Martin Eden in Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die

Jan 13, 2014 Slinkyboy rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1001

Insightful, amusing, bleak...

I don't know what to do with Martin Eden. He's in my head now, though, and I can't get him out. ...more

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Aug 22, 2007 Cat rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 19thcenturyamericanliterature

Read this shortly after reading "White Jacket" by Herman Melville. Certainly came away from reading this with the impression that Melville is the superior writer. I guess that's not really in question.
As an Oaklander, I take issue with the Amazon comment above that says this book takes place in San Francisco. Maybe one or two scenes take place in San Francisco, but the rest takes place in Oakland.

It is fun to read the action taking place on Telegraph Avenue or at Broadway and fourteenth street, ...more

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Feb 04, 2012 Deanne rated it really liked it

Shelves: 1001bookstoreadbeforeyoudie

A slow start but once I was further in I found I was hooked. Martin has a lot of belief in himself, he has to as no one seems to think he's going anywhere.
Wonder how much of London is in Martin Eden, I've read it's the book closest to his own life. ...more

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Aug 14, 2007 J.D. rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This is the first book I have read by Jack London, which may or may not be a good thing. Because this is semi-autobiographical, it gave me a good introduction to him, but also left me wondering what his other books are like. Needless to say, if the writing is similar to this, I can not wait to take on his other books. He has a wonderful way with words and seems to have a consciousness of the plights of different types of people and characterizes wonderfully, while sympathizing more with the "les ...more

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