A review by fatjakeypoo
Congo by Michael Crichton
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Overall I enjoyed my time with Congo! But of the 3 Crichton books I've read (the others being Sphere and Jurassic Park) this one ranks last. The first half of the book is weighed down by a lot of jargon, technical explanations, and flaunting of research, which, while interesting to a point, really slows the plot to a crawl. By contrast, the second half, which takes place in the Congolese jungle, moves at a breakneck pace, perhaps too breakneck due to the sluggish opening.
But when you get right down to it, Congo is a classic Crichton read with functional prose, tech-speak, tense encounters, and a moral about humanity's soulless pursuit of the next competitive capitalistic edge.
But when you get right down to it, Congo is a classic Crichton read with functional prose, tech-speak, tense encounters, and a moral about humanity's soulless pursuit of the next competitive capitalistic edge.