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Keely's Reviews > Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park
by Michael Crichton
by Michael Crichton
Keely's review
bookshelves: contemporary-fiction, science-fiction, childhood, novel, reviewed, american
Jul 08, 09
bookshelves: contemporary-fiction, science-fiction, childhood, novel, reviewed, american
Read in January, 1995
With Crichton, it is always a gamble whether whatever strange and new idea has latched onto will overcome his overbearing personality. His assurance that science will always go wrong makes for easy potboiler plots, but you do get the feeling that if he were a caveman, he would mistrust a sharpened stick.
Crichton's sensationalism and misuse of scientific concepts has made him untrustworthy as a guide on any serious issue, but in the case of runaway dinosaurs, we do not need to heed his warnings about the 'dangers of cloning'; we can simply enjoy an idea that was ridiculous before Crichton ever touched it.
At least we are spared the author's libelous personal attacks in this book. If you have a plane ride and a love for dinosaurs, pick it up. The movie's better, though.
Crichton's sensationalism and misuse of scientific concepts has made him untrustworthy as a guide on any serious issue, but in the case of runaway dinosaurs, we do not need to heed his warnings about the 'dangers of cloning'; we can simply enjoy an idea that was ridiculous before Crichton ever touched it.
At least we are spared the author's libelous personal attacks in this book. If you have a plane ride and a love for dinosaurs, pick it up. The movie's better, though.
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And if it's anything like last time, you'll need about three months of rest before you poke your head out again. One-sentence ad hominem attacks must take a greater toll on your emotions than they do on your intellect.
Wait, so which one was trolling again, the one where you make brief attacking statements with no support, explanation, or refutation, or the one where you carefully explain your points with thoughtfulness and deliberation?
aw, man- I love nearly everything michael crichton wrote, so I was quite crushed to learn about the incident with the reviewer. :( still, I'd rather know, so thanks for enlightening me!
Yeah, he was a weird guy--a six-foot-ten medical doctor who started writing airplane thrillers. He was supposed to be hard to work with, a lot of his books were made into movies and there was at least one time that he made a director quit so he could take over the movie! Then again, Hollywood can be a crazy place--lots of egos rattling around.
I'm in the middle of this one and can see what you mean. I've never read Crichton before and don't like his style that much. All of the characters' dialogue sounds the same. You're right about the movie; Spielberg definitely creates stronger dramatic tension than in the book. One thing that shocked me, though, was how in the opening scene, a woman DOCTOR treats a man who is convulsing...and tries to find a stick to put in his mouth! This horrified me, especially knowing Crichton was a doctor! Putting a stick or any object into a person's mouth while he/she seizes can break his/her jaw and teeth, among other things. I almost threw the book across the room when I read that.
Honestly, when I read a Michael Crichton book, I'm not looking for total realism in the science. I'm looking for vaguely-believable-if-you-don't-think-about-it-too-hard science that acts as a backdrop to an exciting story. Any book that gets dinosaurs and modern man on the same island is okay with me.I agree though, the movie is fantastic. :P
Well, I guess I don't have much faith in his storytelling abilities, either--the movie versions are usually better.
I have no affection for this book or for Crichton, but it inspired one of the greatest popcorn flicks of all time so I must give it some credit. That first view of the brachiosaurs is just as breathtaking 20 years later. I'll always love the out-of-context shot where one of the raptors seems to be wearing a bridal veil. (http://0.asset.soup.io/asset/3222/337...)
It looks like you've abandoned one kind of unfocused shotgun attack for another one. You know, I'd given up on you, but it looks like just when you think a guy has nothing useful to say, he comes along and proves you right.
I love the unselfconscious confidence with which you condemn; if only you could learn to be that ironic deliberately.