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wanderingstories's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed the story of [b: Rooftoppers|17350491|Rooftoppers|Katherine Rundell|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1362952099l/17350491._SY75_.jpg|24065797] a lot more than [b: The Explorer|12833770|The Mystery Boxes (Explorer, #1)|Kazu Kibuishi|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327971266l/12833770._SX50_.jpg|17984108] which was the first book I've read by Katherine Rundell (if you don't count her non-fiction book on "why you should read children's literature").
This one had an interesting magical atmosphere of the rooftops of Paris, France, while having an intriguing cast of characters and a plot that makes you want to keep reading (or listen to).
This one gets 3.5 stars
This one had an interesting magical atmosphere of the rooftops of Paris, France, while having an intriguing cast of characters and a plot that makes you want to keep reading (or listen to).
This one gets 3.5 stars
sadiesgf's review against another edition
3.0
would've given it 3 1/2 but idk how LMAO anyway remember being hooked to this story for so many nights the imagery was amazing
jadeykins23's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
lawyerapologist's review against another edition
3.0
I wanted to rate this book 4 stars instead of 3 because it was way better than the last book I rated 3 stars. However, the super-short, unsatisfying ending made it undeserving of a 4-star rating.
This was the first novel I ever read, so it definitely had a huge influence on my reading journey. I read this book in my native language instead of English, and I'm curious if that might have affected my reading experience. Perhaps reading it in my native language didn't do the book justice, but oh well.
I really liked the concept of rooftoppers in general, and I think this book depicts love in a unique and refreshing way. It also has an adventurous theme that I enjoyed.
I appreciated the underlying message about not always conforming to social norms. However, I think the execution could have been better. I understand the author wanted to depict a carefree girl who strays from rigid social norms and etiquette, but there were so many unnecessary references to bodily fluids (piss, poo, blood, saliva, spitting, snot, animal fat, etc.) that it was almost nauseating to read. As someone who loves and cherishes her books, I also don't understand why Charles was okay with Sophie "tainting" books with food-filled saliva.
There were also weird inconsistencies and plot holes throughout the book. For example, Sophie is apparently covered in blood and wounds every time she's back from a roof-hopping trip, but Charles never notices anything weird or out of the ordinary about her appearance and health. Furthermore, I doubt that finding the correct documents and papers in a storage room filled to the brim with documents is that easy. Is there really not a single person guarding the Notre Dame at night? I find that very hard to believe.
It's also frustrating that this story mostly takes place in Paris, yet every person they meet just so happens to speak English, even the rooftoppers. It seems like such an English-centered point of view. But I digress.
The ending was super disappointing. It seemed forced and abrupt, and it wasn't really "deserved." The fight scene that took place a couple of pages before didn't have much significance either; it seemed to be added just to create conflict and make the plot slightly more interesting and engaging. I would have been more interested if the major conflict in the book was between Charles (with his adult viewpoint and perspective) and Sophie (with her childlike thinking and imagination) regarding the whole rooftopper thing and searching for her mother in a dangerous way.
Overall, I think that with a little more work and polishing, this story could have been a super fun and adventure-filled read. 3/5.
This was the first novel I ever read, so it definitely had a huge influence on my reading journey. I read this book in my native language instead of English, and I'm curious if that might have affected my reading experience. Perhaps reading it in my native language didn't do the book justice, but oh well.
I really liked the concept of rooftoppers in general, and I think this book depicts love in a unique and refreshing way. It also has an adventurous theme that I enjoyed.
I appreciated the underlying message about not always conforming to social norms. However, I think the execution could have been better. I understand the author wanted to depict a carefree girl who strays from rigid social norms and etiquette, but there were so many unnecessary references to bodily fluids (piss, poo, blood, saliva, spitting, snot, animal fat, etc.) that it was almost nauseating to read. As someone who loves and cherishes her books, I also don't understand why Charles was okay with Sophie "tainting" books with food-filled saliva.
There were also weird inconsistencies and plot holes throughout the book. For example, Sophie is apparently covered in blood and wounds every time she's back from a roof-hopping trip, but Charles never notices anything weird or out of the ordinary about her appearance and health. Furthermore, I doubt that finding the correct documents and papers in a storage room filled to the brim with documents is that easy. Is there really not a single person guarding the Notre Dame at night? I find that very hard to believe.
It's also frustrating that this story mostly takes place in Paris, yet every person they meet just so happens to speak English, even the rooftoppers. It seems like such an English-centered point of view. But I digress.
The ending was super disappointing. It seemed forced and abrupt, and it wasn't really "deserved." The fight scene that took place a couple of pages before didn't have much significance either; it seemed to be added just to create conflict and make the plot slightly more interesting and engaging. I would have been more interested if the major conflict in the book was between Charles (with his adult viewpoint and perspective) and Sophie (with her childlike thinking and imagination) regarding the whole rooftopper thing and searching for her mother in a dangerous way.
Overall, I think that with a little more work and polishing, this story could have been a super fun and adventure-filled read. 3/5.
hwindow21's review against another edition
5.0
A favorite. This book made me a child again.
A friend gifted me Rooftoppers to help me remember my time studying at Oxford. This book's rooftops evoke the same magic of the Oxford spires, so eclectic a collection of peaks and slopes, you look at them and know they must harbor life.
In fact, though, Rooftoppers helped me remember much more than Oxford. My mother picked up my copy before I did, and by the time it came to me it had her loving markings, flooding me with memories of hours spent reading together when I was a child. The story brought back the magic of childhood, and reading, to my graduate-school self.
Sophie and her British guardian Charles have the ideal relationship of mutual encouragement and trust, which serves as an example both for creative children and supportive guardians. Charles' mantra to "never ignore a possible" fits well in your pocket for easy-access when you need a hint of hope.
Sophie leads Charles to the need to search for her long-lost mother, and Charles leads Sophie to Paris in pursuit of this goal practically. Charles' respect for creative solutions gives Sophie the confidence to explore the roof-world outside her hotel window, and consider what she and its unusual inhabitants have to offer each other.
Let me say again that hope drives this story, with curiosity as an operative force and love as a blanket.
A friend gifted me Rooftoppers to help me remember my time studying at Oxford. This book's rooftops evoke the same magic of the Oxford spires, so eclectic a collection of peaks and slopes, you look at them and know they must harbor life.
In fact, though, Rooftoppers helped me remember much more than Oxford. My mother picked up my copy before I did, and by the time it came to me it had her loving markings, flooding me with memories of hours spent reading together when I was a child. The story brought back the magic of childhood, and reading, to my graduate-school self.
Sophie and her British guardian Charles have the ideal relationship of mutual encouragement and trust, which serves as an example both for creative children and supportive guardians. Charles' mantra to "never ignore a possible" fits well in your pocket for easy-access when you need a hint of hope.
Sophie leads Charles to the need to search for her long-lost mother, and Charles leads Sophie to Paris in pursuit of this goal practically. Charles' respect for creative solutions gives Sophie the confidence to explore the roof-world outside her hotel window, and consider what she and its unusual inhabitants have to offer each other.
Let me say again that hope drives this story, with curiosity as an operative force and love as a blanket.
fayerreads's review against another edition
4.0
“books crowbar the world open” ❤️❤️
Absolutely magical tale.
Absolutely magical tale.
_matthewdon_'s review
4.0
Flowery, beautiful prose transcends the trappings that comes with a neat little story like this. Sophie is like all good main characters; a bookworm.
laurenhknox's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0