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gbliss 's review for:
Rooftoppers
by Katherine Rundell
A charming book, and that is not usually something I like in books. And I was not as turned off by a line in the author profile as I feared I would be. I normally would expect myself to be totally turned off by an author who feels compelled to say she "begins each day with a cartwheel."
OH PUHLEASE.
What saves the books is the simple fact the writer is incredibly talented. A real talent for the original turn of phrase -- the coining of expressions that make you stop and taken notice and realize just how perfectly appropriate they are.
The story can be divided into two sections, both of which have their strengths. The first half covers Sophia's time in England with her Guardian Charles. The writer JUST escapes the creepy in detailing the tenderness and intimacy between this older man and young child. That Charles and Sophia are independent, free spirits comes across while rarely crossing into the irritating.
The second is when we find Sophia on the rooftops of the title and she meets Mateo, an orphaned boy who lives on his own on the rooftops of Paris. Here the story takes on a "My Side of The Mountain" quality where the logistics of life on the rooftops takes over. This is always interesting, and clearly this level of "world building" is something the author had to do for herself, but I think too much space and time are devoted to this.
The ending, the easily predicted denoument, is rushed and somewhat arbitrary. Sort of feels like the author -- or editor -- said (clapping hands together): "OK! Time to wrap this up." And then voila, music is heard, a chase ensues, and Sophia is....
This has the feeling, as well, of having been written as a stand-alone book, but published as the first of a series.
OH PUHLEASE.
What saves the books is the simple fact the writer is incredibly talented. A real talent for the original turn of phrase -- the coining of expressions that make you stop and taken notice and realize just how perfectly appropriate they are.
The story can be divided into two sections, both of which have their strengths. The first half covers Sophia's time in England with her Guardian Charles. The writer JUST escapes the creepy in detailing the tenderness and intimacy between this older man and young child. That Charles and Sophia are independent, free spirits comes across while rarely crossing into the irritating.
The second is when we find Sophia on the rooftops of the title and she meets Mateo, an orphaned boy who lives on his own on the rooftops of Paris. Here the story takes on a "My Side of The Mountain" quality where the logistics of life on the rooftops takes over. This is always interesting, and clearly this level of "world building" is something the author had to do for herself, but I think too much space and time are devoted to this.
The ending, the easily predicted denoument, is rushed and somewhat arbitrary. Sort of feels like the author -- or editor -- said (clapping hands together): "OK! Time to wrap this up." And then voila, music is heard, a chase ensues, and Sophia is....
This has the feeling, as well, of having been written as a stand-alone book, but published as the first of a series.