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cutlet's review
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
4.25
bexsters's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
radiodarrenfm's review
5.0
Lbbp is a Fnrr’n scientist. He’s fascinated by what he knows as Rrth, but despises the humans that inhabit it. Like a true scientist, however, he’s about to bring home a specimen.
That specimen is the baby that he names Terra, and this is the story of her childhood.
Mitch Benn; talented comedian, masterful songwriter, bloody nice bloke, and now gifted author. It’s just not fair. I have none of these talents, let alone a mastery of all of them.
On the one hand, Terra is a kids book; my 9 year old son has read it, and loved it . On the other hand, it’s hugely enjoyable by all; I read it in the space of a few hours, and am chomping at the bit for part two (out next year). Terra isn’t a perfect book by any means - Benn romps through the story at a fair rate of knots when the action picks up towards the end, and there’s more than a little bit of deus ex machina at times - but it *is* fundamentally a kids book. Kids couldn’t give a shit if things are resolved in a sudden way, as long as they’re resolved in a satisfying way.
And that’s the key to Terra; it’s satisfying.
We find ourselves in a world where authors are only too keen to kill off major characters (Martin and Rowling, I’m glaring at you), which perhaps makes for an emotional reaction, but doesn’t give the reader a sense of justice. Mitch follows a pleasing, familiar, unchallenging route. This sounds a little like a criticism, but it’s really not. Sometimes you want a story that pans out how you’re expecting it to. That’s not to say there aren’t peril and hiccups along the way though. Not everything is hunky dory on Fnrr.
As a kids book, Terra is a roaring success. It teaches kids that it’s ok to feel different, that however you may be on the outside, inside we’re all the same. To an adult, that may feel like a preachy lesson, because we take it for granted. Kids aren’t blessed with that knowledge, so have to learn it from somewhere. Crucially, despite being different from her classmates, Terra is popular. You have no idea how important this sense of self-esteem is to kids. Mitch doesn’t treat kids as stupid either. He’s got two young daughters, he knows how bloody sharp they are, so he’s written this accordingly. Fnrr has a clock based on colour shades, he doesn’t take the time to explain how it works, he lets the reader figure it out, adding to that feeling of satisfaction.
Above all, the feeling I got from Terra is that Mitch Benn loves people. Yes, we’re flawed in so many ways, and yes, we’re more than a little bit stupid, but deep down we’re good people. We’ll get there in the end.
Terra is a worthwhile addition to your collection, whether you have kids or not. Pick up a copy and escape to Fnrr, you won’t regret it.
Do yourself a favour and get Terra from your local, independent book shop.
That specimen is the baby that he names Terra, and this is the story of her childhood.
Mitch Benn; talented comedian, masterful songwriter, bloody nice bloke, and now gifted author. It’s just not fair. I have none of these talents, let alone a mastery of all of them.
On the one hand, Terra is a kids book; my 9 year old son has read it, and loved it . On the other hand, it’s hugely enjoyable by all; I read it in the space of a few hours, and am chomping at the bit for part two (out next year). Terra isn’t a perfect book by any means - Benn romps through the story at a fair rate of knots when the action picks up towards the end, and there’s more than a little bit of deus ex machina at times - but it *is* fundamentally a kids book. Kids couldn’t give a shit if things are resolved in a sudden way, as long as they’re resolved in a satisfying way.
And that’s the key to Terra; it’s satisfying.
We find ourselves in a world where authors are only too keen to kill off major characters (Martin and Rowling, I’m glaring at you), which perhaps makes for an emotional reaction, but doesn’t give the reader a sense of justice. Mitch follows a pleasing, familiar, unchallenging route. This sounds a little like a criticism, but it’s really not. Sometimes you want a story that pans out how you’re expecting it to. That’s not to say there aren’t peril and hiccups along the way though. Not everything is hunky dory on Fnrr.
As a kids book, Terra is a roaring success. It teaches kids that it’s ok to feel different, that however you may be on the outside, inside we’re all the same. To an adult, that may feel like a preachy lesson, because we take it for granted. Kids aren’t blessed with that knowledge, so have to learn it from somewhere. Crucially, despite being different from her classmates, Terra is popular. You have no idea how important this sense of self-esteem is to kids. Mitch doesn’t treat kids as stupid either. He’s got two young daughters, he knows how bloody sharp they are, so he’s written this accordingly. Fnrr has a clock based on colour shades, he doesn’t take the time to explain how it works, he lets the reader figure it out, adding to that feeling of satisfaction.
Above all, the feeling I got from Terra is that Mitch Benn loves people. Yes, we’re flawed in so many ways, and yes, we’re more than a little bit stupid, but deep down we’re good people. We’ll get there in the end.
Terra is a worthwhile addition to your collection, whether you have kids or not. Pick up a copy and escape to Fnrr, you won’t regret it.
Do yourself a favour and get Terra from your local, independent book shop.
una_10bananas's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
karlou's review
5.0
I was hopeful that I'd enjoy Terra by Mitch Benn. I'm not a true sci-fi nerd but I'd rather read HG Wells than Charles Dickens and prefer Verne to Hardy plus I know Mitch is a fellow Doctor Who fan and that alone suggested Terra would be a book I'd like! I was therefore delighted to be lucky enough to win my copy of the book through a giveaway on Winged Reviews, thanks to the generosity of the publishers, Gollancz.
The book tells the story of the eponymous Terra, an Earth girl brought up on the planet Fnrr by Lbbp, a scientist who believes he'd rescued the baby after she'd been abandoned by her parents. The inhabitants of Fnrr don't use many vowels in their language. Lbbp lives in the country of Mlml, Earth is Rrth and humans are Ymns. Whilst I'm not sure I'd want to read the story aloud to an audience, it wasn't actually as distracting as I thought I'd find it not really knowing how many of the words are pronounced.
In many ways Terra covers familiar ground. Terra herself is the girl who doesn't quite fit in at High School, her friends include a swot and a shy nerd. Lppb is the kind but over-protective father figure. The aliens are technologically advanced, they have studied Rrth and see Ymns as rather primitive, ridiculing and fearing them. There is an alien invasion, bloodshed, unexpected bravery and redemption.
Thankfully despite the familiarity Terra never feels stale.It's tense and dark but also witty, charming and very moving. Yes it's a story about aliens but it's also a very human story about families and love. I was left wanting more of this captivating world and had the feeling a sequel may be in the offing. Thankfully Mitch confirmed this is the case, the next book is planned for release next summer.
I am very much looking forward to catching up with Terra, Lbbp and friends then.
The book tells the story of the eponymous Terra, an Earth girl brought up on the planet Fnrr by Lbbp, a scientist who believes he'd rescued the baby after she'd been abandoned by her parents. The inhabitants of Fnrr don't use many vowels in their language. Lbbp lives in the country of Mlml, Earth is Rrth and humans are Ymns. Whilst I'm not sure I'd want to read the story aloud to an audience, it wasn't actually as distracting as I thought I'd find it not really knowing how many of the words are pronounced.
In many ways Terra covers familiar ground. Terra herself is the girl who doesn't quite fit in at High School, her friends include a swot and a shy nerd. Lppb is the kind but over-protective father figure. The aliens are technologically advanced, they have studied Rrth and see Ymns as rather primitive, ridiculing and fearing them. There is an alien invasion, bloodshed, unexpected bravery and redemption.
Thankfully despite the familiarity Terra never feels stale.It's tense and dark but also witty, charming and very moving. Yes it's a story about aliens but it's also a very human story about families and love. I was left wanting more of this captivating world and had the feeling a sequel may be in the offing. Thankfully Mitch confirmed this is the case, the next book is planned for release next summer.
I am very much looking forward to catching up with Terra, Lbbp and friends then.
bookdancing's review
4.0
4.5 actually...
http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/index.php?title=Terra_by_Mitch_Benn
http://www.thebookbag.co.uk/reviews/index.php?title=Terra_by_Mitch_Benn
jaxcatx's review
4.0
i fucking cried like a goddamn baby at the end of this book. in public. sitting on the floor in Robarts.
just tears streaming down my damn face.
that being said, the story itself was ...okay...cliche at moments but it's hard not to be and the resolution of the conflict was...quickly over to say the least. There were a few moments where I teared up, Vstj was one of them. I LOL'ed a few times too, that's always a plus.
I look forward to reading Benn's next work.
just tears streaming down my damn face.
that being said, the story itself was ...okay...cliche at moments but it's hard not to be and the resolution of the conflict was...quickly over to say the least. There were a few moments where I teared up, Vstj was one of them. I LOL'ed a few times too, that's always a plus.
I look forward to reading Benn's next work.