Sign in with FacebookMike (the Paladin)'s Reviews > The Alchemyst
The Alchemyst (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, #1)
by Michael Scott (Goodreads Author), Erik Singer
by Michael Scott (Goodreads Author), Erik Singer
I'll try to be fair here, this is a "YA" book and it comes in telling us it's going to "play" with historical and mythological figures....and play it does. I found the book annoying and wonder at the damage we're doing to our "youths" and their knowledge of mythology, what we can learn from mythology, from the archetypal characters, thoughts, and ideas they contain.
Okay, part of rant over. There are different types of YA books. Some are more yA while others are more Ya. This is in style and execution more of a Ya book with emphasis on the "Young" rather than the "adult". With it's repetitive story telling (asking something and then farther on asking it again, and again especially by the boy was a sort of constant). Then however, along with the juvenile storytelling you get attempts at "semi-adult" content that doesn't really work.
(view spoiler)
There's more and we've all played with mythology I suppose but I'm not really taken with this book. No that's a polite understatement, I'm annoyed with this book and approaching dislike. I'll go with 2 stars, but "just" or barely. Will I read the next book? Haven't decided yet.
Oh, one more thing, the book doesn't "conclude" or "end" so much as "stop". Lots I didn't care for... sorry if you liked it.
By the way..the fact that Michael Scott is a mythology scholar simply bothers me more. He is of course free to treat these figures as he wishes... I make no complaint about that. But I'm free not to enjoy the given treatment, and I don't. As I say in many cases, if you do enjoy the book then that's good for you...enjoy, not my cup of tea.
UPDATE: I'm not planning on following the book up...just letting you know.
Okay, part of rant over. There are different types of YA books. Some are more yA while others are more Ya. This is in style and execution more of a Ya book with emphasis on the "Young" rather than the "adult". With it's repetitive story telling (asking something and then farther on asking it again, and again especially by the boy was a sort of constant). Then however, along with the juvenile storytelling you get attempts at "semi-adult" content that doesn't really work.
(view spoiler)
There's more and we've all played with mythology I suppose but I'm not really taken with this book. No that's a polite understatement, I'm annoyed with this book and approaching dislike. I'll go with 2 stars, but "just" or barely. Will I read the next book? Haven't decided yet.
Oh, one more thing, the book doesn't "conclude" or "end" so much as "stop". Lots I didn't care for... sorry if you liked it.
By the way..the fact that Michael Scott is a mythology scholar simply bothers me more. He is of course free to treat these figures as he wishes... I make no complaint about that. But I'm free not to enjoy the given treatment, and I don't. As I say in many cases, if you do enjoy the book then that's good for you...enjoy, not my cup of tea.
UPDATE: I'm not planning on following the book up...just letting you know.
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Brian
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Aug 26, 2010 07:31pm
I know I use this quote often. I think C.S. Lewis is on the money when he states that if a youth book is not appealing to adults then it is not a good book. The title sounds promising. However, redundancy is not a trait I enjoy at all. A half hearted attempt to "semi-adult" the story only makes the story worse. I could not agree more with your observations about the book.
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I didn't go into it (though others did), but I assume the use of Nicholas Flamel in Harry Potter "might" have sparked his use as a character here. I don't know of course, but I really just didn't care for the book. I was very close to a 1 star rating, but didn't go quite that far. I did take the next one (The Magician)off my waiting list at the library.
Well there will be differences in taste and as I say in my review, if you like it that's fine, enjoy. I stated why I don't care for it above.
I don't think all Ya books will be for adults. This series tends to lean towards the younger ones. Working in a bookstore, I must say the kids eat this series up. They love it. Being a reader and having 2 boys to "don't" like to read :(, it's a pleasure to see something hook kids into enjoying the art of reading. Not all Ya are entertaining to me but if they get our kids to read, I love them just the same. I do love YA if it's got a bit of an edge to it.
I live in hope that someone will tell the kids reading these that the picture they paint of mythological figures isn't the one found in the actual myths and epics...But as I said, the book pretty much left me cold anyway. Were my kids small I would have no trouble with them reading these, I'd simply aim them at other things to, as I did.
On the bright side, if a child likes these books and are curious about the truth behind them they can and probably will look it up online.
I have to give credit where credit is due. While the author may have taken many liberties with mythological characters, it is thanks to this book series that my mythology interest has been peaked. I had never heard of many of them prior to reading the series. There are a LOT more historical/mythologocal characters that continue to show up throughout the series. You would just "love" what he did with Billy the Kid ;) Having said that, can you recommend a couple of book series' based in mythology (liberties taken are okay so long as it is enjoyable) that are geared towards adults? Everything that I have found thus far is for kids i.e. Rick Riordan books.
Not many YA come to mind. There are several good novels. Red Branch is good and the that author wrote many about Irish and Celtic myth that are good if sometimes a bit romantic for me. American Gods is a more modern novel that plays with mythological figures. There you get to play "who's the character" now and again as Gaiman tells the story. There are others but predictably I'm drawing a blank right now. I'll try to drop back if/when they pop into my head, and I'm sure other members can come up with a long list.
Oh...I forgot the Percy Jackson books (as I got burned out on those to and a lot of people who like them got upset with me...as here I guessLOL).
i do not see why you have to over analyze the book its a great book just because it plays with mythology it also introduces people to more aspects of cultures by making young adults want to find out the true stories behind all the characters
I agree with you Stefan. I've read historical "fiction" where it plays with facts a bit, but always entices me to learn more. I think it's wonderful that these books inspire kids. I see them at the bookstore where I work. After Percy Jackson they wanted the more factual books on the subjects. It was wonderful to see.
Really? In the first book he plagiarizes a report and then figures the worst part of getting caught is that he might actually have to read the book he plagiarized the report for... great example.But that aside, I reviewed the book and laid out my thoughts. If you don't agree, please feel free to review the book yourself. I didn't care for the book. I to have read books that played with history and it didn't annoy me. The same is true of mythological works so I'm forced to the conclusion that it's just this book.
Look, you (and others who've made it a point to tell me) they like this book (and others I've not liked including the Percy Jackson books), and that's great. I'm happy for you. BUT if you hold out for universal proclamations of the greatness of the series you'll be disappointed. I've said all this before. There are books I love that are reviewed here by other reviewers who "dissed them" badly.
It happens. As I said, please enjoy the books...but I've reviewed them, said what I think and there it is. It does not reflect on you nor does it prevent you from reading, enjoying and praising them to the sky if you wish. Please, feel free.
I actually am not a huge fan of Percy Jackson. They were just ok. Never finished the series. I am merely joyful over the enthusiasm of the children who enjoy them and become interested in mythology. Also in a world that is full of electronic distractions it fills my heart to see kids hungry to read. If these books do it them I love them for that in and of itself.
i agree with you rose especially when the movie came out although it sucked. everyone bought the series regardless of age
No not a negative person in general...just don't care for this book. And I've explained my reasoning frequently.
I was sort of referring to the damage you think these books are doing. I see the joy and hunger to learn more. It cool if you didn't like the book. I too don't like all YA. I've read some that ate completely inappropriate. These however are very suitable for children.
Were my kids still young I'd make sure what they took away from them. There are a lot of books I like better for youths. The characters in this one were/are annoying to me but I can see that won't be universally true, some will like them. Also they are really misleading as to Celtic myth.I said before, to each. My kids got The Hobbit, Harry Potter, and other fantasy works. And I didn't forbid books. I did read with them in case of things like this so they didn't come away with screwed up ideas about mythology or history.
Define "open to everything". There are books I wouldn't allow my kids to read but not simply for bad story telling.
when i say open to everything i should have worded it differenglh i mean ur open to new things as in books and im sure there are alot of books tht should be read
I am slow to say books "should or should not" be read in most cases. In other words had my kids wanted to read these books when they were young that would have been cool. I'd probably have read them then and talked to them about what they took away...but mostly I'm sure most kids just take away a story. Still attitudes and so on are there. So my kids picked what they read, though I wouldn't have aimed them at this one where other books I would have.
