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monkeydancer 's review for:
The Looking Glass Wars
by Frank Beddor
This was the next choice for the Imaginary Book Club at work. An improvement over Graceling, but they almost had the exact opposite problems. This book has very two-dimensional characters and a rather see-through plot.
The fact that Beddor is exploring Wonderland is a challenge to himself right off the bat, one that he faces pretty well. Everything encountered there is very imaginative and thought-provoking (particularly in comparison to Alice in Wonderland), but it was almost like he forgot to color in the other elements because he was so busy with that. Alyss's descent into our world quickly bored me - Wonderland was way cooler in comparison. I would have liked to see more of Wonderland before Redd's assault.
Alyss does not seem to grow as a character. She and Dodge remain pretty superficial people, when they ought to be much more complex. Alyss is actually alright until the turning point in the book, toward the end, where instead of turning into a diamond, like coal under pressure, she turns into... a pressurized lump of coal. So much creative potential wasted.
It's also very clear throughout the book that Beddor had a lot more than just books in mind for this series, and it gets kind of annoying. (Moreso after researching his plans. A ROLLERCOASTER before the movie's even in production? Are you KIDDING?) The things that really give it away are all the written-out sound effects and plethora of battles. Way too many battles and too little character development. Also, saw THAT ending coming ten miles away.
I read that the Lewis Carroll Society in England was pissed when this came out because he was 'defiling' the original. Not true. I liked that he was looking at a big 'what if' in his exploration.
Yes, I understand he was a producer first, and then he got jealous and wanted in on the fun. But he missed out on some of the bits that really could have made this book.
I think my dislike is more of Frank Beddor than his creation.
The fact that Beddor is exploring Wonderland is a challenge to himself right off the bat, one that he faces pretty well. Everything encountered there is very imaginative and thought-provoking (particularly in comparison to Alice in Wonderland), but it was almost like he forgot to color in the other elements because he was so busy with that. Alyss's descent into our world quickly bored me - Wonderland was way cooler in comparison. I would have liked to see more of Wonderland before Redd's assault.
Alyss does not seem to grow as a character. She and Dodge remain pretty superficial people, when they ought to be much more complex. Alyss is actually alright until the turning point in the book, toward the end, where instead of turning into a diamond, like coal under pressure, she turns into... a pressurized lump of coal. So much creative potential wasted.
It's also very clear throughout the book that Beddor had a lot more than just books in mind for this series, and it gets kind of annoying. (Moreso after researching his plans. A ROLLERCOASTER before the movie's even in production? Are you KIDDING?) The things that really give it away are all the written-out sound effects and plethora of battles. Way too many battles and too little character development. Also, saw THAT ending coming ten miles away.
I read that the Lewis Carroll Society in England was pissed when this came out because he was 'defiling' the original. Not true. I liked that he was looking at a big 'what if' in his exploration.
Yes, I understand he was a producer first, and then he got jealous and wanted in on the fun. But he missed out on some of the bits that really could have made this book.
I think my dislike is more of Frank Beddor than his creation.