Treasure Island - Robert Louis Stevenson > Reviews > At the very beginning with 'The Old Buccaneer'

Author's product rating:   

Would you listen to it again?	Yes
Story	Good
Characters	Good
Listenability	A good listen when you've got the time
How does it compare to similar audio books?	Excellent
How does it compare to audio works by the same author?	Not applicable

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

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

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 black in white as if you know them - and 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 eye. You watch as Jim grows up from his small village pub life to learn of the ruthlessness of being an adult.

The only negative is understanding some of the talk in the book, which may be owning to my own personal lack of vocabulary because we know how well known the phrase : "Spoil foc's'le hands, make devils.". I understand the context but I don't know if I want to admit knowing many a foc's'le.

So as a recommendation for any parents reading the book to a child, which I believe is the best way for a parent and child to bond, read it first - learn the language and the way they speak. And then you can look intelligent (and smug?) explaining the story to your child - and they even learn more - so everyone wins.

In Conclusion, the book is for anyone and everyone and is as absorbing as water onto a sponge. It is a classic and I believe it will remain that way for many a generation to come.

Eagle88