. This is where the book often becomes dull, as page after page are filled with descriptions of the various sea creatures they see. I often wondered if I was reading a story or a list of various types of mollusks found in the Indian ocean. From time to time there are interesting episodes - the Nautilus gets stuck under ice in Antarctica, they see the mythical Atlantis. But what’s the plot beyond merely exploring the seas?
Near the end Aronnax witnesses Captain Nemo weeping over a picture of his family. We can assume they are dead, which is what motivates his quest for vengeance against society. Yet even when we are on the Nautilus, he only attacks two ships. Aronnax and his companions do not even realize the first one, for they were drugged, until they witness the second one. After the second one Nemo plunges into depression, the Nautilus enters the maelstrom, Aronnax, Conseil and Ned Land escape and the book ends.
I suppose I’d rather a story more of Captain Nemo’s motivations and plans than the scientific catalog we often get. I do remember, in another Jules Verne book I read three decades ago, we meet Nemo again (The Mysterious Island).
Overall, kind of disappointing
Sadly, I cannot justify more than three stars. I almost always give any book considered a classic at least four stars. Even if I do not like it, I suppose I sort of defer to its “classic” status. I could not do that here. The book starts off good enough as we meet our main characters - Professor Aronnax, Ned Land and Conseil - who are part of a crew searching for a mysterious giant sea monster. Soon they end up aboard this monster, which is actually the highly advanced submarine, Nautilus. Nautilus is the home of the enigmatic Captain Nemo.
Captain Nemo keeps Aronnax and the others as guests (prisoners) as they explore the seas. This is where the book often becomes dull, as page after page are filled with descriptions of the various sea creatures they see. I often wondered if I was reading a story or a list of various types of mollusks found in the Indian ocean. From time to time there are interesting episodes - the Nautilus gets stuck under ice in Antarctica, they see the mythical Atlantis. But what’s the plot beyond merely exploring the seas?
Near the end Aronnax witnesses Captain Nemo weeping over a picture of his family. We can assume they are dead, which is what motivates his quest for vengeance against society. Yet even when we are on the Nautilus, he only attacks two ships. Aronnax and his companions do not even realize the first one, for they were drugged, until they witness the second one. After the second one Nemo plunges into depression, the Nautilus enters the maelstrom, Aronnax, Conseil and Ned Land escape and the book ends.
I suppose I’d rather a story more of Captain Nemo’s motivations and plans than the scientific catalog we often get. I do remember, in another Jules Verne book I read three decades ago, we meet Nemo again (The Mysterious Island).
Overall, kind of disappointing