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4.46 AVERAGE
4.46 AVERAGE
These may not appeal to everyone, but I liked the clever, sardonic voice they're written in. They're set in a world where magic, being real, is inevitably entangled in politics and class.
The series starts out thus: a small boy with a knack for secretly mastering difficult spells finds he's summoned an ancient djinni who must follow his every command, much to the djinni's dismay and annoyance.
The use of footnotes for sarcastic asides amuses me.
The series starts out thus: a small boy with a knack for secretly mastering difficult spells finds he's summoned an ancient djinni who must follow his every command, much to the djinni's dismay and annoyance.
The use of footnotes for sarcastic asides amuses me.
adventurous
funny
fast-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
The Amulet of Samarkand is of the better books I've read so far this year. Oddly enough, the most compelling character might just be the demon/djinni Bartimaeus rather than Nathaniel, the hotheaded young magician who summons him. Stroud likes to use footnotes as a conduit for humor. Sue Townsend and Jasper Fforde jump to mind as authors that make excellent use of this device, but it's something that can easily be overdone or come off as trying too hard. Stroud strikes just the right note, and somehow never lets this interrupt the flow of the suspenseful adventure that unfolds.
One of my all-time favourite. How it is not more popular, I cannot understand. The three books are one of the rare occurrence in a book series - a coherent, well-thought out storyline. The books can stand on their own but together they are a single story. I can read this over and over again and never tire of it. Such beautiful world building and such strong characters. This is up there on the best book series ever written.
adventurous
funny
fast-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
Very funny British wizard fantasy series for kids. Bartimaeus is a 5000-year-old djinni called up by young Nathaniel. Djinni are powerful ancient spirits that are enslaved my magicians to do their bidding. This particular djinni has a wickedly sarcastic tongue. I also liked how the narrator-perspective rotates among the main characters.
In un mondo dominato dai maghi, con i comuni che devono adeguarsi alle loro regole - dove la corruzione regna sovrana, e tutti vogliono solo potere e potere a palate, Nathaniel non è da meno: inizia la sua carriera da mago evocando un demone, Bartimeus, con il solo scopo di vendicarsi.
Non pensate solo a Harry Potter, sarebbe riduttivo. Metteteci un po' di Oliver Twist, la Londra marcia e con pochi "buoni". Togliete la definizione classica di buono e cattivo, e avrete questa saga.
I primi due libri sono carini, in un lento crescendo. Alla fine de L'occhio del golem mi ero detto: ok, a questo punto o migliora da paura o rimane sullo stesso livello.
È migliorato da paura.
È la storia di un mago, di una comune e di un jinn, di persone e spiriti con un loro percorso, delle scelte da fare, quel genere di scelte che fanno di te un eroe o un vigliacco.
È un mondo terribilmente reale. Ma alla fine tutti scelgono, si riscattano, arrivano alla fine del loro percorso, e decidono chi vogliono essere.
Non pensate solo a Harry Potter, sarebbe riduttivo. Metteteci un po' di Oliver Twist, la Londra marcia e con pochi "buoni". Togliete la definizione classica di buono e cattivo, e avrete questa saga.
I primi due libri sono carini, in un lento crescendo. Alla fine de L'occhio del golem mi ero detto: ok, a questo punto o migliora da paura o rimane sullo stesso livello.
È migliorato da paura.
È la storia di un mago, di una comune e di un jinn, di persone e spiriti con un loro percorso, delle scelte da fare, quel genere di scelte che fanno di te un eroe o un vigliacco.
È un mondo terribilmente reale. Ma alla fine tutti scelgono, si riscattano, arrivano alla fine del loro percorso, e decidono chi vogliono essere.
Intended for kids, but a step up from Harry Potter in mature-reading-level. The world view is a bit more dark and real, the themes a bit more political---the black-and-white is greyer. And Bartimaeus is a fantastic (in all senses) character and first-person voice.
adventurous
funny
hopeful
fast-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
I never thought I would like this trilogy so much. I first found Bartimaeus Trilogy in a library when I was still in high school and was not very interested but still decided to borrow the first book anyway. And turned out that it was one of the best decision I've made in my entire life.
Seriously. As a young girl who had grown up with Harry Potter, my view was generally black-and-white like there were only two characters in world, the heroes and the villains. But reading this book changed it all. All the main characters are fascinating because they all have the bad sides along with the good sides. They have flaws and so is everyone in real life. Everyone can be a hero and a villain at the same time and although bad is bad, it is just... normal. How Stroud built the characters with all those things in his book really opened my eyes. Not to mention the power struggles. The sarcastic and amusing conversations. The historical details. In short, this title is definitely a complete package.
Seriously. As a young girl who had grown up with Harry Potter, my view was generally black-and-white like there were only two characters in world, the heroes and the villains. But reading this book changed it all. All the main characters are fascinating because they all have the bad sides along with the good sides. They have flaws and so is everyone in real life. Everyone can be a hero and a villain at the same time and although bad is bad, it is just... normal. How Stroud built the characters with all those things in his book really opened my eyes. Not to mention the power struggles. The sarcastic and amusing conversations. The historical details. In short, this title is definitely a complete package.