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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Abandonment
Childish and a little immature, the plot is good but drags on occassion. The sarcastic slapstick humour however is worth it. Couldn't stop myself buying the 2nd and 3rd book, though, jut to see where it goes!
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Re-reading it; still really enjoy the humor
I think I overlooked this at the time of release due to surface Harry Potter similarities, but it's actually a really fun, unique read -- a middle grade version of JONATHAN STRANGE AND MR NORREL.
The unlikeability factor was strong in this one, though: even when Bartimaeus was showing signs of a character arc, Nathaniel was insufferable, and it bothered me that the society explicitly called djinni "slaves" and kept them in agonising servitude. The story never really dug into how messed up that was, or if this culture of magical servants impacted Britain's *other* history of slavery. I'm hopeful the other books in the series might address this.
The unlikeability factor was strong in this one, though: even when Bartimaeus was showing signs of a character arc, Nathaniel was insufferable, and it bothered me that the society explicitly called djinni "slaves" and kept them in agonising servitude. The story never really dug into how messed up that was, or if this culture of magical servants impacted Britain's *other* history of slavery. I'm hopeful the other books in the series might address this.
This was just plain fun to read. I loved the snarky Bartimaeus. If I was a djinni, I hope I'd be like him.
adventurous
funny
medium-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
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
I don't regularly reread many books from my childhood, other than a very few notable exceptions I find that most of my favourites are pieces of firmly adult literature. This trilogy is one of the few notable exceptions, in such illustrious company as one random standalone Dutch fantasy novel I adored when I was about 9 (and I still adore despite it being a complete mess of a book), and A Series of Unfortunate Events (which permanently altered my vernacular and taste in literature, and which I have personally immortalised in the form of a tattoo). I think that's it? Illustrious company indeed.
I don't know why I'm even writing this because I don't have many varied or complicated things to say about the Bartimaeus Trilogy. I just love these books. I love them. I enjoy them just as much now as I ever did, and while I'm sure there's a significant nostalgia factor I can't help but feel that they're also just great reads. Nathaniel is a fascinating specimen of a children's novel protagonist, complicated and almost entirely unlikeable (which is to the credit of his character and the book). Bartimaeus is a joy to read, I still think some of his footnotes are genuinely hysterical. The pathos hasn't quite had time to seep into his narration yet so in this first instalment he's almost entirely here for comedy value, but it still works. There's a simplicity to this first novel which makes it a very easy and enjoyable read.
My favourite of these books is the third for many many reasons, I might write a review of that one when I get to it even though nobody needs to or, indeed, will, read a mini essay on the subject. The second is also excellent but due to the necessity of introducing Kitty's focal narrative and the structural requirements thereof, it feels like it gets a bit bogged down with essential but lengthy exposition and slightly suffers as a result. I'm looking forward to rereading it all the same. I doubt I will ever get sick of rereading them.
The tl;dr on my overall feelings about the trilogy are as follows: Nathaniel is the perfect lynchpin for this story, his rise and fall is captivating and hard to look away from. Kitty is a wonderful addition, the overall themes of the narrative would suffer hugely without her and I always look forward to her introduction in book two. But most importantly for me, Bartimaeus places extremely high on my list of favourite characters of all time, in any medium, in any story. These books are genuinely great, the plots are fun, the writing is wonderfully clear and Stroud has the ability to conjure detailed imagery and an incredible sense of place. But I doubt I would feel the pull to reread them every few years if not for Bartimaeus, a perfect character. He's arrogant, funny, stupid, insightful, overconfident, selfish, desperately sad, and furiously loving against his own wishes or better judgement. One of the best characters ever written.
I don't know why I'm even writing this because I don't have many varied or complicated things to say about the Bartimaeus Trilogy. I just love these books. I love them. I enjoy them just as much now as I ever did, and while I'm sure there's a significant nostalgia factor I can't help but feel that they're also just great reads. Nathaniel is a fascinating specimen of a children's novel protagonist, complicated and almost entirely unlikeable (which is to the credit of his character and the book). Bartimaeus is a joy to read, I still think some of his footnotes are genuinely hysterical. The pathos hasn't quite had time to seep into his narration yet so in this first instalment he's almost entirely here for comedy value, but it still works. There's a simplicity to this first novel which makes it a very easy and enjoyable read.
My favourite of these books is the third for many many reasons, I might write a review of that one when I get to it even though nobody needs to or, indeed, will, read a mini essay on the subject. The second is also excellent but due to the necessity of introducing Kitty's focal narrative and the structural requirements thereof, it feels like it gets a bit bogged down with essential but lengthy exposition and slightly suffers as a result. I'm looking forward to rereading it all the same. I doubt I will ever get sick of rereading them.
The tl;dr on my overall feelings about the trilogy are as follows: Nathaniel is the perfect lynchpin for this story, his rise and fall is captivating and hard to look away from. Kitty is a wonderful addition, the overall themes of the narrative would suffer hugely without her and I always look forward to her introduction in book two. But most importantly for me, Bartimaeus places extremely high on my list of favourite characters of all time, in any medium, in any story. These books are genuinely great, the plots are fun, the writing is wonderfully clear and Stroud has the ability to conjure detailed imagery and an incredible sense of place. But I doubt I would feel the pull to reread them every few years if not for Bartimaeus, a perfect character. He's arrogant, funny, stupid, insightful, overconfident, selfish, desperately sad, and furiously loving against his own wishes or better judgement. One of the best characters ever written.