Inkheart (Inkheart Trilogy) by Cornelia Funke Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Inkheart (Inkheart Trilogy)
Book Review: 5-star storytelling, but with too many other issues for an overall 5
Summary: 3 Stars
Cornelia Funke tells a captivating and exciting tale. I was surprised that other reviewers found the plot simplistic, because I did not find it so at all. Despite my trouble with the book, which I'll detail below, I found it a page-turner after the first 50 pages, compelling enough that I just had to know the ending. The book snippets, too, are cleverly done, in that they really foreshadow the contents of each chapter.
My problems are these:
1) There is a lot of implied violence towards women in this book. Overall, level of violence in the book is not appropriate to the age level stated (9-12), but the thinly-veiled threat of sexual violence in particular (as well as a sexual overtone to Dustfinger's interest in Meggie at the beginning of the book) really makes this a book for readers 16 years old through adult.
2)Another problem I have with this book as a "children's book", is that Meggie does very little to further the plot until the very end of the book. In fact, even then she is the agent of Fenoglio in bringing the drama to a close. He and Mo figure out the "how" of fixing the problem, using Meggie's abilities as merely a tool. A children's book of this type should have a child protaganist at the very heart of both the story and its climax. She should solve the problem.
3)This book (though it might have to do with translation) deperately needs editing. The end of the book is faster-paced, with better word choice, but the first two thirds of the book should be half as long. We spend too much time on description and in roundabout ways of explaining things. Most importantly, too much time is spent in the heads of characters other than Meggie. Not only doesn't it further the plot, but actually distracts the reader from Meggie's experience. Again, she should be the center of the plot. Telling us what is going on in other people's heads destroyed the suspense in several places.
4)The characters seem a little flat, even the ones that don't originate in the book-world of Inkheart. Except maybe Meggie and Dustfinger, the characters really lack psychological complexity.
I'm glad I finished the book (the end of the story is quite fun), but it's a 3 1/2 due to the marketing as a child's book and numerous plot/editorial failings.
Book Review: 5th Grade Student
Summary: 4 Stars
This is a great fantasy book. Not quite as good as it's sequel, though. I loved the sequel! However, I suggest you read this first because you won't understand anything in Inkspell unless you've read Inkheart. I was very into this book right from the beginning, especially the last few chapters. The author made it seem like things like this could actually happen in real life!Book Review: A Book for Bibliophiles
Summary: 5 Stars
Years ago, my mom bought me a copy of Cornelia Funke's THE THIEF LORD. Maybe I was too young, or maybe it wouldn't appeal to me even now, but for whatever reason I decided Funke just wasn't for me.
But Inkheart's cover and description were irresistible. How could I NOT buy it?
I'm glad I did. Because this book, from the plot to the characters to the quotes at the beginning of each chapter, is a book for book lovers. It's a story about a man with an extraodinary talent -- he can read objects and even characters out of books -- and it's about his daughter, Meggie (though what twelve-year-old would honestly still go by "Meggie" and not "Meg" or "Megan" is beyond me) who finds herself swept into the dangerous legacy of it all.
Because years ago, when her father was reading a book to her mother, something strange happened. Meggie's mother disappeared. And in her place were a host of dangerous and mysterious characters -- characters from the book Inkheart. Capricorn, a deadly villain who is just as ready to wreak havoc in Meggie's world as in his own; Basta, Capricorn's faithful crony; and Dustfinger the fire-lover are all in the wrong story now. And while Capricorn and Basta are quite content to stay in Meggie's story, Dustfinger will do almost anything to get back to his own. Even if his story does not have a happy ending.
Enter into the story Fenoglio, Inkheart's author, and Elinor, Meggie's book-collector/book fanatic aunt, not to mention a whole lot of danger. Capricorn wants Meggie's father, or rather, he wants his abilities, and in a world where words are deadlier than swords, Meggie has to find a way -- with Fenoglio's help -- to make sure their story ends well.
Highly recommended.
Rating: Very Good
Book Review: A Cant Put Down Book
Summary: 5 Stars
My Opinion
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good book! But it is a heart-warming book if you forget about the evil Capricorn!!! It's a crazy thrilling book because Capricorn was trying to capture Meggie and use her as bait so Mo will come to her rescue and Capricorn can capture him. But then Capricorn realizes that Meggie can read the book and bring things to life also. Obviously Capricorn can not read it and bring this to life. So he has Meggie already. But he forgot that Mo was still coming to her rescue. I'm going to stop giving away the story so you can read it yourself. This book will get you hooked you won't want to put it down once you pick it up!! So go to your local book store and/or library and pick up this book I guarantee you will love it, I know I did!
Book Review: A Captivating Tale
Summary: 5 Stars
Inkheart is a magnificent story that starts when Meggie hears footsteps during the night while she's reading her book. The footsteps belong to a visitor named Dustfinger. While Meggie is eavesdropping on Dustfinger and her father Mo, she finds out that a man named Capricorn wants something from her (Meggie's) father. They all go to Meggie's great aunt Elinor's house where Mo is kidnapped by a group of men. Meggie, Dustfinger, and Elinor set out to find Mo with Dustfinger knowing where he probably has gone. There, they all find themselves in a place of trickery and evil.
This book is a great read for people who like deep fantasy and adventure. 534 pages. Ages 10+.
Ali