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What Members Thought
I enjoyed reading this suspense-filled tale of magic and mystery set in 1860 London and Strachan's Ghyll in 1861. While it takes awhile for all the connections among the characters to be revealed, I appreciated being given the time to figure out what each one's secret was. This is one of those books in which it's hard to decide which person is most evil: Cassandra the witch or her archnemesis, the puppet master. Clearly, the author has more sympathy for Cassandra since she reveals aspects of the
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Perfection. I know distinguished when I see it.
I really enjoyed reading Splendors and Glooms. I read this well over a month ago and the story still speaks to me. It was fun that I happen to read it in October because it has a generally creepy feel.
I don't know how young kids would relate to the book, but as an adult I loved it. I don't think it will win a medal because of the lack of appeal to a wide audience however I personally would recommend it.
The writing was marvelous. I really connected with the characters and felt part of the story. ...more
I don't know how young kids would relate to the book, but as an adult I loved it. I don't think it will win a medal because of the lack of appeal to a wide audience however I personally would recommend it.
The writing was marvelous. I really connected with the characters and felt part of the story. ...more
I really liked this book. A little magical and mystical, a little gloomy, and beautifully written. The tone reminded me a lot of The Night Circus (which I loved), although they are very different books. Maybe a bit too old for middle grade, though? I'm not sure.
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What a sweeping drama. Set in Victorian England two young orphans - Lizzie Rose and Parsefall - are working with a master puppeteer when another child goes missing. Believing they may have inadvertently helped this abduct the girl they plot ways to find the girl. Grisini, the puppet master, suffers a fall down a flight of stairs and disappears. Lizzie Rose and Parsefall celebrate their freedom from the abusive puppet master little do they realize a new threat is looming. Wonderful use of dialect
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Loved this freaky homage to Dickens. I was enthralled by the language, descriptions, and pure novelty of these characters. Not sure it has enough umph for the Newbery though--the ending was tied up a little too neatly.
This felt very similar to The Night Circus to me. I liked it but didn't love it.
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Half Dickens, half fantasy, and an author who can weave the characters into a plot that never stalls.
Aug 19, 2012
Kristi
marked it as to-read
Sep 27, 2012
Jennifer
marked it as to-read
Oct 23, 2012
Michelle
marked it as to-read
Dec 05, 2012
krista (kristina) sembler
added it
Jan 28, 2013
Beth
marked it as middle-grade-to-read
