emma's Reviews > Robinson Crusoe

I know we shouldn't judge the books of yore by today's standards but...I am being tested.

This doesn't just have the bigotry from days past, although yes oh man it has that. We're talking giving native people new names (colonizing even the idea of a first name!), acquiring slaves with the same ease and casualness as I place daily orders on food-delivery apps, racism in every other sentence. We're following a MISSIONARY here, for god's sake.

But not only that: this is the slowest plot of all time.

Imagining an era in which this would have been a guilty pleasure read makes me want to dedicate my life to discovering a time machine so we can bring 18th century people back with us and show them rom coms starring Meg Ryan.

Honestly, my conspiracy theory is that this book is only still around because the first edition said it was BY Robinson Crusoe, so everyone thought it was real. The only excuse for this book's popularity is people thinking it actually happened. Like reading the newspaper, or watching a documentary narrated by a celebrity with a soothing British accent.

But even more boring.

Bottom line: Not for me! Don't really know who it could be for.


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pre-review

i can't wait for two months from now when i can't remember anything about this book.

review to come / 2 stars

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currently-reading updates

well. it's time.

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tbr review

i have never in my life had any interest in reading this book, but i saw a perfect condition used copy of the penguin clothbound edition and bought it immediately.

two things can be true.