By Solana Cortez
The first time I read this book, I was 12 years old. My first Michael Crichton novel and I've been hooked ever since. If you've seen the movie, you know the basic plot. Man clones dinos, dinos get loose, dinos try eating man, man escapes island. While the movie is great, the book is so much better.
Summary
Dr. Alan Grant and Dr. Ellie Sattler are sent to an island under the impression that they are consultants for a biological preserve. What they end up going to is an island full of living breathing dinosaurs. After the initial shock and excitement over seeing these giants up close, reality soon sets in. Besides the fact that some unknown lizards are appearing on the mainland, someone gets greedy and shuts off the power on the island. Unfortunately, he doesn't consider the fact that when power is shut off so are all the barriers that keep the dinos in check. So a seemingly quiet visit to a preserve turns into dino eating mayham. When power and order is seemingly restored the scientists have the added task of going and accounting for the "unauthorized" breeding that's going on in the island.
Highlights
The science and mathematics involved were simple enough to keep the reader entertained, and enough to spark the curiosity for the subjects for enthusiasts. While it is the early 90s, so it can't be said that the science is sound, but Crichton's descriptions make the process seem so real.
The scene where Grant and the children are floating down the river on a raft. Grant is explaining to Tim about frog DNA. Basically it's a beautiful scene. They're floating through a preserve, with dinosaurs scattered about. And to top it off Tim is getting attention from one of his idols in a father like manner which he is unable to get from his own dad at home. It's almost a peaceful atomosphere.
Being in the Velocoraptor nest. The reader practically holds his breath during this scene. They are smack dab in the middle of the nest counting how many have hatched. And to top it off, the adults are there. The scene is amazing, being surrounded by all these dinosaur eggs, but then the added danger of the adults makes the reader cringe.
Hammond getting his just rewards. I can't say much more than that without giving away the end, but I found it quite ironic.
Recommendations
I would not recommend letting a 12 year read this book since it does contain some mature material. It did seal my fate of going into genetics. The novel is detailed when it comes to college level math and science. Also there's a lot of mention of "entrails" being pulled out.
I'd say this novel is great for age 15 and beyond. And if you're a dinosaur fan this book needs to be in your collection.
Rating
My first copy is so tattered and worn from reading that I actually had to invest in a hardcover copy. There are details that you miss the first time around, and the story line itself never gets old. I even used this novel to write an essay for my college English class (received an A). So this book, Jurassic Park
rates a MUST READ AGAIN.
Until next time. Happy Reading.
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