Posts
For those of you, like me, who are eagerly anticipating the return of Indiana Jones to the theatre, King Solomon's Mines
is your book! Hero Allan Quartermain is the original Indy, minus the snake phobia and whip. Not so much that Quartermaine is equally as cool as Indiana Jones (after all, that's not possible), but you can see where the idea came from. Much like you can see the seed of the idea for Captain Jack Sparrow in Long John Silver from Treasure Island.From Amazon.com:
The story begins when renowned safari hunter Allan Quartermain agrees to help Sir Henry Curtis and Captain John Good search for King Solomon’s legendary cache of diamonds. Eager to find out what is true, what is myth, and what is really buried in the darkness of the mines, the tireless adventurers delve into the Sahara’s treacherous Veil of Sand, where they stumble upon a mysterious lost tribe of African warriors. Finding themselves in deadly peril from that country’s cruel king and the evil sorceress who conspires behind his throne, the explorers escape, but what they seek could be the most savage trap of all—the forbidden, impenetrable, and spectacular King Solomon’s Mines.
I had a blast with this book! It was pure escapism and outrageous fun. Allan Quartermain is the main event, but I became quite fond of his companions in this adventure. And the scenes of the lost tribe standing in awe and worship of Captain Good's white legs when they come across him nearly undressed and half shaved are more than worth the price of admission.
If you haven't had enough when you're done with this one, there is a whole series of books about Allan Quartermain, most of which can be read for free at Project Gutenberg. Here is the list:
King Solomon's Mines (1885)
Allan Quatermain (1887)
Allan's Wife (1887)
Maiwa's Revenge: or, The War of the Little Hand (1888)
Marie (1912)
Child of Storm (1913)
The Holy Flower (1915)
Finished (1917)
The Ivory Child (1916)
The Ancient Allan (1920)
She and Allan (1920)
Heu-heu: or The Monster (1924)
The Treasure of the Lake (1926)
Allan and the Ice-gods (1927)
Hunter Quatermain's Story: The Uncollected Adventures of Allan Quatermain
Happy Reading, Everyone!
Lezlie
Other reviews:
Heather at "Age 30 - A Year of Books"
10 comments:
I love Indiana Jones and this book sounds right up my alley!! Great review. I have gotten many good books from Project Gutenberg and there is another one too that has free classics...The Literature Network.
Kara ~ Thanks! And I'll check out Literature Network, too. You've got all kinds of cool info for me! Thanks!! :-)
Lezlie
Excellent! I've been meaning to read an Allan Quartermain book since I heard about him in the movie League of Extraordinary Gentleman (he was the ONE character I didn't know!) ... I'm revising my challenge list to include this book. :)
Heather ~ Me, too! It took me a little while to figure out who he was. Though looking at Sean Connery while I thought about it was no real hardship. :-) I hope you enjoy the book!
L.
Ok, one more comment from me. :) This book is part of 2 challenges for me - the 1% Well Read Challenge and the Irresistible Review Challenge. Everyone should be part of the 2nd challenge - it's the easiest one ever!
Heather ~ Leave all the comments you want! :-) I've been looking at the Irrisistible Review Challenge, too. There are soooo many fun ones out there!
Lezlie
Hmm...haven't heard of Irresistible Review, I'll have to check it out.
This book sounds like fun. Indiana Jones is enjoyable, though I don't know how it'll be in a book genre. (No stirring theme songs!)
Thanks for the review :)
Reading1001 ~ LOL! They should put that label on the book -- "Warning: Stirring Theme Song Not Included". I just filled one in myself in all the exciting parts. Oddly enough, it sounded just like the Indiana Jones theme. Da da da daaaaa, da da daaa. . . :-)
Lezlie
Sounds like a fun book to read!
Michelle ~ Both my husband and I had a great time with this one. I'd like to read more of Quartermaine's adventures in the future.
L.
Post a Comment