Home

WHO'S ONLINE?
We have 2 guests and 1 member online

LAST UPDATE
Website last updated: 2008-11-17 21:03:19

Reading Group

home post reply threaded view PDF help

Forum List

READING GROUP

Myth and Magic

<< Start < Prev 1 2 Next > End >>

Colin M

Re:The Owl Service - 2008/06/20 09:48 The DVD is on Amazon - noticed it when I went hunting for reviews. I always do that when I finish a book, just to see if anyone else felt the same way. I think I'd be going against the grain on this one though, and give The Owl Service a 2 star rating, and here's why:

It started off well and is a nice easy read but it wasn't clear enough what was going on. I liked the character of the gardener, but possibly because he was the only one with any character, or at least, any depth of character. Clive is flat as a pancake but amusing, Nancy is funny in her flapping desire to quit, but the kids are just dull, and the relationship between Gwyn and Alison was boring. Even putting that aside, where it really fell flat for me was the story - I just didn't feel that it was getting anywhere. The clues didn't add up to much, and I was left with more questions than answers. Generally, it felt that the story itself wasn't complete. But from reading the reviews on Amazon I can't shake the feeling that I've missed something important. Maybe I need to read it again.

I like the bits about photography!

Colin M

| | The administrator has disabled public write access.

Nikki Gamble

Re:The Owl Service - 2008/06/21 09:51 Gosh Colin, you're right about the DVD - released in April this year. I've just bought a copy.

I first read The Owl Service when I was 12. I found tense and intense - almost claustrophobic. I think the real character in the book is the landscape where Myth of Branwen from the Mabinogion replays through the lives of the contemporary characters.

I can't disagree with you about the characterisation of the children and I think they feel dated if you read the book today but the story is biggger than they are.

| | The administrator has disabled public write access.

Luke Slater

Re:The Owl Service - 2008/06/23 19:56 Jennifer Waring wrote:They are exactly the kind of books I would like to write. There was also another book, I read as a child, of a similar ilk. It involved (I think) red haired twins and there was something in it about anicent worms living under the ground. The children had to crawl all the way through these underground tunnels to save some kind of stone. At the end they jump into a lake. If any one has any idea what that book was I would be super grateful! I may have mixed some of the details up a touch!

Was that the one with the worms/slugs that possessed human bodies (or took human form, or something)? I think I remember that; can't remember what it was called, but it stuck in my mind because one of the normal people who helped them - their cousin, I think - was killed helping them, which was rare in the books I was reading at the time. I think it must have been one of the first non-fluffy SF/Fantasy novels I read; probably at about the same time I found The Weirdstone of Brisingamen.

| | The administrator has disabled public write access.

<< Start < Prev 1 2 Next > End >>

Forum List READING GROUP Myth and Magic

Joomlaboard Forum Component 1.1.4 Stable
Two Shoes M-Factory

LATEST PICKS

Revolution is Not a Dinner Party

CALENDAR

Sat, Nov 15th, @8:00am- 05:00PM
2008 IBBY/NCRCL Conference

Tue, Nov 18th, @8:00am- 05:00PM
Booktrust Teenage Prize

Tue, Nov 18th, @8:00am- 05:00PM
Royal Mail Awards

Fri, Nov 28th, @8:00am- 05:00PM
Costa Shortlist Announcement

SERENDIPITY

The Apple-Pip Princess