Book Recs/Discussion - Hero, The Alchemyst, The Amber Spyglass
Hero
Description: "Thom Creed tries not to disappoint his dad, a disgraced caped crusader who now toils as a factory drudge, so he keeps his gay identity and his developing superpowers under wraps. Then he secretly tries out for the prestigious League, joining aspiring heroes in villain-busting adventures that escalate alongside more private discoveries."
Verdict: Very readable and enjoyable. It's a fun, superhero/coming of age-coming out story and it's neat that it mashes those genres together.
You can definitely tell it's written by a guy and not say, a female slash writer. Way more details (but not purple prose) about the hot physical aspects of guys on guys. I was a little surprised to see that in a young adult book, but then again, it's probably perfect for its main focus audience, young gay guys. This is a fun book to read, but it's also a book to fill the "hot-sexy-superhero-cool-positive-family values-acceptance-love-awesome" space. Recommended.
The Alchemyst
Description: "Twin 15-year-old siblings Sophie and Josh Newman take summer jobs in San Francisco across the street from one another: she at a coffee shop, he at a bookstore owned by Nick and Perry Fleming. In the vey first chapter, armed goons garbed in black with "dead-looking skin and... marble eyes" (actually Golems) storm the bookshop, take Perry hostage and swipe a rare Book (but not before Josh snatches its two most important pages). The stolen volume is the Codex, an ancient text of magical wisdom. Nick Fleming is really Nicholas Flamel, the 14th-century alchemist who could turn base metal into gold, and make a potion that ensures immortality. Sophie and Josh learn that they are mentioned in the Codex's prophecies: "The two that are one will come either to save or to destroy the world." Mayhem ensues..."
Verdict: Interesting idea. I didn't know much about Flamel. Did he become hot again because of HP? Overall though, the book is very weak. Not super interesting. Easy to read, but not a good read. I reminded me of the Da Vince Code in a way, which I read about 20 chapters of. (Each chapter is about two pages long...) It's action-thriller writing. Nothing too complicated.
*Lots* of telling, and an amazon reviewer described it better as "summarizing sentences". Constantly summarizing and reiterating characters thoughts and feelings and what just happened. I don't think kids are that dumb to need that, but it is an easy quick read (I was able to finish it which I usually don't do with books I don't like), so I can see kids flying though the books if they have them handy. This is the first one of a probable trilogy, with the second book coming out later this year.
There's a nice twist near the end that's kind of interesting, but not enough for me to want to read the second book. Overall, a disappointing read.
The Amber Spyglass
Description: The third and last book in the His Dark Materials trilogy that started with the Golden Compass and continued with the Subtle Knife. The Amber Spyglass starts with Will searching for Lyra and the events to following, including journeying to the land of the dead, and a final major battle between The Authority and Asriel's factions. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Mary Malloy is chilling with these wheeled elephant-like animals...
Verdict: I liked most of this book, but it POOPS OUT near the end. And because of that, I have a hard time recommending the first two books, which I did really enjoy. I think Pullman is a good writer, and he creates some fantastic characters over the three books. The most stand-outs are probably Iorek the bear, Lee the aeronaut (and his daemon Hester), those little Gallivespians, Mrs Coulter and her scary gold monkey, Lord Asriel, Lyra and Pan, and Will.
The most powerful parts of this book to me are when Lyra and Will meet, the journey to the dead, and the big battle. What comes after that though is just "what?"
Spoilers!
1- What was up with that build up for the battle against the Authority and Metatron? All it took for Metatron to get foiled was the promise of some sex and a good solid push. No fight with Lyra and Will. And L and W killed The Authority by accident. All very nice and all, but it was like "What...? Is that all? After over 1,000 pages?"
2- Speaking of build-up and then deflation- what was up with Father Gomez, the scary assassin? He had the equivalent of jaws music behind him as he slowly got close to the kids throughout the book, and then BAM, he's killed by Bathalmos who comes out of nowhere in the end. What?
3- Amber Spyglass? Why are you the title? You aren't as important as the Golden Compass or the Subtle Knife? Yeah-yeah, you see Dust, but you're used so little, that I don't feel your weight.
4- Mary's living with the Mulefa- Kind of neat, but not for multiple chapters. These parts ALWAYS slowed the story down. And I don't really feel like the Mulefa added that much to the end.
4- Okay, maybe young love will do this to people, but when Lyra and Will were in make-out city, they became gooey and not really interesting.
5- Speaking of which- what was Lyra's Big Choice? The one that would tip everything one way or another? Was it when she started making out with Will? Mary was The Snake, so what she "tempted" Lyra/Eve with was her story about seeing a hot Italian guy at a dinner once and then stopping being a nun because kissing/sex/"going to China" is awesome? And then later Lyra feeds a "red fruit" to Will and they start kissing? And they're all in Love? Is that the choice? And then Dust changes direction and falls back??? That???? What?????
Or was it the Living Separately? That's not really a choice. Nor did she make it on her own. Nor did she learn about that by herself. She and Will learned about it together from Will's father.
I thought it was the freeing of the dead at first, but then Mary has no connection to that, and I think she's Snake.
I don't know. I think the book really ended well after the battle. And there's this BEAUTIFUL passage of Lee-the-ghost ascending to the sky to join the world-the-everything, and once again be with his daemon Hester. That was so meaningful.
So, I was little pissed because I think Pullman pooped on his own epic and tried to be too much Paradise Lost and then successfully *lost* parts of the strengths of his original story. It's fine to slam The Authority, but can you do it consistently with your plot and your characters and your themes??
It's too bad. It's hard when a series is brought down by the last book.
Description: "Thom Creed tries not to disappoint his dad, a disgraced caped crusader who now toils as a factory drudge, so he keeps his gay identity and his developing superpowers under wraps. Then he secretly tries out for the prestigious League, joining aspiring heroes in villain-busting adventures that escalate alongside more private discoveries."
Verdict: Very readable and enjoyable. It's a fun, superhero/coming of age-coming out story and it's neat that it mashes those genres together.
You can definitely tell it's written by a guy and not say, a female slash writer. Way more details (but not purple prose) about the hot physical aspects of guys on guys. I was a little surprised to see that in a young adult book, but then again, it's probably perfect for its main focus audience, young gay guys. This is a fun book to read, but it's also a book to fill the "hot-sexy-superhero-cool-positive-family values-acceptance-love-awesome" space. Recommended.
The Alchemyst
Description: "Twin 15-year-old siblings Sophie and Josh Newman take summer jobs in San Francisco across the street from one another: she at a coffee shop, he at a bookstore owned by Nick and Perry Fleming. In the vey first chapter, armed goons garbed in black with "dead-looking skin and... marble eyes" (actually Golems) storm the bookshop, take Perry hostage and swipe a rare Book (but not before Josh snatches its two most important pages). The stolen volume is the Codex, an ancient text of magical wisdom. Nick Fleming is really Nicholas Flamel, the 14th-century alchemist who could turn base metal into gold, and make a potion that ensures immortality. Sophie and Josh learn that they are mentioned in the Codex's prophecies: "The two that are one will come either to save or to destroy the world." Mayhem ensues..."
Verdict: Interesting idea. I didn't know much about Flamel. Did he become hot again because of HP? Overall though, the book is very weak. Not super interesting. Easy to read, but not a good read. I reminded me of the Da Vince Code in a way, which I read about 20 chapters of. (Each chapter is about two pages long...) It's action-thriller writing. Nothing too complicated.
*Lots* of telling, and an amazon reviewer described it better as "summarizing sentences". Constantly summarizing and reiterating characters thoughts and feelings and what just happened. I don't think kids are that dumb to need that, but it is an easy quick read (I was able to finish it which I usually don't do with books I don't like), so I can see kids flying though the books if they have them handy. This is the first one of a probable trilogy, with the second book coming out later this year.
There's a nice twist near the end that's kind of interesting, but not enough for me to want to read the second book. Overall, a disappointing read.
The Amber Spyglass
Description: The third and last book in the His Dark Materials trilogy that started with the Golden Compass and continued with the Subtle Knife. The Amber Spyglass starts with Will searching for Lyra and the events to following, including journeying to the land of the dead, and a final major battle between The Authority and Asriel's factions. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Mary Malloy is chilling with these wheeled elephant-like animals...
Verdict: I liked most of this book, but it POOPS OUT near the end. And because of that, I have a hard time recommending the first two books, which I did really enjoy. I think Pullman is a good writer, and he creates some fantastic characters over the three books. The most stand-outs are probably Iorek the bear, Lee the aeronaut (and his daemon Hester), those little Gallivespians, Mrs Coulter and her scary gold monkey, Lord Asriel, Lyra and Pan, and Will.
The most powerful parts of this book to me are when Lyra and Will meet, the journey to the dead, and the big battle. What comes after that though is just "what?"
Spoilers!
1- What was up with that build up for the battle against the Authority and Metatron? All it took for Metatron to get foiled was the promise of some sex and a good solid push. No fight with Lyra and Will. And L and W killed The Authority by accident. All very nice and all, but it was like "What...? Is that all? After over 1,000 pages?"
2- Speaking of build-up and then deflation- what was up with Father Gomez, the scary assassin? He had the equivalent of jaws music behind him as he slowly got close to the kids throughout the book, and then BAM, he's killed by Bathalmos who comes out of nowhere in the end. What?
3- Amber Spyglass? Why are you the title? You aren't as important as the Golden Compass or the Subtle Knife? Yeah-yeah, you see Dust, but you're used so little, that I don't feel your weight.
4- Mary's living with the Mulefa- Kind of neat, but not for multiple chapters. These parts ALWAYS slowed the story down. And I don't really feel like the Mulefa added that much to the end.
4- Okay, maybe young love will do this to people, but when Lyra and Will were in make-out city, they became gooey and not really interesting.
5- Speaking of which- what was Lyra's Big Choice? The one that would tip everything one way or another? Was it when she started making out with Will? Mary was The Snake, so what she "tempted" Lyra/Eve with was her story about seeing a hot Italian guy at a dinner once and then stopping being a nun because kissing/sex/"going to China" is awesome? And then later Lyra feeds a "red fruit" to Will and they start kissing? And they're all in Love? Is that the choice? And then Dust changes direction and falls back??? That???? What?????
Or was it the Living Separately? That's not really a choice. Nor did she make it on her own. Nor did she learn about that by herself. She and Will learned about it together from Will's father.
I thought it was the freeing of the dead at first, but then Mary has no connection to that, and I think she's Snake.
I don't know. I think the book really ended well after the battle. And there's this BEAUTIFUL passage of Lee-the-ghost ascending to the sky to join the world-the-everything, and once again be with his daemon Hester. That was so meaningful.
So, I was little pissed because I think Pullman pooped on his own epic and tried to be too much Paradise Lost and then successfully *lost* parts of the strengths of his original story. It's fine to slam The Authority, but can you do it consistently with your plot and your characters and your themes??
It's too bad. It's hard when a series is brought down by the last book.