| Top Destinations |
|
•
|
Big Island, Hawaii
|
|
•
|
Fraser Island, Australia
|
|
•
|
Sicily, Italy
|
|
•
|
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
|
|
•
|
Iceland, Europe
|
|
•
|
Santorini, Greece
|
|
•
|
Malta Island, Malta
|
|
•
|
Phuket, Thailand
|
|
•
|
Maldives, Indian Ocean
|
|
•
|
Bermuda, The Caribbean
|
|
|
|
|
The Mysterious Island (Modern Library Classics) | 
 enlarge | Author: Jules Verne
Creators: Caleb Carr, Jordan Stump
Publisher: Modern Library
Category: Book
List Price: $6.95
Buy Used: $3.74
You Save: $3.21 (46%)
Rating:  12 reviews
Sales Rank: 74002
Media: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 768
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.1
Dimensions (in): 6.5 x 4.1 x 0.8
ISBN: 0812972120
Dewey Decimal Number: 658.562
UPC: 050694006956
EAN: 9780812972122
ASIN: 0812972120
Publication Date: April 27, 2004
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New, Perfect Condition, Please allow 4-14 business days for delivery. 100% Money Back Guarantee, Over 1,000,000 customers served.
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Based on the true story of Alexander Selkirk, who survived alone for almost five years on an uninhabited island off the coast of Chile, The Mysterious Island is considered by many to be Jules Verne’s masterpiece. “Wide-eyed mid-nineteenth-century humanistic optimism in a breezy, blissfully readable translation by Stump” (Kirkus Reviews), here is the enthralling tale of five men and a dog who land in a balloon on a faraway, fantastic island of bewildering goings-on and their struggle to survive as they uncover the island’s secret.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
|
| Customer Reviews: Read 7 more reviews...
 I'll Be A Castaway On This Island December 4, 2007
Edgar Lipsey
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
If ever there was a title that lived up to its name, it's this book's title. Jules Verne, who I am now convinced is a consummate storyteller, weaves a tale that is so fascinating and readable that I constantly found myself musing over its contents even when I wasn't reading. My only other acquaintance with Jules Verne's writings was with "Around the World in Eighty Days," which surprised me by how entertaining it was. I went into "The Mysterious Island" a little more prepared, but Mr. Verne still managed to throw me off guard. This is a great read for two reasons. First, it is an incredibly fascinating account of survival. Not just in the same vein as "Robinson Crusoe," and "The Swiss Family Robinson" (which Verne deftly acknowledges in the story itself), though in many ways it is very similar to those accounts, but it takes a whole new approach, which raises the castaway situation from, not just survival, but civilization making. I suppose, if you are not much interested in how tools are made, how things are manufactured, the rudiments of civilization itself, the book might seem to drag for you and might even seem to be taken from the pages of a textbook. I, for one, even though I am the farthest thing from a scientist, delighted in this instructional storytelling. Everything seemed possible, the ingenuity of man's mind was glorified, obstacles of nature were surmounted with the cleverest tricks. If ever I were to be a castaway, this book would be a must have. Even though the narrative did take an instructional tone at times, and I did slow down my reading, I never did dislike it. I always came back to the book with enthusiasm. And, I must add, Verne did an incredible job of making some of the most, seemingly mundane things spellbinding. One scene, where the castaways are attempting to light a fire with the one match that they have was absolutely gripping, my palms were nearly sweating. I will never light a match frivolously again (I know that's a lie, but it sure felt that way when I was reading). That was one reason that I loved the book. If that were the only aspect of the story, I would have walked away loving it. But Verne doesn't stop there. He also approaches a completely different angle of storytelling, and this is where the "mystery" in the title comes into play. Boy, is he subtle. Man, does Verne play his cards just right when he introduces the mystery of the island. Some strange things occur, but they aren't completely out of the ordinary; they are possibly explained; they are quickly forgotten. But then something else happens, he drops some other subtle hints here and there. He lays it on so smoothly, that it isn't until half way through the novel that you realize that there is something else entirely going on here. Some strange, inexplicable presence. Something that, surprisingly, you realize is integral to the plot (even though you knew from the title that would be the case, Verne lures you into forgetting it). Once the mystery finally starts to take center stage, Verne coyly drops other hints and clues, but never unveils the whole thing, leaving you guessing. At a couple of points, he nearly drove me over the edge. I had to know, and I didn't like being played with. But quickly enough, Verne makes amends and you move on until you catch the next hint. My guesses for the strange events were all over the spectrum, ranging from deity, to fables, to time traveling, among other wild speculations. But with each successive hint, I had to reassess. As the mystery becomes more bold and the events more blatant, there were times where I was almost bursting at the seams to know what was behind it all. If you are reading this and thinking that this is a rather large setup, leading to what must surely be a huge let down, then you are thinking exactly what I thought. I kept on thinking that there was nothing Verne could do to legitimize these events in a consistent way that fits with everything. So this begs the question, does Verne pull it off? Does the mystery fit the brilliant set up? My answer: Yes and no. When the mystery was finally revealed (and yes, it is revealed ... I wondered for a while whether it would even be resolved at all), it made sense, and it fit, and I believed it within Verne's realm of storytelling. But I did feel like it was a little bit of a cheat. Not a big one, mind you, but a little bit of a cut corner. I don't want to give anything away, because I didn't get such an advantage, nor would I have wanted one, but the mystery relies on something that I don't know is completely fair. Yet, in the end, I figured that Verne still did a tremendous job. As I looked back on the setup, and the experience, I realized that I really enjoyed every step of the way ... even if not knowing nearly drove me crazy at some points. Thinking about this, and looking at my very long review which such masterful storytelling has elicited, I have suddenly come to the conclusion that "The Mysterious Island" deserves my highest recommendation for that reason alone. The journey was worth the destination, and even if the journey did manage to slightly outshine the destination, it was a pretty satisfying place to end anyway.
A Wondrous Adventure! November 2, 2007
RC Carrier (Sacramento, CA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Note: Your "helpful" votes are appreciated. Thanks
To escape the Civil War, some men steal a hot-air balloon, and caught in a huge storm, they finally land, of course, near a "mysterious island." I saw the movie fifty years ago as a child, and later read the novel. The images have stayed with me all these years.
What a debt we owe to Jules Verne for taking us so many fantastic places!
As for the ecology of the island, I think some readers are taking the story too seriously. Just lay back and have a great adventure. It's easy to pass over the things that we wouldn't do today. If they had turned the island into a nature preserve, there wouldn't be the same wondrous story.
Ten stars if I could give that many!
And if you like lost-on-an-island adventures, be sure to read Richard Laymon's "Island." Highly recommended! Unput-downable!
Island
excellent book May 7, 2007
Bronson B. Robinson
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
excellent book, but you obviously don't need me to tell you this. just look at how long its been in production.
 Saddening metaphor of human nature September 16, 2006
Riccardo Audano (Chiavari, Italy)
5 out of 11 found this review helpful
I really love fantasy and adventure novels, maybe because I am a geek, maybe because I am immature, but I really do. This book however left me with a bitter taste on my lips. I enjoy Verne's fantasy and his easy and fluid writing syle but I cannot stand the general tone of this one novel.. which is about a few guys that , while involved in the american civil war, have the very bad idea of flying in a balloon during a storm and end up stranded in your classic desert island. As soon as they land on this island they start laying waste on it killing whatever animal crosses their path, even if just to make candles and make their house a little more comfy. Not happy with that they even manage to fabric explosives to bomb the island here and there. Before you know, they have changed a luxurious, splendid , wild tropical island in a boring american ranch. A clear example and metaphor of the well known human attitude for consuming , exploiting and polluting nature. Nowhere in the book Verne takes the chance to make his characters reflect on the absurdity of war even if the peaceful life they were leading in the island would make the ideal contrast for it. I won't say anything about Ned, one of the characters, an ex slave freed by his master who seems to be there just to blindly follow his master like a dog. I think it 's self-commenting.
Overall, still a good adventure book, but also an (unwanted) saddening portrait of human nature.
Survivor 19th Century Style! April 21, 2006
K. Wilson (Chicago, USA)
6 out of 7 found this review helpful
This is my favorite book by Jules Verne and I've always been disappointed that it is so underappreciated.
After escaping a confederate prison camp in a hot air balloon, five men are stranded on a remote island. The characters prove to be innovative and determined souls and set about creating a life for themselves using their knowledge of chemistry and other sciences.
The title of the book stems from a series of mysterious incidents that seem to be the work of a benevolent force helping the survivors.
Their ingenuity makes for fascinating reading and once again validates Jules Verne as one of the most intuitive authors of all time.
|
|
|
| | Luxury Vacation Info |
|
Are you ready for your next luxury vacation? Let Travelwizard experts
take care of all the details.
The best available price is our starting point. Then we add value through
complimentary excursions, amenities, or services.
TravelWizard.com can get you the room, or suite, condo or villa you want,
when others can't.
We have tons of money saving specials: free nights, free meals, room
upgrades, and wonderful inclusions such as free golf and spa visits.
Free car with a 7 night stay at 40 different hotels, or receive a
credit of $199 value, and apply it to another car category.
We work with every airline, so you can choose the airline you prefer.
You get frequent flyer miles on most of them.
We can get you discount first class, or
business class tickets.
You can book your activities ahead of time to
assure peace of mind.
How do we do it? Simple. We leverage our
tremendous buying power!
Email this page to a friend
Bookmark this page
|
|
|
|
|
