Raise the Titanic! (Dirk Pitt, #4) by Clive Cussler

bestlittlebookshopintown.com · Unknown · 2025-10-22

detestable 0.75

The reviewer found the book challenging and reflective, with moments of brilliance, but ultimately detested it due to poor writing and repellent character choices. The book's literary merit is overshadowed by its flaws and offensive content.

The reviewer attempted to enjoy this book by William Faulkner, drawn in by its setting in New Orleans, but ultimately found it unappealing. The writing style, characterized by wandering sentences and bizarre word usages, did not convey the intended literary merit. Additionally, the book features poorly written characters, including Black characters portrayed as minstrel cliches and a sexual assaulter treated as a lovable scamp. While there were moments of beauty and potential brilliance, these were overshadowed by the book's numerous flaws and offensive content. The reviewer found the overall experience detestable and felt that the cost of these moments outweighed their value.

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Another try at Faulkner; another failure at Faulkner. I chose this one because it was written in New Orleans, at a house I visited. The house was nice, but I detested this.

You get Faulkner's classic wandering sentences and bizarre word usages that I know are meant to show some sort of literary merit, but what do they actually convey?

Scattered in between, there are moments of beauty and maybe brilliance -- but at what cost?

oku.club · Unknown · 2025-10-22

exciting 4.00

The reviewer finds 'Raise the Titanic!' to be a thrilling adventure with a compelling plot and well-developed characters. They appreciate the blend of history and fiction, making it an engaging read. However, they note that some of the technical details can be overwhelming.

The reviewer is captivated by 'Raise the Titanic!' for its exciting narrative and the way it weaves historical elements into a fictional story. They particularly enjoy the character development and the sense of adventure that permeates the book. The reviewer also highlights the author's ability to create a vivid and immersive world. However, they mention that the technical aspects of the plot can sometimes be a bit dense and may require a more patient reader. Overall, they find the book to be a thrilling and enjoyable read, despite these minor drawbacks.

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The adventure is non-stop and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

The blend of history and fiction is masterfully done.

The technical details, while fascinating, can be a bit overwhelming at times.

culturaobscura.com · Unknown · 2025-10-22

excellent 4.50

Raise the Titanic! is a thrilling adventure that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The book's intricate plot and vivid descriptions make it a standout in the genre.

Raise the Titanic! is a gripping tale that combines elements of mystery, adventure, and suspense. The protagonist, Dirk Pitt, is a charismatic and resourceful hero who embarks on a dangerous mission to recover a sunken ship. The book's detailed descriptions of underwater exploration and high-stakes action sequences are particularly impressive. They liked the book's fast-paced narrative and the way it seamlessly blends historical facts with fictional elements. The only downside is that some of the scientific jargon can be a bit overwhelming for casual readers. Overall, it's a fantastic addition to the Dirk Pitt series and a must-read for fans of adventure novels.

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The book's intricate plot and vivid descriptions make it a standout in the genre.

The protagonist, Dirk Pitt, is a charismatic and resourceful hero who embarks on a dangerous mission to recover a sunken ship.

The book's detailed descriptions of underwater exploration and high-stakes action sequences are particularly impressive.

robjefferies.com · Unknown · 2024-09-13

mixed 2.00

The book initially rubbed the reviewer the wrong way due to abrupt character introductions and confusing relationships, but it grew on them as the story unfolded. They appreciated the variety of characters and their post-war experiences, though found many caricature-like and lacking nuance. The portrayal of women was particularly disliked, and the writing style was challenging at times.

The reviewer initially struggled with the book due to its abrupt character introductions and confusing relationships in the first two chapters. However, as the story progressed and the characters settled into their roles, the reviewer began to appreciate the variety of post-war experiences depicted. The characters were seen as caricature-like and lacking nuance, which made their interactions somewhat annoying to read. The portrayal of women was particularly disliked, with many characters being seen as weak, weepy, or heartless. The reviewer found it difficult to relate to any of the characters, making it hard to get emotionally invested in the story. The writing style was also challenging, with the first chapter being particularly frustrating due to its scattered and illogical nature. Despite these issues, the reviewer eventually became invested in the story after Donald's return home and the interactions between characters became clearer.

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This book rubbed me the wrong way at the beginning, but then grew on me.

Faulkner’s characters had good variety in their involvement with the war and their temperament in the wake of it.

I couldn’t relate to any of these characters which made it hard to like this story.

Raise the Titanic! (Dirk Pitt, #4)

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