Good Plot, Bad Author: Inkheart

[taylormercury]

Now, I read Inkheart about two years ago, so I've forgotten a lot of the details, but the thing I remember most about reading this book is how very difficult it was for me to actually get through, and what a disappointment it was.

The plot sounds magical, something right up my street. A young girl who loves books (hey, I love books!) discovers

Comments

[taylormercury]

Maybe I am! I'd forgotten about this book entirely (as like you, it seemed to be banned from my memory) but as soon as 'good plot gone wrong' appeared it was the only book I'd read to come to mind! It sounded so much better than it turned out to be :(

[gaspardgroupie]

I found it kind of boring and disappointing too. I'm not sure whther it was down to the plot or the writing style though - I don't think English is Cornelia Funke's first language so I'm wondering whether some things got lost in translation.

[findserendipity]

You are right, English is not her first language. She's a German writer. Personally, I enjoyed the Inkworld trilogy. Yes, I have read all three books.
I liked her writing but I read the books in German (it's my mother tongue too) and a lot was probably lost in the translation (as always).

Intersting fun fact: Funke came in second for an award for "the most beautiful first sentence" in the children's and young adult category.

[rabenkraehe]

I've read the original German edition (I'm German). It was that boring & disappointing.

[taylormercury]

For me it was the way the plot was carried out, and the writing style, that really made it so disappointing. I did wonder also if it was anything to do with things being lost in translation, though a few people here are commenting that for them it was equally bland in the original! A disappointment all around then I think.

[trojanphoenix]

I had the same problems with the book, didn't bother with the sequels either.

[rabenkraehe]

I felt exactly the same when I read this.

[linda_lupos]

I found that the second book was better, when they actually go into Inkheart and end up in the fantasy world and meet a lot of the characters. Some good Dustfinger scenes, too.
Third book was ruined by Cornelia Funke falling in love with Mo (the father) and showing it - he got a bit TOO awesome, honestly. I thought Meggie was the main character? But no, apparently it's all about her father. Meh.

The movie is WORSE though. XD Only Paul Bettany as Dustfinger made it... tolerable.

[taylormercury]

Ah, really? See that would be really interesting to me, as I quite liked the concept of the Inkheart world, but I don't trust the book to be enjoyable after the disappointment of the first one to give it a go!

Ha that's funny, because although I haven't seen all of the movie, I thought it was a bit more interesting than the book!