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pagesfullofstars 's review for:
Artemis Fowl: The Graphic Novel
by Eoin Colfer
2,5 stars
I was initially recommended this book over ten years ago by a friend who knew I loved Harry Potter series, but funnily enough I only got to read it now. I believe that had I read it all those years back I might've enjoyed it better, but at the moments, I have very mixed feelings.
What I loved was the fantasy part of the book and the worldbuilding. The fairies and their world were fun and well created, even though some parts were ridicoulous. Sadly, I couldn't bring myself to like or sympathise with the main character, Artemis. He came off as really conceited and annoying to me.
However, my biggest objection is towards the very basis for the whole story and how the author portrayed death and violence in it. I believe it won't be much of a spoiler, because it's stated at the very beginning of the book but the reason why Artemis wants to kidnap a fairy is because he wants the fairies to give him gold, which he believes will fix all of his and his family's problems. I really disagree with this way of thinking and it's too bad that the idea isn't showed as bad in the end. Money definitely can't fix everything and children reading it shouldn't think that. In addition, I was very surprised when I saw how lightly the author treats such serious subject as death. There were scenes where the violence and character's death were showed as if nothing unusual happened (and I'm talking about the human characters here) and it didn't sit right with me, especially considering that it's a children's book.
I was initially recommended this book over ten years ago by a friend who knew I loved Harry Potter series, but funnily enough I only got to read it now. I believe that had I read it all those years back I might've enjoyed it better, but at the moments, I have very mixed feelings.
What I loved was the fantasy part of the book and the worldbuilding. The fairies and their world were fun and well created, even though some parts were ridicoulous. Sadly, I couldn't bring myself to like or sympathise with the main character, Artemis. He came off as really conceited and annoying to me.
However, my biggest objection is towards the very basis for the whole story and how the author portrayed death and violence in it. I believe it won't be much of a spoiler, because it's stated at the very beginning of the book but the reason why Artemis wants to kidnap a fairy is because he wants the fairies to give him gold, which he believes will fix all of his and his family's problems. I really disagree with this way of thinking and it's too bad that the idea isn't showed as bad in the end. Money definitely can't fix everything and children reading it shouldn't think that. In addition, I was very surprised when I saw how lightly the author treats such serious subject as death. There were scenes where the violence and character's death were showed as if nothing unusual happened (and I'm talking about the human characters here) and it didn't sit right with me, especially considering that it's a children's book.