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** B is for a BOOK review **
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One of my '30 Before 30' challenges is to read the top 5 books of all time. "Robinson Crusoe", by Daniel Defoe, is one of these, according to The Guardian. It's a classic, and I was intrigued by the story as a wilderness lover and an avid traveler.
I'd already seen the Tom Hanks film 'Castaway' and didn't really enjoy it, but could appreciate there's not a lot you could do with a film about a man spending that much time on his own with only a football for company. How would a book on a similar theme compare, I wondered? Books are better than the film, in most cases...
This is my review of 'Robinson Crusoe' in a chronology of thoughts as I read through the book.
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First thoughts: Small pages, big text. I should fly through this! There were also no chapter breaks. I wonder, is this a modern invention? I've never read an adult fiction novel without chapters before.
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Grr. Am annoyed the back of the book told me what the front cover depicts (not very well) - spoiler!
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"After this I spent a great deal of time and pains to make me an umbrella. I was indeed in great want of one, and had a great mind to make one." (page 172)
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Looking forward to this bit..... "The hanged pirate"!!!
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Another sign of the times was that RC talked so much about God. Highly reverent, praying and repenting constantly... It got a little old.
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I wonder how Defoe researched his novel… There was no Google or Bear Grylls to advise back in the 1700’s, and travel was the work of explorers or tradesmen – rarely work for a writer!
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However, another reason I might have struggled with this book was it is riddled with words I’d not heard of before (e.g. ADZE – a kind of tool?). I learnt a lot, but it wasn't enjoyable learning...
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Check out the rest of my '30 Before 30' list before you go anywhere! How does it compare to one you'd construct?
Lou x
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