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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
An interesting plot, but the character is unlikable. All his problems are because of his own arrogance and stupidity
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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:
Complicated
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
I first read this book when it was translated into Spanish, and then I read the full series several times after that. It was one of my favourite books growing up. I was only slightly apprehensive that it wouldn't have aged well, but I am pleasantly surprised.
Unlike other books about a 12-year-old wizard trying to defeat an evil wizard, this book has nuance and it actually addresses the systemic issues of having a totalitarian government of powerful wizards whose only source of power is literally enslaving magical beings. Would you look at that, it can be done! And not a single fat-phobic comment in sight! Amazing.
Even more interesting is that Nathaniel is not a saint. He's been abandoned and abused, but he's a kid who's very impressed with himself, and he truly believes that being a wizard makes him better than the "commoners". And when you're 12, that's a perfectly normal thing to believe if that's what you've been told your entire life. Would you believe there's room for personal growth and the protagonist isn't perfect from the beginning?
I'm starting the second book right now, and I can't wait to get to the prequel that I never got to read when it first came out.
Unlike other books about a 12-year-old wizard trying to defeat an evil wizard, this book has nuance and it actually addresses the systemic issues of having a totalitarian government of powerful wizards whose only source of power is literally enslaving magical beings. Would you look at that, it can be done! And not a single fat-phobic comment in sight! Amazing.
Even more interesting is that Nathaniel is not a saint. He's been abandoned and abused, but he's a kid who's very impressed with himself, and he truly believes that being a wizard makes him better than the "commoners". And when you're 12, that's a perfectly normal thing to believe if that's what you've been told your entire life. Would you believe there's room for personal growth and the protagonist isn't perfect from the beginning?
I'm starting the second book right now, and I can't wait to get to the prequel that I never got to read when it first came out.
I remember enjoying reading this when it first came out and wanted to revisit it after reading the author's next two series. It pales a little in comparison to Lockwood & Co and Scarlett & Browne but that only shows how much Stroud has developed as a writer.
I enjoyed Bartimaeus and his foot notes. Nathaniel wasn't as likeable but he did have a difficult upbringing so it's perhaps unsurprising that he behaves the way he does. The world seems a miserable place with the wizards in charge so it wasn't somewhere I wanted to imagine being transported to. But the writing still drew me in and I felt for the characters. It was a little disappointing that there wasn't much resolution at the end of a pretty lengthy book. But I am intrigued enough by Kitty that I shall likely continue with the series.
I enjoyed Bartimaeus and his foot notes. Nathaniel wasn't as likeable but he did have a difficult upbringing so it's perhaps unsurprising that he behaves the way he does. The world seems a miserable place with the wizards in charge so it wasn't somewhere I wanted to imagine being transported to. But the writing still drew me in and I felt for the characters. It was a little disappointing that there wasn't much resolution at the end of a pretty lengthy book. But I am intrigued enough by Kitty that I shall likely continue with the series.
I first met Bartimaeus when I was in sixth grade. I loved him then and I love him now, well over a decade later. I can normally tell you exactly how many times I've read a book because I don't re-read books often. His trilogy and its prequel are the rare exceptions to that rule. They're some of my all-time favorite pieces of literature and I recommend them to anyone who enjoys magic and sarcastic humor.
But what is The Amulet of Samarkand actually about?
The book is set in a modern London, but in a world where magic is real and history has been altered by its existence. This changed past doesn't play a huge role in the story, but it does mean that many minor details are different from what you'd expect. For example, the government isn't decided upon via elections. Instead, the magicians control all and decide who will take what role.
While the magicians might have great social and political power, the real source of their strength is not magic that they personally wield. Instead, magicians only have the ability to summon spirits from another world (demons), who are then forced to do whatever their summoner commands. Into this world comes Nathaniel - a magician's apprentice - and Bartimaeus, a five-thousand year old djinni. This is the story of a young child's idealistic and biased view of the world being put up against the view of a sarcastic and tired of a five-thousand year old slave. It makes for a gripping, hilarious, and thought-provoking tale that I've yet to grow tired of.
The thing that I love most about this series is how differently it reads depending upon your age. When I first read it as a kid, I fell in love with the humor and the characters. As a teenager, I fell in love with the story telling. As an adult, I was thoroughly impressed by the lore and how well Stroud handles complex topics like slavery and governmental corruption. These two elements are a central part of the narrative, but the book just presents things as they are and leaves you to reach your own conclusions. It's never preachy.
It's also worth noting that, while each Bartimaeus book is functionally a standalone story, Stroud does a fantastic job of weaving in elements that will come back in later stories. This makes rereads of the series just as fun as the initial read because, on those rereads, you can now spot everything that will come back down the line. The first time I reread this series, I was blown away by how good this subtle setup was and I still appreciate it to this day.
But what is The Amulet of Samarkand actually about?
The book is set in a modern London, but in a world where magic is real and history has been altered by its existence. This changed past doesn't play a huge role in the story, but it does mean that many minor details are different from what you'd expect. For example, the government isn't decided upon via elections. Instead, the magicians control all and decide who will take what role.
While the magicians might have great social and political power, the real source of their strength is not magic that they personally wield. Instead, magicians only have the ability to summon spirits from another world (demons), who are then forced to do whatever their summoner commands. Into this world comes Nathaniel - a magician's apprentice - and Bartimaeus, a five-thousand year old djinni. This is the story of a young child's idealistic and biased view of the world being put up against the view of a sarcastic and tired of a five-thousand year old slave. It makes for a gripping, hilarious, and thought-provoking tale that I've yet to grow tired of.
The thing that I love most about this series is how differently it reads depending upon your age. When I first read it as a kid, I fell in love with the humor and the characters. As a teenager, I fell in love with the story telling. As an adult, I was thoroughly impressed by the lore and how well Stroud handles complex topics like slavery and governmental corruption. These two elements are a central part of the narrative, but the book just presents things as they are and leaves you to reach your own conclusions. It's never preachy.
It's also worth noting that, while each Bartimaeus book is functionally a standalone story, Stroud does a fantastic job of weaving in elements that will come back in later stories. This makes rereads of the series just as fun as the initial read because, on those rereads, you can now spot everything that will come back down the line. The first time I reread this series, I was blown away by how good this subtle setup was and I still appreciate it to this day.
My, my, my, what a clever little gem this trilogy is. A YA book that's totally rewarding for an adult as well. The humor is just so brilliant. I've never seen footnotes so well incorporated since Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels.
The world created in this book is set in modern times (the only part that felt off, I kept forgetting and picturing people in the 19th century, and then technology would show up and I'd be..huh...oh right.
Magicians abound, creating an aristocracy of political power, and the "commoners" are in revolt. A humiliated boy named Nathaniel, who is nothing if not precocious, plots his revenge and summons a fairly powerful Djinn with an attitude, and also a little bit of heart, and the banter and ribbing starts.
He meant to steal something from the magician who got on his bad side, to show him that he won't be taken advantage of. But he uncovers a series of plots, and he, along with an unwilling Bartimaeus attempts to save London's magical world from demolition.
Well done Jonathan Stroud, well done.
The world created in this book is set in modern times (the only part that felt off, I kept forgetting and picturing people in the 19th century, and then technology would show up and I'd be..huh...oh right.
Magicians abound, creating an aristocracy of political power, and the "commoners" are in revolt. A humiliated boy named Nathaniel, who is nothing if not precocious, plots his revenge and summons a fairly powerful Djinn with an attitude, and also a little bit of heart, and the banter and ribbing starts.
He meant to steal something from the magician who got on his bad side, to show him that he won't be taken advantage of. But he uncovers a series of plots, and he, along with an unwilling Bartimaeus attempts to save London's magical world from demolition.
Well done Jonathan Stroud, well done.