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Smiling Shelves

King Solomon's Mines [RtK Book Club]

7/3/2014

4 Comments

 
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I really didn't know what to expect when I began reading this book. If you haven't heard of King Solomon's Mines by H. Rider Haggard or don't know what to expect either, then I can sum it up pretty much in two words: Indiana Jones. Picture adventure, fighting, mystery - and all in a far away place.

Allan Quatermain and two British gentlemen venture into the wilds of Africa with a dual purpose - to find Sir Henry's lost brother and to discover the fabled diamond mines of King Solomon. Along the way, they nearly starve to death, nearly get gored by an elephant, nearly get killed at the hands of the natives, and nearly die while trapped underground. In case you can't tell, it's a rather adventurous story.

It was this edge-of-your-seat plot that kept me going. H. Rider Haggard did know how to write a good story. I have to admit that I almost stopped reading at the elephant hunt (shudder) and kind of skimmed the war chapters. But this book really does have everything, and I would imagine that a boy would thrill to it ever-so-much-more than I did. Many readers obviously have enjoyed Allan Quatermain, since Haggard went on to write fourteen more books about him.

It's not politically correct by today's standards, but it was far ahead of its time in recognizing the individuality and rights of every race. I enjoyed the Biblical connection, because I somehow never realized from the title that King Solomon meant the King Solomon. Is it that unrealistic that he had diamond mines in Africa? After all, his wealth had to come from somewhere.

Despite the hunting and the war (again, shudder), King Solomon's Mines really did have a good message about what and who are important in life. This message, and the adventures that taught it to Quatermain and his friends, are what make this story worth reading.

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4 Comments
fiddlrts link
7/3/2014 07:04:37 am

The Indiana Jones series borrowed extensively from Haggard. If you haven't already read "She," I recommend that one as well - you might recognize a scene or two from The Last Crusade...

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
7/3/2014 10:33:42 am

I remember reading somewhere that Allan Quatermain was a huge inspiration for Indiana Jones. There are definite parallels!

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Carrie, Reading to Know link
7/3/2014 11:52:53 am

I felt the same as you about the elephant hunts.

I also had NO CLUE what I was getting into this with this story but I did love my time in it. It was fun to take off on a little adventure and it does make you speculate and wonder about lost treasures. Boy or girl, that's always a fun topic!

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Julie @ Smiling Shelves link
7/4/2014 03:19:07 pm

I agree - the search for the legendary diamond mine is what kept me going to the end!

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    My name is Julie, and I own a lot of books. As in, they are stacked on the floor because I've run out of room on the shelves. And those shelves? There are so many books on them that they smile -- not sag; smile. This blog will cover book reviews and all manner of other bookish things.

    You can contact me at julie@smilingshelves.com.

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