THE MYSTEROUS ISLAND by Jules Verne

Narrated by Berny Clark

…..Do You Like All Your Glasses to be Half Full?.....

Reminiscent of ROBINSON CRUSOE this is a buoyant tale of adventure that appeals to the young at heart. Set in the time of the American Civil War this is a fine example of 19^th century fiction. Despite perilous circumstances—of first imprisonment and then castaway on a desert island, tossed by storm and threatened by pirates—our intrepid, if unwitting, colonists always look on the bright side of life, having boundless energy and unchained optimism. This feature somewhat dates this story before the turn of the previous century. The manner in which the characters take on each new challenge from a scientific posture lends me to categorize this as a Science Fiction story. It is entirely akin to early Sci-Fi tales where the reader could well expect lengthy explanations of imaginary technological advances interspersed throughout. Another element that would not be found in contemporary fiction is the unapologetic male perspective. None of the characters are female, and in fact, there is scant mention of the fairer sex anywhere in the book. I found this to be a story told in a straight-forward fashion that makes it easy to follow. You may let is wash over you like the waves on the beach of Lincoln Island. This novel is a worthy addition to Verne’s earlier work 20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA. It hearkens back to a more noble age, and gave me a taste of the sense of wonder I had reading as a child when simple exploration was sufficient to enthrall me.

Benard Citero Clark gives a fine reading delivering this matter-of-fact story in a straight-forward fashion. He is capable of delivering unique character voices that add much to the enjoyment of this book. This novel is written from the perspective of a third-person omniscient narrator. Berny Clark has a voice that became transparent and allowed me to fully engage with the text.