2014 books: 17-19

[the_siobhan]

Robinson Crusoe ended up being a quick read as it's not a very long book. It turns out I had forgotten an awful lot of the story since high school, like how much of it is devoted to how him finding religion and banging on about God all the time. And how often he has to remind the reader how all the people he interacts with look up to him, are grateful to him, and want him to be their leader in everything.

I had also apparently forgotten the existence of a Part 2, although it's clearly mentioned at the end of the first book. Since Axel had downloaded it anyway, I read that next.

    

The Farther Adventures of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Dafoe Another thing I had forgotten is that the Crusoe character was kind of a dick. Only one reason for my thinking so is that he abandoned a group of Spanish crewman on the island when he is rescued by an English ship. The first half of this book tells the story of his return to the island to find out what happened to them. This includes a lengthy interlude about him converting the local "savages" to Christianity, for which they look up to him, are grateful to him, and want him to be their leader in everything. The second half is the story of his further travels to Asia, across Russia and his return to England. Unfortunately with very little description of the people or landscape there and lots of bitching about the fact that the people there aren't Christians either. It does however, feature lots of bad behaviour by white people, including one rape, one genocide and one desecration of a religious relic. TLDR; The story has not aged well.

    

Northanger Abby by Jane Austen This was published in the late 1700's. I should probably have read this one right after Clinker as it's also a satire and a rom-com. It's much better written though, Austin is clever and without the nastiness of Smollett. She also makes fun of the conventions of romantic novels of the time, (and most modern television shows) pointing out how the heroine doesn't know any young men of of mysterious birth and having her defuse potential major misunderstandings and plot points by actually speaking directly to people. It's a cute little book and a fast read. Back in class we read this one right after The Mysteries of Udolpho which is frequently referenced in story as a favourite story. I thought about doing so again, but I can't find my old copy and since the object of this game is to get rid of books on the shelves I decided to move on.

    

Emma by Jane Austen This one was published in December 1815. I didn't read this one in class so I have no idea where this one came from. This book is more of a pure romance than a satire, and I didn't like this one quite as much. I don't know if Austin intended for the reader to like the main characters, but I didn't much. One thing that I did find interesting is that Austin introduces a character who I consider to have the worst of Emma's personality flaws (she is a bully and snob) but to a much more obnoxious degree, so that everybody in the book who likes Emma dislikes this new woman. And then I guess Emma learns her lesson and becomes less of those things and everybody gets married and lives happily ever after. So in the final analysis I guess I ended up being kind of meh on Jane Austin. I fully expect all her fans to have at me in the comments.

Comments

[greylock]

I am "meh" on Austin too. Lots of folk are, but I only read 'Pride', and her works hold no great interest.

I also had no idea there was a sequel to Robinson Crusoe.

Are you going to read https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_Search_of_the_Castaways at all?

[the_siobhan]

The current plan to is to read books I want to get out of the house. So only if I find it in one of the stacks. (Which isn't all that unlikely to be honest.)

Once we have the books down to a manageable level I might pick up some fresh reading material. But I think it's going to take me a while.

[greylock]

I ask because I was reminded of In Search of Castaways (the Disney film, which pandered to my Hayley Mills crush waybackwhen) by this post, and is see there was a connection to Mysterious Island, and I am curious about how it comes across.

(and then I looked at Book Depository -- hooboy, some folks are mining Gutenburg for all it is worth!)