different names for the same thing
I read this today. Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta if you can't make out the title. Kind of iffy name for a book but don't let that dissuade you. Yes, I know I was meant to be studying but Melina Marchetta's latest novel! How could I possibly resist? It's very different from her usual style, fantasy rather than social realism this time. I forgot at times that she was the author but only because I was too absorbed in the story.
I have to say, first off, that I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a little slow at the start and there were lots of little tiny hints and things that didn't make sense until the end but in all, it's a lovely story. In fantasy standards, I guess it's a little simple but the characters (like in all of her novels) are the driving force and the development they undergo is still great.
I kind of knew what was going to happen because I happened a peek at the end of the book (while I was in a store last week, broke and lamenting over the fact I wasn't going to be able to read it for a while) but the way things unfurled still surprised me a bit. I got a little confused at points with all the country/minor character name dropping and her name-less villain was a little too Deltora Quest for me but the rest of the story was good. I'm still swooning a little over the Finnikin/Evanjalin storyline and the relationships explored in the novel are wonderfully done. Especially between Finnikin and his father :D The book's really funny too. There's a lot of witty banter and smart quips made and it manages to be light hearted, despite the terrible happenings in the novel.
So, I encourage you to read it if you have a chance. And anything else by Melina Marchetta that you can get your hands on because she's terrific! I can't believe I missed her author visit to Ashfield library! She's going to do a signing at Melbourne but that's kinda far (haha) so I guess there's nothing I can do about that. I'm off to watch Pirates of the Caribbean 2 on tv now so I bid you all goodnight and adieu!