I've put off reading this book for years, even though it's one of my husband's favorites from when he was a kid. Part of the reason why is I've read a...moreI've put off reading this book for years, even though it's one of my husband's favorites from when he was a kid. Part of the reason why is I've read another book by this author, Jacob Have I Loved, and I found it boring and depressing.
But this book is wonderful in every respect. Since I saw the movie first, I kind of expected this book to be a bit depressing too, but it is just so far beyond better than the movie in a way I can hardly begin to describe.
Terabithia, the make-believe magical realm, doesn't play as large a role in the book as it does in the movie. It's more symbolical, and it's woven into the story expertly without being heavy-handed. There's also some neat reference to C.S. Lewis' Narnia, that I don't remember from the movie.
Jess is a backwater kid that lives within driving distance of Washington DC but has never been there. He has a great southern voice that reminds me a bit of Scout's voice from To Kill A Mockingbird, but with his own distinct flavor. (The analogies he uses! You could almost start a museum with them!)
Jess is introduced to a whole new world - far more than just Terabithia. His friend Leslie and her family introduce him to culture, but also to kindness and respect and many other honorable virtues. Two of his teachers, Mrs Edmund (whom he adores) and emminently unlikeable Mrs Macey (I might not have her name quite right) also widen his horizons in rather unexpected ways. In fact, all the typical stereotypes in this book are at first easy to recognize, and then unexpectedly turned on end, to dramatic and meaningful effect.
I loved the ending, and for those of you in the know, I'm not refering to the tragic part of the ending, but the very very end where Jess takes his little sister May Belle into Terabithia for the first time. It's a "passing the torch" scene, and it's beautiful and touching without being overdone.
This book truly does deserve its awards and its classic status. It's a shame many kids will see the movie but never discover the far richer treasure inside the book. (less)
Long ago, on the wild and windy isle of Berk, a smallish Viking with a longish name stood up to his ankles in snow.
Thus begins a delightful adventure...moreLong ago, on the wild and windy isle of Berk, a smallish Viking with a longish name stood up to his ankles in snow.
Thus begins a delightful adventure into bogus Viking lore and culture, dragon hyperbole, and sketches of our hero Hiccup in various states of embarrassment and distress. I read this book outloud to my 9 year old and 6 year old girls and they begged every night for another chapter.
The book actually begins with a note from the Author, who is Hiccup (Cressida Cowell only being the translator). Hiccup says: "I was not the sort of boy who could train a dragon with a mere lifting of an eyebrow. I was not a natural at heroism business. I had to work at it. This is the story of becoming a Hero the Hard Way."
Which sums up the theme of this book: small boy mocked by his peers but manages to blow them all away with perserverence and cleverness. Likewise, this book is also about a small, toothless dragon who couldn't care less about her status or her responsibilities and causes her master endless grief... but manages to redeem herself in the end - and not by finally growing teeth (well, Toothless does grow one tooth. But then she loses it.) She is quite a bit different than her namesake in the movie and a whole lot less grateful, yet manages to be endearing in her own annoying way.
Another difference from the movie: Vikings catch dragons and train them to fish for them, and the dragons perch on their shoulders like falcons. There isn't any of the Vikings vs. dragons that you get in the movie. Also, the kids don't fly on the backs of the dragons - they are much too small - but the dragons make up for their small size with general orneriousness (is that a word?).
If you are not impressed by the premise of falcon-sized domesticated dragons, you will be impressed by the sea dragons - very big, scary, evil, slimy, fiery, the works. Nightmare-worthy dragons. The Green Death is almost a rival to Smaug (of the Hobbit), as far how he enjoys carrying on conversation with his prey (even giving them advice in advance to consuming them). He becomes the ulitmate in creepy with his eerie alter-ego, the Singing Supper - a previous meal who remains undigested in the dragon's gut, singing creepy little songs.
It is SO COOL how Hiccup and Toothless end up defeating the giant sea dragons, in an awesome double climax.
Like the movie, the book does a wonderful job of showing how taking time to study and learn about other creatures, and respecting them rather than just bossing them or muscling them about, will save the day in the end. The leaders of the two Viking tribes are portrayed as bumbling idiots, however this isn't a book where all adults are useless and only the kids are clever. Old Wrinkly is a very old and wise Viking who gives Hiccup very useful advice.
The book is written in a delightful old-fashioned omniscient fashion, just as if Hiccup is telling the story to little Viklings around a fire. However, reader beware of the extreme overuse of CAPITALIZED DIALOGUE in this book. It may give you a headache, or it may make it more fun to get in character if you are reading out loud to your kids.
Here's a little sample to whet your appetite:
"A gigantic dragon just needs a gigantic Yell," Mogadon the Meathead said.
"We already TRIED that, O Plankton Brain," said Stoick.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING PLANKTON BRAIN?" demanded Mogadon, and they went whisker to whisker like a couple of furious walruses.
The various settings in the faery world in this book are amazing. In general, I'd say most of my five-star books are based on strong characters, but t...moreThe various settings in the faery world in this book are amazing. In general, I'd say most of my five-star books are based on strong characters, but this book is an exception where the characters were very good, don't get me wrong, but it's the fantastic and eerie settings that really shine. Starting from a regular high school setting, the story quickly immerses you into the twilight shadows of the Wyldwood, the troll-kitchens of a faery court, a dance-club portal, and a steampunky part of the faery world guarded by an iron dragon.
Did you catch the world "eerie"? This is NOT a light breezy read. It has its humorous moments, but in general the tone of this book is deadly serious and the faery world is far more ominous and eerie than, for instance, Melissa Mar's fey series starting with Wicked Lovely.
The plot has a slight resemblance to the movie Labyrinth, with sixteen-year-old Meghan daring to enter the world of the fey to rescue her little brother, armed with only a spare change of clothes and an iPod. However, an iPod has just a touch of iron in it, and if you've read anything about faery lore, you know the fey can't abide the touch of iron. This leads to an interesting plot development: the existence of a new kind of fey that is immune to iron, led by an Iron King. So while you'll notice some strong parallels to Labyrinth, and to Alice in Wonderland for that matter, the unique concept of the iron fey is so striking, the plot holds its own.
Another part of the plot is Meghan's search for her father, which has one rather obvious twist right away, but nearing the end, another very unexpected and sort of heart-breaking twist - not what you'd expect at all.
The Iron King doesn't show up until nearly the end of the story, but when he does, it's with one of the best descriptions I've ever read:
The figure on the throne stood tall and elegant , with flowing silver hair and the pointed ears of the fey nobility. He faintly resembled Oberon, refined and graceful, yet incredibly powerful. Unlike Oberon and the finery of the Summer Court, the Iron King wore a stark black coat that flapped in the wind. Energy crackled around him, like thunder with no sound, and I caught flashes of lightning in his slanted black eyes. A metal stud glittered in one ear, a Bluetooth phone in the other. His face was beautiful and arrogant, all sharp planes and angles; I felt I could cut myself on his cheek if I got too close.
There are several great characters in this book. Puck and Ash are well-developed opposites of impish fun and icy reserve. Grimalkin is a sly reinvention of the Cheshire Cat. Here's a snippet from the book that gives you a taste of this story's two strongest characters, Puck and Grimalkin:
Grimalkin raised his head. "I might know somebody who could help us," he purred, slitting his eyes. "An oracle of sorts, living within your world. Very old, older even than Puck. Older than Oberon. Almost as old as cats. If anyone could tell where this Iron King might be, she could.”
My heart leaped. If this oracle could tell me about the Iron King, maybe she would know where my dad was, as well. It couldn’t hurt to ask.
"I thought she died," Puck said. "If it’s the same oracle I’m think of, she vanished ages ago."
Grimalkin yawned and licked his whiskers. "Not dead," he replied. "Hardly dead. But she changed her name and appearance so many times, even the oldest fey would hardly remember her. She likes to keep a low profile, you know."
Puck frowned, knitting his eyebrows together. "Then how is it you remember her?" he demanded, sounding indignant.
"I am a cat," purred Grimalkin.
I loved both Puck and Ash. I admit, I can't resist a love triangle, and I have to give extra honors to this triangle because it's such a subtle one.
I haven't mentioned the main character, Meghan, hardly at all. The book is written from her point of view, but her "voice" is not distinctive, which actually works really well because if it had been a very strong voice, it would have taken away from the other strong characters and the magnificent settings, I think. Meghan still has character, though, and is remarkable for her braveness and indomitable stubbornness.
So, you have a plot with some decent twists, and set of great characters. But the fantastic world-building is still the core of this book.
A more detailed review will be forthcoming, but for now, let me just foam at the mouth with delight. This is the best writing "voice" I have yet encou...moreA more detailed review will be forthcoming, but for now, let me just foam at the mouth with delight. This is the best writing "voice" I have yet encountered. Harry Potter, move over; Bartimaeus where have you been hiding? A host of amazing, amusing and somewhat chilling characters is topped off by an expertly crafted partnership between a young magician-in-training and the djinni he has summoned, with quite explosive and entertaining results. It is bolstered by a solid foundation of plot and threaded with subtle intrigue that makes me wish I had instant access to the next book in the series. (less)
In this alternative history, detonation of atomic bombs at the end of World War II stirs dragons from their centuries-long hibernation buried under t...more In this alternative history, detonation of atomic bombs at the end of World War II stirs dragons from their centuries-long hibernation buried under the earth. They wake up mad, and the world is back at war. A truce is made, land is divided, and now there are dragon territories and human territories, and a strict border patrol that prevents anyone from crossing the borders and potentially starting another war.
The truce has lasted for sixty years, until one curious high school girl, and a equally curious adolescent dragon, break the rules and start an international incident.
Voices of Dragons starts out developing the friendship between girl and dragon with the tension of breaking the rules and potentially getting caught. But the author does a good job developing the rules of a modern world with a new version of a cold-war, between man and beast.
About midway through there starts to be a lot of page-turning action. Imagine Top Gun style dogfights, with dragons instead of MiGs. There are also some casualties. The two rebellious youngsters just about cause thermo-nuclear war with a dragon-fire twist. But by trusting in each other, even when both sides are telling them they should hate each other, they turn a Romeo and Juliet style tragedy into a - well, not exactly a happy ending, but a hopeful one.
I wished the book had let us into more of the dragon side of the world, though (maybe a sequel?). Dragon culture is only briefly touched on, shrouded in mystery.
What are the voices of dragons like? With such a title, I expected the author to deliver something uniquely dragony, for voice. Our first introduction to dragon voice, in chapter one:
The growl came again, and with it a word. "Well?" It sounded deep, echoey. Like the word didn't come out of its mouth, but reverberated through it entire sinus cavity. It gave the voice weight, an ancient dignity.
That's exactly how the dragons are developed in this story, with weight and dignity. Like the dragons in the Earthsea series by Ursula LeGuin, this book gives them a sense of great majesty, otherworldliness, inspiring fear and awe.
The only problem with this book is that it wasn't long enough - I wanted more of the dragons, and more of how they clash with the humans, and more of our girl/dragon team trying to bridge the gap between the two species. Please, Ms. Vaughn, give us more dragons! (less)
This is probably one of the scariest MG books I've read, but it was wonderful, too. It's also probably my favorite brother-sister relationship since t...moreThis is probably one of the scariest MG books I've read, but it was wonderful, too. It's also probably my favorite brother-sister relationship since the Pevensie kids from Narnia.
The book starts innocently enough with Kenda and her younger brother Seth, exploring their grandparents' farm where they are staying for the summer. There are a bunch of strange rules (like never, ever go into the forest that surrounds the house and gardens), and why in the world does Grandpa put bowls of milk out in the garden every morning? And why won't he say where Grandma is? Then there are the little clues that Kendra finds in the attic playroom. While Seth is off breaking rules and discovering a _________ in the forbidden forest, she's sleuthing in the playroom and discovers a ________.
I loved this book because there are dire consequences for breaking rules, and yet, nobody condemns Seth for it; they just roll up their sleeves and help him resolve the problems he creates. And if you read this book, I'd really be curious to hear your feelings on the ending. It's sort of a "dues ex machina" but not exactly (I liked it and I thought the author set it up really well). Click the spoiler if you want to see what I'm hinting at.
(view spoiler)[Despite her noble intentions, she could not see any way she could succeed on her own. Kendra felt a new sensation inside ever since the idea had popped into her head. The feeling was so unexpected that it took a moment to recognize it as hope. There were no combination locks in the way. She just had to throw herself at the mercy of an all-powerful being and plead for her family. (hide spoiler)]
Here's a few excerpts from my favorite scenes. The first one gives a taste for the kind of fairies featured in this book, and a bit of Seth's little-brother obnoxiousness (but don't worry, he has a way of growing on you, too):
Grandpa became very serious. “None of these creatures are good. Not the way we think of good. None are safe. Much of morality is peculiar to mortality. The best creatures here are merely not evil.
“Do the fairies talk?”
“Not much to humans. They have a language all their own, although they rarely speak to each other, except to trade insults. Most never condescend to use human speech. They consider everything beneath them. Fairies are vain, selfish creatures. You may have noticed I drained all the fountains and the birdbaths outside. When they are full, the fairies assemble to stare at their reflections all day.”
“Is Kendra a fairy?” Seth asked.
Grandpa bit his lip and stared at he floor, obviously trying to choke back a laugh.
Here's another excerpt that made me fall in love with the fairies, even if they were vain little things (and oh!!! talk about consequences - you have to see what happens to the fairy that Seth traps in a bottle!)
The fairies flocked near Grandpa, eager for the next bubbles. He kept them coming, and the fairies continued to display their creativity. They filled bubbles with shimmering mist. They linked them in chains. They transformed them into balls of fire. The surface of one reflected like a mirror. Another took on the shape of a pyramid. Another crackled with electricity.
The fairies are creative and some of them also have creative names - like the Jinn Harp. I loved that name! (and also the fact that she was discovered in the Gobi Desert, of all places!):
Maddox opened the final case. Out soared a dazzling fairy with wings like shimmering veils of gold. Three gleaming feathers streamed beneath her, elegant ribbons of light. She hung gloriously in the center of the room with a regal air.
“A jinn harp?” Grandpa said in astonishment.
“Favor us with a song, I beg you,” Maddox said. He repeated the solicitation in another language.
The fairy gleamed even brighter, shedding sparks. The music that followed was mesmerizing. The voice made Kendra imagine a multitude of vibrating crystals. The wordless song had the power of an operatic aria mingled with the sweetness of a lullaby. It was longing, beckoning, hopeful, and heartbreaking. They all sat transfixed until the song ended. When it was over, Kendra wanted to applaud, but the moment felt too sacred.
Then there are these fairies - guess what type they are:
“In fact, tonight, remind me to leave out some cooking ingredients. By morning, they will have baked us a treat.”
“What will they cook?”
“You never know. You don’t make requests. You just leave out ingredients and see how they combine them.”
Here is a little hint about a completely different type of magical creature you encounter toward the end:
The air trembled. On hot days, Kendra had seen the air shimmer in the distance. This was similar, but right in front of her. The ground seemed to be tipping. Kendra extended her arms and swayed as the ground teetered even more. There was a burst of darkness, an anti-flash, and Kendra stumbled.
And here's a neat excerpt about the housekeeper, Lena, but this one I think this could rank as a spoiler:
(view spoiler)[“What is it like being a naiad?” Lena gazed out the window. “Hard to say. I ask myself the same question. It wasn’t just my body that became mortal; my mind transformed as well. I think I prefer this life, but it might be because I have changed fundamentally. Mortality is a totally different state of being. You become more aware of time. I was absolutely content as a naiad. I lived in an unchanging state for what must have been many millennia, never thinking of the future or the past, always looking for amusement, always finding it. Almost no self-awareness. It feels like a blur now. No, like a blink. A single moment that lasted thousands of years.” (hide spoiler)]
One last thing I have to mention; if you've read the book, you'll know what this refers to. If you haven't read it, consider this one more enticement. "There may still be couple [eggs] in the fridge." Yeah - I know - that doesn't seem very memorable, but when you put it in context you really appreciate the background behind the chicken eggs in this story. (less)
More excellent writing and plot, and a cliff hanger ending that will make you race double-time for the next book.
The contestants introduced in the ga...moreMore excellent writing and plot, and a cliff hanger ending that will make you race double-time for the next book.
The contestants introduced in the games in this book are perhaps even better developed than the ones in the first book.
Here's an excerpt from the first chapter with little details that pack a big punch. Here Katniss is encountering a powerful and threatening character, President Snow. It's not so much what he says that threatens her, as these details about him:
I nod because, by the way he says it, it's clear that Seneca Crane has been executed. The smell of roses and blood has grown stronger now that only a desk separates us. There's a rose in President Snow's lapel, which at least suggests the source of the flower perfume, but it must be genetically enhanced because no real rose reeks like that. As for the blood... I don't know.
The scene ends with:
I don't watch him as he heads for the door, so I flinch when he whispers in my ear. "By the way, I know about the kiss." Then the door clicks shut behind him.
End of chapter. The beginning of the next chapter:
The smell of blood.... it was on his breath.
Whoa. Heady writing, there.
Here's another little detail that makes a simple kiss turn into something really powerful:
How his hands, which could set the most intricate of snares, could as easily entrap me.
Not only does the author hook us with these details, she keeps supplying a steady stream of them throughout the book, just as she did with the Hunger Games. That, combined with a constant stream of action and surprises, propels this story along like a predator relentlessly stalking its prey. (less)
I almost positive that fans of Jane Austen will be amused by this book. It's Austen all over again, but...moreMy first foray into steampunk, and I loved it!
I almost positive that fans of Jane Austen will be amused by this book. It's Austen all over again, but in steampunk style, with her witty observations on society and over-the-top characters. For instance, Miss Tarrabotti has is cursed with a mama and two sisters that reminded me very much of Elizabeth Bennett's mother and her two youngest, silliest sisters. She has a best friend with an affinity for horribly unfashionable hats and another friend, a vampire, who is the absolute anti-thesis of Edward Cullen, which should provide millions of jaded Twilight fans with some much needed comic relief (though this is definitely an adult novel; I wish someone had warned me about the s*x scene at the end of the book).
This little snippet should give you an idea of Miss Tarrabotti's character:
Many a gentleman had likened his first meeting with her to downing a very strong cognac when one was expecting to imbibe fruit juice - that is to say, startling and apt to leave one with a distinct burning sensation.
The characters alone make this a fun novel, but the combination of great characters and great dialogue/narrative are what puts it up into best-seller status.
Scenes where Miss Tarrabotti and Lord Maccon exchange dialogue reminded me a bit of the excellent repartee between Jane and Mr. Rochester in Jane Eyre.
Alexia Tarrabotti: "I did not do anything. You opened the door. I simply fell out of it. A man was attacking me with a wet handkerchief. What else was I supposed to do?"
Lord Maccon could not say much in response to such an outlandish defense. So he merely repelated, "A wet handkerchief?"
Miss Tarrabotti crossed her arms and nodded mutinously. Then, in typical Alexia fashion, she opted to go on the attack. She had no idea what it was about Lord Maccon that always made her so inclined, but she went with the impulse, perhaps encouraged by her Italian blood. "What just a moment now! How did you find me here? Have you been following me?"
Lord Maccon had the good grace to look sheepish - if a werewolf can be said to look sheepish. "I do not trust vampire hives," he grumbled, as though that were an excuse. "I told you not to come. Didn't I tell you not to come? Well, look what happened."
"I would have you know I was perfectly safe in that hive. It was only when I left that things went all" - she waved a hand airily - "squiffy."
"Exactly!" said the earl. "You should go home and stay instead never go out again."
He sounded so serious Alexia laughed.
Most of the dialogue is interspersed with narrative voice, mostly from Miss Tarrabotti's point of view, but with occasional jumps to Maccon's point of view or even a secondary character. You know you are in the hands of an excellent writer that she can manage to pull off these rapid shifts in point of view, sometimes even verging on an omniscient view, without jarring the reader. I'm not sure exactly, but I think the author is able to pull it off because the narrative voice is so strong: a tone of English propriety that is slightly sarcastic or self-mocking... and funny. So she can afford to give authorial perspective or dip into someone else's perspective occasionally if it adds a bit to the delightfully twisted vision of a proper Victorian lady, such as Alexia's mama "worrying about London being suddenly overrun with werewolves, ghosts, and vampires, and her husband fraternizing with them all."
Here's the opening paragraph of the story, which immediately sets the tone or voice of the book:
Miss Alexia Tarabotti was not enjoying her evening. Private balls were never more than middling amusements for spinsters, and Miss Tarrabotti was not the kind of spinster who could garner even that much pleasure from the event. To put the pudding in the puff: she had retreated to the library, her favorite sanctuary in any house, only to happen upon an unexpected vampire.
Such a strong voice obviously forgives, as is apparent in this case, the use of passive tense.(less)
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