Inkheart

[Wrighty]

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mayumithrasher wrote:
I'm having trouble finishing Inkheart. I keep putting it aside. Just like The Golden Compass. A friend gave it to me thinking that I would like it but I can't get past the first couple of chapter (if that much). Since I just learned that a movie is in the works I guess I'd better dust it off soon.

-Mayumi

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Mayumi,
I'm curious why you are having a hard time finishing Inkheart. I did too but I thought maybe it was because I was so busy at that time with my kids and trying to read another book for these clubs. I did recently finish it and I'm very glad I did but the beginning seemed to really drag on before something good happened. I do plan on reading the next one but you are the first person that I've read about here who also struggled with it. Did you have some of the same issues that I did or was it something else entirely?

[mayumithrasher]

Mayumi,
I'm curious why you are having a hard time finishing Inkheart. I did too but I thought maybe it was because I was so busy at that time with my kids and trying to read another book for these clubs. I did recently finish it and I'm very glad I did but the beginning seemed to really drag on before something good happened. I do plan on reading the next one but you are the first person that I've read about here who also struggled with it. Did you have some of the same issues that I did or was it something else entirely?

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I'm not caught up in the story. I don't feel anything for any character yet. Maybe I was expecting too much before starting the book. A story about a person with the ability to make characters in books actually come to life - what a wonderful concept. But the writing just hasn't grabbed me yet. I'd better get back to it really soon though since apparently this has also been adapted for the big screen.

-Mayumi

[Wrighty]

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mayumithrasher wrote:
I'm not caught up in the story. I don't feel anything for any character yet. Maybe I was expecting too much before starting the book. A story about a person with the ability to make characters in books actually come to life - what a wonderful concept. But the writing just hasn't grabbed me yet. I'd better get back to it really soon though since apparently this has also been adapted for the big screen.

-Mayumi

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That was the same problem I had. It didn't pull me in at first and I was too easily distracted and bounced around to other things. I was determined to finish it though and I'm glad I did. It does get better and move along at a faster pace. I like to read the book before the movie too.

[MattW]

Have you guys tried to read other of Cornelia Funke's books, like The Thief Lord? I'm wondering if maybe, because her books are originally written in German, that they just don't translate well for some folks. What do you think?

[mayumithrasher]

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MattW wrote:
Have you guys tried to read other of Cornelia Funke's books, like The Thief Lord? I'm wondering if maybe, because her books are originally written in German, that they just don't translate well for some folks. What do you think?

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I did not know that the book was originally written in German. That's an interesting fact. The text doesn't read like English isn't the original language. Something about the way it's written just hasn't grabbed me. I haven't read any of her other books.

-Mayumi

[Wrighty]

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mayumithrasher wrote:

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MattW wrote:
Have you guys tried to read other of Cornelia Funke's books, like The Thief Lord? I'm wondering if maybe, because her books are originally written in German, that they just don't translate well for some folks. What do you think?

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I did not know that the book was originally written in German. That's an interesting fact. The text doesn't read like English isn't the original language. Something about the way it's written just hasn't grabbed me. I haven't read any of her other books.

-Mayumi

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I haven't read The Thief Lord but I did check into it and thought it sounded pretty good. I knew that the author was German but I don't think that was the problem. The beginning just seemed so long and drawn out with a lot of unnecessary stuff. Of course it didn't help that I had to keep stopping and starting because of other things going on. It probably would have been better if I could have read along at a steady pace. I did think it got better once the action started and the reader was given more of the details of the story. I was glad I finished it and I will read the next one. Eventually. Did anyone think one of the two was better than the other? If so, which one?

[becke_davis]

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MattW wrote:
Have you guys tried to read other of Cornelia Funke's books, like The Thief Lord? I'm wondering if maybe, because her books are originally written in German, that they just don't translate well for some folks. What do you think?

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I also read this one and was a bit disappointed. Not a bad read, but I had read some hype about it and it didn't live up to my expectations.

[katknit]

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MattW wrote:
Have you guys tried to read other of Cornelia Funke's books, like The Thief Lord? I'm wondering if maybe, because her books are originally written in German, that they just don't translate well for some folks. What do you think?

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I didn't have any issues with Cornelia Funke translations and have greatly enjoyed the 3 of her novels that I've read. The Thief Lord is different from the Inkheart stories. It's a very realistic tale about homeless children trying to survive in Venice under the leadership of the Thief Lord, a teenager. It has a surprising ending. Highly recommended.

[auxymoron]

The Dark Materials books are awesome. I haven't made it through the last book yet (I'm saving it for an underway period), but I zoomed through the first 2 as fast as my MP3 player could play! (I listen to all of my books these days). I also enjoy The Land of Elyon books and The Grey Griffin books. Ever since I read the first HP book, I haven't read anything but Kids Lit. Inkheart and Inkspell were very good as well. I could go on and on. This is a wonderful discussion board, I'm going to start picking up some of your recommendations!!!

Message Edited by auxymoron on 07-03-2007 10:02 AM

[KristyR]

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MattW wrote:
Have you guys tried to read other of Cornelia Funke's books, like The Thief Lord? I'm wondering if maybe, because her books are originally written in German, that they just don't translate well for some folks. What do you think?

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I started The Thief Lord, but never finished. I read several chapters, but just never felt drawn into the story line or characters.

[TediousChapters]

I really like Magyk by Angie Sage. It is the first book in the Septimus Heap Series. The first book is the best.

[Wrighty]

I was at the library yesterday and wandered through the children's section. I was kind of looking for some of the books discussed here and scored big with Charlie Bones, The Thief Lord and The Magnificent Invention of Hugo Cabret. The all looked and sounded (from these discussions) so good I couldn't resist! Now I just have to find the time to read them along with the piles and piles of other books I already have.

Message Edited by Wrighty on 07-11-2007 02:01 AM

[MattW]

Hi all-

I saw an article about the Harry Potter books and reading in The NY Times and started a new thread here. Thought it would go well with this discussion - check it out!

[Summ3rSunshin3…]

I response to The Thief Lord...its not amazing but worth reading

Personally, one of my favorite fantasy books is "Dr. Franklins Island" by Ann Halam

I read this book when I was younger and I still remember reading it. It kept me reading and guessing till the end and allows your imagination to soar.
I'd reccomned this book to any young readers...let me know if anyone else enjoys it as much as I did.

[Summ3rSunshin3…]

I agree with every author on this list
excellent choices for kids and teenss
out of this list two that stand out are the "Memory Keeper's Daughter"
and James Patterson books

[crossfire91070]

I strongly recommend Jonathan Rogers - Wilderking trilogy. It is outstanding and a bit of a different twist on fantasy adventure.

If you haven't read Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry & Ridley Pearson you are missing out. It is a wonderful adventure romp.

The Mistmantle Chronicles by M.I. Mcallister are also really good.

For kids Christian Fantasy, you can't beat Donita Paul's DragonSpell series. (Next book is due out in August.

I really struggled with both the Susan Cooper "Dark is Rising" series and with Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimo. So did my kids.

I found Cornelia Funke's "Thief Lord" to be wonderfully enchanting.

[Everyman]

I suppose I should post this comment on one of the official Harry Potter boards, but I'm terrified to go those places for fear of getting run over by hoards of passionate fans.

I got an email from BN about the HP Midnight Magic party and followed the links to the BN listing of the book.
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/isbninquiry.asp?ean=0545010225

I see that BN has already posted 602 "reviews" with an average rating of five bullets (top rating).

Now, would somebody please explain to me how BN can justify posting "reviews" of a book which hasn't even been released yet and which only a few people have read yet? And of what value is a rating system when the book is rated by people who have seen only the cover of it?

I realize that there is no way, once a book is in the marketplace, to require that people posting reviews of it on the site have actually read the book. But this pre-reviewing and rating when BN is perfectly well aware that none of its reviewers can have read even a single page of the book seems highly questionable for a serious book seller.

Am I the only person who finds this strange?

[PatrickKiley]

Tunnels. Read an advance copy for a film company out here in LA. It'll be a movie, and it'll be big, and what's more, it's a fantastic read. Great stuff. This Christmas is the first, I think.

P

[mayrawong23]

I been waiting forever for the release of Harry Potter. Am ver exciated and can wait to stared reading it.

[HarryPotter26]

I like Charlie Bone.