TWIB-III: 6
Nov. 24th, 2008 12:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
akujunkanOnly one book this week, and one so bad it took me four months to buckle down and read it.
1) Artemis Fowl: Book 1 - Eoin Colfer
Judging by the bookstore displays, it's clear that the publisher of the Artemis Fowl was trying to position the it as the next Harry Potter. Like most of the "next Harry Potter" candidates, it is, predictably, a solidly horrible book. Even when Colfer's writing isn't obviously trying to imitate the worse aspects of JKR's style, it utterly lacks descriptive power, to say nothing of rhythm or poetry. The "characters" are one-dimensional placeholders for whatever emotional or physical trait, happy mistake, or deus ex machina Colfer needs to advance the "plot," which itself is little more than a flimsy pretext excusing Colfer's constant shit, shit-play, and vomit jokes. And yes, I use that language intentionally, because Colfer's brand of "humor" is indeed that brazenly scatalogical--and just as amusing. I frequently read books that might be enjoyed more by younger audiences than older (or vice versa), but it's rare that I come across a book I can't imagine possessing any redeeming characteristics for any reading demographic: this is one such book. Colfer's non-Fowl novels come to me highly recommended by a good friend; all I can say is that I hope they are better than this offering.
That will be all.
1) Artemis Fowl: Book 1 - Eoin Colfer
Judging by the bookstore displays, it's clear that the publisher of the Artemis Fowl was trying to position the it as the next Harry Potter. Like most of the "next Harry Potter" candidates, it is, predictably, a solidly horrible book. Even when Colfer's writing isn't obviously trying to imitate the worse aspects of JKR's style, it utterly lacks descriptive power, to say nothing of rhythm or poetry. The "characters" are one-dimensional placeholders for whatever emotional or physical trait, happy mistake, or deus ex machina Colfer needs to advance the "plot," which itself is little more than a flimsy pretext excusing Colfer's constant shit, shit-play, and vomit jokes. And yes, I use that language intentionally, because Colfer's brand of "humor" is indeed that brazenly scatalogical--and just as amusing. I frequently read books that might be enjoyed more by younger audiences than older (or vice versa), but it's rare that I come across a book I can't imagine possessing any redeeming characteristics for any reading demographic: this is one such book. Colfer's non-Fowl novels come to me highly recommended by a good friend; all I can say is that I hope they are better than this offering.
That will be all.
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no subject
on 2008-11-24 10:01 am (UTC)With all the shit & vomit references, I'd say the target audience is more likely to be 10-13 year old boys who don't read that much.
no subject
on 2008-11-25 08:08 am (UTC)With all the shit & vomit references, I'd say the target audience is more likely to be 10-13 year old boys who don't read that much.
Bingo. But what Colfer et. al. seem to be missing is that that demographic can easily get much moar awesomely graphic shit & vomit funz on 4chan, so why the hell would they bother turning to a book for a pale comparison?
OMG... that sucks!
on 2008-11-25 02:52 am (UTC)Re: OMG... that sucks!
on 2008-11-25 08:10 am (UTC)That said, I think I might put Hunger Games first, since I enjoyed the first chapter you let me read.
Sounds good--I'll look for your post tomorrow. I MISS YOU GUYS!!!!!
Artemis Fowl
on 2008-11-28 01:39 am (UTC)no subject
on 2008-11-28 06:41 am (UTC)