I remember in 1st grade there was a free book fair and I picked 20,000 leagues under the sea. It was too advanced for me to read but I watched the Disney movie and found it fascinating.
Then I finally picked up a copy last year and starting reading it. Holy cow what a slog. I made it halfway through and haven’t been able to pick it up since Christmas.
It was just pages of lists of scientific names for sea creatures and flora and fauna and a slow process of the plot.
Probably a fascinating book for it’s time but not worth reading today.
They really do cry out in pain as they strike you.