Tarzan of the Apes and The Return of Tarzan | 
so-soI had bought the second book at a used book store, but I'll be donating after having finished book one...
It wasn't necessarily bad, but I think the character in the cultural zeitgeist has outgrown the original story. You probably know all you want to know about Tarzan without reading this and spoiling your mental image. Overly long, pretty racist, way too many mentions of sinew, and a depressing ending took away from the overall enjoyment.
Do you pick the book or does the book pick you? I knew I wanted to cleanse the palate with classic fiction. Thought maybe Hunchback or Princess Bride (maybe only the movie is classic😁). My eyes landed on this. Lightbulb. Plus my 11 year old daughter wants to read it. She's developing a taste for classic literature.(She loved P&P). Here's to having the book pick you to read it.
Reading this with a friend of mine for our 2-person book club. Pretty good so far!
so-soThis was, unexpectedly, not an easy read. The language and the story are simple, but it is a book of its time. At first an exciting tale about the abandonment of Tarzan‘s parents on the shore of Africa, but the more one reads the more one must grapple with changed mores. As sexist and racist attitudes were expressed, as well as implicit ideas of nature versus nurture, it did challenge me and make me think in ways likely not intended by the author.
The Tarzan series was a favorite of my Mom's childhood. She was born in 1927 and died in 2015. I am reading the entire series to honor her.
#tallshipcelebration @CrowCAH Tarzan has certainly had his share of #adventure in several books, movies and TV shows over the past century.
“Do not assume that men are your enemies until they prove it.” ~D‘Arnot (pg. 257)
pickOne of my favorite books when I was young. Still a good story.
so-soThis is an absolutely ridiculous story, but somehow manages to be charming. Probably because it is well written and well paced, and of course, it is about Tarzan. He is swoon-worthy, noble, intrinsically moral, as in, knows that the white man is superior... teaches himself to read and write a language he has never heard, etc. The racism and sexism are what one may expect of the time - bad. I liked the ending, though. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
I mean, this book is full of ridiculous things - a catalogue of every cliché ever invented. But come on. I get that Burroughs is trying to paint a picture of absent minded professors... but you‘d think they would notice that they are in Africa, in the middle of the jungle. Even if they are professors. Especially because they are professors...
Seriously. ???
pickThis was unexpectedly a very entertaining book, an adventure novel with a great character development of Tarzan himself. There were some contradictions (how can someone who can read but doesn‘t know the sound of words, write his name correctly?), but that did not really matter. I was fascinated by what was going on and the end came as a complete surprise. And am I right that the phrase 'Me Tarzan, you Jane' doesn‘t appear in the book? #1001books
I have started this one just because it is on the list of 1001 books to read before you die. It didn‘t appeal to me at all but what a pleasant surprise it is. Who would have thought I‘d be interested in the story of a boy, raised by apes?! To be continued 🐒🐒!
pickI thought I knew this story very well, and have seen various Hollywood and Disney versions, but I still found myself enjoying this page turner, that still offered some surprises despite all I thought I knew of the story. As I‘ve been reading Burroughs over the last few years, I still find myself surprised how many story arc types we take for granted that actually started with him.
“He commenced a systematic search of the cabin; but his attention was soon riveted by the books which seemed to exert a strange and powerful influence over him, so that he could scarce attend to aught else for the lure of the wondrous #puzzle which their purpose presented to him.”
#quotsynov17 I had a hard time with this one!
These were two fun/interesting reads. I wanted to read the origins of everything Tarzan. Maybe I might read more someday but no urgency.
#WelcometotheJungle #Rocktober #Classic
@BarbaraBB @Cinfhen
I absolutely ❤️ the design at the beginning of ever chapter. This is the Barnes and Noble edition of Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The cover is beautiful too! Pictures coming soon. #classics #tarzan #tarzanoftheapes #1900s #fiction #pulpfiction
pickWas not expecting this one to be so gripping!
pickRead this for bookclub. Beautiful language, though some stereotypes of the "savages" that are reflective of that time. Interesting that it came out as a serial. Let's do that again! I liked the adventure and overall story though.
panI'm glad I read it for historical and sociological knowledge, but I didn't like the racism, the probable misogyny, or all the dead cats. 😾
A birthday gift from my hubby. @stacylee When do you want to watch? This was clearly meant to be for a girls night.
pickI've been reading this book to my daughter at bedtime every night since early July. I hadn't realized how attached I'd become to Tarzan and wanted to see him find happiness. I guess that's exactly what he did with Jane--become so attached to her and invested in her happiness that he was willing to give up all of his own! 😩 So tragic! Do I keep reading on in the series? Does Tarzan find happiness? Does he get his Jane?
TODAY: In 1875, Edgar Rice Burroughs, the creator of Tarzan, is born. Happy Birthday!
"Men were indeed more foolish and more cruel than the beasts of the jungle! How fortunate was he who lived in the peace and security of the great forest!"
"I love you, and because I love you I believe in you. But if I did not believe, still should I love. Had you come back for me, and had there been no other way, I would have gone into the jungle with you--forever."
So I have always loved this story. Saw the movie last night. Now I want reads in this vein. Any recommendations??
pickThere are a lot of problems in the book in regards to race, women, and social status. But damn I love the character and the adventure. Never understand though why in the now the movies keep going to a white man to play the character.
pickWhat a fun read! How often do you really say that about classics? At it's heart it's an adventure story, more gruesome than I expected, but while it's a classic, it's still pulp fiction, but really good pulp fiction! I plan to read more in the series, can't stop now as there's a bit of a cliffhanger
I have been completely sucked into this story. My only knowledge of Tarzan is from the old Johnny Weismuller movies. I went into the book not sure what to expect. I can report that my friend and I are reading this together and we both can't stop listening! Classic book win!
Next audiobook is Tarzan of the Apes. The new movie version is being released in a few weeks and I decided maybe it's time I read the original. I grew up watching the Johnny Weismuller movies(my local TV channel had a Shirley Temple/Tarzan double feature every Saturday afternoon).
