Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan SwiftMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
When considering this book in context, it's a fascinating artifact. For something written almost three hundred years ago, it's a testament to how little the English language has changed. It is easy to read, and quite funny, though a few I may have been laughing at it and not with it.
As much as I can appreciate how groundbreaking it was, and how readable it remains, I can't say I actually enjoyed reading it. There are some outdated ideas (ugliness is the outward sign of moral degeneration), and Gulliver's conversations with various kings about how crappy European civilization is got a little repetitive.
For all his travels and all his exposure to more enlightened people/horses, Gulliver returns as a real piece of work: he sails home on a boat made from the skin of children (that he murdered?) and for years won't tolerate his "odious" wife or children in the same room. I bet she was thrilled at the reunion.
This bizarre ending actually made me feel a lot warmer towards the book. I'm sure if I was more familiar with the history I would have been more engaged, but I'm moving on. Finally finished a classic.
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