Inkheart (Inkheart Trilogy)
by Cornelia Funke
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Book Reviews of Inkheart (Inkheart Trilogy)
Book Review: Good book
Summary: 4 Stars
Even though at the moment there are already around 484 customer reviews, I am going to write my own on this book. It is at least 500 pages long, and is worth it. The story's main characters are Mo, the father of his 12 year old daughter, Meggie, who can both read aloud and make things come out of books (the Tin Soldier, Tinkerbell, gold, lizards, etc.). One day when Meggie was only 3, Mo was reading aloud to her and her mom, Teresa, from a book called InkHeart. Teresa goes missing, and in her place, 2 villians, Basta and Capricorn, as well as a fire eater named Dustfinger and his marten, Gwin, end up in their living room, a little shaky from the travel from their book to the real world. All the book characters ask to be read back to their world, but since Mo doesn't even know how they got to his world, he cannot do it, and drives them out of the house. Now, around 9 years later, Dustfinger appears at their door telling them Carpicorn is looking for Mo, and so they journey to Teresa's aunt's home near a lake in Italy, who is passionate for books, and dislikes children. Capricorn's men find Mo, and take him and Inkheart (which he was trying to hide in the home amidst all the other hundreds or thousands of books) away. Meggie is deeply upset, and sets out with her great aunt and Dustfinger to save Mo and give Capricorn the book (which Meggie found her great aunt had replaced with another book in order to read it), but the rescue mission is a failure, as Dustfinger betrayed them because Capricorn told him he would get to go back into the book. I am not going to spoil anymore in the book, for it is too long and good to tell about. 8D I think this is an great book to read if you have lots of time.Book Review: www.freewebs.com/hlgstrider
Summary: 2 Stars
At the beginning of each chapter of Inkheart is a quote from another book. These quotes are probably the best part the book. Now this isn't that harsh of criticism because Ms. Funke is obviously a lover of truly good books. The quotes include excerpts from The Lord of the Rings and Watership Down among other classics and if a book is a Tolkienangelist it has to be a good book, right? Yes and no.
The idea of Inkheart is wonderful, straight from every readers dreams and nightmares. It is the tale of a man who can draw things out of books by reading and who one night accidentally draws out a villain beyond control who haunts him and his daughter to desperation. A promising idea, but as I know from both reading and writing any promising idea (in fact, with writing, most) can fall flat.
Inkheart does and doesn't. For one thing it introduces a cast of wonderful good characters (My favorite being Dustfinger, the flame swallowing trickster), but the bad characters lack interest. The lead villain Capricorn doesn't stand for a greater evil. He is just an under-developed nasty man. Attempts at a back story for him and his henchmen fail miserably. The story starts out fine with the right amount of mystery and clever locations/situations, but the middle twists and drags like a yo-yo that can't quite make it back up the string and while the device used to end the book is clever, it isn't pulled off well. The yo-yo swings limply while the author explains the trick she meant to do in intricate, well thought out detail.
The plot was good, but the writing was merely functional, dressed up in places by truly brilliant short observances about children, books, and life. Wonderful idea. Ok book.
Book Review: This book is perfect for all ages! I LOVED it!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Meggie brushed her fair hair from her face, and looked out her window. It was a late, rainy night and she couldn't sleep. Not even her beloved books could carry her into the world of dreams. Then she saw someone out her window. It seemed to be a young man, maybe 30, standing with his arms crossed in the freezing rain. She thought she saw him look up at her, then away again. It couldn't be a burglar. He would've broken in by now, and who would bother stealing from a simple book-binder and his 12 year-old daughter? Meggie ran from her room, and flew down the hall to tell her father. Little did she know, tonight was the night her life would change forever.
Meggie's father, Mo, is an ordinary bookbinder, who happens to excel in his trade. Or so it seems. Mo has an extraordinary secret; He can read characters straight from their books! Nine years ago, Mo read his wife, and two cats into the book Inkheart. What comes out isn't good at all! Now the evil Capricorn, originally the villain from Inkheart, and his henchman Basta after his incredible abilities, Mo is forced into hiding along with his daughter Meggie.
Dustfinger, the other character to appear from Inkheart's magical pages is merely a fire-eater. Dustfinger arrives on rainy night to warn Mo that Capricorn is on the move once again, and after him. Mo, Meggie, and Dustfinger retreat to Aunt Elinor's house, pretending to be there merely to rebind some of her many books. But they aren't there for long! Mo is taken hostage by Capricorn! What will Meggie do without her beloved father? Will Meggie be able to save him, with the help of Elinor and Dustfinger? Read Cornelia Funke's Inkheart to find out!
Book Review: A must for any book lover
Summary: 4 Stars
Books are a recurring theme throughout this remarkable novel. They are used constantly to serve many purposes - as similies, metaphors, vehicles to advance plot, transitions, character development, almost everything. In fact, this is essentially a novel about books, with a rather thin story line holding this interesting theme together.
There are some very nice touches, such as when a bookbinder's voice coaxes characters out of their fictional story and into reality. I've heard of novels (such as The Neverending Story) where the reverse happens - a reader falls into a book's fantasy universe. The idea of characters appearing in real life is a facinating concept, and Funke presents it very well.
But the plot itself is generally rather weak. I was reminded a little of an Enid Blyton story, with lots of chases, hiding, secret alliances and carefully planned expeditions into forbidden territory. All very mechanical, and nothing really unique. The story also lacks any sense of real malice, with the exception of one scene where a beautiful library is demolished.
Mo is an interesting character, and Meggie is fairly three dimensional, but I found the character of Elinor rather stereotypical and annoying. Her role is often to break tension, unfortunately this prevents any real tension from building up.
Despite these mild flaws, Inkheart is a well-written story - original, facinating, and much better than a lot of other children's literature. I'd recommend it mostly for the younger crowd, adults will be interested in some of the fantasy concepts but not much else. Children, however, should love it.
Book Review: Inkheart is a Truly Fantastic Fantasy Journey
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a book for people who love books--for the characters that these pages vividly bring to life have a great love for the written word. A considerably long tale (534 pages), this is a story that is not meant to be devoured in one sitting. Take the JOURNEY of Inkheart day by day, going along with the lovable characters of Maggie (the brave young protagonist), Mo (her loving father with a strange talent), Dustfinger (a captivating, mysterious character who longs to return to where he came from), Farid (a youthful admirer of Dustfinger), Elinor (an old and cranky yet lovable book collecter), and Fengolio (an author) as they face off against evil characters who are as memorable as them.
The main flaw of this book is the character's physical descriptions, other then the main villian Capricorn who is perfectly described, painting a vivid picture in the reader's head. Most of the other characters appearances are left to the imagination, which is interesting, but leaves the reader with a much fainter picture of their beloved characters in their heads.
Other then that, this book will leave you with a sense of awe and admiration when you close it, undoubtedly with a smile on your face.
I highly recommend this to fans of the Harry Potter series, not because it is a rip-off of it, or not even for those awaiting the seventh installment to "pass the time" with-- it's just Inkheart, like Potter, is beautifully written fantasy that keeps you wondering until the very end.
I'm looking forward to reading Inkspell, along with the yet-to-be-published conclusion to the trilogy.
Pat Shand~