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3.75 AVERAGE
3.75 AVERAGE
I am a sucker for King Arthur stuff. So I had to read this older book.
My thoughts?
This is a pretty standard (and simple) treasure hunt. And the description of how they solved the clues was pretty poor. But its written in the 60s or something, so I can pass it on that. There's a distinct lack of magic and battles and, you know, the typical King Arthur stuff. I get its a kid book but ... for some reason they had Merlin hanging around the family (its pretty obvious from the start its Merlin). Why couldn't one of the kids be, like, magic? Or they're descendants of a knight. Something to explain why Merlin was like "yeah, I'll just watch you kids". Also, Merlin you got tricked way to easily.
Over all, it was kind of flat and stagnant. Not bad at all. It was a pretty good book at times. I more or less enjoyed it. But it's pretty lackluster.
My thoughts?
This is a pretty standard (and simple) treasure hunt. And the description of how they solved the clues was pretty poor. But its written in the 60s or something, so I can pass it on that. There's a distinct lack of magic and battles and, you know, the typical King Arthur stuff. I get its a kid book but ... for some reason they had Merlin hanging around the family (its pretty obvious from the start its Merlin). Why couldn't one of the kids be, like, magic? Or they're descendants of a knight. Something to explain why Merlin was like "yeah, I'll just watch you kids". Also, Merlin you got tricked way to easily.
Over all, it was kind of flat and stagnant. Not bad at all. It was a pretty good book at times. I more or less enjoyed it. But it's pretty lackluster.
Just as good the second time around :). I'm hoping to understand the connection with the rest of the series better on a second pass.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Mon the weans!
I'm pretty sure I read the full sequence as a kid, though I really only remember the titular Dark is Rising. That's the book that brought me back to this adult reread, but I figured I'd start with the first book. I have to say I enjoyed it more than I expected to. Sometimes childhood loves don't hold up well—I'm looking at you, David Eddings!—but in the case of this opening novel to the sequence, it really does. There are strong vibes and a sense that this book knows what it is.
And what is that?
I'd say that England is the vibiest part of the book. I know Cornwall pretty well and have visited Mevagissey, the town on which the setting of this book is based, so I had a good time with the location and scenery. The plot was a straight forward grail quest with kids outwitting the baddies in Scooby-Doo fashion. They really would have got away with it had it not been for those pesky kids! They're of a time, when kids weren't helicoptered as they are now. I can just imagine modern parents' horror as the characters
Character development was thin, with the possible exception of Barney, the youngest of the three siblings. Plot development was fast and also thin, but hey, it's children's literature.
A combination of The Famous Five and The Wicker Man, and great fun too.
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-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
Finally got around to book 1 of The Dark is Rising. I used to own this edition of the books but I actually have a big omnibus of the whole thing now.
I liked this first one pretty well. A good quest-type story. Typical '60s story though, with the kids haring off on crazy (and dangerous) adventures while the parents are completely oblivious.
I liked this first one pretty well. A good quest-type story. Typical '60s story though, with the kids haring off on crazy (and dangerous) adventures while the parents are completely oblivious.
adventurous
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Read this as a child I just finished the audiobook with my daughter. It’s an adventure, definitely in the style of the time that it was written not perfect but still fun
Listened to this with my kids. I think we all enjoyed it. Very British and atmospheric. Sorta dark and creepy and hinting at magic. But not scary.