Classics > Robert Louis Stevenson Classics

Advantages: Adventure on the high seas, Pirates, Long John Silver, Coming of age
Disadvantages: Understanding Pirate Talk, Realisation you're parents deprived you of a good book

The story and adventure constantly come at you as though waves stretch across the golden sands of 'Treasure Island'. Coaxing you out into the blue horizon and reaching out towards the edge of the earth on the 'Hispaniola' to find out where the next chapter will take you. And you will not be disappointed, each chapter has a new turn of events which constantly keep you wanting more. The great ability of the book is keeping the characters alive in ...
...even hate them or love them. I particularly found the ability in conveying Long John Silver as the chaotically suave 'gentleman' that he is, very effective in generating my illicit need to be a pirate and go on many of his previous adventures of which my imagination takes me. The method of writing, and including the smallest and insignificant of details, is able to spin the image of the grand docks or of the island itself in the centre of your minds ... Read review

Advantages: Interesting, raises some questions
Disadvantages: Long winded, predictable, doesn't live up to the hype

The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll And Mr Hyde was first published in 1886, and is surprisingly short for such an acclaimed book - it has only 88 pages! I read it in school as part of my English Literature coursework and I was expecting it to be pretty good - after all, there have been so many TV programmes, spin offs and dramatisations of it, but I wasn't too impressed! It came out in the 19th century, during which 'classic' novels such as Dracula by ...
...has often been described as the best horror story of all time, which I think is pushing it a bit, but there you go! The storyline revolves around Dr Henry Jekyll, who appears to be a pleasant, respectable pillar of the community. He has a well-respected job as a scientist, but has clashed with many of his friends over his maverick ideas, which doesn't quite seem to fit in with his seemingly faultless personality. Nonetheless, he is well-known and ... Read review

Advantages: You may gain insight into a turbulent time in English History - the War of the Roses (white and red)
Disadvantages: It is not always easy to unravel who is on which side at which time; sentences can be long and complicated.

...it, just a bit, for the poor unsuspecting reader intent on a quick action thriller to while away an hour or two at a time. Robert Lewis Stevenson, like Charles Dickens, initially wrote many of his stories for weekly consumption as a serial (money was the driving force behind such). Perhaps the modern day equivalent would be weekly episodes of television programmes ~ but the book (or the weekly magazine) has the advantage of being subject to the ...
...of the reader's own choosing ~ and not pushed at you by a producer's prime-time scheduling ~ competing with dinner, homework and family time. When serialised for "Young Folks" magazine in 17 weekly instalments in 1883, the title was "The Black Arrow: A Tale Of Tunstall Forest" but this was changed when it was edited into book form ( five or six years later) to "The Black Arrow: A Tale Of The Two Roses" ~ Robert Lewis Stevenson himself considered ... Read review

Advantages: Inspiring
Disadvantages: none that i can think of

I wish i had been the first but I can't believe that there's only one person ahead of me! I have heard that this book has inspired politicians and activists for generations. I can only suggest that some need to read it again! I won't rewrite the last excellent review..the book is inspiring, shocking and beautiful. There are parts, the tenderness of which will bring tears to your eyes. ..where Owens son falls asleep wrapped round his dad or where ...
...laugh out loud..the names of the characters and firms.. the Brigands conspiring to defraud the council; there are descriptions of poverty and hardship that will stir the revolutionary in you. The baddies are bad and have no redeeming features, the goodies are flawed. Although there are political lectures throughout - they educate and agitate without being preachy and precious. My favourite parts are the internal dialogues and turmoil of Owen and ... Read review

Advantages: there is non
Disadvantages: the worst book in the world!

...in that film they go around the world in a hot air balloon. But because this book was made ages ago they travel by steamer (Boat) and train. In my opinion that makes it pretty boring. In the book they have a detective after them who imprison them in Liverpool, but in the film there is no detective... And also in the film they just pick up the woman, when in the book they rescue her! I hope I have interested you boringly, so that you people won't ... Read review