I really liked the book but my god there were so many big paragraphs spent talking describing fish or the boat or anything else sea related. I kept skipping over all of these paragraphs again and again. All in 10 line lists. If I wanted to read about fish I would’ve looked for a non fiction book about fish.
But I really appreciate the anti colonial themes. Nemo has an interesting dynamic with his three prisoners. Arronax, who bonds with Nemo . Ned, who disliked Nemo and his time there and yet was willing to save Nemo’s life and Conseil, who… Now that I think about it I think he just went along with what Arronax did.
We later learn in a succeeding book that Nemo is Indian and the ships he attacked were British, though he felt sad when an Anglo-Saxon crewman died so I guess he didn’t hate all Englishman. I think the Anglo-Saxon was English anyway. But it adds to the complexity of Nemo’s character.
And there is a prequel about Nemo called Nautilus.
by InfernalClockwork3
8 Comments
Mine was Moby Dick. Ugh.
Jules Verne don’t play.
Also the book wasn’t originally anti-colonial, but rather about a Polish who wanted to avenge his family killed by russian occupants. Iirc the publisher asked him to do something else because they wanted the book to not be controversial.
Sounds like you only read about 18,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
I can totally see how people interested in science (aquatic biology) got into science fiction though. It’s the reason why a lot of people struggle with Tolkien and his constant details of flora of Middle Earth. I totally get it though. King does the same with pop culture references from the 50’s as well lol
I did the same for parts of American Psycho and one part bit of 1984
>until I read *part of* Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea by Jules Verne
Fixed that for you!
hold on – you’re reading a book set at sea and you’re surprised there’s mention of fish and nautical stuff?
“If I wanted to read about fish I would’ve looked for a non fiction book about fish.” This is crazy.
Novels aren’t movie scripts, guys. Victor Hugo isn’t the only one who makes digressions, or spends time describing the setting, or other content that is not strictly plot. It’s a part of reading literature. Every word is chosen carefully by the author, is placed there for a reason, and has value.
I swear some of you guys don’t even like literature.
“All in 10 line lists” – gasp, the horror! Ten lines, you say??
Do Moby Dick next.