One of Jules Verne’s Best

The Mysterious Island is the book that got me hooked on scientific adventures long ago. I read this as a kid and decided to reread it again as an adult. There are several aspects of this story that make it a must-read for children and adults alike.

The Mysterious Island is a fantastic sequel to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, following the story of four Confederate POW prisoners who escape and become castaways when they crash land on an island. It tells of their quest for survival on the mysterious island and how they make use of science to create something out of practically nothing.

In spite of its age, this book won’t fail to keep you on the edge of your seat and is one of Verne’s best works. The reader, David McCallion, did a wonderful job in reading this book. I truly enjoyed his accent and character differentiations. This is the perfect book for those who like adventure and intrigue, along with a good dose of science fiction.

16 people found this helpful

My all time favorite book, perfectly read.

This was a fantastic listen, while on the night crew, cleaning messy wineries. I highly recommend it.

13 people found this helpful

A legendary book becomes an epic audiobook!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Mysterious Island to be better than the print version?
Verne is my favorite author, but The Mysterious Island has eluded me for forty years. The fact that the author interweaves exhausting details of the flora and fauna of the island into nearly every page has made it impossible for me to not lose focus the many times I've attempted to tackle it. This audio book with it's 19 hours and 8 minutes of narration was listened to on and off over the span of two weeks, including a seven hour road trip and a ten hour working in my basement weekend. If it weren't for this excellent audio book, I might never have read this incredible book.

What did you like best about this story?
Anything Vernian excites me. The story introduced me to Verne's 1870s world view, his politics, his religious convictions, and his fluid writing style.

What does David McCallion bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
The narrator brilliantly added unique characterizations to each of the castaways and never lost his ability to keep the story going. He was clearly well-prepared to narrate and it shows in his clear voice.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
In general, the book made me long for quality classic literature. Clearly, the most exciting moment for me was when Captain Nemo makes himself known to the castaways. The character of Captain Nemo is one I wish Verne could have devote more stories to.

Any additional comments?
Do not let the length of this audio book discourage you from jumping in. I consider the completing of it a conquest but now I want more conquests.

8 people found this helpful

Loved this book

I've always been a fan of the classics if you're like me you like a good adventure this is the book for you

8 people found this helpful

I gave up

It is rare for me to abandon a book. I listen to plenty of fiction from this era but this one just defeated me. I think I need to avoid Verne in future as I only just made it through 20,000 leagues. (Although I enjoyed "..80 days" and "journey to the centre..")

So what is the problem?

At times listening to Verne feels like sitting through a very boring powerpoint presentation with Neville from accounts telling you about his day at the Zoo and explaining the chemistry behind the making of gunpowder.

It might well be interesting but it is probably a bit weak on narrative and suspense.

There is also a rather basic problem with castaway stories like this and Swiss Family Robinson. If a character on one page says "What would be really handy is if we had a Gas Cooled Fast Breeder Reactor" you can bet your sweet life that on the next page one will wash up on the beach or fall out of a tree as he walks through the forest. At least Robinson Crusoe had to occassionally find an alternative way to satisfy his needs.

And my last straw was when this group of enlightened soldiers fighting against the perpetuation of slavery turn the last survivor of a group of apes that they have slaughtrered into a slave / servant without wages and start to dress him in human attire.

I get it. Different times different minds. But I just finally got so fed up of wishing they would all contract a virulent disease and die that I decided to kill them myself with the off switch.

3 people found this helpful

Translation Version is Good.

This is a good translation. Read more about Jules Verne translations and character names, i learned a lot by doing research before purchasing this. It’s Jules Verne, so no need to comment on the story. The narration is good, but could be better. The only reason i say this, the voice acting of the ailing and older characters are similarly over the top. The narrators voice is consistently distressed for characters of age or hardship regardless of character state. The tone and spirit of the narration did not change as the mentioned characters transitioned between hardship and glee. Having said that, it is an overall entertaining well done narration. Everything is clear, vivid, and the island’s mysteries come alive without distraction.

2 people found this helpful

I usually dont read books but this book Lighted the fire

This is most likely the best book i have ever ”read” good Reader and One of the best Authors And a an incredible story.

2 people found this helpful

Narration literally laughable.

But not funny when you actually desire a realistic performance and are dealing with a 20+ hour book.

The way this guy read his lines made me feel like I was listening to a parody of “stage” in a Geico ad.

The story itself is a classic. And unfortunately as of the time of this review, none of the other recorded versions of the book available on Audible were any better. So this is, indeed the best of what’s out there. But that doesn’t stop it from still being horrible.

1 person found this helpful

Wonderful production!

I adore this book. Absolutely captivating, engaging, and informative. Jules Verne is a master - so ahead of his time. Lovely narration, characters are distinctive. This is a jewel.

Another fantastic book from Mr. Verne

Great writing, if a little old fashioned, which is to be expected from a book that was published in 1875. Expect that some of the terms that are used will most likely be foreign to some readers, but in my opinion it's manageable with context clues.