The Lost World: A Novel (Jurassic Park) (1995 original; edició 2012)

This book is amazing, though not the sort of book I normally read. I don't know, maybe Michael Crichton has (had?) the ability to actually capture my attention even though half the stuff in his novels (I've only read this book and the first part) would normally put me to sleep.

The characters are shelled out greatly - I especially love the twist where Ian Malcolm realizes just how annoying know-it-alls can be.

Although, I read somewhere noting that Crichton was asked to write the sequel in order to make a second film. What displeases me is, if that is true, how they used nothing from the book to push the movie forward. Unlike with the first novel, which had several elements planted into the film, The Lost World was probably just flipped through and decided only to be used as a stepping stone. I know I shouldn't be comparing it to the film, because that's just plain wrong, but it was a thought I had while reading it.

Nevertheless, the book's a great read and is rarely slow moving, even during those long explanations of theories. ( )

Excellent ( )

Although I was fascinated with all the dinosaur interactions and the theories behind the behaviors they were viewing, I can't give this book 5 stars for a couple of reason. The first is that I was so sick of hearing about the raptor's claw and the candy bars. I felt like those things were used excessively and it bothered me. Also, I didn't love that every time there was a huge problem, they just happened to figure something out. The one that really bothered me what the time that Sarah was driving a motorcycle chasing the raptor and when it got close it reached towards her and she punched it away. Really? While driving a motorcycle with a little girl on the back, your going to punch a raptor? Seemed a little off and a big stretch. These superhuman scientist were super strong and physically fit when needed. Just found it a bit odd and made it not a 5 star book for me. ( )

I enjoyed this book but not so much as the first one. There were fewer adventures and fewer scientific explanations. It wasn't bad but it was also not so informative.
One more reason why I gave this book 4 stars is because I expected to see Grant and his assistant here again. At the same time, the plot is quite dynamic, tense, there are a lot of dinosaurs, some bad people, two children - all that makes it a good book. ( )

This is a very "smart" book. Well researched and well written. Once hundred percent better than the films, and much more interesting for it explored the science behind what was happening as well as many theories on animal behaviour and extinction. Nothing went too much over my head save for the seven configurations. I understood Ian's explanations and how was related tot he text, but not the diagrams that accompanied them.

This book had a lot of characters though and because I haven't read Jurassic Park, I wasn't entirely sure who was who in relation to the first film, but it did not hinder my enjoyment of this novel.

My only critique is that there was no "wow factor". There was nothing that made this book so much better than anything else I've been reading. It was different, yes, but was it better? Probably not. Just mediocre. ( )