Customer Reviews

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

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20,000 Leagues Under the Sea is a very good book. The story concerns a group of men who are, at first, searching for some sort of dangerous sea creature that has been attacking ships. There is Professor Aronnax, Ned Land the harpooner, and Conseil, Aronnax's servant. Aboard the Abraham Lincoln, the are attacked by the beast and find it is not a beast at all, but a submarine. They are swept overboard and end up aboard that craft, which is ruled by Captain Nemo. What follows after that are many adventures underneath the ocean. What do I like about this book? Well, the author uses foreshadowing very well and also, the beginning was very well done as he told about the mysterious sea monster. Also, the characters are likable. Especially well done is Captain Nemo who, though he engages in some questionable acts, also displays noble and heroic qualities. He is also something of an ongoing mystery, even past where the story ends. There is also a strong sense of adventure in this book and at its best, I didn't even feel like I was reading a book at all, but that I was there with them living it. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a bit envious of the three men, who got to go where no men had ever gone before. They see strange sights and beauties that had been shut off from the prying eyes of man since creation. So, that's the good, what's bad about it? Not much really. The main thing is that in some places, Verne uses too much exposition or description and that got to be boring fast. This is mostly done when cataloging EVERY fish it seems that lives in the ocean or when talking about some 70 year old shipping expedition from Spain or something. As I said, this is not really a major quibble as it doesn't take much away from the story' flow. I see this is called by some a children's book and I don't know if children would really be into it but it is a very well told, exciting adventure novel

The book 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was an amazing book. Jules Verne explores the wildness of the sea, telling the adventure of explorer Captain Nemo and Professor Aronnax aboard the Nautilus. The book starts with Aronnax sailing on a ship to find and destroy a certain "animal" that men have told stories about every time a ship has disappeared. Their ship succeeds in finding this monstrous and follows it. Suddenly the writer takes the book in a different direction, from perusing of a undetectable "object" when Aronnax and his two other friends, Conseil and harpooner Ned Land, fall into the sea only to be taken by captive by Nemo. Now, these three friends have to either live with the submarine explorer Nemo in his submarine fascinated by the wild jungle of the depths of the sea, or find a way to escape. Captain Nemo, however, doesn't hold them as prisoners as one would think. Reading further along, you'll find that Nemo at first seems to be a soft, caring man who has experienced true pain, true hurt and true jubilance. Having lost his wife and children, he hides away from his feelings under the sea. He takes the travelers through the most amazing, exquisite and, most of the time, life; threatening adventures. They visit the lost island of Atlantis, are visited by a gargantuan squid and venture under the freezing ice of the South Pole. Later, sailing under the ice, they experience trouble that threatens their lives. Will they make it out of the ice alive, run out of air or be crushed by the collapsing ice? Although welcoming the explorers to accompany him on unforgettable adventures, Nemo still holds them in the small prison of the submarine. Read the book to find out whether Aronnax and his friends make it out alive from Nemo's clutches. Even if these men escape, will Nemo himself make it out alive from a dangerous life trap?
I enjoyed this book immensely and would recommend it to anyone who has a love for suspense and thrill. Reading the book as a child, whether 11 or 50, you'll find this book hard to put down. A wonderful story to have on a shelf, keep this book for your entire life. A classic and reaching great heights of excitement, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, however long ago it was written still takes you on a thrilling adventure. These four men together make a real friendship. Nemo finally realizes the beauty of having a family outside of the deep waters. Everyone needs something. Aronnax, Ned Land, Conseil all want to return to their beloved home. What do you think Nemo wanted? He has riches, a life beneath the waves, almost everything. But everyone needs a family. Nemo learns that the hard way.

Unfortunately, "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" shows its age. While the story is, actually, quite good, the language is somewhat stilted and the book takes a while to really get going. I think many young readers will be puzzled by the vocabulary and will be bored. Eventually, the story picks up. However, I was bored in the 1950's and cannot imagine that today's youngsters will do much better. I think that the Walt Disney movie is a much better bet if you want to expose your child to a story that was a true classic. This is one of the few cases where a movie has an advantage over the written word.