Well, that was a ride! I really love this novel. I think sometimes the detail with which the events are described is a little too much, but overall the premise and the story was really fun, and I really enjoyed it.
I do wish. Perhaps the author had explored more about being main characters double standard on AI. I also wish. Maybe the ending had an epilogue or something to kind of tie it often. Let us know what happened to Hester afterwards.
I overall highly recommend this book for an adventure and sci-fi .
This was a fantastic book. It is clearly and simply written, and generally rather accessible for someone who is not familiar with classical music or pianistic technique. That said, classical pianists and musicians of all kinds should read this book. Claudio Arrau was the last of his kind in many ways, and there is much to be learned here. What I found most surprising was the frankness by which he presented his profound spiritual knowledge and then connection with the music he played. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the subject.
I loved Hoffmanns writing in high school. You can count on her for intimate, tragic, and passionate storytelling, with an element of the mysterious and magical. In the context of her writing, this set of short stories seems like a better idea on paper than in the realization. Her storytelling seems to work better with a more developed storyline and intimacy with the characters. Her familiar tactics of emotionally charged writing, in some places, come off as melodramatic and even cheesy in the context of these short stunted story lines.
Idk, having reread it in adulthood, the story is weaker than other young adult fantasies I've read.
The children are a bit two dimensional, especially the girls being prized mainly for their beauty and gentleness. They are also not allowed to participate in the battle, etc.
There are other stories that tell fantasies for children better.
The story of Aslan is moving, as is the story of Jesus Christ...but come on...
Four random British children walk into a new world and suddenly they have divine right to be rulers of it? As dictated by Aslan( and by extension, God?)
Glorification of White saviors, violent colonialism, and even misogyny is not something I really need my children to read.
Pass.