Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1) by Jonathan Stroud ISBN: 0-7868-1859-X Publisher: Miramax (Kids) Pub. Date: September, 2003 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.6 (60 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Surprisingly Innovative
Comment: Dealing, as this does, with the life of a 12-year-old English boy and the world of magic, it is bound to risk comparisons with both Harry Potter and Artemis Fowl. However, I feel that this is mostly where the comparison ends. Stroud gives us an engaging character in Bartimaeus, whose footnotes are not only explanatory but amusing. Nathaniel, the English boy, is less entertaining, but a certain amount of pathos in his dealings with human adults makes him interesting (if not fully likeable). I found the book a surprisingly gripping read and including a "demon" (djinni) as one of the main characters was very fresh.
Fans of Kevin Smith's movie "Dogma" may have the same problem I did. "Bartimaeus," who is otherworldly, is rather like "Bartleby," who is otherworldly. I kept picturing Bartimaeus as a rather snarky Ben Affleck, even though Bartimaeus tends to appear as a 12-year-old Egyptian boy when forced to take human form!
I recommend this book and am looking forward to the next in the trilogy.
Rating: 5
Summary: clever, original, witty--highly recommended
Comment: As I've said in previous reviews, if you're going to set your book in England and have as a main character a young boy learning the art of wizardry, you've guaranteed yourself a comparison to Harry Potter. With The Amulet of Samarkand, Jonathan Stroud can proudly say, "bring him on--wands at 15 paces!".
With so much pallid fantasy out there, Amulet is a breath of fresh air, told in a witty, original voice within a well-constructed plot and structure focused on two complex characters. Amulet is set in an alternate England ruled by magicians whose powers come from their ability to conjure demons. The society is beset within (by a resistance movement of "commoners" as well as by the murderous in-fighting among the ruling class magicians) and without (at war with Prague). Nathaniel is a young magician's apprentice who, after being publicly humiliated, seeks revenge via the demon Bartimaeus and a powerful talisman--the book's namepiece. By the time the book closes, it will involve murder and mayhem, betrayal, the attempted overthrow of the government, ancient (and I mean ancient) grievances, several tense chase scenes, various escape attempts, political commentary, the searing intensity of unassuagable guilt, and more.
Despite all that is crammed in here, the plot moves along briskly for the most part (this despite its complexity and the use of footnotes). Nathaniel is a complex character, giving us easily as many reasons to dislike him as to sympathize with him. He is no paragon of heroism or innocence. The other and much more likable main character (or perhaps more accurately the true main character) is the demon Nathaniel summons and the trilogy's title character. Unlike Nathaniel, whose section is told in 3rd person, Bartimaeus gets to tell his section of the book himself, lending us a more intimate view and thus allowing us to empathize more directly with him. Even better, his is a wry, cynical voice, bitingly funny. He also has the advantage of centuries of experience to call upon for more material with which to sharpen his wit. His sections are simply a pleasure to read. He too is more complex than is typical in these works. For instance, a scene where he somewhat blithely is willing to kill three young teens with little remorse reminds us he is no tame funny pet for either Nathaniel or the reader.
While Nathaniel's main antagonist, an evil wizard whose plots really aren't that out of character for magicians in general it turns out, is perhaps one of the weaker characters--a bit bland in both villainy and dialogue, the various demon antagonists of Bartimaeus are all wonderful creations, especially his two long-running nemeses whom he comes across several times.
The structure moves back and forth skillfully between Bartimaeus's first person narration and the third-person description of what is happening with Nathaniel, pulling away from one to the other at just the right moments to create the greatest suspense. It is all deftly handled with no confusion whatsoever.
The story itself is well-paced and complex enough to keep the reader guessing. It ends independently but with enough loose ends to point to an obvious sequel, which I for one eagerly await. Very highly recommended.
Rating: 5
Summary: Highly Recommend
Comment: Jonathan Stroud has written a masterpiece. This book is full of great characters, it is filled with humor, action, adventure, fantasy, more humor, and a little drama. This was surely a unique and wonderful book. This is not another wanna be Harry Potter Book, as I was afraid it might be, this novel is really new and refreshing from all the tragic Rowling impersonators. I highly recommend for any reader who enjoys a great, quick, and exciting read.
 |
Title: Eragon (Inheritance, Book 1) by Christopher Paolini ISBN: 0375826688 Publisher: Knopf Pub. Date: 26 August, 2003 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
 |
Title: Inkheart by Cornelia Funke, Anthea Bell ISBN: 0439531640 Publisher: Chicken House Pub. Date: October, 2003 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
 |
Title: The City of Ember by Jeanne Duprau ISBN: 0375822739 Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers Pub. Date: 13 May, 2003 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
 |
Title: Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup, and a Spool of Thread (Newbery Medal Book) by Kate Dicamillo, Timothy B. Ering ISBN: 0763617229 Publisher: Candlewick Press Pub. Date: September, 2003 List Price(USD): $17.99 |
 |
Title: The Wish List by Eoin Colfer ISBN: 0786818638 Publisher: Miramax (Kids) Pub. Date: 01 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
