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meghan111's review against another edition
2.0
This was a Nancy Pearl suggestion. Dry British humor about an author of sensitive YA books about outcasts. He won some literary prizes but now his books aren't selling and his agent convinces him to try writing epic fantasy because that's what people want to read. Then he summons a creature from another dimension, a scribe who does all the work of writing an astonishing tale for him. He strikes a bargain involving recovering an amulet that has been hidden in our dimension. Throughout all the place and character names are ridiculous puns. The main character, Murdstone, was sort of nasty and ridiculous, hard to root for, and some of the humor felt outdated. It kind of fell apart for me about halfway through. Back of the book comparisons to Terry Pratchett? Maybe a little, but Terry Pratchett's humor never punched down.
magnetgrrl's review against another edition
3.0
This is more like, 3.5 stars, really. I wouldn't say I "really liked it" but, it was more than OK.
First, I somehow thought this was a YA novel. It's really not. Like, *maybe* a senior-level, high-school sort-of, but very dark... but even then, I don't know. I don't know how I got that idea, or how useful it is to box things into 'YA' or 'Not-YA' anyway (unless you're actively trying to pick out age-appropriate material for a young adult).
One of my favorite things about reading genre books from other countries though is that slang and norms are so casually different. That's so refreshing.
The story is interesting, but a bit dark, and kind of sad, once you've finished and once you have some perspective. I think it plays a bit on some "you have to be crazy to be an artist" tropes. The meta aspects make a meh story somewhat better.
Dialogue with accents is a challenge. This book does it very well, but if it's something you find difficult or annoying to read, stay away. The Murdstone Trilogy did have about 5 new words for me, though, so that's a vocabulary building plus.
First, I somehow thought this was a YA novel. It's really not. Like, *maybe* a senior-level, high-school sort-of, but very dark... but even then, I don't know. I don't know how I got that idea, or how useful it is to box things into 'YA' or 'Not-YA' anyway (unless you're actively trying to pick out age-appropriate material for a young adult).
One of my favorite things about reading genre books from other countries though is that slang and norms are so casually different. That's so refreshing.
The story is interesting, but a bit dark, and kind of sad, once you've finished and once you have some perspective. I think it plays a bit on some "you have to be crazy to be an artist" tropes. The meta aspects make a meh story somewhat better.
Dialogue with accents is a challenge. This book does it very well, but if it's something you find difficult or annoying to read, stay away. The Murdstone Trilogy did have about 5 new words for me, though, so that's a vocabulary building plus.
kt01's review against another edition
2.0
L**** (f)
S***(comments/references)
M*
An interesting parody/satiric take on the fantasy genre. Minerva’s formula for fantasy novels was spot on and saved this from a lower rating.
Confusing at times, particularly when detailing the books Philip is writing (although I think part of that is the parody) It was funny in parts. Started out good but then decreased as novel continued.
A number of non-PC/inappropriate comments.
I think incorrectly labelled a teen book at my library.
YOU WILL NEED A DICTIONARY
S***(comments/references)
M*
An interesting parody/satiric take on the fantasy genre. Minerva’s formula for fantasy novels was spot on and saved this from a lower rating.
Confusing at times, particularly when detailing the books Philip is writing (although I think part of that is the parody) It was funny in parts. Started out good but then decreased as novel continued.
A number of non-PC/inappropriate comments.
I think incorrectly labelled a teen book at my library.
YOU WILL NEED A DICTIONARY
abmgw's review against another edition
3.0
Mal Peet realy dont like Fantasy.
The beginning was good and promissing, the secound part kontroversial and party boring, the end was a big clusterfuck.
Cannot recommand to whomever.
The beginning was good and promissing, the secound part kontroversial and party boring, the end was a big clusterfuck.
Cannot recommand to whomever.
goodbye_alex's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.5
kimonawhim's review
3.0
Amusing to say the least, and also sometimes quite insane. I found myself chuckling at this book more than once. The characters, dialogues, puns and references shine a comical but also saddening light on the publishing industry. I felt the concept of this book was rather clever, as is the way the chapters are divided and the style it is written in. The ending was in my opinion rather weak and rather sudden, in comparison to the rest of the book, but all in all it was more than worth it!
4/5.
4/5.
littleelfman's review
3.0
This is remarkably different to everything else Mal Peet had written, of which I've read most.
It began brilliantly: making me laugh out loud repeatedly, amazing a sharp witted satire of fantasy novels and publishing in general. But moved into a hard slug of a fantasy/hallucination of an author trying to maintain his success after novel he didn't write. I didn't dislike it entirely, but it did take me nearly three weeks to read, which is surprising. I was waiting for it for ages!
It began brilliantly: making me laugh out loud repeatedly, amazing a sharp witted satire of fantasy novels and publishing in general. But moved into a hard slug of a fantasy/hallucination of an author trying to maintain his success after novel he didn't write. I didn't dislike it entirely, but it did take me nearly three weeks to read, which is surprising. I was waiting for it for ages!
dflevitt's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75