June 2011 Leviathan * Finished Reading - how did you like it? **SPOILERS** allowed

[Sandra]

Post here if you have finished reading this book.

[Joseph]

I'm finished in the sense that I read it about 18 months ago, I think, so I'm a little fuzzy on the details . . . Unfortunately, my copy is out circulating now. Well, if it's being read, that's not actually unfortunate, but you know what I mean.

[Destructo]

Didn't like it much at all, sorry. Children may enjoy it more than adults. Here's my review:

Is it OK to not like a YA novel because it is so clearly aimed at, well, young adults? I've read and really enjoyed YA books like the Tiffany Aching series by Terry Pratchett, the His Dark Materials series, and The Graveyard Book, where the books, while aimed at younger readers, had the depth and characterization to be excellent reads for adults also. I didn't get that feeling here. The book seems very clearly aimed at some hypothetical 12 year old boy, in that the characters and the plot feel dumbed-down to what the author feels the readers will understand. Reinforcing that impression was my observation (belief?prejudice?) that the author cut some corners regarding WWI-era etiquette and language because a 12 year-old probably wouldn't notice.

I also had the problem that plagues steampunk, in that I couldn't suspend my disbelief sufficiently to accept that armored diesel-powered walking dreadnoughts and genetically engineered sentient zeppelins could exist in the Edwardian era, even an alternate history of that era. The machines and beasts described in the book would be believeable in an alternate history set in the 22nd century, but are simply too advanced to be believed in an alternate history of the beginning of the 20th century.

[Sandra]

Destructo wrote: "Didn't like it much at all, sorry. Children may enjoy it more than adults. Here's my review:

Is it OK to not like a YA novel because it is so clearly aimed at, well, young adults? I've read and..."

I'm not finished yet, but have read far enough to agree with you. I have read (and loved) many YA or even children's books (Charlotte's Web, anyone) and found them rich and rewarding. This one doesn't fit that category. I also share your skepticism about the advanced technology of the beasts and machines depicted.

[Michele]

I read the book awhile back. I liked it quite a bit. I liked the characters. I liked the connection between the characters. I liked the murky quest. I liked that Alek has to make a choice to act rather than only react. I liked the questions in my mind regarding the ethical choices of nasty machinery vs. biological manipulation. I liked the twist on history, especially WWI since it is such as dividing line in history. All that being said, I am a school librarian, so I don't mind reading books written at a kid's level. I also didn't consider any variances in historical usage, since it isn't really historical at all, only meant to give us the feel of that time in history.

[Roshio]

I also read it a while ago and I enjoyed mostly cause I love history, so Westerfeld's version of WWI was fun to read. It was my first take on Steampunk, and I'm glad I got to read it. Loved reading about clankers vs. darwinists. To be honest, I'd rather be a clanker. I just cannot bear the thought of creating an animal just so it could be used as a weapon or a mode of transport, leaving them with such awful lives. The illustrations were excellent and really helped you visualise everything (which can be difficult sometimes).

[Ben]

What I liked about this book:

The setting: is vivid and romantic. The included pictures are almost mandatory so that I can envisage the fantastical creations of the author's imagination. I also really liked the WWI alternative history setting. It's a fun way to do your history lessons again and get a little look into life at the time.

The pace: It's quite a short book (appropriate for the audience) and I think the author keeps the pace going nicely so the action never really stops.

What I thought could have been improved.

I can't really put my finger on it, but I think the word that comes to mind is 'sparse'. Maybe as a consequence of the audience or the format, but I kind of got the feeling that the book had only as much description, dialogue etc to get the story from point A to point B. I think I would have liked a few more non-plot-advancing interactions. An example of when this did happen was Dylan's interactions with some of the other Midshipmen (I think his name was Fitzroy or something like that). I think more of this sort of thing would have increased my enjoyment of the story and understanding of the characters.

[Beatrix]

Eh, I thought it was ok. I loved the concept of the half animal half machinery, but that was really only it. I didn't know what was going on half the time, and I felt like the details weren't enough to let me know what was going down. Some of the dialouge seemed a little bit bland to me, and there were a couple of loops with the Darwinist concepts.
For example, if Dylan (I don't remember the girl's actual name) was in the stomach of the Leviathan, how did the whale digest its actual food? I was confused on how it actually stays afloat. I get it runs on Hydrogen, but I was just a little confused. I didn't like the book enough to continue on with the series.

I thought I'd like Leviathan, but I didn't. I never liked the author's writing style, though. I tried reading the Uglies, but I stopped halfway through Specials. Or Extras, whichever was the 3rd book.

[Zach]

It was not my favorite cup of tea... I found myself reading to just finish the book and only enjoyed the book for the fact that when I turned the pages I was looking for the awesome pictures! This was my first "steampunk" and thou I can see the potential of the sub-genre I can say this one doesn't make me want to keep looking for more.

[Deedee]

I agree, this one was aimed like a laser-beam at the middle school reader. It was a very quick read. The illustrations stood in for word descriptions which would have slowed the action. I liked Prince Aleksander and how he found a way of coping in a situation that he did not create. I also liked the female scientist and her "very special eggs". I gave it 3*'s, and next time I want to read a book aimed at 12 year olds, I'll read the sequel.

For adult-oriented steampunk, The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack (Burton & Swinburne #1) is an excellent place to start.

[Roshio]

Deedee wrote: "I agree, this one was aimed like a laser-beam at the middle school reader. It was a very quick read. The illustrations stood in for word descriptions which would have slowed the action. I liked ..."


ooh The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack looks good. added to my list!

[Jess]

This is my first post in this group.

Just finished this the other day. I found the descriptions of the beasties were somewhat lacking in detail. As I read through I found myself more than once saying, “What the hell?” I just couldn’t see some of the animals through the text alone. If it weren’t for the pictures I think I would have been completely lost at seeing what the writer wanted me to see and I would have hated it.

I was able to make out the external parts of Leviathan pretty well. It was the Huxley and the inside of the whale that I had the most trouble with. Maybe I’m just not used to books that depend on pictures to tell the story.

[Sandra]

Jess wrote: "This is my first post in this group.

Just finished this the other day. I found the descriptions of the beasties were somewhat lacking in detail. As I read through I found myself more than once s..."

LOL, not a kid any more?

[Chris]

I actually didn't mind the simplicity, but then I've always liked flipping back and forth between advanced reads and simpler ones. This is definitely a very simple story though, with predictable plot and characters. I did feel a few times like things resolved themselves a bit too easily though. The best example of this that I can think of is near the end, when Volger finally grows tired of Alek and refuses to help (the part where he suggests that Alek should consider just surrendering). It felt like that thread was thrown out when Alek devised a way out of the situation once again. It all just seemed a little too easy.

[Jackleen]

I do read youth fiction and normally enjoy a more simple story. Leviathan was just too young. I am sure my son, who is 12, would enjoy it.

[Sandra]

Jackleen wrote: "I do read youth fiction and normally enjoy a more simple story. Leviathan was just too young. I am sure my son, who is 12, would enjoy it."

Amen to that.

[Jonathan]

I enjoyed the book, for what it was. The characters were engaging and plot was quick/interesting. That said I really don't understand the fascination with YA fiction. I loved Cooper and Alexander when I was a kid, but I have no desire to read them now. My other problem with the book was the massive suspension of belief required to ignore the fact that TWO completely different and unrelated advanced technology trees could be suddenly advanced at one time.

[Chris]

^ That's why I think steampunk might be better suited to less realistic (and perhaps more outrageous for the comedies) mechanics. This one tried to base itself on actual science (at least to some degree), which results in a more difficult time achieving that suspension of disbelief. If the steampunk-mechanics of a given story are way out there from the beginning (the excellent webcomic Girl Genius springs to mind) then there really isn't a need for suspension of disbelief, except in that the story must then live within whatever rules it does set for itself (much like how more mainstream fantasy books have to handle magic, for example).

Short version: I think steampunk books (in general) might be better off setting you up to expect crazy wondrous contraptions that have no basis in reality, rather than attempting to base themselves on realistic sciences.

(Cyberpunk, I imagine, might be a different beast altogether however.)

[Kate]

First of all, I read a LOT of Juvenile fiction, so intended audience isn't a big problem for me. Secondly, I would say that this book is more for boys than girls. I think the "manly" main characters, along with the HEAVY military aspects were not appealing to the normal "I wanna read a romance" pre-teen and teenage girl. And the pictures don't help.
I don't see this book as having a wide appeal.

That being said, I LOVE THIS BOOK. I love steampunk and based on some of that genre that I've read of late, this is by far the best researched and written. I really liked the alternate history that Westerfeld has going on here and I think he did a wonderful job establishing the setting and the characters. I would give it 5 stars because I think that for the audience it's intended to reach, it does a FANTASTIC job. Well-written, great plot, great characters, great descriptions and I wasn't left unsatisfied in the end. I didn't once think to myself, "No one would have said/acted that way in WWI era." That in itself was refreshing.

[Nita]

I finished Leviathan last week. It was a fast read and enjoyable. But I agree with many, I would have enjoyed it more if the protagonists had been a little older. I loved the pictures that went along with the story. I agree with Jess - I would not have been able to picture the animals in my mind very well without the pictures. I ended up giving it 3 stars. It was enjoyable, but I probably will not read the next in the series.

[John]

Well, I read the first four chapters and just didn't have the desire to continue. I'd agree with others here that perhaps 10 to 14 year olds would find it more interesting.

[Kheldar]

Read very quickly, which is usually indicative of at least decent writing. I actually enjoyed the book, though not until the end did I realize fully it was supposed to be alt. sci-fi. The scientific elements were a little unbelievable, (Darwin discovering DNA, and then manipulating it sufficiently? Please!) but if ignored, made for a fairly enjoyable read. I will probably end up reading the sequel.

[Jon]

Quick easy read, definitely aimed at younger teens, and especially boys (or tom boys). I was prepared to like it it and I do for the most part, but the abrupt obvious cliff-hanger ending left me grinding my teeth.

[Jon]

And just in time for our discussion to wrap up, fresh from Wikipedia's "On this day ..." portal:

The Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand

[Sandra]

Jon wrote: "And just in time for our discussion to wrap up, fresh from Wikipedia's "On this day ..." portal:

The Assassination of Archduke Ferdinand"

Hmm. Interesting.

[mark]

i quite enjoyed this one. but i'm happy to read adult fiction, YA fiction, children's fiction, whatever - as long as the quality is there, i'm there. Leviathon was fast-paced, fun, with some standard but enjoyable characters and an amusingly careening plot. some surprisingly sophisticated alterna-history world-building and use of steampunk elements for a book aimed at a younger demographic. overall, a pleasure to read and i am looking forward to reading the sequels. i probably would never have picked this one up, so i'm pleased that this group decided to pick this as a group read.

[Kate]

I listened to this book over a couple of weeks on my way to work and it was just ok. I tend to skim quite a bit when I read a book and if the pace isn't quick enough I find myself getting bored when listening to a book. There were quite a few points where I really wished I could skim the text rather than listening to every word...

[JoLene]

I agree with Mark --- I really enjoyed this book and probably wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't read the blurp when the book was picked as a group read. I also don't mind reading YA, children's literature and I really didn't have a problem with the suspension of disbelief needed for this world. I found the characters endearing and the concept of pitting the biological advancements against the mechanical advancements and intriguing twist on the Allies vs Axis sort of story (not sure if those were references in WW1).