The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Thief Lord
Book Review: 5th Grade Student
Summary: 5 Stars
I read this book after watching the movie, but I still loved it! I suspect I would have liked it even more if I had read the book before watching the movie! I love the storyline, I would have never thought up something as different and interesting as that, even though I plan on becoming a writer when I grow up and I'm one of the best writers in my class. Cornelia Funke is an exceptional writer; I love all of her books. I've read Inkheart, Inkspell, Dragon Rider, and this, and I've loved them all.Book Review: Don't Believe The Hype
Summary: 2 Stars
I read 'The Thief Lord' due to the great reviews, and the fact that it won the Batchelder Award recently. Though Funke does a great job immersing the reader in modern day Venice, the plot and character development leave much to be desired, even for a children's book. I also take into account that it may have lost something translated from German to English - for instance I found the characters to say or do things so abruptly out of character at times that it pulled me completely out of the novel. I'll assume it was because of the translation.
My biggest disappointment concerns the plot. Funke starts out well, but it seems that 1/3 of the way through the story, she has nowhere to go, so she switches to a different story. Then it happens again at the 2/3 mark. It's almost as if we have three stories crammed into one with the characters being forced to play along. Funke can't seem to decide if she wants to write about a missing child's case, a teenage thief, or a magical merry go round - and the relationship between these three ideas is coincidental at best. We have a hard-boiled Oliver Twist style story that suddenly morphs into a fantasy novel at the end and it's very hard to make that transition, especially when the character reactions are very flat.
It's also difficult to understand the motivation of most the characters. In particular, the two main adult characters, Victor and Ida, behave in ways that are inexplicable, serving only to further the plot. I can see Funke's ideas behind their personalities, but she never really develops them to any consequence in the story.
The ending was also very unfulfilling. A bit player suddenly becomes the bad guy for no other reason than curiosity. Justice is visited upon him, but there is little investment in the character, so it's very anti-climatic. The Thief Lord himself realizes his dream, but there's very little joy in it since the character's motivation for seeking that dream is weak and understated throughout.
I plan to read Inkspell by Funke because I do like her prose, but the plot of this one just seemed thrown together in too many ways for me to recommend.
Book Review: Thief Lord Rules
Summary: 5 Stars
Prosper was running as fast as he could from the detective who was chasing him through the dark alleys of Venice, Italy.
My book is about these two brothers who run away from their aunt. One of the boys is named Prosper, and the other one is named Bo. Prosper and Bo join a gang who's leader is a master thief. Prosper, Bo, and the gang soon find out that the leader ( who's name is Scipio) find out that he is a very rich kid, and that he is stealing valuables from his father. Then Scipio and Prosper set out to find a magical merry go round that makes people become younger and older. I then picked up the book and found my answer.
The author wants to entertain the reader with all of the expression and action.
This is a very entertaining book to read. Some readers would like the high challanging vocabulary words. I will encourage you to read this book.
Book Review: Stealing is Good...Isn't It?
Summary: 4 Stars
What would you do if you ran away from your mean aunt and if you were found by a group of street orphans that live in an old Venice theater? That's what Prosper and Bo did when they ran away to Venice, Italy in the book The Thief Lord.
Prosper and Bo are in Venice trying to stay away from their mean Aunt Esther. When they are on the streets the Thief Lord also known as Scipio finds them and takes them to his gang of orphans that live in an old theater. The Thief Lord is asked by a sheik to find a broken wooden wing to an old merry-go-round that makes you stay young or old in age.
The way Cornelia Funke describes everything is exciting and right on. I pictured everything perfectly. It made me want to read some of the other books she has written. Dragon Rider, Inkheart, and Inkspell are other books you would like if you enjoy this one. It's a captivating story and it held on to me so I could never put it down. My favorite characters are the Detective Victor Getz, Prosper, and Bo. They make the book all worth while.
This story shows how to be loyal to what you love and to be trustworthy. I think people who like the genres of fantasy, mystery, and adventure will have a blast reading this book. You will be sucked into this book faster than you can say, "This is really good." PR32
Book Review: The Thief Lord-By Cornelia Funke
Summary: 5 Stars
The fantastic fantasy writer, Cornelia Funke, writes another mind-gripping hit. The Thief Lord holds your attention and never slows down.
Welcome to the magical underworld of Venice, Italy, where hidden canals and crumbling rooftops shelter runaways and children with incredible secrets...
Prosper and Bo are orphans on the run from their cruel aunt and uncle. The brothers decide to hide out in Venice, where they meet a mysterious thirteen-year-old boy who calls himself "The Thief Lord." Brilliant and charismatic , The Thief Lord leads of ring of street children who dabble in petty crimes. Prosper and Bo delight in being apart in this colorful new family. But the Thief Lord has secrets of his own. And soon the boys are thrust into circumstances that will lead them, and readers, to a fantastic, spellbinding conclusion.
Funke's writing style is easy to follow which is one factor in making the book so pleasing. Like the alleyways of Venice, this book has so many twists and turns that you never want to put of the book down. Enchanting as the book may be it's characters are too mature for their age, but that never brings down the storie's quality. Another pleasing element to this book as the book never falters for that the pace always quickens.
A story that children will enjoy again and again, The Thief Lord will keep you glued to your seat with it's thrills and it's never-ending story.