Junior Fiction | Lost in a Good Book

The Bad Beginning (#1) by Lemony Snicket

18 Feb 2013 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, A Series of Unfortunate Events, Junior Fiction Tags: a series of unfortunate events, four stars, junior fiction, lemony snicket, movie

Published: September 30th 1999
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 176
Format: Book
Genre: Junior Fiction
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

Dear Reader,
I’m sorry to say that the book you are holding in your hands is extremely unpleasant. It tells an unhappy tale about three very unlucky children. Even though they are charming and clever, the Baudelaire siblings lead lives filled with misery and woe. From the very first page of this book when the children are at the beach and receive terrible news, continuing on through the entire story, disaster lurks at their heels. One might say they are magnets for misfortune. In this short book alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, and cold porridge for breakfast. It is my sad duty to write down these unpleasant tales, but there is nothing stopping you from putting this book down at once and reading something happy, if you prefer that sort of thing.
With all due respect,
Lemony Snicket

In light of Lemony Snicket’s birthday on the 28th I thought I would use the days leading up to review his well known series ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’. There are 13 in total but they are not overly time consuming to read. It is hard to say whether these books are better than the movie. The movie condensed the first three or four books into one movie so there wasn’t absolute justice done (is there ever), but also these books had their own issues that probably made it easy to watch the film. It probably depends, like most things, left up to the individual. I think Billy Connolly made the movie for me because Jim Carey certainly didn’t.

I liked this book. I enjoy reading books not necessarily for children, but that have children exposed to the dark side of the world. Dahl is also wonderful at this, children in unchildlike situations. I think we are underestimating children by sugar coating stories for them. I have to say Snicket does it slightly differently and not as well as Dahl, but there are the same intentions.

The way Snicket has written this first tale of unfortunate events speaks to the reader personally but also as if it were to a large audience which is very much like a storytelling manner. He also makes personal comments and explains the phrases and words he uses in context of his story. This makes you know he is aiming this at children, but he is not going to dumb it down for them either. It is very clever and he doesn’t treat the readers as ignorant or unworthy of scary tales that are, as it were, unfortunate.

The Bad Beginning is a good introduction to the situation and the characters. When an unfortunate event happens, the Baudelaire children are sent off to live with a mysterious relative and thus the adventure begins. We learn about the three children early on and we know what they like, what they are good at and little details about them that adds that little bit extra. Violet likes to invent, Klaus likes to research, and baby Sunny likes to bite things. There is a focus on these details that help throughout the story in working out what is going on which is clever if one pays attention.

It is a very interesting and well thought out idea that Snicket has created. It is very organised and calm and everyone is very straightforward through this book which was different. It by no means took away from the story or the suspense, but there is something odd and appealing about the calm nature these children handle things as each unfortunate event happens to them. They are mistreated and practically abused but Snicket brushes it off and the children are fed up but they are very accepting as well. This approach was new to me so it took a little getting used to but Snicket made no secrets about the nature of this book so it very much is a matter of it is what it is. This story, and the children within it, are resilient to the end with a hint of cunning, cleverness and surprise, always a good trait for children and books. Definitely makes you want to continue onto book two.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbit

18 Feb 2013 Leave a comment

by Amy in 4 Stars, General, Historical, Junior Fiction Tags: four stars, historical fiction, junior fiction, movie, natalie babbit

Published: November 1st 1985
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Pages: 144
Format: Book
Genre: Historical/Junior Fiction
★ ★ ★ ★ – 4 Stars

Doomed to – or blessed with – eternal life after drinking from a magic spring, the Tuck family wanders about trying to live as inconspicuously and comfortably as they can. When ten-year-old Winnie Foster stumbles on their secret, the Tucks take her home and explain why living forever at one age is less a blessing that it might seem. Complications arise when Winnie is followed by a stranger who wants to market the spring water for a fortune.

Tuck Everlasting is a novel by Natalie Babbit and is set in the summer of 1880. This is a great story about a young girl Winnie who lives opposite the woods, dreams of adventure and stumbles upon a great secret. Being only ten years old she greets things and thinks things through as a child and is quick to access and accept those around her. I love it when authors write children protagonists, and all characters really, to match their ages. There is something great about reading a book and while it may seem illogical and a bit strange as we read, you know it is because it is through the eyes of a child and that is how they think and react. What makes Winnie great also is the era in which she lives. She has the child’s mind but she had the 19th century society influence as well.

While Winnie is trying to have an adventure she meets the Tuck family. This is where the curiosity begins because we are given two conflicting sides. This is soon replaced with a new curiosity as we get to know the Tucks better. Once Winnie is introduced to Mae, Angus, Miles and Jesse, it is from that moment she has her own little adventure all to herself.

The Tuck’s are a very decent family, you can tell the era which they come from in their speech and lifestyle, nothing special in particular about them on the outside. Jess and Miles are young men who like to travel and be adventurous while Mae and Angus are happy just being together. When Winnie stumbles upon the Tucks they are so bewildered and yet glad to have found her and they treat her as one of their own almost instantly, Jesse especially. I did find it a little odd that this seventeen year old boy was so attached and fond of a ten year old. I understand how she was smitten, him being bronzed, curly haired and being “even more beautiful up close” but he practically proposes to her. But aside from that it was a good story, it didn’t go where you thought it would which was a good thing I think. There was surprises and twists and in such a short book that was quite well done.

This was made into a ok movie starring Alexis Bledel of Gilmore Girls fame, but having read the book I think there is slightly more to enjoy in the book. In my mind, and a lot of the time I think I am right, the book trumps the movie. Sometimes they are both as bad as each other, but a lot of the time books come out on top. One of my favourite moments is when you discover a movie you liked was originally a book. Either I will track down the book to see the changes, or hope that it was better, or sometimes, like Hugo, you want to find out if it just as spectacular. I have to say Babbit’s book definitely trumps the movie in this case, but only just. With credit to the film a lot was similar.

Babbit’s idea is not new by any means but they people she placed around this idea were, and they were real and honest people who did not choose this life and were doing their best to protect people from it. It is an honourable and heartfelt book that makes you think, but even without reading anything into it, this story is simply about a little girl who has this wonder in her life and where that wonder takes her. It is as simple as that.

The Last Battle (#7) by C. S. Lewis

15 Feb 2013 Leave a comment

by Amy in 1 Star, Classic, Junior Fiction, Narnia Chronicles Tags: c.s. lewis, chronicles of narnia, classic, fantasy, junior fiction, one star

Published: March 5th 2002 (originally 4 September 1956)
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 229
Format: Book
Genre: Junior Fiction/ Fantasy
★ – 1 Star

The last battle is the greatest battle of all. Narnia… where lies breed fear… where loyalty is tested… where all hope seems lost. During the last days of Narnia, the land faces its fiercest challenge – not an invader from without but an enemy from within. Lies and treachery have taken root, and only the king and a small band of loyal followers can prevent the destruction of all they hold dear.

Note: This review is what I wrote the second I finished this book. I put the book down and stormed to the computer and wrote this. I feel it captures my feeling at the time when I read it. I apologise if you liked this book, I understood from the many five star reviews people did, but I saw just as many on my side so I don’t feel too bad about it. I don’t know if you can pick up the anger in my writing tone, it is hard not to, but I was trying to be as civil as possible.

“I hated the ending. Simple as that. I wanted to throw the book across the room, scrunch it into a pile and set it on fire. I get your message Mr Lewis. Don’t shove it down my throat. You managed to slip it in unbeknownst to me in the second book, I don’t know enough of the Bible to know if you did it in any other story except the first and that was tolerable, but when you blatantly spell it out in such an insulting and judgmental manner I get pretty damn pissed off.

The book started off ok, it was a bit sad to see how the once beautiful Narnia had become but it was a new adventure and I accepted it. The whole ape thing confused me and I thought it was weird but I accepted it. Times were tough in Narnia, it was thousands of years since the early days and everyone had evolved, I accepted it. Then the children come back, there is hope yet. Oh not everyone, ok…it might be alright. But no, no it was not. The further this book went I could see the happiness and tolerance metre in my head slowly drop. Then the final part of the book came and I just got angry. I don’t know the last time I got as angry at a book as I did at this. I forgot all the other great books I had read of this series and focused on how Lewis managed to screw up the last book of the series. He almost got through it without making an ass out of himself and causing a divide in the readers. The rest of the books would vary from a few people, but this book would divide one way or the other I could tell.

We effectively rushed through the ending, skipping long explanations and just saying this is what happened and this is what it is now. Let’s all be accepting good Narnian slaves and live forever after in this wonderland and don’t think too much of how you are here. Oh and never mention those who got left behind cause they are the devil incarnate. Thank you Mr Lewis, I hope you’re happy with yourself.”

So that was was my initial reaction and review. I would like to add that almost a year later, and a lot calmer, I wouldn’t change anything because that is how I felt about what happened but I will try and offer a better summary. This is the seventh book in my chronological system, I cannot imagine how this could possible be anything other than last so that is undisputed. We are not given any real explanation why the story begins how it does and so for a lot of it I was confused about what was going on. The ending of The Silver Chair and the past history Lewis used I was expecting a slight continuation, but not having that I thought perhaps we were doing another seemingly unconnected The Horse and His Boy style book. The issue I had with that was that this was supposed to be the final book, the book that concluded all the stories, all the magic, all the crossovers and lives that we had seen; and when that didn’t seem to be happening I was very confused. The ape thing I mentioned was were my anger sort of began. Maybe not anger but I think having come from this succession of great Narnia history and beauty, seeing it being tampered with felt disrespectful. I don’t want to make any connection between the ape/human debate because I can’t entirely see how that is relevant considering what we have seen, but knowing Lewis’ ability to throw in symbolism at every turn it wouldn’t surprise me.

As I say not a lot was explained so there were times where I was reading and going along with it because I could not figure out where any of this was headed. I know Lewis had a tendency to add religion into his books. I got the message in The Magician’s Nephew, this, somehow, was a lot worse because it was not even using the imagery and the metaphor and symbolism that that book had, and even The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe was subtler (for me anyhow). I won’t tell you not to read it, not at all, and I know this is simply my view on the book, other people have loved it, bear that in mind and don’t go into this book expecting the worst. I just want you to know that for me, this book is very different than the previous ones. Lewis seems to take things to another level, perhaps if he had been gradually building throughout this series the book would not have been such a shock, but for me it seemed unexpected and extreme considering where we had come from. There had been no indication that those sorts of things were possible nor that they would happen. I may have to reread some reviews to understand why people loved it, and I have an inkling, but I am willing to try.

The Silver Chair (#6) by C. S. Lewis

14 Feb 2013 Leave a comment

by Amy in 5 Stars, Classic, Junior Fiction, Narnia Chronicles Tags: c.s. lewis, chronicles of narnia, classic, fantasy, five stars, junior fiction

Published: March 5th 2002 (originally 7 September 1953)
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 257
Format: Book
Genre: Junior Fiction/ Fantasy
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ – 5 Stars

A prince imprisoned – a country in peril.

Narnia…where giants wreak havoc…where evil weaves a spell…where enchantment rules. Through dangers untold and caverns deep and dark, a noble band of friends are sent to rescue a prince held captive. But their mission to Underland brings them face-to-face with an evil more beautiful and more deadly than they ever expected.

The Silver Chair. The sixth, though sometimes fourth book (no, not letting this idiotic thing go yet) of The Chronicles of Narnia. This is the first book after we see the last of the Pevensie siblings. If you were reading the original publication order then this would be the first book in the series where the Pevensie siblings do not appear. I however, as stated in previous reviews, unknowingly followed the order my box set gave me which placed them in the chronological order. However you chose to read these books, or did read these books is up to you and probably does not really matter except when commenting about them in book reviews and trying to phrase certain things. Since this is classed as the fourth of the “originals” it does tie in with the Pevensie so we will look at it like that, despite all this extra knowledge due to the fact it now isn’t actually number four. Still with me? It’s horrid I know.

The Silver Chair brings the return of Eustace, cousin and former brat of The Dawn Treader adventures. The story begins with Eustace returning to school after the holidays when his cousins Lucy and Edmund visited, and after his transformation in Narnia. This story also introduces a new character in Jill Pole; their relationship between the pair isn’t one of great admiration and fleeing from bullies is what gets their adventure going. Ah Jill Pole, the annoying and useless hero of Narnia. I apologise Jill, you were not that bad and you recovered well, but you did cause some strife. Dear Jill is suddenly and surprisingly thrown into the world of Narnia with Eustace as Narnia calls to help them, or get help from them, we are yet to find out.

There is mystery and intrigue from the get go in Narnia. Despite being an adventure story Lewis manages to create a lot of questions and intrigue in seemingly simple storylines. Aslan appears early on, and it was interesting to see how he treats the non cherished children. I do enjoy The Silver Chair as a story, the new characters are a great change from the usual bunch, and now we have popped off the last of the famous four we get to explore more of Narnia. Eustace is a lot more bearable after his last adventure, and Jill is alright, but throwing her into this world where she is demanded of so much is a bad mix. Watching her fail at every turn is a tad annoying, I always got annoyed at her, but you can see how she faults and so you do understand which is almost more annoying.

I think the new settings and people makes this a high favourite. More of Narnia is explored and it shows that lives exist away from the drama of previous books. Time has also moved a lot faster than in the real world and so the world has changed once again, creating new issues problems and a new history to learn. One of the new characters Puddleglum is by far a favourite character of mine; his cynicism and glumness is always a joy, and he is very matter of fact when you look past the despair he always seems to feel.

It is not only new characters as The Silver Chair brings a few old faces again as the story connects more with Prince Caspian than to The Dawn Treader. Aslan’s appearances seem more aggressive than in previous books, though that too is understandable considering what happens. What I always enjoyed about this story was the magic involved; it is a different magic than that in previous books. We see the darker side and the evil and beauty other magic holds; similar to that in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe but a little bit different again. The plot aides this magic well, but alone the story developed is actually quite interesting and engaging. Outside of the rest of the series and continual adventures it stands on its own fairly well. It was good not to rehash every bit of the past and just take the necessary components, something that some of the previous books over indulged in. Another advantage of removing yourself from the legend and past of the Four Kings and Queens of Narnia.

With these later books being a little less continual you can say it kind of follows on, but the events of Dawn Treader are not in vain, it all comes together in the slightest ways. Characters and stories do still reappear and bring the world of Narnia completely together on the page. No good will come from reading this series in a random order, there is not enough recap to allow that, but by changing the order depending on editions it forces you to chose. Pick a version, whether original or chronological, and stick with it. It is always easier to read things in the given order (which ever order you choose) as it avoids confusion, and especially as the series comes to a close it is more important than before.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (#5) by C. S Lewis

13 Feb 2013 Leave a comment

by Amy in 5 Stars, Classic, Junior Fiction, Narnia Chronicles Tags: c.s. lewis, chronicles of narnia, classic, fantasy, five stars, junior fiction

Published: March 5th 2002 (originally 15 September 1952)
Publisher: HarperTrophy
Pages: 272
Format: Book
Genre: Junior Fiction/ Fantasy
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ – 5 Stars

A voyage to the very ends of the world.

Narnia… where a dragon awakens… where stars walk the earth… where anything can happen. A king and some unexpected companions embark on a voyage that will take them beyond all known lands. As they sail father and farther from charted waters, they discover that their quest is more than they imagined and that the world’s end is only the beginning.

Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the third published but chronological fifth book in the Narnia series and yet another I rather liked. The way Lewis has created this world and these stories is so elegant and magical that you do forget his shortcomings if you find them and get carried off in the narrative.

Following the events of the previous story we are introduced to cousin Eustace and his horrid and bratty ways. This is the first book without Peter or Susan, Peter is studying and Susan is travelling in America. The story begins with Lucy and Edmund arriving at their cousin’s house to stay for the holidays. Given that Lucy and Edmund have been king and queen of an ancient land they really do put up with a lot from their cousin. Lewis manages to capture his personality
well and you do get a sense of his intolerance and spoilt nature. When the inevitable call from Narnia comes the three travellers find themselves onboard the ships of Caspian, now the king of Narnia. Three years has passed in the Narnian world and Caspian and his crew are sailing the seas and distant Narnian lands looking for the seven lost Lords; a quest for his coronation. Despite being in the land, Eustace still refuses to accept the stories his cousins told him are true and makes the entire journey tedious for all involved.

This book follows Caspian as he searches the lands for the missing Lords and in doing so the visiting trio get swept up in the adventures. Lucy and Edmund are older now so they also act and carry themselves as more grown up, added their royal position and the effect Narnia has on them only makes them more likeable in this book. There are a lot of new faces; I especially like Reepicheep, simply because despite him being a mouse he is a tough fighter and doesn’t take any of Eustace’s nonsense. Though I will say Eustace does not remain as intolerable for long and he redeems himself. Aside from the characters, the lands the ship visits, and the adventures and situations the crew find themselves in are quite wonderful; they are beautifully dangerous, magical, mysterious, and enchanting all at once. There is magic, dragons, slavery, mysterious mist, sand footprints, all you could ever want in an adventure!

I did like the dragon inclusion in this novel. When I was younger I used to think dragons were real; I thought they were like dinosaurs in that they existed a long time ago and were now extinct. I was quite happy to believe this until I realised the truth; and I’m a little sorry to say it was a real disappointment, one of those ‘feel it in your chest’ disappointments. And so I must now get my dragon delights through literature.

I do not want to ruin the story by giving anything away but there were some issues I found, nothing to affect my overall opinion just a few small details that caught my eye. I will admit I did not understand the ending completely until the film came out, but I understood enough. It was the third time I had the sense Lewis was trying to push religion on his readers through the story. This was blatantly obvious in the film, but I was glad the book had some restraint about it. As per usual Aslan does make an appearance, though not for long, instead he is more of an ideal at first, similar to that in Prince Caspian or A Horse and His Boy.

Having come so far changes are inevitable, especially since we are now privy to these Narnian rules, however unexplained they may be. I think by reading the other non-Pevensie focused books you do not miss the absent Pevensie’s as much, nor mind new characters being brought in because you have been exposed to others and different stories. I think if we had nothing but the four siblings then having them gradually be removed would be strange, almost like recasting to keep a series going. As the series is coming to an end you really have to keep going till the end, and now with new faces being introduced there is a chance of different styles of adventures.