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Title: The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke, Oliver Latsch ISBN: 0-439-42089-X Publisher: Chicken House Pub. Date: October, 2003 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.13 (174 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: this book defies the oft-resigned world of adulthood
Comment: This book was billed as the next Harry Potter, and while it probably will not create an international craze, there is a quiet buzz about it among children and children's booklovers. It takes place in Venice, as seen through the eyes of children. The heroes are streetkids, runaways, powerless in the world of adults but adept at creating their own world. They live in an abandoned movie theater, and their leader is the Thief Lord, an pre-adolescent boy himself with a penchant for wearing dramatic masks. Prosper and his little brother Bo join the gang, having run away from their aunt after being orphaned. Their aunt wished to take Bo as a child but put Prosper in a boarding school far from his brother.
The adult perspective in the story is Victor Getz, private detective. He is hired by Esther to seek out the boys, but becomes their friend. With his eccentric habits and his unusual job, he can relate more to children than to other adults. Still, through him, we view reality as it is and can contrast it with the children's experiences.
When the Thief Lord and his gang are asked to perform a job, stealing a wooden wing from a wealthy woman on behalf of a mysterious Comte who promises to pay them 5 million lire, the adventure truly begins. The story masterfully unfolds, keeping the reader hooked on its plot twists. It is really quite a wonderful book, with a heartwarming ending that only true children can still believe in. Adults too often become cynics. Appropriately, this book is much about the world of children vs the world of adulthood, and the places of dreams and fantasies vs. the grim reality.
Rating: 5
Summary: Enjoyable and Fun
Comment: THE THIEF LORD, by German writer Cornelia Funke, is one of the few *new* books that I've come across recently that was able to keep me engrossed until the very end. I found the story to be delightful, and especially enjoyed the setting of Venice, Italy. Funke's writing style is a pleasure to read, neither convoluted or overly simplistic. Her characters are likeable, even Prosper and Bo's "evil" aunt and uncle, and overall THE THIEF LORD is a fun and magical book that can be enjoyed by the whole family.
After their parents die, Prosper and Bo run away from their aunt and uncle (who, of course, want to adopt only the younger, cuter Bo, and send Prosper off to boarding school), making their way all the way to the city of Venice, Italy, which they had heard much of in the stories told by their late mother. There, they are taken into a gang of street kids who are under the guidance of the mysterious Scipio, also known as the Thief Lord. Prosper and Bo feel safe until they realize that their aunt and uncle have not only tracked them to Venice, but have also hired a private detective to track them down with the aim of recovering Bo. From there the adventure takes off, as the children dodge the detective while at the same time work to secure a mysterious object for an equally mysterious "Conte."
Underlying Fuke's work is a tale about being a child and growing up, and whether or not one is truly more desireable than the other. As said earlier, THE THIEF LORD is a book that could be read aloud to the whole family, or enjoyed by individual readers on their own. Either way, recommended reading level is around 10-years-old.
Enjoy!
Rating: 4
Summary: An Enjoyable Read
Comment: Lately, I've only been reading adult books so The Thief Lord proved to be a welcome change. This book is fast-paced and thrilling. It is definitely a page turner. The story is engaging and I love all of the references to Venice's monuments, language, culture, and history.
There are tons of fantasy and children's books, but The Thief Lord feels fresh and it doesn't seem to be full of cliches. The plot is interesting and has some nice twists, like when the reader finds out who Scipio really is. The characters are fairly developed. The writing is OK, but not outstanding.
This book is great in the middle and beginning, but towards the end it gets a little dull and the plot falls a bit flat. I wouldn't be suprised to find out that Cornelia Funke lost direction or had to finish the book quickly. Still, Funke weaves an interesting tale, and I did find The Thief Lord very enjoyable.
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Title: Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, Anthea Bell ISBN: 0439531640 Publisher: Chicken House Pub. Date: October, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: Eragon (Inheritance, Book 1) by Christopher Paolini ISBN: 0375826688 Publisher: Knopf Pub. Date: 26 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl, Book 1) by Eoin Colfer ISBN: 0786817070 Publisher: Miramax (Kids) Pub. Date: 03 May, 2002 List Price(USD): $7.99 |
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Title: The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1) by Jonathan Stroud ISBN: 078681859X Publisher: Miramax (Kids) Pub. Date: September, 2003 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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Title: The Eternity Code (Artemis Fowl, Book 3) by Eoin Colfer ISBN: 0786819146 Publisher: Miramax (Kids) Pub. Date: 06 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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