tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post8259372879898933016..comments2024-02-29T02:54:19.767-05:00Comments on Babbling Books: Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan SwiftBrian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-50785860411311819412016-05-22T00:40:34.647-04:002016-05-22T00:40:34.647-04:00Hi CJ - This book has really remained part of out ...Hi CJ - This book has really remained part of out culture. It seems that so many of us were first introduced to this work through the cartoon. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-52798877463875295292016-05-21T07:48:18.809-04:002016-05-21T07:48:18.809-04:00Great review! I haven't read Gulliver's Tr...Great review! I haven't read Gulliver's Travels, but must have seen a cartoon because I always remember the part with the Lilliputians. It's amazing how the themes in classic literature resonate with us today. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-50955868849990659822016-05-15T11:14:17.847-04:002016-05-15T11:14:17.847-04:00Hi Naida - The book is so inventive. I think that ...Hi Naida - The book is so inventive. I think that most of the film versions only cover a small portion of the book, namely Gulliver's visit to Lilliput. There is a lot more to the story. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-86127885000791174442016-05-15T10:55:30.104-04:002016-05-15T10:55:30.104-04:00I have never read Gulliver's Travels but have ...I have never read Gulliver's Travels but have watched a film version. I think it is a clever storyline and the book sounds interesting! The Bookwormhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10217390642323530030noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-14439243327605896502016-05-12T20:18:23.797-04:002016-05-12T20:18:23.797-04:00Hi Stephanie - It is great to read a book second h...Hi Stephanie - It is great to read a book second hand through one's spouse. I have done it myself :)<br /><br />Though I am a believer that the world is getting better, it is striking how relevant this book still is today. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-84786025645876386312016-05-12T20:13:25.477-04:002016-05-12T20:13:25.477-04:00Hi R.T. - Thanks for letting me know. I am adding ...Hi R.T. - Thanks for letting me know. I am adding your new site to my blog reader right now. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-6508874972642386722016-05-12T14:23:56.501-04:002016-05-12T14:23:56.501-04:00Isn't this a good one? I read it long ago but ...Isn't this a good one? I read it long ago but liked it a lot. Sad that it is still so relevant. The more things change, etc. My husband is currently giving it a reread by listening to it on audio. He provides me with regular updates :)Stefaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14943596258182968212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-67291662804091604902016-05-12T10:17:17.328-04:002016-05-12T10:17:17.328-04:00Postscript:
FYI, I have changed my blogging addres...Postscript:<br />FYI, I have changed my blogging address and focus; here is the link:<br />http://theernesthemingwayblog.blogspot.com/<br /><br />I hope you and your many visitors will stop by and join the discussions. Yahoos, however, will be blocked. Hmmmm. Thanks!RTDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17113953356514605424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-16311256139980102982016-05-11T20:36:52.399-04:002016-05-11T20:36:52.399-04:00Thanks Maria.
You raise such a good point about ...Thanks Maria. <br /><br />You raise such a good point about this work influencing some of the existentialists. I think that it did.<br /><br /><br />On the other hand, based on the narrative, I get the sense that despite his dark view of humanity, Swift believe in solid morality. He was just very negative about people's lack of it. Thus he did not go as far as the twentieth century thinkers.<br /><br />Prejudice and bullying is such a negative aspect to human existence, Swift really conveys that in this work. <br /><br />The Wikipedia article on "Laputa" speculates that the use of the word was intentional. It may haver something to do with the fact that the women of Laputa have a tendency to have affairs. <br />Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-70795419863782038402016-05-11T20:22:50.885-04:002016-05-11T20:22:50.885-04:00Hi Caroline - There really is a lot of philosophy ...Hi Caroline - There really is a lot of philosophy contained here so I think that you have a point. <br /><br />I found the humor and at times light tone prevented the narrative from becoming too dry for me. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-48833381588258568622016-05-11T14:04:39.291-04:002016-05-11T14:04:39.291-04:00AWESOME review as always, Brian!
I have never rea...AWESOME review as always, Brian!<br /><br />I have never read this novel. Also, when I was a kid, I thought it was supposed to be a children's book. Of course, as you have said, it can be read on many levels. I was quite surprised, though, to discover the word "whore" in this novel. That means it's questionable reading for kids. <br /><br />By the way, the name of that island, "Laputa" literally means "the whore" in Spanish. It's two words instead of one, though, because the word "la" is the feminine form of "the" in Spanish. I wonder if Swift was aware of this, and intentionally used that crude Spanish word as the name of his fictional island. <br /><br />From your analysis, the satire in this novel has a lot of cynicism. As you pointed out, this work is really ahead of its time, so I would say it has an existentialist point of view. All the various lands that Gulliver traveled through actually become a "theater of the absurd". This now makes me wonder whether the existentialists, especially Kafka and Camus, were at all influenced by this novel.<br /><br />I really like the fact that Swift satirizes the human tendency to discriminate against those who are different in some way. This is indeed a very sad component of human nature. I went through bullying myself when I was a kid, and it was because I'm a Hispanic. So I can really appreciate Swift's barbs regarding prejudice!<br /><br />Overall, in spite of some crude elements I honestly don't care for (Gulliver urinating on that castle to put out a fire is another one), this novel does seem to be a very interesting read. It frequently happens that fiction can drive a point home much more effectively, and with fewer words, than nonfiction can. That certainly seems to be the case here!<br /><br />Thanks for your thoughts!! :) Maria Beharhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635809880830316283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-70660823480547998852016-05-11T09:22:28.255-04:002016-05-11T09:22:28.255-04:00I read this in high school but don't really re...I read this in high school but don't really remember much. It felt more philosophy in fiction format like Utopia or Voltaire's stories. What I'm trying to say is that the style didn't seem as literary. But it's so long ago. Very interesting ideas but a bit dry style- wise. Carolinehttp://beautyisasleepingcat.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-89024885253087405862016-05-10T20:39:32.132-04:002016-05-10T20:39:32.132-04:00Thanks Lainy.
I remotely remember seeing a screen...Thanks Lainy.<br /><br />I remotely remember seeing a screen version of this as a child also.<br /><br />If you read this I would love to know what you thought. <br /><br /><br /><br />Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-81681560862664849642016-05-10T20:37:33.971-04:002016-05-10T20:37:33.971-04:00Hi R.T. - Indeed it seems like those who have read...Hi R.T. - Indeed it seems like those who have read this did so when they were so very young. <br /><br />Unfortunately the world is full of Yahoos! Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-62244789710217746962016-05-10T15:06:52.222-04:002016-05-10T15:06:52.222-04:00It is too bad that so few people have read this bo...It is too bad that so few people have read this book in recent years. I think -- except for a few book bloggers and a couple of other dedicated readers -- only English majors in college have encounters with Gulliver. Perhaps the not-so-good film versions in the last 40 or 50 years inspired some readers. I remember my first encounter: Classics Illustrated comic book version way back in the mid-50s. My next encounter was college, and I discovered more than I had suspected was relevant to the 20th century. And I still find myself too often surrounded by Yahoos!RTDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17113953356514605424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-70170207523049028052016-05-10T06:37:30.912-04:002016-05-10T06:37:30.912-04:00I was sure I had commented on this, I have it on m...I was sure I had commented on this, I have it on my tbr but haven't yet read it. I am sure we saw the televised movie as a child. I love how you read so deep into so many themes in books! I will need to revist your review when I finally get round to reading and reviewing mine.<br /><br />Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.net So many books, so little timehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07564778178609301461noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-38335202179790379032016-05-09T21:27:34.837-04:002016-05-09T21:27:34.837-04:00Thanks Sharon,
It interesting that this book was...Thanks Sharon,<br /><br /><br />It interesting that this book was more risqué then novels written a century later by the Victorians. <br /><br />I think that you would really like this if you read this now. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-11900765322815001292016-05-09T21:25:13.316-04:002016-05-09T21:25:13.316-04:00Hi Scott - All the things you said I agree with. T...Hi Scott - All the things you said I agree with. This book is immensely enjoyable. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-51324693674454772612016-05-09T21:24:14.829-04:002016-05-09T21:24:14.829-04:00Hi Guy - I think that a lot of books often read by...Hi Guy - I think that a lot of books often read by children contain lots of great stuff for adults. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-66264706623644666802016-05-09T19:36:23.720-04:002016-05-09T19:36:23.720-04:00I find it difficult to think of another work that ...I find it difficult to think of another work that so tremendously rewards the reader who, having first encountered the book as a child, returns to it as an adult. Hilarious, biting, eternally relevant.seraillonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17654593356535433945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-26562460796612167282016-05-09T12:19:32.220-04:002016-05-09T12:19:32.220-04:00This is such a good book and your review makes ast...This is such a good book and your review makes astute observations. I know Swift was a cleric but I was surprised at some of the risque treatment as concerned those female giants and their handling of little Gulliver.<br />It's been years since I read it and I never finished it. I am now inspired to do so. <br />Thanks for a great review, Brian!Sharon Wilfonghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17466621290140789056noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-60822554391648880242016-05-09T10:50:50.376-04:002016-05-09T10:50:50.376-04:00Like Jacqui, I read this when I was young and now ...Like Jacqui, I read this when I was young and now realize that it was so much more than a children's story. Guy Savagehttp://www.swiftlytiltingplanet.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-72937347755702050032016-05-09T08:01:37.534-04:002016-05-09T08:01:37.534-04:00Hi Tracy - This is a good pick for a favorite book...Hi Tracy - This is a good pick for a favorite book. I do not have an illustrated copy. I would like to pick up a high quality one. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-40808741273637296672016-05-09T08:00:34.195-04:002016-05-09T08:00:34.195-04:00Hi Delia - You raise such a great point. I read so...Hi Delia - You raise such a great point. I read so many things when I was younger that I could not appreciate at the time. <br /><br />Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-9270804777054327062016-05-09T07:59:06.931-04:002016-05-09T07:59:06.931-04:00Hi James - Your point about the entire novel not b...Hi James - Your point about the entire novel not being appreciated is a good one. It seems that folks tend to concentrate upon the Lilliputian. the entire novel is strong and full of insights. Brian Josephhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com