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Original poster

Is there anyone else on here who didn't love The Book Thief?

264 replies

TunipTheVegedude · 07/07/2013 20:54

I was told to persevere with it and I'm now 63% through and it's annoying me more than ever.
I'm finding it pretentious and dull and while some of the characters are fine, the girl is totally unconvincing - she reads like someone has sat down and decided on some interesting characteristics to give her ('I know! I'll make her good at fighting and football!') rather than the character growing naturally.
Is it going to get better in the last 37%?

OP posts:
MadameDefarge · 08/07/2013 21:14

It really reminded me of the Chrysalids in tone...

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 08/07/2013 21:13

I thought Knife of and the next one were really good, and the third was crap.

roundtable · 08/07/2013 21:12

There should be a question mark there, sorry!

MadameDefarge · 08/07/2013 21:11

we have the knife of never letting go..great start I agree...

I think there maybe a problem with trying to make a mini franchise...they all run out of steam before the end of the series

Original poster
TunipTheVegedude · 08/07/2013 21:10

Not The Knife of Never Letting Go.
The voice is very strong and it opens well but it lets you down.

OP posts:
roundtable · 08/07/2013 21:08

Uh oh! Am I going to be ostracised from MN! Grin

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 08/07/2013 21:07

Yes, I really liked WWZ too. Most zombie books are so badly written that they are not worth bothering with, but I did enjoy The Passage. It's not YA but other than its length, it could be.

If I had to choose one YA to get you to try, I'd say either Across The Nightingale Floor (ancient Japanese warrior-esque) or The Knife Of Never Letting Go (dystopian, futuristic, totalitarian-esque).

MadameDefarge · 08/07/2013 21:06

who write the wwz?

MadameDefarge · 08/07/2013 21:05

Try the Higson books, he really has matured as a writer with his own material.

MadameDefarge · 08/07/2013 21:04

I agree. The young Bond's didn't work for me really. Being Bond seemed totally irrelevant. Especially the weirdy schi fi bit about it.

CoteDAzur · 08/07/2013 21:04

Remus - I could read a YA book if you want to recommend one although you probably won't, seeing how I ranted about Dark Tower #2 Grin .

I didn't dislike Book Thief because it is YA. I disliked it because it is badly written and a bit silly. And its Death is just an idiot.

My point about it being YA was that it is a subject that we (adults) have read quite extensively about, and that this is a relatively light and superficial account of the holocaust in comparison.

I really liked World War Z but haven't read any other zombie stuff.

Original poster
TunipTheVegedude · 08/07/2013 21:03

Yes, he did the Young Bonds. I read the first one. Enjoyed it but didn't feel the need to read more.

OP posts:
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 08/07/2013 21:02

Haven't read the Higsons. Is he the same guy who did the Young Bonds? They were okay but got v samey.

MadameDefarge · 08/07/2013 21:01

Alex Scarrow. Alex. Alex.

MadameDefarge · 08/07/2013 21:01

Mr Higson, otoh, delivers consistantly.

As do the Time Riders series by Amex Scarrow. However I am worried he is going to same way as Michael Grant...

Trills · 08/07/2013 21:00

I think the Gone series would have been better if nobody had powers. Would more people have died, or fewer?

MadameDefarge · 08/07/2013 20:59

Absolutely Remus. The last two were so disappointing. And the last one just was shite. But the first few were brill.

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 08/07/2013 20:58

Michael Grant - the first couple are really good, but they get more and more clumsily written imho and the ending is daft.

MadameDefarge · 08/07/2013 20:56

Yeah, Higson, DS always telling me off cos I get it wrong all the time. Read it wrong once, and its stuck!

Not funny, but set in London, and really thoughtful. And gripping. totally.

Original poster
TunipTheVegedude · 08/07/2013 20:54

You mean Higson.
Are they funny?

OP posts:
MadameDefarge · 08/07/2013 20:54

As is Michael Grant...

There has been a real dystopian future thang going on, but its about over now in publishing.

Robert Murchamore, whom my ds loves, grates upon me terribly. I mean really really badly.

MadameDefarge · 08/07/2013 20:52

My DS is just turned 13, for the last couple of years we have been sharing books...there are some stonkers out there.

I recommend Charlie Grigson's zombie series. bloody brilliant.

Original poster
TunipTheVegedude · 08/07/2013 20:50

Don't demean lovely YA by attempting to sell it to Cote.
She should never ever read YA and then there will be all the more for me.

OP posts:
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 08/07/2013 20:47

I've been here forever. I had no idea what IPOAT was and am as far from MN royalty as possible, I think. I'm not even a wrinkle in the red carpet of MN royalty.

Cote - I know you don't like YA books, but there really are some very well written ones nowadays. I like them as my, 'bath books' in the same way I'll revisit Conan Doyle for things I don't have to think about much, but which are not just trite nonsense.

MadameDefarge · 08/07/2013 20:47