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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-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
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-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
Als Teenie geliebt und jetzt immer noch gut ❤️
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have ordered and been waiting for the trilogy in German, but in an impulsive and bored move borrowed the English translation from the library. I think I'll review it after I have read the German. So far, though, I think that I like it.
___________________________________________
First some thoughts on the translation, then the rest of the review and rating will focus exclusively on my opinion of the English version. German was one of my majors, and I do enjoy reading books in German and listening to German music. I don't, however, really consider myself to be truly proficient -- I'm willing to muddle through the hard parts with only partial understanding. Therefore, I am completely willing to assume many of the differences between the English and German editions are entirely due to my faulty comprehension of the original German and not a testament to Anthea Bell's translating abilities. Bell did an excellent job of maintaining the overall feeling of the book(s). It is still light, fun, and fast-paced. However, I felt like Gwen read a little younger in the English version than the German, making the English version appeal to a slightly younger audience. Additionally, the chauvinism (which was an important though unappealing aspect to many of the male characters' personalities) felt like it was somehow both more pervasive and considered more acceptable in the English version than the original. It made Gideon, especially, a less interesting character to me. I also felt the foreshadowing was slightly more heavy handed, making some of the mysterious aspects a bit more predictable. (Of course, that could also be a result of already knowing what was coming as a reader.) Finally, what, precisely, is so wholly German about the name Gwendolyn that requires it be changed to Gwyneth for English readers to understand? (Oh, yeah, and the German covers are MUCH better!)
Differences in translation aside, I think much of what made Gier's story so successful still shine through in the English version. It has action, adventure, romance, and mystery. The plot moves quickly along, and even if the destination is occasionally predictable, the journey is enjoyable. I like Gwen for many of the same reasons I like Percy Jackson -- Gwen is an average girl. She is smart without being exceptional. She is attractive without causing every male in the vicinity to fall madly in love with her. She has a healthy self image, has friends, and knows how to have fun. She has a loving, supportive and present family. She is wonderfully normal and, therefore, infinitely more relatable to the average reader than many paranormal leads. Gwen has her moments of failing to see things right in front of her (they all do, really), and she makes a few really stupid choices. However, she never crosses the line into the too-stupid-to-live category. (And there is always another character there to call her on it.)
I don't think that Ruby Red is an exceptional or revolutionary book, but I do think it is one of a type of book that is essential. It is accessible, relatable, fun, quick and interesting. It is just the book to bring in reluctant readers, and a fast bit of fluff for heavy readers. It doesn't ask anything of you, but leaves you entertained. My one major complaint is that this is not a trilogy where each part has a nicely tied-up story arc. Each book leaves you dangling from a great precipice, waiting for the next!
3.5 of 5 stars
Blogged at Chronicles of a Book Evangelist.
___________________________________________
First some thoughts on the translation, then the rest of the review and rating will focus exclusively on my opinion of the English version. German was one of my majors, and I do enjoy reading books in German and listening to German music. I don't, however, really consider myself to be truly proficient -- I'm willing to muddle through the hard parts with only partial understanding. Therefore, I am completely willing to assume many of the differences between the English and German editions are entirely due to my faulty comprehension of the original German and not a testament to Anthea Bell's translating abilities. Bell did an excellent job of maintaining the overall feeling of the book(s). It is still light, fun, and fast-paced. However, I felt like Gwen read a little younger in the English version than the German, making the English version appeal to a slightly younger audience. Additionally, the chauvinism (which was an important though unappealing aspect to many of the male characters' personalities) felt like it was somehow both more pervasive and considered more acceptable in the English version than the original. It made Gideon, especially, a less interesting character to me. I also felt the foreshadowing was slightly more heavy handed, making some of the mysterious aspects a bit more predictable. (Of course, that could also be a result of already knowing what was coming as a reader.) Finally, what, precisely, is so wholly German about the name Gwendolyn that requires it be changed to Gwyneth for English readers to understand? (Oh, yeah, and the German covers are MUCH better!)
Differences in translation aside, I think much of what made Gier's story so successful still shine through in the English version. It has action, adventure, romance, and mystery. The plot moves quickly along, and even if the destination is occasionally predictable, the journey is enjoyable. I like Gwen for many of the same reasons I like Percy Jackson -- Gwen is an average girl. She is smart without being exceptional. She is attractive without causing every male in the vicinity to fall madly in love with her. She has a healthy self image, has friends, and knows how to have fun. She has a loving, supportive and present family. She is wonderfully normal and, therefore, infinitely more relatable to the average reader than many paranormal leads. Gwen has her moments of failing to see things right in front of her (they all do, really), and she makes a few really stupid choices. However, she never crosses the line into the too-stupid-to-live category. (And there is always another character there to call her on it.)
I don't think that Ruby Red is an exceptional or revolutionary book, but I do think it is one of a type of book that is essential. It is accessible, relatable, fun, quick and interesting. It is just the book to bring in reluctant readers, and a fast bit of fluff for heavy readers. It doesn't ask anything of you, but leaves you entertained. My one major complaint is that this is not a trilogy where each part has a nicely tied-up story arc. Each book leaves you dangling from a great precipice, waiting for the next!
3.5 of 5 stars
Blogged at Chronicles of a Book Evangelist.
adventurous
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
5 ☆'s
I just love this series. It reminds me of being a young reader and reading this series for the first time. It is definitely a YA trilogy and rereading made me realize how young the characters are/feel. Still, I love the time travel, secrets, and gemstones. Kerstin Gier is just an amazing fantasy author and I love the books she writes. I love how awkward and real Gwendolyn is and really shows how it would be to be thrown into the world of time travel.
Spoilers:
Kinda crazy no one was like huh she might have inherited the gene since shes seen ghosts and such since a child but yk its the whole point so ill let it slideeee. anywaysss I LOVE this book sm. its such a fun and cute read.
I just love this series. It reminds me of being a young reader and reading this series for the first time. It is definitely a YA trilogy and rereading made me realize how young the characters are/feel. Still, I love the time travel, secrets, and gemstones. Kerstin Gier is just an amazing fantasy author and I love the books she writes. I love how awkward and real Gwendolyn is and really shows how it would be to be thrown into the world of time travel.
Spoilers:
Kinda crazy no one was like huh she might have inherited the gene since shes seen ghosts and such since a child but yk its the whole point so ill let it slideeee. anywaysss I LOVE this book sm. its such a fun and cute read.
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No