Helpful Score: 1
This book is so far from any genre I would read, that I'm amazed that I picked it up. However, once starting, I was mesmerized by the author's writing and imagination. I could hardly put this down and finished it in less than 24-hours. Because I've watched the old movies, I knew that the stopping point of this book is not the end. There are actually twenty-four novels with Tarzan as the lead character.
The only thing I had a problem with was Tarzan's ability to learn English from picture books and a dictionary.It seemed impossible, but once I got past that, the story was smooth and erudite (the author was brilliant and well-versed in many scientific studies). I was stunned that I could enjoy a book like this.
Tarzan
**1) Tarzan of the Apes
2) The return of Tarzan
3) The Beasts of Tarzan
The only thing I had a problem with was Tarzan's ability to learn English from picture books and a dictionary.It seemed impossible, but once I got past that, the story was smooth and erudite (the author was brilliant and well-versed in many scientific studies). I was stunned that I could enjoy a book like this.
Tarzan
**1) Tarzan of the Apes
2) The return of Tarzan
3) The Beasts of Tarzan
A legend of a book and STILL one of the great ones. I just went through reading it for the 4th time. Every few years I love to go back into the jungle with Tarzan :).
The last time I read it I was inspired to go through all 24 of Tarzan novels in chronological order.
This book still holds up as a Fantastic adventure story for young and old alike !
The last time I read it I was inspired to go through all 24 of Tarzan novels in chronological order.
This book still holds up as a Fantastic adventure story for young and old alike !
Do not get the "adapted" copy of the book unless you are under twelve years old.
The classic tale that launched a literary great that transcended the confines of the page and outlived his maker: Tarzan.
AWESOME! E.R. Burroughs is an amazing story weaver!
ISBN 0345283778
Ballantine Books Special Printing Jan 1976
Ballantine Books Special Printing Jan 1976
Amid a charmingly terrible understanding of his chosen setting (example - Burroughs seems to believe that 'ape' is a species, as distinct from gorilla, chimpanzee, etc), Burroughs constructs an absurd, laughably unbelievable tale.
Then, the last two chapters blew me away. I had no idea Burroughs had it in him - it was like it was ghost-written by Hemingway or something. Seriously - if you can make it through the first twenty-six, the last two make it all worth your while.
Did I mention how bad his understanding of nature was? Lions roam singly and thickly in the densest, lushest part of Africa - I'd say there's about one per acre/one per chapter.
Tarzan, by the way, teaches himself to read English, from books - alone - no people, but cannot speak English. However, he can write his name. Don't think about that too hard. It'll make you less willing to accept all the other ridiculousness (like where bad guys decide to bury treasure. Yep, we got bad pirates burying treasure herein).
I'll leave you one more teaser if it will encourage you to read the book just to find out if I'm lying - the book ends in a train station just beyond the reaches of a forest fire. In WISCONSIN.
Check your brain at the door, and you'll enjoy the heck out of this book.
Then, the last two chapters blew me away. I had no idea Burroughs had it in him - it was like it was ghost-written by Hemingway or something. Seriously - if you can make it through the first twenty-six, the last two make it all worth your while.
Did I mention how bad his understanding of nature was? Lions roam singly and thickly in the densest, lushest part of Africa - I'd say there's about one per acre/one per chapter.
Tarzan, by the way, teaches himself to read English, from books - alone - no people, but cannot speak English. However, he can write his name. Don't think about that too hard. It'll make you less willing to accept all the other ridiculousness (like where bad guys decide to bury treasure. Yep, we got bad pirates burying treasure herein).
I'll leave you one more teaser if it will encourage you to read the book just to find out if I'm lying - the book ends in a train station just beyond the reaches of a forest fire. In WISCONSIN.
Check your brain at the door, and you'll enjoy the heck out of this book.
