Inkheart (Inkheart Trilogy)
by Cornelia Funke
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Book Reviews of Inkheart (Inkheart Trilogy)
Book Review: Inkheart... could have been a great fantasy read... but
Summary: 3 Stars
I was disappointed in this effort.
OK, to be fair, it said "scholastic" on the front cover of the book and although I'd warning bells going off in my head, I figured with the glowing reports on the initial inside page, in addition to the number of great young adult fantasy coming out of late (i.e. Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl, Bartimaeus etc.) that this one would be a winner. Unfortunately this is not the case... Let me explain.
The pros:
The book has an enticing cover, an intriguing beginning, and a very good ending; it also has a great concept in the way the book "Inkheart" was used in the story as the central force behind the plot. So far so good, however...
The cons:
However, the novel was decidedly disappointing throughout the middle section. The characters were frustrating; their actions and decision repeatedly bringing them into harms way that even a simpleton would have recognized and avoided. Also, I'm still trying to figure out what the real role Elinor had in this book; maybe she's intended to be a source of comic relief. Except she's not funny and again like so much of the middle portion of this book, does things that continually jeopardizes the entire group as they muddle on towards the end. Another example is "Tinkerbell" (from Peter Pan), introduced about 2/3 the way through the book, mentioned several times, but had absolutely nothing to do with any of the characters or the storyline. Strange!
This book had such promise; but the weakly developed and totally forgettable main characters, (in addition to the erroneous thinking and actions on the part of our "heros"), continually left me cringing at their shortcomings.
All in all, this book would appeal to the older child or young adult; anyone that is a true adult fantasy lover, would have difficulty being pleased with this effort. The pity of it all is that this book was so close to being a great fantasy read.
Book Review: INKHEART Book Review
Summary: 5 Stars
INKHEART
Have you ever read a book that you wanted to just seep right through the words and felt like you could? Have you ever been able to taste the excitement and feel the danger? Have you ever wanted to take a break from the real world? Well, in Inkheart you can! Cornelia Funke has a way with words that will sway you into the story and teach you to love and live as if there was no tomorrow. Her stories will take you on a journey you won't soon forget!
The characters seem like they are real living, breathing people. Mo is a book binder with a mysteriously magical voice. Meggie is Mo's daughter, and has a knack for trouble. Dustfinger is a fire eater, he can make fire dance among many other ticks. Fraid is trying to learn from Dustfinger and has taken a liking to Meggie, and Elinor is a book collector who is very strict. All of these characters thrown together make this an interesting story.
Inkheart's over all theme is survival. Meggie gets herself and Mo into trouble when she defies Mo's rules. Meggie also puts herself into a lot of danger. Dustfinger and Fraid have to survive in this world and stay away from Capricorn, and Mo moves a lot to keep Meggie safe.
The setting of the book is totally believable. I think that it it's a great setting because it ties this book to the real world. Even with all the fantasy in this book you can still believe it's really happening. It's one of the greatest settings in any book of all time.
Finally, this book is great for any one, of any age, of any size! Young and old! Have it read to you, read it to someone else, or just read it to yourself! The characters are so life like that you can put yourself in their place. The setting will take you to the rolling hills of Italy. You'll also see how the charters survive the trouble that comes there way. This book will take you into the inkworld for awhile and tell the wonderful story of ~Inkheart~
Book Review: Magic to Reality, Not a Very Good Mix
Summary: 3 Stars
I did not really like the book Inkheart. I didn't because it kind of went to fast from magic to reality, I mean when Mo (the father) is reading stuff out of books (which I really like), while Capricorn (the bad guy) and his followers are using guns. (I think that they should have used swords since they are more magical.) Well, anyway, lets get on with the whole thing! I am getting old here!
The book is about a little girl named Maggie and her dad Mo. Maggie's mother mysteriously disappeared after Maggie was born.
Then one night an old friend of Mo's, Dustfinger, comes and warns Mo of something. (It turns out that Mo is such a good reader that he can literally read things in and out of books. He read Dustfinger and a villain named Capricorn out of the same book that Maggie's mom got read into.)(That is how she dissapeared.) The next morning Maggie and Mo have to abandon their house and flee with Dustfinger over to Maggie's great-aunt's house to escape Capricorn who wants Mo to read him treasures out of other books. A few days after they get to Maggie's great-aunts house, they get ambushed by Capricorn's followers and Mo gets captured!
I liked the book less than I think I would have and stopped reading it three quarters of the way through. I might start reading it again but that doesn't mean that you won't like it. It's just not my taste. I love Fantasy though and I have some good recomedations. Here they are...
Eragon (By Christopher Paolini), Drift House (By Dale Peck), The Lightning Theif (By Rick Riordan), The Underland Chronicles (By Susanne Collins), East (By Edith Pattou) and The Lord of the Ring Trilogy (By J.R.R. Tolkien). These are really good books that I highly recommend but most of them are more than three-hundred pages!
Happy Reading!!!
Book Review: A Book for Bibliophiles
Summary: 5 Stars
Years ago, my mom bought me a copy of Cornelia Funke's THE THIEF LORD. Maybe I was too young, or maybe it wouldn't appeal to me even now, but for whatever reason I decided Funke just wasn't for me.
But Inkheart's cover and description were irresistible. How could I NOT buy it?
I'm glad I did. Because this book, from the plot to the characters to the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, is a book for book lovers. It's a story about a man with an extraodinary talent -- he can read objects and even characters out of books -- and it's about his daughter, Meggie (though what twelve-year-old would honestly still go by "Meggie" and not "Meg" or "Megan" is beyond me) who finds herself swept into the dangerous legacy of it all.
Because years ago, when her father was reading a book to her mother, something strange happened. Meggie's mother disappeared. And in her place were a host of dangerous and mysterious characters -- characters from the book Inkheart. Capricorn, a deadly villain who is just as ready to wreak havoc in Meggie's world as in his own; Basta, Capricorn's faithful crony; and Dustfinger the fire-lover are all in the wrong story now. And while Capricorn and Basta are quite content to stay in Meggie's story, Dustfinger will do almost anything to get back to his own. Even if his story does not have a happy ending.
Enter into the story Fenoglio, Inkheart's author, and Elinor, Meggie's book-collector/book fanatic aunt, not to mention a whole lot of danger. Capricorn wants Meggie's father, or rather, he wants his abilities, and in a world where words are deadlier than swords, Meggie has to find a way -- with Fenoglio's help -- to make sure their story ends well.
Highly recommended.
Rating: Very Good
Book Review: Lots of words - little action
Summary: 2 Stars
If you consider my reviews, you'll see that I am a picky reader, and it is very difficult for me to find a book that I thoroughly enjoy. I know there are a lot of you out there that can chug through a book like this like a Lincoln Navigator through gasoline, and be finished quickly, and looking for more. That's not the kind of reader I am.
I cannot give as much praise to Inkheart as I had hoped when I began to read. Two stars is a little low, but I could not go with 3. I'd say a 2.5.
It is obvious that the author has a love for words and stories, and I can appreciate that. But half way through this 500 page kids book, which I think goes on to multiple sequels, I just could not justify spending my time getting through the rest of the book.
I purchased the book for my 10-year old daughter and thought I'd give it a read for myself, as I was looking for a new book to read, this looked interesting, had good reviews, etc. etc. and it would be good for me to know what my daughter would be reading.
The problem for me was that it was just too long. Too many words, and very little actually taking place. I didn't care for the characters names, their behavior was sometimes puzzling, and some characters were discussed for which I really didn't care to learn anything about, such as Fengolios grandchildren. I also thought the use of quotes at the beginning of every chapter was too, too much. Okay, the author is well versed in literature - we get it. Does there need to be a quote for every chapter? This disrupted the flow of story for me.
I gave the book back to my daughter. She is through four chapters and is not impressed.
S. A. Davis.