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timinbc's review against another edition
3.0
The author writes in the Acknowledgements that "This book is a love letter to literary analysis," and that's its biggest weakness.
There are now a LOT of books out there about fictional characters being brought to life, Jasper Fforde's being my favourite, so it's a challenging place to go in one's first novel. Maybe only time travel is more challenging.
Parry has a bit of Neal Stephenson's problem, wherein the book contains more research than it needs. In NS's case, nothing goes unused, and at least Parry has been more restrained.
I'm fine with the overall premise, and the idea that the characters are as viewed by the summoner. Millie's good, Holmes is well used, etc. Because of that, it was worth reading overall. Charley's storyline raised it somewhat, and Uriah's motivations were good. And the sequence of small deductions was good.
But ... Rob is a complete dick, and the rest of his family not much better. His relationship with Lydia, such as it is, is so intensely annoying that I almost gave up reading. I kept thinking that maybe NEXT chapter he'll tell her what's going on. They are going to end up in one of those marriages where he wears a suit to breakfast and they barely get to know each other before divorcing at 50.
Also, I appreciate that Parry carefully wrote Charley to be deferential to his brother, because otherwise Charley would have exploded about eight times, kicking Rob in the nuts and screaming, "Will You Shut the %$% Up While I am Trying To Do A Difficult Thing That Will Save Our Lives?"
Near the end we finally have a Confrontation, and it turns into several pages of Dr. No explaining his plot to James Bond while henchpersons look on like statues.
I hate Plucky Girl Characters, but I liked Millie, because she was like Jessica Rabbit, who said, "I can't help it, I'm drawn that way." Overall, their self-awareness of being book characters is good.
And Eric's departure: He's told he has a ferry leaving in 20 minutes, so he gives a long monologue, does some things, and PAGES later meanders over to the ferry, which seems to welcome foot passengers right up to the last second and additionally must have been right across the road.
First novel, so I will excuse all and have a look at #2 to see where this author goes.
There are now a LOT of books out there about fictional characters being brought to life, Jasper Fforde's being my favourite, so it's a challenging place to go in one's first novel. Maybe only time travel is more challenging.
Parry has a bit of Neal Stephenson's problem, wherein the book contains more research than it needs. In NS's case, nothing goes unused, and at least Parry has been more restrained.
I'm fine with the overall premise, and the idea that the characters are as viewed by the summoner. Millie's good, Holmes is well used, etc. Because of that, it was worth reading overall. Charley's storyline raised it somewhat, and Uriah's motivations were good. And the sequence of small deductions was good.
But ... Rob is a complete dick, and the rest of his family not much better. His relationship with Lydia, such as it is, is so intensely annoying that I almost gave up reading. I kept thinking that maybe NEXT chapter he'll tell her what's going on. They are going to end up in one of those marriages where he wears a suit to breakfast and they barely get to know each other before divorcing at 50.
Also, I appreciate that Parry carefully wrote Charley to be deferential to his brother, because otherwise Charley would have exploded about eight times, kicking Rob in the nuts and screaming, "Will You Shut the %$% Up While I am Trying To Do A Difficult Thing That Will Save Our Lives?"
Near the end we finally have a Confrontation, and it turns into several pages of Dr. No explaining his plot to James Bond while henchpersons look on like statues.
I hate Plucky Girl Characters, but I liked Millie, because she was like Jessica Rabbit, who said, "I can't help it, I'm drawn that way." Overall, their self-awareness of being book characters is good.
And Eric's departure: He's told he has a ferry leaving in 20 minutes, so he gives a long monologue, does some things, and PAGES later meanders over to the ferry, which seems to welcome foot passengers right up to the last second and additionally must have been right across the road.
First novel, so I will excuse all and have a look at #2 to see where this author goes.
setiff23's review against another edition
3.0
Written for English Majors, the interesting concept of the story and quips recognized only by fans of literary theory made for a entertaining read. Beyond that, it felt a little hollow. If you think Charles Dickens is the epitome of literary excellence, this is your book. If you struggle with emotionally stunted male leads who treat the people around them like garbage while whining internally about how their hard life is, steer clear. While I, an English Major, might enjoy going back through the story to find treasures left for fans of "The Classics" the length of the book renders this an unlikely scenario.
bluebirdsongs's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
The relationship between the brothers was good, but I didn't think the villain was strong enough, threatening enough, or prominent enough. Also it was obvious who they were from a mile away--the hints were quite blatant and made the reveal predictable.
ckretsche's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
amyingomar's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
bookph1le's review against another edition
1.0
Honestly, I don't know why I didn't just DNF this book. It wasn't at all for me, hence the 1-star rating. If I were a fan of Dickens (never read any of his works), this book would probably have made a lot more sense to me. As it was, I would have liked it more had I felt anything much was happening. There is so much telling in this book, so many scenes of characters having long discussions even in the midst of events that should have made paying any attention to a conversation impossible. I didn't connect with any of the characters. So, yeah, all around it was just not my thing, despite how amazing the premise sounded from the description.
emsemce123's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
There are certain tropes that get me to pick up books. Things that if I know are featured in at least some way in a book I will pick that book up out of curiosity. Underwater cities, time travel, parallel universes and now that I think about it another is the crossover, or 2 characters from different worlds meeting, specifically well known and established fictional characters (i.e. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Sherlock Holmes vs Cthulu, etc.) and another of these tropes is fictional characters coming to the "real world" (i.e. Space Jam, Bill Willingham's Fables, the anime Re:creators) enter the Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep. I didn't know Uriah Heep was a character from Charles Dicken's "David Copperfield" (I've actually never read any Dickens) but in this book, told from the point of view of Robert Sutherland, a lawyer in New Zealand whose brother, Charley, just happens to have the unique ability to bring fictional characters and objects out of the books he reads, sometimes by accident and sometimes on purpose. I'm already hooked by the premise alone, though I kind of had different thoughts on what this was gonna be when I went in, I thought it was about a fictional character knowing he's not real and trying to escape his story. It's not that. True that characters are brought out of their respective stories and they know who they are and what they are and most don't wish to go back; the book is more than that. Charley has vowed to never use his abilities if he can help it but one night he accidentally brings Uriah Heep and calls his brother to help him catch him to prevent him from escaping, only it turns out he's not the only Uriah Heep, meaning Charley is not the only summoner. They soon learn somebody is summoning fictional characters for a reason and is trying to create an entirely new world, regardless of what it means for the real one and that's what this book is about. What I liked: the mystery is good with smaller ones popping up throughout the story and I liked the relationship between Charley and Rob. Stressed and loving at the same time. A small nitpick, and I get it, they're old enough to be public domain I'm assuming, the fictional characters are all from the Victorian Era (not a bad Era at all) or created for this book. I won't spoil any of the surprises but I do want to read the books that the characters who show up are from. You don't have to know the stories but I think it will be more fun if you do. What I didn't like: The characters and objects brought through are the readers (Charley's) interpretation of them, so its never a 1:1 and this allows H.G. Parry nore liberty to tell the story she wanted. It definitely makes sense but dont get too attached of a character doesnt align with how you interpret them. I had a good time with this book but I wanted just a little more and thats my fault for going in expecting one thing and getting another. Now that I've read it and will be reading the books the characters come from, I may reread this in the future and have a better time. So it's fine, not great, but not terrible.
If anyone wad curious what characters popped up and wanted to do some extra reading beforehand: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Tale of Two Cities, and a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, and Matilda by Roald Dahl. I hope that's all of them. Feel free to add some or correct me if I'm wrong.
If anyone wad curious what characters popped up and wanted to do some extra reading beforehand: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte, Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Tale of Two Cities, and a Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, and Matilda by Roald Dahl. I hope that's all of them. Feel free to add some or correct me if I'm wrong.
rynflynn12's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dawnpruyn1023's review against another edition
5.0
I don’t remember when I enjoyed a book as much as this one! So much to love! And nothing dicey to keep me from recommending it to my book-loving fifteen year old daughter. Bonus...it has me excited to read several Dickens novels that I never took the time to read before now. Looking forward to more from this author.
mdumler's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75