Labor Day Review of King Solomon's Mines

I almost gave up on this book and questioned reading it. But I soldiered on and found that it got really good through the last third of the book!

So a quick run-down what King Solomon’s Mines is about: Allan Quatermain lives in South Africa and is fairly well known as a outdoors-man/big game hunter. He is approached by Sir Henry Curtis and Captain John Good to help Sir Henry find his lost brother, who went in search of King Solomon’s Mines. They hunt, they barely manage to cross a desert and survive a trek over a mountain and they help a long lost prince claim his throne; all while trying to discover the legendary, King Solomon’s Mines.

I've read historical fiction that feature naval battles, civil war battles, castles under siege but this was the first time I read about an army fighting with knives and spears; with no armor or guns or swords! It was quite an experience and all very nail biting and brutal! Even a final one-on-one battle between a false King and Sir Henry was so intense I wouldn’t let anyone talk to me until I finished reading how it ended! Then of course I spoiled a part for myself by reading a Wikipedia entry but, surprisingly, it didn’t diminish the impact of the tragedy that followed.

I have to say H. Rider Haggard did his job. There were some very lovely lines written throughout and some very inspirational speeches given and vows of friendship. The action scenes were told in a very straight forward style and I didn’t get lost or confused. I knew exactly what was happening.

While I’m not a huge fan of Allan Quatermain as a character, I do appreciate how honest he was of his shortcomings, namely being frightened out of his wits and that he would rather be running away from an attacking army than towards one. I am, however, a fan of his friends Sir Henry, Captain Good and Ignosi, all very loyal and kind-hearted, who stuck by each other through the hardships of their journey.

I'll file this under "To Be Read". It's free at Project Gutenberg so why not.

To Read or Not To Read: King Solomon’s Mines

Since I was no longer feeling A Princess of Mars I went ebook browsing on my Sony Reader. Project Gutenberg is a great place to get free digital copies of books that are in the public domain so I have over seventy books saved. As I was browsing I came across Allan Quatermain by H. Rider Haggard and I thought I’d give it a try. Now, if you read something like this what would you do?:

“I have just buried my boy, my poor handsome boy of whom I was so proud, and my heart is broken. It is very hard having only one son to lose him thus, but God’s will be done.”

Right?! I was completely caught off guard and was drawn in thinking, Oh my goodness, this is so horribly sad, what happened? I read a few pages more and was feeling like I can get into this. Then I did some research on the internet and learned that Allan Quatermain was a sequel to King Solomon’s Mines. Never liking to start a series from the middle I began reading King Solomon’s Mines, intending to follow it up with Allan Quatermain. I probably should have stuck with Allan Quatermain. But then, it could turn out to be just like King Solomon’s Mines.

So what’s so wrong with King Solomon’s Mines. Well, I was first insulted by the DEDICATION of all things!:

“This faithful but unpretending record of a remarkable adventure is hereby respectfully dedicated by the narrator, Allan Quatermain, to all the big and little boys who read it.”

Big and little boys?! As if big and little girls would not enjoy this book?! As Stephanie Tanner would say, “How rude!” Then as I read further I began to understand why it was dedicated to “big and little boys”. They’re the only ones who believe themselves superior and like to hunt and kill animals for sport! This is such a product of the late 19th century; a well-to-do Englishman in South Africa who believes himself superior. I’m offended but at the same time think he doesn’t know better. Then I feel like I’m making excuses for the character, and in turn, the author. I don’t know what to think. I’m confused. But can I still enjoy the adventure? And what do I know of the author? Not much. Maybe he didn’t feel the way his character does and the character is based on someone he has met? And if I just stop reading am I the same as those who have tried to ban the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and To Kill a Mockingbird? See? Still confused. But, as I have continued reading King Solomon’s Mines it has amused me immensely to make snarky notations whenever Allan Quatermain insults the intelligence of anyone who is not an Englishman. He calls them a Zulu even if they’re not! Even when he knows they’re not a Zulu!

Well, if King Solomon’s Mines gets to be too much for me I’ve got a backup. I’ve finally given in and picked up a copy of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Why did I wait so long? Battle Royale, The Running Man.. yeah, enough said. To be continued...