Took me a long time to get to this uber-popular book, but I didn't want to take it out of the hands of the devoted readers, and it does take me a good long while to read something of this length. I can see the appeal. It is a very complex story, which works on many levels, and the writing is strong. Compare it to any number of books,
Westing Game,
Greenglass House,
Splendors and Glooms, and there are similarities, but it is completely unique as well. Four unusual children are tapped to solve a mystery which has a bit of life peril involved. While not exactly a page turner (although chapters are nicely short), the stakes do go up (and up and up) so, for me, it was about seeing if the children triumphed through their adversities. The characters are also very engaging. Every single character is drawn with depth and most of the main characters are the kind you would either identify with or want to be friends with. Despite the fantastical circumstances, these people felt very real. There is an "otherness" to this book which makes it feel like a different world. I often associate this with books written in England or Australia, but this is purebred American. The drawings at the beginning of each chapter reinforce the unreality with a style that is more caricature than real, but this only adds to a sense of light amusement which plays throughout. The chapter headings are arch, and there is some serious satire of modern society -- government, news organizations and more -- embedded in the plotline. Not sure that every reader will get all of the subtext, but it means a wide range of readers can appreciate the story regardless of age. A real winner. I can see why it became so hot, so fast.
No comments:
Post a Comment