Jennifer E. (jenenglish) reviewed Gulliver's Travels (Dover Thrift Editions) on + 40 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Apparently the Gulliver's Travels I read so many years ago was a cleaned-up kids' version, because this book was not nearly as fun as I remember it. Swift's satirical story of a man who happens upon strange lands is still entertaining, but this unabridged version includes all the long-winded commentary that was typical of books in his day. For scolars, and those who want the full experience of a classic, I would definitely recommend the unabridged edition, as it is a clever take on the world the way it once was (and in many ways still is). But for those simply looking for an entertaining story, without all the political and social commetary, I would suggest something edited more recently and aimed at younger readers.
Helpful Score: 1
I read this book while I was in High School, I remember I was actually bored with some parts of it and merely finished it because I never like to leave a book unfinished. After we discussed it in class, and learned what a satire was the novel absolutely blew my mind. I had missed it completely, the deeper meanings of the stories and just what Swift was trying to say about the society he was living in. I never realized that you could do something this mind blowing with literature, and I absolutely fell in love with the book. I actually got this book just because I realized that I did not have it on my bookshelf, and that this book should definitely be on my bookshelf.
