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A review by annettebooksofhopeanddreams
The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I remember that I got this book for a few reasons. Firstly, this cover is insanely gorgeous and it instantly made me curious about the story. Secondly, it's about the Mozart children and as a musician I developed a soft spot for Mozart. Thirdly, it focusses mainly on Nannerl. For once she's allowed to come out of her brother's shadow. Fourthly, there is a fantasy world involved. Yesterday it was finally time to start reading.
I totally understand that this story doesn't work for everyone, but it absolutely did work for me. And that's mostly because I really recognized myself in Nannerl. I recognize myself in the way she experienced and made music. I recognize myself in her love (and sometimes envy) for her brother. I recognize myself in her drive to be remembered (and the lesson she learns throughout the book). I also recognize myself in her fear of her music and creations being discovered and destroyed.
I also loved the fantasy world and its influence on the real world. The line between fantasy and reality is really nicely blurred in this novel. It's clear that the characters are truly experiencing everything in the fantasy world, but it's also all very symbolic and mirroring what's happening in the real world. I also love how many elements of Mozart's Oper "Die Zauberflöte" are present in the Kingdom of Back, although mostly in a slightly different shape and form.
I also really enjoyed how this book breathed music. I'm not entirely sure if it still works for people who have no knowledge of music theory at all, since a lot of terms and symbols are used without any explanation, but it fits Nannerl and Wolfgang. They are both so passionate, talented and mad about music. They must breath it, must feel and must use it to describe any and every experience and moment in time.
I wish I had read this book sooner. Although I've maybe read it exactly when I needed it most.
I totally understand that this story doesn't work for everyone, but it absolutely did work for me. And that's mostly because I really recognized myself in Nannerl. I recognize myself in the way she experienced and made music. I recognize myself in her love (and sometimes envy) for her brother. I recognize myself in her drive to be remembered (and the lesson she learns throughout the book). I also recognize myself in her fear of her music and creations being discovered and destroyed.
I also loved the fantasy world and its influence on the real world. The line between fantasy and reality is really nicely blurred in this novel. It's clear that the characters are truly experiencing everything in the fantasy world, but it's also all very symbolic and mirroring what's happening in the real world. I also love how many elements of Mozart's Oper "Die Zauberflöte" are present in the Kingdom of Back, although mostly in a slightly different shape and form.
I also really enjoyed how this book breathed music. I'm not entirely sure if it still works for people who have no knowledge of music theory at all, since a lot of terms and symbols are used without any explanation, but it fits Nannerl and Wolfgang. They are both so passionate, talented and mad about music. They must breath it, must feel and must use it to describe any and every experience and moment in time.
I wish I had read this book sooner. Although I've maybe read it exactly when I needed it most.