First, I want to clarify that I really did enjoy this book. It was fun, and as usual, Mr. Gaiman's characters and worldbuilding are superb.
But
I have aFirst, I want to clarify that I really did enjoy this book. It was fun, and as usual, Mr. Gaiman's characters and worldbuilding are superb.
But
I have a very heavy bias against stories that refuse to explain themselves. The "character has no idea what's going on" trope is extremely useful, especially in settings where the reader will require more information to catch up on what's happening, but when that information is never actually given, then it just makes me feel stupid, and resent the knowledgeable characters for refusing to explain things when they have both the freedom and the ability. I don't really like feeling stupid. Not a good feeling.
That said, much of the information I wanted in the first two chapters was eventually revealed through the narrative, just not as quickly or as succinctly as I would have liked. I am Very Opinionated....more
There are many things to love about this book. The vivid characters, the earnestness of the message, the descriptions of animal life. This belongs inThere are many things to love about this book. The vivid characters, the earnestness of the message, the descriptions of animal life. This belongs in the category with Black Beauty and Firebringer for stories that bring the animal world to life in an utter believable and charming way....more
I'm not convinced there's anything about this book I don't or shouldn't like. Animal story, found family, based on actual events... and the mainI'm not convinced there's anything about this book I don't or shouldn't like. Animal story, found family, based on actual events... and the main character spends the majority of the story proving himself wrong when he says "I can't."
I'd put this book in the same category as Mouse and the Motorcycle or Varjak Paw and it compares favorably. Looking forward to the movie and the next book....more
I particularly enjoyed the pacing of this story. The development of Montmorency as a character was really like a reverse Jekyll and Hyde, which II particularly enjoyed the pacing of this story. The development of Montmorency as a character was really like a reverse Jekyll and Hyde, which I really enjoyed. I think it would be a blast to read the second book, since his character is so fresh in my mind. :)
I would say that readers that enjoy society drama like Changeling or North and South would like this story, though there is quite a bit of emphasis on crime and the justification thereof....more
I liked the development of the frame story, with the Storyteller and the King, but I honestly started skipping sections of the Sinbad story, becauseI liked the development of the frame story, with the Storyteller and the King, but I honestly started skipping sections of the Sinbad story, because of the disgusting stabbing, slurping, chewing, gurgling, screeching sounds they used in almost every scene.
There was some of that in the first part, but not nearly as much. XP Thumbs down, will not listen again....more
I don't think I've ever been so fascinated by a true story. Nonfiction has never been my forte, but I started reading this book when someone suggestedI don't think I've ever been so fascinated by a true story. Nonfiction has never been my forte, but I started reading this book when someone suggested it to me as good research for how a tight group behaves under stress.
I grew to love these men, and honestly cried when they were hurt, or at the end when some of them died. I wish more fiction books carried that kind of impact. There's a lot to learn here....more
I never knew there was so much I didn't know about life with visual handicaps! Or handicaps in general, actually. I wish I'd started learn about thisI never knew there was so much I didn't know about life with visual handicaps! Or handicaps in general, actually. I wish I'd started learn about this years ago!...more
I really enjoyed the excellent voice acting and the dramatic effects, but I think maybe if I had known the concentration of sex and violence in theseI really enjoyed the excellent voice acting and the dramatic effects, but I think maybe if I had known the concentration of sex and violence in these tales I wouldn't have embarked on this journey....more
This one was surprisingly enjoyable, and even though it strained my suspension of disbelief at times, the story was fun. :) I also really appreciatedThis one was surprisingly enjoyable, and even though it strained my suspension of disbelief at times, the story was fun. :) I also really appreciated that the narrator was intimately familiar with the New Orleans and Cajun accents. No awkward fumbling or obvious flubs.
I'll file this one in "Smart Kids Fiction" with books like the Artemis Fowl and Half-Moon series....more
When I went in, I was expecting either a very narrow story about a girl who had a strangeI was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.
When I went in, I was expecting either a very narrow story about a girl who had a strange relationship with nighttime celestial bodies, or an exposition-heavy fairytale-style rendition of one of several stories about a princess that either is the moon or lives on the moon.
It was neither.
Instead I got a very well fleshed-out set of characters, each with their own backstories (although after a while there are only so many variations on "lost my parents at a tragically young age" that one can come up with) and character arcs. The ending was a bit formulaic, but I found it satisfying. It might have been done with a bit more punch than it was, but I was not upset with the ending, so I'm happy to leave it as it is.
All in all, I think this is a book I will happily come back to and reread in the future. ...more
Very educational, and broken into manageable chunks. I do wish there'd been a little more focus on the novel, but I understand not all literature isVery educational, and broken into manageable chunks. I do wish there'd been a little more focus on the novel, but I understand not all literature is fiction and not all fiction is novels. It was fascinating all the same....more
There's a lot of really good stuff in here. I, however, wasn't really engaged until the last 6 lectures or so, where he started going over what aiThere's a lot of really good stuff in here. I, however, wasn't really engaged until the last 6 lectures or so, where he started going over what ai considered to be "new material" or in other words, stuff I hadn't already learned....more
I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I assumed it was going to be predictable, trite, and probably more than a littleI was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I assumed it was going to be predictable, trite, and probably more than a little embarrassing. To my surprise, it was actually very well thought through.
The main character was witty, interesting, and probably the most convincing rogue I've ever read. In addition, the setting was very believable, and I thoroughly enjoyed the twist that they put on multiple fairy tales I knew for my childhood. If there is a sequel, I will definitely read that....more
The best audio documentary I have ever heard. End of discussion. I would definitely listen to it again, and I probably will. Very educational, lots ofThe best audio documentary I have ever heard. End of discussion. I would definitely listen to it again, and I probably will. Very educational, lots of sources cited, and I really appreciated that they gave perspectives that aren't usually taught in school. I learned a lot, and I plan to learn more the next time through....more
The pacing is a little choppy, a bit draggy in places, and the very nonhuman jinn are very relatably human in their characterization...
Other thanThe pacing is a little choppy, a bit draggy in places, and the very nonhuman jinn are very relatably human in their characterization...
Other than that, I really liked this book. An interesting twist on the old story of Aladdin and the Genie of the Ring smashed together with the story of Aladdin and the Genie of the Lamp, and a strong implication of adventures to come, whether or not they're written down....more
The world, magic system, and characters are all wonderfully consistent. After the last book I read, this was a fantastic change of pace. Besides that,The world, magic system, and characters are all wonderfully consistent. After the last book I read, this was a fantastic change of pace. Besides that, this book is very well done. 10 out of 10, will definitely read again....more
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