Most disappointing …
I was reading
reviews of Young Adult books and ran across this title. It is a spin-off of one
of my favorite classics… The Island of
Dr. Moreau. Read the book eons ago and adored it – my heart belongs to
science fiction. And I actually liked the 1996 movie despite its disappointing
reviews. I will admit it probably has more to do with Val Kilmer being in it
than anything else. Needless to say, as soon as I realized the Madman of the
title was Dr. Moreau, I immediately requested the novel and then saved it for
my enjoyment in between my tasks.
I was in heaven for
the first 6 chapters – the first 62 pages. While the novel remained in London,
the atmosphere was gothic, dark and foreboding. Juliet Moreau was an intriguing
character – the abandoned orphan child of the mad doctor. The London
professionals ran Dr. Moreau out of England. Dr. Moreau left behind his wife
and daughter who quickly became destitute. Juliet’s mother supported what was
left of her family by becoming a mistress to a wealthy man. When she died of
consumption, Juliet was left with nothing.
A friend of the
family managed to find her work as a maid at the King’s College of Medical
Research where she easily fit in having grown up around her father and his
experiments. Juliet does not mind the sight or the smell of blood. She would
have lived out her days in the darkened halls of King’s College if it were not
for two events. The first, she finds a manuscript of her father’s that leads
her to hope that her father is still alive. The manuscript leads her to a
former servant of her family. The second, a professor forces himself upon
Juliet and she maims him in self-defense. She can no longer stay in London, but
she does have a trail that might lead her to her estranged father.
I should have put
the book down then. The next four chapters are spent on an ocean voyage from
London to islands off the coast of New Zealand. Granted that would be a long
trip even in these days, but it is far too long, boring and uneventful. The
only happening of note is the crew picks up a castaway before reaching their
destination. Between the former family servant, Montgomery and the mysterious survivor,
Edward, we now have the dull love triangle that becomes the demise of the book.
Despite the fact
that the Isle of Dr. Moreau could be both fascinating and dangerous, the book
does not spend too much time in developing the scenes and atmosphere. No, from
the time Juliet sets foot on the island, two questions resonate in her pretty
little head. Do I love Edward or Montgomery? AND Is my father mad or a genius?
She might wonder if she is mad as well a few too many times. Juliet loses her
logical mind and becomes a lovesick girl. I would wonder why either of the two
men would be attracted to her at all for anything other than her looks.
I will not be
reading the two intended sequels. I will not recommend. Huge disappointment!
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