Scroll down for some content warning for parents.*
I would give this 6/5 but I had some objections to the content and since I ended up liking the secoScroll down for some content warning for parents.*
I would give this 6/5 but I had some objections to the content and since I ended up liking the second even more than the first, 4.5/5 is more accurate.
First, let me say I am not easy to impress. Maybe it's because I've been reading the wrong books. When I started reading middle grade fantasy fiction, I found my place in the book world. Middle Grade is just before the complexity of relationships but more grownup than little kid books. Plus the pictures are still a thing. So maybe it's because I love this genre or it could be that the book itself is exceptional IN this genre.
The writing is vividly descriptive, without sounding like a thesaurus. The entire setting and whimsical style work perfectly to create a strangely unique version of London, which it totally believable. There's a lot of absurd humor, too, if you like your dialog and settings a bit outlandish and over-the-top. I kept closing the book to stare at the gorgeous gilded artwork on the cover and eagerly anticipated a new illustration with every new page. The best part though, is hands down the magical objects. Some are rare and exotic objects invented for the story, but plenty are based on familiar things from our own world, and they feel more magical than ever. I've listed my favorite things about the book below.
Favorite imagery:
Hiding behind the curtains of a weeping willow tree. Picking up sunbeams from the floor like shards of glass Raindrops produce joy when they fall Freckles are constellations Whispering books Ticklish floorboards Rugs that trip you Frothy lace
Wholesome lessons: We each have our own unique abilities We can't do great things alone.
Favorite quotes:
"Everybody has their own unique magic...but it's up to you to discover what it is."
"Some people are never taught [magic]...and some people spend their lives trying very hard to be sensible."
"One flower has more magic in it than all the man-made riches in a prince's palace."
*There is only one negative:
The hats affect the wearers' emotions. Because of some hatmaking gone wrong, two male characters share a passionate kiss. The story is a bit goofy at times so it's hard to tell, but I think it was supposed to be seen as a good thing. The book describes the scene with "bells tolling triumphantly" as though it's the ending of a rom-com. It is so disappointing because this direction adds nothing to the story and there are 1001 other ways for the hatmaking to go wrong. It was such a small part of the story that one has to wonder if it was just a political statement by the author.
It was also never resolved. I don't think toying with others' emotions is a good message to send to young readers, and it goes against the rule of hatmaking which is to "Do no harm." Since these characters aren't gay and it altered their lives without their consent, I'd say it did a lot of harm. The other characters are bothered by this sort of meddling and yet there are no consequences.
For this reason I don't think this is appropriate for children, which is a shame because my niece and nephews would love it for story time....more
Better than expected. The world-building is incredible as is the writing. It's a shame it's not more well-known, but I can see why that is. The world Better than expected. The world-building is incredible as is the writing. It's a shame it's not more well-known, but I can see why that is. The world of Mars is pretty bizarre and it's not really a place I'd fantasize about living in. Even though this is supposed to be the series that fathered modern scifi, unfortunately for Edgar Rice Burroughs, I think the projects that were inspired by the Barsoom books were better and more well received.
Some of the creativity is impressive, like the differences between Earthlings and Tharks, as well as "green men" and "red men". So often in sci-fi races have similar values but the Tharks are vastly different, like the fact that they laugh at people's suffering. It's a world devoid of love basically.
Some things are a little hard to take seriously, though, like the fact that no one wears clothes on Mars. They just wear body jewelry, including the goddess-like Dejah Thoris. There's no real reason for John Carter to love Dejah Thoris other than for her beauty. I'm no feminist, but even I found it annoying listening to him constantly drool over her "divinity" and "perfection" as though that's all she is. It was like getting into the mind of a man in a way I never wanted to. (And note that her people feel she's perfect too.) Also it doesn't explain how John Carter got to Mars other than it just happened because of a cave. Maybe the next book explains it?
I do love the fact that Edgar Rice Burroughs used his own life experiences as a starting point for this fantastical idea of going to Mars. The whole thing was pretty ahead of his time.
I will definitely be reading the other books in the series....more
**spoiler alert** Wow! This was surprisingly good. It's easy to spot some of the same storytelling tactics here that are still being used today. I won**spoiler alert** Wow! This was surprisingly good. It's easy to spot some of the same storytelling tactics here that are still being used today. I wonder if Jules Verne came up with it or if he also was inspired by other stories. For example, The policeman Fix follows them around the world, which adds an element of danger (and a antagonist), there's the love interest Fogg finds along the way, and quite a bit of unexpected humor that is just the sort of thing you'd find in a fun and popular movie.
I mean...at one point they jump the missing train tracks... over a ravine, I think? (Didn't Doc Brown do this, too??) ...more
I wanted to like this so much more than I did. I loved the premise and found the overall journey a fun one. However, the imagery was very difficult toI wanted to like this so much more than I did. I loved the premise and found the overall journey a fun one. However, the imagery was very difficult to grasp at times, especially in the futuristic periods. I felt as one who is walking blind in a world and relying on other senses to tell what is happening. It's too bad because I could have really loved this one. ...more
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