I love classics, and long books, and books with difficult language. This book, however, was just very boring. Nothing happened, plot-wise, and I really did not enjoy myself while reading it.
I'm sure this is what being stranded on a desert island is really like, but that doesn't mean I want to read every minute detail. ( )

Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe was a decent story. The one thing I didn’t like about it was that the same “idea” happened over and over again – it seemed as though all that happened a majority of the book was he explored the island over and over again. Then again, I have to remember that it IS a story about a man stranded on a deserted island; I shouldn’t be expecting too much excitement. Also, if you look at MORE than just events happening – and you try to analyze his feelings or you try putting yourself in his situation – it is more interesting. Honestly, do you think you could survive on an island for over 20 years – encounter cannibals, have to survive with almost nothing…have to use nature to make a house, clothes, create a canoe out of carving a tree, cultivating your own harvest, making candles for light out of animal parts…etc. Personally, I am positive that I would not be able to survive (and not just because I’m a girl!) Where he got this knowledge of survival and self reliance is a mystery to me. I thought the most interesting part of the book was Crusoe’s final decision in the island vs. home in England. It seemed as though he was lost – part of him wanted to stay in his new home, or kingdom. Yet the other half wanted to go back to his home in England. One would think that once he went back to England, where life was “normal” or easier – that he would stay there. He’d be with humans, have a house, electricity, food, a job…. However, while being in England all he could think about was life at the island. Which brings him to his final decision… Through living his life on this deserted island I believe it gave him a new appreciation for life and the things he had. He is able to overcome his own problems and appreciate the struggles in his life. It’s amazing to see that when someone has to work for something the new appreciation and respect they have for it. This idea DEFINITELY stays true in today’s world. I have 2 jobs and I babysit a lot, so when I buy things with money that I worked hard for – I take a lot more care of the item, and I’m more picky about buying things – “Do I really need it?” Once people have this new appreciation they think and view things differently. ( )

Robinson Crusoe is considered the first English novel so, as most firsts, it wasn’t as streamlined as the novels written today. I felt like the story dragged on a bit but it kept its word as an adventure story. The adventures that Robinson went on in the beginning of the novel were pretty interesting. There were twists and turns that kept the plot moving even though the language wasn’t the easiest to read but once he got to the island the story died for a while until it picked back up towards the end when other characters were introduced.
One of the main things I think Defoe was trying to get us to think about was how an English man would make it if he was removed from his society. What kinds of morals would he hold onto? Would he keep any traditions? Or would he just use his solitude as a way to break free from everything he was brought up on? Once the adventures were over and Crusoe was on his own on the island Defoe really went into this idea. Crusoe started off just gathering the things he needed from a wrecked ship just off the coast of the island. He built a little shelter near some fresh water and started to keep a journal. He also started to read the Bible. This proves that although Defoe placed Crusoe on an island by himself he still followed English tradition for the most part. Crusoe tried to keep the Sabbath but due to an illness he lost track of the date so he couldn’t keep the Sabbath but he still read the Bible. The Bible helped Crusoe to change his mind about killing the cannibals like he wanted because although he thought it was wrong for people to eat other humans it was not his job to judge and punish. Once Friday entered the situation Crusoe really went back to his English roots and converted Friday to the English religion and taught him many other English things. When Crusoe left the island and went back to England he really didn’t want to live in that society anymore, he liked his hybrid society back on the island.
Overall this book really wasn’t my kind of read but it wasn’t terrible. It dealt with some issues that are still present today which is cool considering this novel was written so long ago. It wasn’t easy to read and it definitely wasn’t as hard to figure out as some more modern novels but it was a good example of the foundation for the novels we read today.