Inkheart (Inkheart Trilogy) by Cornelia Funke Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $4.49 You Save: $6.50 (59%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $0.01 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Inkheart (Inkheart Trilogy)
Book Review: A pretty good story but not well-fleshed out.
Summary: 3 Stars
I so anticipated reading this book, with its promise of terrible excitement--evil characters escaping from a book into our world. It begins well, with an immediate adventure involving a secret, a book, odd characters and lots of questions from the delightful 12 year old protagonist, Meggie. Quickly, however, the book loses its luster. The characters remain superficial, there is no emotional depth to the story, and the advocacy of the preservation of books becomes tedious. Each short chapter is headed by a title and a supposedly relevant and, most often, lengthy quote which actually detracts from the flow of the story. The quotes are chiefly from books, including "The Borribles Go For Broke", "The Jungle Book", "The Mabinogian", "The Princess Bride" and "Oliver Twist", stories that have probably not been read by the young readers "Inkheart" appeals to. Skip reading the quotes--it makes the story flow more easily.
There are also many allusions within the story to books, both overt and covert. It's fun to a certain extent, when one recognizes the story the author is referring to, but again, this device becomes trite with overuse. There are many, many references to titles of books that are the favorites of characters, what they are reading, what books they have brought along with them, etc. Enough already! Let's get on with an original story!
"Inkheart" is my first encounter reading Cornelia Funke. I'm disappointed with the author's descriptors that "tell", rather than allow the reader to paint murals with imagination. Such words as `hatred', `scorn', and `rage' are overused and become redundant, causing this reader's eyes to glaze over. All too frequently a character's odd facial expression or mannerism is depicted and followed by an interpretation that doesn't quite correlate to the movement. Perhaps nuances are lost in translation. Perhaps "Inkheart" might be more alluring with a different translator.
Although lacking luster, the story retains its muster, and remains a fabulous candidate for a screenplay. I'm looking forward to the movie.
Book Review: A very fun read!
Summary: 4 Stars
Whatever you think of Harry Potter, you must acknowledge that the series' success has opened the door for other kids' lit which, though superior, may not have got the attention it deserved. I can't imagine that this book would have been translated so quickly, for example.
It's a really good book. A great concept - of book characters slipping out from their world into another, and being rewritten - and even if what I hoped would happen didn't, I still kept on reading.
I did flag a bit towards the end, the words did merge together (an indication that the author's did, too?) but am certainly looking forward to reading the sequel, despite the general reviews being lesser.
Certainly worth a read, and if I had kids it'd be a cert as a gift for them.
Book Review: A waking dream
Summary: 5 Stars
This was a terrific read and I cannot wait to read it to my children some day. The descriptions are not overly done where nothing is left to the imagination, but left with an opening for a visual image to fill your mind as you imagine Meggie sitting on the top bunk.
The book is very hard to put down once you get to the middle. Though, even before the middle it's quite enjoyable but not as gripping. It does drag just a bit at first, but keep reading, you'll be pleased you did.
Book Review: Absolutely Astounding.
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is truly a prime piece of literature. A stunning tale beautifully woven into an intricate web of magic, good, and evil. Wonderfully written, it's truly a gem for any book collection. Words dance and flow across the page...seeming to change pace as the story progresses....quick like fire, or like a trickle of a stream. Funke writes with a passion for books,making the story all the better. Her writing paints delicate pictures in your mind, making it so you actually see the story in your mind's eye. This novel should be shared and cherished for years to come.Book Review: Amazing
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently read the book "Inkheart". This was my favorite book of all time. This is an awesome book for people who like fantasy and magic!
It is about a young girl named Meggie and her father, Mo, who can read things out of books. Her father first discovered his powers when Meggie was three. He was reading to her and her mother when her mother, Teresa, was read into the book! The book he was reading was called Inkheart. So when her mother was read into the book, evil rulers were read out. So our world and the world of Inkheart became one and started their own story.
One of my favorite chapters in the book was chapter 56, "The Shadow." It's when the shadow beast from the land of Inkheart is called to do a deed for Capricorn, one of the evil rulers read out of the book. It really pulls the whole book together and explains a lot.
The theme of this book is that no matter what book you are reading, there is always a bigger story behind it. So join Meggie along her journey to control her gift as she tells the story of the land of Inkheart.
-- Hailey McLaughlin