The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke, Oliver Latsch Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Thief Lord
Book Review: I Really Enjoyed This Book!
Summary: 4 Stars
I really enjoyed this book, but it struck me as a bit strange for a fantasy story. The beginning sounds a little like a mystery, and I was disappointed because I had been promised a fantasy. It wasn't until the last several chapters that anything happened to deserve the fantasy classing. Then I really enjoyed it. I wouldn't recommend it to a nine-year-old because there are a few parts that might be a little inappropriate or over their head, but for the ten-and-up crowd I wouldn't hesitate. This is a great book!Book Review: I've read a million books like this one
Summary: 2 Stars
Everyone was saying that this was a really good books and that I just HAVE to read it or I'll die, but personally, I think it wasn't that great. I mean, it's your basic story about two orphans who run away and join a gang when their parents die. They have to steal something or else they will be turned into the police, blah, blah... Its only unique element is the magical merry-go-round. I won't say anything about that except: weird, but a little funny. You won't be missing out if you don't read this.Book Review: Interesting Plot Fades Out At The End.........
Summary: 4 Stars
The Thief Lord(2000). Cornelia Funke's First Novel.
Around the time when J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter novels and Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortuneate Events were ruling the Children's Book Charts, Cornelia Funke's 'The Thief Lord' made a surprise splash on The New York Times Bestseller List, and even recieved "School Library Journal" and "Parenting Magazine"'s Book of the Year Award, so I've always wanted to read this novel, and since it was added onto my Summer Reading List, I actually read a book I wanted to read! So, is 'The Thief Lord' an excellent Teen Novel, or an overrated jumble of words? Read on to find out!
Plot-
Deep in the alleys and canals of Venice, Italy, two runaway brothers, Prosper and Bo, seek shelter in an Abandoned movie theater, where they meet fellow runaways Riccio, Mosca, Hornet, and the Thief Lord. The Thief Lord leads a mysterious life of theft, and with his stealing cares for the runaways, even though he's not much older than them himself. Meanwhile, Bo and Prosper's Aunt(They were adopted by her after their mother's death) hires Victor Getz, a Private Detective, to track Bo and Prosper down. Soon after this, The Thief Lord is assigned to bring back a mysterious Wooden Wing, and to steal it from unknowing Ida Spavento. Just before the heist, Victor Getz tracks Bo and Prosper down in the abandoned Movie Theater, but he's quickly subdued by the children and locked in the theater's bathroom. Then, he tells Prosper that Scipio(The Thief Lord) isn't actually a mysterious nomadic thief, but an aristocratic son of millionare Dottor Massimo. Prosper and Co. investigate, and to their dismay they find this to be true, and they disown their friendship from him, since they learn he's actually been stealing his parent's riches. But as the Big Heist approaches, after Scipio and Prosper steal the Lion's Wing, they will be thrust into a world beyond their comprehension, and they will unlock its secrets.
Writing/Opinions/Etc.-
Since Cornelia Funke's 'The Thief Lord' was written in a foreign language, and had to be translated into English, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it in no way effected the dialogue, which was a concern for me coming into the novel. Once the story opens up, we're introduced to vivid descriptions of Venice's beautiful cityscape, and also are thrown into an interesting cat-and-mouse game between Prosper, Bo, and Victor Getz, which kept me on seat's edge for the first 100 pages or so. I would have liked the novel to continue like this, but unfortuneatly, once Getz is captured, Funke adds in a mysterious Fantasy aspect of the story, a direct homage to Ray Bradbury's 'Something Wicked This Way Comes'(Think of Merry-Go-Round's), which, while not a bad thing, definitely didn't interest me as much, and seemed like a plain and predictable plot twist, which it was. Also, other than Bo and Prosper's characters, I felt that Funke didn't flesh the characters out enough, and in the end, you really don't get the feeling that you even care about the characters.
Overall, 'The Thief Lord' was what I expected it to be, which is a typical novel for Teens and Young Adults, featuring a decent, but understandably predictable plot. Also, the plot's interest desperately drops off mid-way through the novel, as the Cat-And-Mouse game Funke makes you think is the Main Plot, which is enthralling, is oddly taken apart and replaced with a slightly more boring plot. A Good Novel, that while it's not really bad in many aspects, certainly isn't great either.
RECOMMENDED TO TEENS, CHILDREN(OVER 8), FANS OF CORNELIA FUNKE, AND FANS OF FANTASY/ADVENTURE. ALL THAT I EXPECTED, NOTHING MORE AND NOTHING LESS, 4 STARS DESERVED.
Also Recommended-
Inkheart- Cornelia Funke
Harry Potter 5- The Order Of the Phoenix- J.K. Rowling
The Ersatz Elevator- Lemony Snicket
Thanks For Reading!
Book Review: Jan's Review on The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
Summary: 5 Stars
Two orphan brothers, Prosper and Bo, run away from their mean aunt and uncle to Venice. There, they join a group of runaway children led by a boy called Scipio, the "Thief Lord." the group steals items ranging from cell phones to cameras to wallets from tourists as well as people who live in Venice. But most of teir money comes from the "Thief Lord" wo returns every night with valuable items. But Scipio (the " thief Lord") has a deep dark secret. A man gives Scipio a job to find a seemingly invaluable object for an extremely large amount of money. Events will occur which will cange many lives. Stop reading the book you are busy reading and buy this book ( you can read other books when you're done reading this one). Have fun!Book Review: Just an okay book.
Summary: 3 Stars
This is one of those books I call an "Eh" book. It not bad, but it's not great either. It's okay. I LOVE Cornelia's books. But this one failed to excite me. It has an interesting plot... but starts off slow. Most people will find it difficilt to follow. I highly reccomend to watch the movie before reading the book. That way you'll at least have an idea of what's going on.