The Wild Road by Gabriel King Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of The Wild Road
Book Review: Good book
Summary: 4 Stars
The world was new and different and I liked the details, can't wait to read the next one!Book Review: Highly original adult fantasy
Summary: 4 Stars
This is an oddly compelling and finely balanced book. The mythic/quest/symbolic elements common to most fantasy stories are subtly deployed, and the language is both elevated (if overly florid at times) and contemporary. As someone who as shared most of my life with cats, I found the book's depiction of their animal behavior and thought patterns--"*My* bird!"--to be as convincing as the "human" nature it gives them, and I admire the way the authors (Jane Johnson and M. John Harrison, writing jointly under a pen-name) let those natures sit not altogether comfortably side-by-side in their characters.
It's not a perfect book. Some overly ornate and fairly confused writing makes the climactic action hard to follow, and throughout the authors deflate the suspense they've built up by never letting go of any of their characters. Not only do the heroes who "die" end up being really alive in spirit (and sometimes, often implausibly, in body as well), but even the two-dimensional main antagonist merely disappears in crash-bang summer blockbuster fashion rather than actually snuffing it. I suspect that this sparing of characters stems from the story's subtle pantheism rather than from the authors' desire to spare readers' feelings, since the depiction of animal cruelty in the book is highly graphic and very disturbing (and, unfortunately, pretty much accurate), but it nevertheless frequently lowers the stakes the narrative has taken pains to raise.
Despite that, _The Wild Road_ remains a compelling, frequently droll, and at times surprising read. Johnson's work as the Tolkien editor for HarperCollins UK and Harrison's experience with the anti-sentimental New Worlds certainly must pay off here, because they never confuse fantasy and cuteness. It's a very worthwhile read though one not particularly well-suited for all but the most literate of young teens, who will likely just find it to be confusing.
Book Review: Interestering Book
Summary: 3 Stars
As with The Golden Cat, Gabriel King, gives us the "road". Read this book before The Golden Cat to find some insight into the fantasy road that cats travel. It can be confusing at times, but a very interestering story.Book Review: Is this the best animal story ever written?
Summary: 5 Stars
I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone who loves animals and/or is interested in history and mythology. It is an original fantasy story with a cast of adorable feline characters who, I'm warning you now, you will become very attached to. Young Tag's quest is gripping, exciting, scary and at times heartbreaking. The author clearly knows a lot about cats, both on a practical level (good descriptions of how they see, smell etc) and about their role in history. There are some lovely descriptions which are brilliantly imagined from a cat's viewpoint, and the characters are wonderfully portrayed. (By the time I had finished it, I wanted to take Sealink home!). As I mentioned earlier, you can't help but feel for the characters. Maybe this isn't the book for the more faint-hearted animal lovers as some of the descriptions might prove to be a bit upsetting. But overall, The Wild Road is a beautifully written, involving book which you won't forget. Also, it will change the way you look at the relationship between cats and humans. Quite simply the best book I've ever read!Book Review: Lart pour Lart
Summary: 4 Stars
I have read Tailchasers Song. I have read the Lord of the Rings. I do not believe The Wild Road can be compared, it is entirely seperate. I own 2 cats (one a stray). This book, although composed of flat characters(although, flat characters are not necessarily BAD characters), accomplished what it was attempting, that is to exist. The dialogue is amazing (good dialogue is hard to write) and the story is much better than the usual fodder on the bookshelves. I admire this book. And, as Oscar Wilde said, anything that is admired greatly is completely useless. This book is useless.