The Magicians – Lev Grossman
The Magicians - Lev Grossman
Top 100 Book: Not a top 100 book
Star Rating:: ***1/2
Quick Review:: To all my friends I have constantly described this book as a dark Harry Potter meets Narnia and from scouring the web it appears others have supported my view. The Magicians tells the story of young Quentin Coldwater who stumbles across the magical school of Brakebills (your Hogwarts) unintentionally when he turns up for his Princeton interview to find his examiner dead and a mysterious envelope bearing his name.
Everything changes once Quentin immerses himself in the life of a true magician love, death, pain, laughter, lust and hard work lay before him and the book concerns itself with his tales at Brakebills and his life after it.
My opinion, I am on the fence on this one! There were elements I loved, and elements I loathed, I felt that the author tried to cover too many storylines with this one, not that it was difficult to follow, I think I found some areas rushed and rather shallow. It may have served better as two books or a trilogy covering Quentin’s Brakebill days and his life after.
The Time Traveler’s Wife – Audrey Niffenegger
The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
Top 100 Book: Number 19
Star Rating:: ***
Quick Review:: Now a successful film the Time Traveler's wife is the story of Henry and Clare. Henry has a condition which means that he travels through time regularly and is unable to control it so he goes forward and backwards without any control! I likened it to Journeyman if anyone has seen it. This book tells the story of Clare and Henry in a diary style as they meet at various points through Henry's travels.
A wonderful concept which would have been more highly recommended if it had been around 200 pages less. It got a little repetitive and seemed to keep going over the same stories again and again. The beginning and the end were very well written, lose some of the mindless middle dribble and it would have been a much more enjoyable read.
Detailed Review:: *SLIGHT PLOT SPOILERS*
Northern Lights – Philip Pullman
Northern Lights - Philip Pullman
Top 100 Book :: Number 8 (The whole trilogy)
Star Rating:: ****
Quick Review::
Northern Lights, The first in a trilogy of books follows the story of Lyra an Orphan in a world parallel to ours. After losing her friend Roger she embarks on a mission to find him… Along the way she discovers horrible experiments, scientists and unravels many mysteries….
Detailed Review:: *SLIGHT PLOT SPOILERS*
Enchantress of Florence – Salman Rushdie
Enchantress of Florence
Not Recommended By Anyone, Just Fancied Reading it :)
Star Rating:: **
Quick Review::
The Mogor Dell’Amore arrives at the door of The Emperor Akbar claiming to be an ambassador from England with a message from the Queen herself. This young blond haired visitor captivates the Emperor with his tales of a foreign land and his claim of being the son of Qara Koz a kinswoman of the emperor……. But are his stories just make believe?
Detailed Review:: *SLIGHT PLOT SPOILERS*