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raven_oak's review against another edition
2.0
I love Labyrinth, truly, but I feel like this novelization leaves a lot to be desired.
It felt like someone stripped the language and the feel out of the movie and gave us a retelling without character. The flow is choppy and the word choice toned down for maybe much younger readers.
I really wanted to enjoy this and couldn't.
(More on that here.)
It felt like someone stripped the language and the feel out of the movie and gave us a retelling without character. The flow is choppy and the word choice toned down for maybe much younger readers.
I really wanted to enjoy this and couldn't.
(More on that here.)
dasrach's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
fast-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
arwoomer's review against another edition
4.0
If you are a fan of the film, Labyrinth, I would recommend reading it. While it is basically the film in print with little information added (unlike The Dark Crystal which has tons of outside information, names, back stories, etc.) it is worth the read for nothing else except the ballroom scene. It offers more detail and you get a bit of insight into the thoughts of both Sarah and Jareth. It begins to touch on what the film could have been had it not been given the tragic rating of PG.
oakandblackthorn's review against another edition
5.0
My love for Labyrinth (and, by extension, all things Jareth) knows no bounds.
leafy_leaf_657's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
graylodge_library's review
3.0
The movie has a special place in my heart. There was a time in my childhood when there was still cool stuff on TV, and one afternoon I noticed an interesting movie in the schedule. What I saw stayed with me forever. My mom had just baked buns topped with butter, so while I was gobbling up about a seven of those and drinking cold cocoa, I was completely sucked into this odd world of puppet trolls and a strange Goblin king with a seductive voice.
Rewind to year 2016, when the news of David Bowie's death flooded over me like a tidal wave. I decided to slowly go through a list of his favorite books as a tribute to him and to learn more about who he was. Then I found out there's a novelization of Labyrinth. When I read E.T., I realized novelizations of movies can be good, too. In the best case scenario they can deepen the world and make you understand the characters a bit better (plus, reading E.T. meant I didn't have to suffer through the sentimental style of Spielberg).
Labyrinth, while not being bad, wasn't that special either. I think it just comes down to the world working better in visual form and with the songs. A nice read overall, but I'd rather watch the movie for the umpteenth time. Maybe this would work better if you haven't seen the movie first?
Rewind to year 2016, when the news of David Bowie's death flooded over me like a tidal wave. I decided to slowly go through a list of his favorite books as a tribute to him and to learn more about who he was. Then I found out there's a novelization of Labyrinth. When I read E.T., I realized novelizations of movies can be good, too. In the best case scenario they can deepen the world and make you understand the characters a bit better (plus, reading E.T. meant I didn't have to suffer through the sentimental style of Spielberg).
Labyrinth, while not being bad, wasn't that special either. I think it just comes down to the world working better in visual form and with the songs. A nice read overall, but I'd rather watch the movie for the umpteenth time. Maybe this would work better if you haven't seen the movie first?
jane_inkheart's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
hollyread0626's review against another edition
5.0
I've loved Labyrinth since I was little. It was and remains one of my all time favorite movies. This book did not disappoint! Seriously...if I could give it more than five stars I would.
Quotes:
"Nobody saw the owl, white in the moonlight, black against the stars, nobody heard him as he glided over on wings of velvet. The owl saw and heard everything."
"Listen!" said a goblin, one eye opened.
All around him, on top of him, beneath him, the nest of goblins stirred sleepily. Another eye opened, and another, and another, all crazed eyes, red and staring. Some of the goblins had horns, and some had pointed teeth, some had fingers like claws; some were dressed in scraps of armor, a helmet, a gorget, but all of them had scaly feet, and all had baleful eyes. Higgledy-piggledy in a heap they slept, in their dirty chamber at the castle of the Goblin King. Their eyes went on opening, and their ears pricked up.
Quotes:
"Nobody saw the owl, white in the moonlight, black against the stars, nobody heard him as he glided over on wings of velvet. The owl saw and heard everything."
"Listen!" said a goblin, one eye opened.
All around him, on top of him, beneath him, the nest of goblins stirred sleepily. Another eye opened, and another, and another, all crazed eyes, red and staring. Some of the goblins had horns, and some had pointed teeth, some had fingers like claws; some were dressed in scraps of armor, a helmet, a gorget, but all of them had scaly feet, and all had baleful eyes. Higgledy-piggledy in a heap they slept, in their dirty chamber at the castle of the Goblin King. Their eyes went on opening, and their ears pricked up.