Book Review: Jurassic Park 2
By Elizabeth Suggs
Jurassic Park: The Lost World by Michael Crichton was a great read. Often, when I come across a sequel, I’m not that impressed. But Crichton’s knowledge of dinosaurs and advanced storytelling abilities left me wanting more.
Much in the same way that the first Jurassic Park starts, we discover dinosaurs on an island. Unlike the first book, where a park was coming to life, this story is about characters rediscovering a park long-abandoned.
This book shows that we know nothing when it comes to evolution and life—how much more there is to know. If you want to learn about dinosaurs, both fiction and nonfiction, then try this on for size. Sure, it’s fiction, but it forces you to ask questions that you may have not considered. And Crichton’s in-depth knowledge of dinosaurs helps explain certain undiscovered theories (at least undiscovered during the time of the novel’s completion) striking conviction. I was left near-convinced of certain ideas because of his tactile writing. Though, one thing I’m not convinced of is the lack of feathers dinosaurs may have had. Recent theories say that T-Rex may have had feathers! Sort of like a giant chicken. Now THAT would have been something to add to the story. It reminds me of this other comic about a super chicken, but I digress...
Another one of my favorite things about this story is how Crichton brings up questions on women in science—and he questioned why being “smart” was such a bad thing, especially for a girl. Being one who admires strong female characters, I really admired this. I can only hope that those feminist ideas had, and still have, an impact on readers.
I don’t know why it took me so long to read the books, especially since I watched the movies as a kid. But having read the books now, I’m able to appreciate certain aspects in the writing and the characters that I may have missed as a younger reader. So, maybe it was good waiting? Either way, you shouldn’t wait. If you haven’t read either this book or the first, you gotta pick up your own copy or listen to it as an audiobook, which I did for bot this and the first. The narrator, Scott Brick, was fantastic and really brought me into the world. I definitely suggest the first two in the series! I haven’t read the third book yet, so stay tuned!
Elizabeth Suggs is the owner and founder of Editing Mee and co-owner of Collective Tales Publishing. When she’s not writing or editing, she loves to dive deep into books (the weirder, the better!), and she loves to take random long walks to unplanned destinations. Check out her recently released book Collective Darkness with eleven other authors. Buy your copy here: www.CollectiveDarkness.com