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qkjgrubb's review against another edition
4.0
My rating is 4.5 stars! I realized about halfway into this book that I had read this author before. I had loved The Dante Club. The idea of mixing a thriller with a literary star (in this case Robert Lewis Stevenson) is one of my favorite modern ideas. What I appreciate about this book is the CONSTANT clever observations about writing, publishing, reading and the same issues that modern writers face: you know, piracy, copyrights, being chased by cannibals! I also love the structure: this reads like a Victorian novel and I can't help but be impressed by the detail, the voice and the style. I loved the twists, even though I did get lost a couple of times wondering who was chasing whom. But all in all, this was very fun swashbuckler and I highly recommend it -- especially to future writers who like their reads to poke fun at our illustrious industry.
blanche's review against another edition
2.0
This just wasn't for me. I wish I could have liked it. But I didn't. The idea was so nice. But I did not connect to any of the characters.
westminstergirlreads's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't think I would like this book as much as the others by Matthew pearl , but after I began I was hooked.i enjoyed the journey and once again finished the book wanting to know more about the subject.
gilmoreguide's review against another edition
2.0
Matthew Pearl’s The Last Bookaneer is told in the swashbuckling manner of an old-school adventure but with people who love books. I know, seems a bit incongruous but instead of buckaneers you have bookaneers, people who lead wildly adventurous lives in pursuit of books. Unfortunately, they’re only in it for the money so Pearl takes two real events and blends them to concoct what will be the last great heist in bookaneer history. Up until the end of 1800s copyright was national, meaning authors like Charles Dickens had to watch as people bought his work while in England, sailed home to America, reprinted it and kept all the profits without him getting a farthing. It isn’t until 1891 that the United States agrees to an international copyright act, which will go into effect on July 1, 1891. At around this time, the famous Robert Louis Stevenson has gone to live in
Samoa where it is believed that, given his ill-health, he is working on a final book before dying. Pearl takes these truths, adds Mr. E.C. Fergins, a bookseller and Pen Davenport, a bookaneer and sends them from Great Britain to the islands of the South Pacific in search of what will be the last great get in bookaneer history.
Pearl excels at plot and there is a lot of it in The Last Bookaneer. In an effort to win their prize Fergins and Davenport must compete against enemies of all kinds and work with the utmost stealth and Pearl feints and dodges with the best of them strewing the novel with clues, arcane details, and the kind of minutia that makes for non-stop reading. The only problem? When a novel is so dependent on plot then that plot had better work right up until the last sentence and this did not. We discussed this kind of thing at The Socratic Salon (How Important is the End of a Book?) last week so it is odd that I’m now faced with a specific instance of it. There is a spoiler but while that part works Pearl goes beyond it to a premise/plot twist that does not fit with the rest of the novel. Which bothered me. A lot.
Samoa where it is believed that, given his ill-health, he is working on a final book before dying. Pearl takes these truths, adds Mr. E.C. Fergins, a bookseller and Pen Davenport, a bookaneer and sends them from Great Britain to the islands of the South Pacific in search of what will be the last great get in bookaneer history.
Pearl excels at plot and there is a lot of it in The Last Bookaneer. In an effort to win their prize Fergins and Davenport must compete against enemies of all kinds and work with the utmost stealth and Pearl feints and dodges with the best of them strewing the novel with clues, arcane details, and the kind of minutia that makes for non-stop reading. The only problem? When a novel is so dependent on plot then that plot had better work right up until the last sentence and this did not. We discussed this kind of thing at The Socratic Salon (How Important is the End of a Book?) last week so it is odd that I’m now faced with a specific instance of it. There is a spoiler but while that part works Pearl goes beyond it to a premise/plot twist that does not fit with the rest of the novel. Which bothered me. A lot.
anastasiaadamov's review against another edition
3.0
Read for the Buddy Readathon 2022 with Vivone.
Not my type of a book and probably would not pick it up on my own.
The theme alone should have been enough to get me interested but the start of the book was a bit fuzzy for me and because I could not connect with any of the characters the rest of the book did not pull me in as much it should have otherwise.
At the second part of the book there are some cool plot twists going on and the book ended on a high note interest for me.
All things considered I should have been more thrilled with this book for the topic alone and it makes me sad I did not enjoy it all more.
Just ok instead of great...
Not my type of a book and probably would not pick it up on my own.
The theme alone should have been enough to get me interested but the start of the book was a bit fuzzy for me and because I could not connect with any of the characters the rest of the book did not pull me in as much it should have otherwise.
At the second part of the book there are some cool plot twists going on and the book ended on a high note interest for me.
All things considered I should have been more thrilled with this book for the topic alone and it makes me sad I did not enjoy it all more.
Just ok instead of great...
momwrex's review against another edition
2.0
Could not finish. I love books. I love history. It just became a slog. I may try reading it again in the future as others rate it highly.
nerdistrob's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ricefun's review against another edition
3.0
I was very enthusiastic when I began reading this book. It was the perfect subject matter and pace for a flight. The first half kept my attention. But I was confused by the frame of the novel. It felt like the storyteller of the book and the storyteller of the story within the book could have been the same person and caused less confusion and unnecessary clarification.
The further I got into the book the less I was interested in picking it up and finishing it. The bookseller character transformed from interesting and compelling to ho-hum and I had to force myself to finish reading.
I don't think it is a bad novel, and for those of us who love books it is an interesting fictional account of what could have been happening in the publishing business. But altogether I wouldn't recommend this highly.
The further I got into the book the less I was interested in picking it up and finishing it. The bookseller character transformed from interesting and compelling to ho-hum and I had to force myself to finish reading.
I don't think it is a bad novel, and for those of us who love books it is an interesting fictional account of what could have been happening in the publishing business. But altogether I wouldn't recommend this highly.