1000 Books Before You Die discussion

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

Looking forward to reading this. It has been on my TBR list forever. But I probably will not start until the middle of July.

I have been meaning to reread this ever since I read The Moonstone last year.

I have not read Moonstone. What is the connection to Robinson Crusoe? Just curious.

Lol! The Moonstone made me want to read it, too!

Debra-
The Moonstone is written in a series of "interviews" or "depositions" from various unreliable narrators; each of whom contributes the details that become clear by the end. Gabriel Betteridge is the first narrator (and last, I think) and he loves the book Robinson Crusoe so much that he makes many decisions by opening randomly and reading a page. Somehow the "advice" always helps him out or brings him comfort. By Gabriel's part is done, you can't wait to read Robinson Crusoe for yourself.

I own this already so I'm in!

Oh, thanks Renee. After Robinson Crusoe, I will have to read The Moonstone.

Debra wrote: "Oh, thanks Renee. After Robinson Crusoe, I will have to read The Moonstone."

Hahaha! We'll reverse. It will probably make Gabriel's comments even funnier.

: )

I hated Robinson Crusoe so much! I think because I expected a story filled with adventures but instead it was just so slow.

Camille, I may have the same problem as I read a wishbone short version not that long ago and have never read the actual book. Darn lil dog raises my expectations! LOL

I just start and, yes, it's slow. Also: Dude! Every time you get in a boat there's disaster! Stay home!

Renee wrote: "I just start and, yes, it's slow. Also: Dude! Every time you get in a boat there's disaster! Stay home!"

lol

Renee-- so true. He should have listened to his father!

On page 37.

Yes, slow....I have read 37 pages, but it feels like I have read 100.

If I were stranded on an island, I would most want books, pen and paper. (Other than food and water of course.)

I am on page 64 and it is getting more interesting-sort of. Either that or I have gotten used to the style of writing.

I have read 10 pages. It's interesting, but the writing is so circuitous that it gets a tad anoying.

On page 58.

Crusoe found a penguin on the island? A penguin? Maybe I read that wrong. I am going to go look again.

Oh my gosh, I just googled penguins. They do not all live in cold climates. I had no idea.

I'm on page 70... no penguin in mine (yet). I am at the part where he is getting stuff off the ship before it sinks

On page 63 out of 158.

He is all done getting stuff off the ship in my book. He has been on the island for (view spoiler)[2 years now. (hide spoiler)]

Still slow. And religion keeps getting thrown into the story. I did not expect that. And am not sure what I think about it yet.

I am at the penguin part now LOL. And the poor baby goat, how could he forget it like that :( At least it did survive his forgetfulness

Oh, yes. I could not believe the part with the baby goat. Overall, Crusoe did not seem to be an animal lover. (view spoiler)[And at the end, they killed that bear, just for the fun of it. Good gosh. (hide spoiler)]

Finished.

I have wanted to read Robinson Crusoe forever and a day. .... What a disappointment. It was slow with religion thrown in. And Crusoe was an arrogant and egotistical person.

He is definitely very proud of himself. I had to take a break at the halfway point. I'm hoping to get back to it this week.

I just read the part about the goat as well. I am glad it didn't die.

I am about 2/3 of the way done. Robinson is rather arrogant and lazy at times. (view spoiler)[He dreams about not a companion but a slave. Really? He can't be bothered to do anything himself? (hide spoiler)]

I have forgotten to look up the discussion here on GR, but I have been reading this, too. I'm a little under half way.

I was not expecting religion to be such a big part of it. Although I don't agree with his line of reasoning for his beliefs, it doesn't bother me to have him talk about it.

One thing I liked, near the beginning, is when he talks about having planned ahead for the day when he wouldn't be able to hunt any more. I had wondered what he would do, as someone who's completely alone and can't get any kind of help if he's sick or has an accident, so I'm glad that that question was not overlooked.

I'm actually finding it fairly interesting. I guess I'm used to slow-paced books, so I don't mind that.

At that religion was a bigger part of people's lives right now, especially since they were helpless against many things- war, plague, and in Crusoe's case, shipwreck.

I do enjoy slow-paced novels as well, but at times I find myself nodding off. But overall I am enjoying the book. He is totally on his own, for now, and he keeps longing for another human being to communicate with.
For all his self-sufficiency, he must be terribly lonely, even if he never says it in so many words.

I finished the book-finally!

Woohoo Rosemarie.
For such a short book, it really takes a long time to read.

So, what did everyone think of Robinson Crusoe's treatment of the companions he finally found?

I think he tried to be fair, according to his ideas of fairness, but overall he considered himself the "boss".

That's a different way to look at it,Rose. I found him to be rather arrogant myself, although he did try to be fair he always empathised he was being fair

I was shocked at his treatment of the companions. I don't know why he appointed himself boss. Or why the others went along with it! Good gosh, Crusoe should have been grateful to be rescued, instead he treated his rescuers, and all others, like crap.

That's what I meant by his ideas of fairness, which aren't mine, that's for sure.

Rosemarie wrote: "I think he tried to be fair, according to his ideas of fairness, but overall he considered himself the "boss"."

That was my assessment, too.

I remember thinking he was quite full of himself.