Sunday, March 16, 2008
Challenge:
Twisted Fairy Tales
As the cover proclaims, this story is truly "part everything-but-the-kitchen-sink." Readers first meet Chris when he is a strong-willed, clever child of six. He has run away from home, determined to live on his own in the forest. Edric, a troll, finds him and gives him shelter but cannot make him go back home, and Chris grows up with Edric and his dogs as his family, guided by an etiquette book found in the forest and Edric's own wisdom. As the boy grows, he continues his interest in inventing and watches the princess in the castle across the river. She is headstrong but lonely, and when Chris contacts her by carrier pigeon (or p-mail), they become best friends. When he takes work at the castle, there is no way that Chris, a commoner, can tell Marigold who he is, and he can only stand by as she is to be married to an unsuitable suitor. When he learns that her life is in danger, he must find a way to save her and the kingdom. This complex, fast-paced plot, a mixture of fantasy, romance, comedy, and coming-of-age novel, succeeds because these characters are compelling, well developed, and sympathetic. Quirky personalities and comic subplots give the story additional texture. Readers will be drawn into this world be satisfied by the denouement. This blend of genres will appeal to a wide range of readers, and it's all great fun.
Shara Alpern, The Free Library of Philadelphia
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
I usually write my own reviews but this one explained this hard-to-explain book better than I could. I found this book to be very funny. Ed, Christian and Marigold all enjoy reading Greek myths: "Nothing like a little fratricide, patricide, matricide, and infanticide to send a fellow off to sleep." Ed the troll is probably the funniest with the way he mixes his adages: "What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the eager beaver." And I love this explantion for the use of carrier pigeons: It's what carrier pigeons were meant for -- and if the technology existed, he was a fool not to use it. How much harder communication had been before p-mail." All in all, this is really a fun book to read with interesting characters, humor and intrigue. The ending was very predictable and a little flat, but still an enjoyable read. There is a sequel coming out in May that I will be looking forward to.
Rating: 4.25
Posted by Framed at 11:41 AM
3 comments:
Stephanie said...
I love that book cover and will take a look for this book - it sounds like a really nice read.
3/16/2008 1:19 PM
Booklogged said...
Sounds like a fun book.
3/16/2008 6:24 PM
Câmera Digital said...
Hello. This post is likeable, and your blog is very interesting, congratulations :-). I will add in my blogroll =). If possible gives a last there on my blog, it is about the Câmera Digital, I hope you enjoy. The address is http://camera-fotografica-digital.blogspot.com. A hug.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment