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Genre: Classic | Age: Adult (16+) | Buy: Amazon or BookShop | ⭐ See star rating

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Master Aronnax, his assistant, and a harpooner set off to search for a strange narwhal, only to be thrown overboard and picked up by the mysterious Captain Nemo.

Personal Review:

Even though I have heard this classic referenced many times, I had no idea what to expect from it. I think ultimately I have mixed feelings, but the enjoyment of the book outweighs my distaste for some of it.

Captain Nemo is an interesting character. His mysteriousness was frustrating, but then he was fascinating, then frustrating again. A study question at the end of my book asked if Captain Nemo was a hero or a villain – and I haven’t made up my mind about that yet.

Aronnax and his two companions were fun to watch. I liked Aronnax’s academic perspective of everything that was going on, and seeing the underwater world through his eyes was enlightening, to say the least. Ned Land was feisty and restless and a needed character. He exemplified what I imagine most men would go through trapped in a submarine. Conseil was the most confusing character to me. How can a man be so devoted to another man that he jumps off of ships after him?

The adventures were exciting and I enjoyed them. There were some chapters that bored me to tears and I did find myself skimming long lists or coordinates or paragraphs of technical jargon. I also wished I knew more about sea animals because I couldn’t tell if the animals mentioned were real or as fantastical as the Nautilus.

I think my favorite adventures were traveling to the coral graveyard, watching and saving the native diver, and the first time we find out what the Nautilus is.

Happy reading!

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