Final review guys! So, I have been bashing on this book quite a bit lately. The last few chapters (to me, at least) have seemed to have failed on pretty much every level. They managed to get 2 likable characters, and then they went and gave one of them only half a chapter, and killed the other one! Yeah, that's right, the big sad moment of this book is the killing of Tam; oh, you don't remember Tam? Yeah, he's the uncle that got a whole 25 lines in the book. In a movie, this could be considered enough to make a well-established character, but in a book your expecting so much more from a character, and it's not even like most of his lines are good lines; he just acts like a poor man's Sirius Black.
So, Will and Cal eventually decide to help Chester and go back through the sewers into the abandoned city. However, the city is now crawling with Styx, which starts a fight between the 2 boys, there Doberman/Cat creature, and the Styx. This ends up with Tam appearing literally out of nowhere and having a fight with Crawfly. Tam kills Crawfly, and as they run to escape Rebecca throws a dagger, hitting Tam and killing him (Dobby, anyone?). After this, Will discovers (via random convenience) that Chester just left the police station and is heading for the deeps (a even lower area of the colony, pretty much a giant prison), and Will has a way to get onto the train. He does, meets Chester, and the book ends.
So, I am very mixed with this book. It has some elements that are very good, like the basic premise of the novel. However, the execution of this premise just feels sloppy. The pacing changes more than Donald Trump's opinions (that totally won't date this post quickly), and many of the characters with a lot of potential to be likable get barely a second glance or get killed in the first installment, and they failed to make the motivations for some characters next to non-existent. There are many more installments in this series, and looking at the reviews, it seems that the books decline in quality from here. So would I recommend this book? If you find it in your library maybe pick it up, but under no circumstance should you purchase it over much better YA fiction that is out there.
Final Rating: I give this book a 4/10, due to the lackluster elements mentioned before. It doesn't live up to much better fictional stories in the same area, and the fact that there is so much more amazing stories out there makes it impossible for me to recommend this.
'Till Next Time Adventurers!
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Tunnels Review (Part 7/8)
These chapters are insane; absolutely insane. So much happens in these chapters in the span of only 50 or so pages. Do I have a problem with that? Yes. I feel like since the beginning of my last review it has just been an information dump. In 6 (extremely short) chapters, they rip us away for the sinfully underdeveloped underground world of the Colony, as they try to break Chester out of prison, fail, fit in ANOTHER Shyamalan-styled twist, and then have Will and Cal go topsoil. I mean, 6 CHAPTERS. That all happens in a shorter amount of time then it took for Will and Chester to...dig a hole in gruelling detail. Are you getting my point here? This book is so out of nowhere, so lazily paced, that I find it almost fatiguing reading it because it feels like watching Mad Max: Fury Road (without interesting characters or insanely awesome practical effects).
So, about that twist. During the escape attempt, Will, Cal, Chester, and Bartleby (this odd cat creature the size of a Doberman) are holed up trying to open up a gateway that leads into a abandoned city that was killed off by a plague years ago. A bunch of Styx file into the room, and out of nowhere Rebecca walks into the room, wearing Styx clothing, humming; turns out that all along that she was placed into the family at a extremely young age, where she has been monitoring Will since the beginning.
I think that this twist misses the mark because of one thing: the fact that we have had chapters from Rebecca's perspective. Throughout the book we have had flashes to Rebecca, with a view into her mind and what she is doing. And yet, there is never even a hint to the fact that she may be evil. A good twist in the plot is supposed to have hints throughout the rest of the story pointing towards it. With the twist that Will is from the Colony, it is already established that he was adopted, that he has a lack of pigment (as do Colonists), and he had a natural inclination to dig even before his father became interested in digging and tunnels.
After all of this, Chester gets captured in the escape process (fail, am I right?), with the other 3 going topsoil, and going back to Will's old house for a rest and to get new clothes.
'Till Next Time Adventurers!
So, about that twist. During the escape attempt, Will, Cal, Chester, and Bartleby (this odd cat creature the size of a Doberman) are holed up trying to open up a gateway that leads into a abandoned city that was killed off by a plague years ago. A bunch of Styx file into the room, and out of nowhere Rebecca walks into the room, wearing Styx clothing, humming; turns out that all along that she was placed into the family at a extremely young age, where she has been monitoring Will since the beginning.
I think that this twist misses the mark because of one thing: the fact that we have had chapters from Rebecca's perspective. Throughout the book we have had flashes to Rebecca, with a view into her mind and what she is doing. And yet, there is never even a hint to the fact that she may be evil. A good twist in the plot is supposed to have hints throughout the rest of the story pointing towards it. With the twist that Will is from the Colony, it is already established that he was adopted, that he has a lack of pigment (as do Colonists), and he had a natural inclination to dig even before his father became interested in digging and tunnels.
After all of this, Chester gets captured in the escape process (fail, am I right?), with the other 3 going topsoil, and going back to Will's old house for a rest and to get new clothes.
'Till Next Time Adventurers!
Tunnels Review (Part 6/8)
Alright, so another pretty massive format change. I am removing the summary portion of these reviews, as they just take up time to write and they don't add anything to my opinion of the book. These reviews are made to show my opinion of the books change as I continue reading them. So, I'm cutting that part of the reviews out. So let's get to it then!
So, what did I think of this section of the book? Well, I think I have finally found a way to word what I think is the main problem with this book. The biggest issue that I have with Tunnels is the rapidly changing and sloppily executed pacing of the story. Honestly, if they could fix the pacing, this book could be really, really good. When this book was first released (prior to much critical review), it was hailed by many readers as the next Harry Potter, but then reviews started flooding in, with one of the main criticisms being the pacing of the story. The story focused so much on build up, and now the best part of the book (exploring the 'Hogwarts' of this novel and learning how this new world operates from a foreign perspective) feels condensed because of the length of the first act of the story. It annoys me that a story with so much promise did this, pretty much killing the enjoyability of the novel.
Apart from the abhorrent pacing, what do I think of the book so far? Well, easily the best part of this section was the relation between Will and his new family. In this section we are introduced to his grandmother, who overall acts really sweet to him, and a friendly uncle named Tam that really seems to be a kid at heart. Both of these characters are so much more interesting than the bland characters like Chester (which has kind of been forgotten...) who really did have much personality other than being...nice. For example, we learn in one of the chapters that Tam sometimes ventures to topsoil (even though it is forbidden by the Styx), and Will and Cal discuss how Will wants to go with Tam and escape from the underground, and Cal says that he would want to follow along. That's pretty much everything I have to say about these chapters.
'Till Next Time, Adventurers!
So, what did I think of this section of the book? Well, I think I have finally found a way to word what I think is the main problem with this book. The biggest issue that I have with Tunnels is the rapidly changing and sloppily executed pacing of the story. Honestly, if they could fix the pacing, this book could be really, really good. When this book was first released (prior to much critical review), it was hailed by many readers as the next Harry Potter, but then reviews started flooding in, with one of the main criticisms being the pacing of the story. The story focused so much on build up, and now the best part of the book (exploring the 'Hogwarts' of this novel and learning how this new world operates from a foreign perspective) feels condensed because of the length of the first act of the story. It annoys me that a story with so much promise did this, pretty much killing the enjoyability of the novel.
Apart from the abhorrent pacing, what do I think of the book so far? Well, easily the best part of this section was the relation between Will and his new family. In this section we are introduced to his grandmother, who overall acts really sweet to him, and a friendly uncle named Tam that really seems to be a kid at heart. Both of these characters are so much more interesting than the bland characters like Chester (which has kind of been forgotten...) who really did have much personality other than being...nice. For example, we learn in one of the chapters that Tam sometimes ventures to topsoil (even though it is forbidden by the Styx), and Will and Cal discuss how Will wants to go with Tam and escape from the underground, and Cal says that he would want to follow along. That's pretty much everything I have to say about these chapters.
'Till Next Time, Adventurers!
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Tunnels Review (Part 5/8)
Summary
Chapter 17 - This chapter begins with Will and Chester finally making a massive breakthrough; they unearth a opening into a pitch black cave area. Will notes that he hears water dripping in this cave. They don't explore it, but agree that they will soon. Chester leaves, and then Will's mother calls him and Rebecca upstairs for a chat. She says that Will and Rebecca are being moved to their drunkard aunt Jean, as they have to sell the house with the lack of income. The chapter ends with an argument between Will and his mother, because if he moves there is no way that he can explore the cave.
Chapter 18 - Will and Chester enter the cave, and see that there a gears everywhere, scattered all over the floor. They see a white rat that has no eyes, as in the darkness there would be no need for eyes. The rat scurries away. The chapter ends with them discovering a rusty elevator leading into the depths.
Chapter 19 - Will and Chester go down the miner's elevator, and eventually find a exact replica of their street and (they assume) the entire town of Highfield. The street has every single external detail nailed perfectly. The break into a few of the houses and see that they are reminiscent to 1800's style houses (furnishings, pictures, things of that sort). They continue on down the street until they are suddenly pulled up by the scruffs of their necks by stout men in policemen uniforms, who say they are bringing them to prison for breaking and entering. The chapter ends with Will spotting one of the tall, slender, pale men in trenchcoats staring at him through the carriage window with a sadistic smile.
Chapter 20 - This is quite a massive chapter, so I will only briefly summarize the chapter. Will and Chester are locked up in the Prison's hold; they are interrogated by the pale men in trench coats (who we know learn are called the Styx, and they rule over this underground civilization), who use a terrifying invention called the 'Dark Light', that makes you feel like you are being compressed until eventually collapsing. After weeks of interrogations, Will is called to meet up with a man and his son, named Mr.Jerome and Caleb. Will becomes confused, as they claim that he is the son of Mr.Jerome, the brother of Caleb. After the constant torture that Will has been through, he snaps at Caleb, shouting that everything they are saying is bull. The chapter ends with Will being dragged back into his cell.
Review
One thing I have to say about this:
Honestly, these last few chapters have grown exponentially in length and interest. There is now a definite antagonist, and now the friendship between Will and Chester is being strained as they are put to the end of their wits. I am really getting excited for the next chapters. The dynamics between Caleb and Will are already extremely interesting, as Caleb has fond memories of Will, who can't even remember the underground civilization in the first place.
The Styx are menacing and conniving villains, who do whatever they want, when they want. I am really starting to enjoy this book, but I still have a few noticeable problems with it. Most of these are minor, so I won't list them, but there is one in particular that is really getting to me. That problem is the extreme excessiveness of description in this book. Now, I have nothing with a book that gives detail and life into the world that the characters are interacting with, but when they first discover the underground town, they spend a good thirty or so pages on talking about how: Spoooooooooky! It's a street! And there are houses! And lamposts! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH! I just find it funny how gruelling some of these descriptions are, and honestly it starts to drag on.
In fact, I think the best way for me to explain this is with me simply saying one thing: between chapters 17, 18, 19, and 20, there was about 205 pages. For what I put in my review, that is insane. Yes, a lot happens, but not enough to warrant the length of most children's book. Combined with the rest of the book that we have read so far, the total right now is at 318 pages. We still have 20 chapters to go, but I am becoming worried that these are going to be extremely compressed because there are only 180 or so pages left. Anyway. those are my two cents on this section of the book.
'Till Next Time Adventurers!
Chapter 17 - This chapter begins with Will and Chester finally making a massive breakthrough; they unearth a opening into a pitch black cave area. Will notes that he hears water dripping in this cave. They don't explore it, but agree that they will soon. Chester leaves, and then Will's mother calls him and Rebecca upstairs for a chat. She says that Will and Rebecca are being moved to their drunkard aunt Jean, as they have to sell the house with the lack of income. The chapter ends with an argument between Will and his mother, because if he moves there is no way that he can explore the cave.
Chapter 18 - Will and Chester enter the cave, and see that there a gears everywhere, scattered all over the floor. They see a white rat that has no eyes, as in the darkness there would be no need for eyes. The rat scurries away. The chapter ends with them discovering a rusty elevator leading into the depths.
Chapter 19 - Will and Chester go down the miner's elevator, and eventually find a exact replica of their street and (they assume) the entire town of Highfield. The street has every single external detail nailed perfectly. The break into a few of the houses and see that they are reminiscent to 1800's style houses (furnishings, pictures, things of that sort). They continue on down the street until they are suddenly pulled up by the scruffs of their necks by stout men in policemen uniforms, who say they are bringing them to prison for breaking and entering. The chapter ends with Will spotting one of the tall, slender, pale men in trenchcoats staring at him through the carriage window with a sadistic smile.
Chapter 20 - This is quite a massive chapter, so I will only briefly summarize the chapter. Will and Chester are locked up in the Prison's hold; they are interrogated by the pale men in trench coats (who we know learn are called the Styx, and they rule over this underground civilization), who use a terrifying invention called the 'Dark Light', that makes you feel like you are being compressed until eventually collapsing. After weeks of interrogations, Will is called to meet up with a man and his son, named Mr.Jerome and Caleb. Will becomes confused, as they claim that he is the son of Mr.Jerome, the brother of Caleb. After the constant torture that Will has been through, he snaps at Caleb, shouting that everything they are saying is bull. The chapter ends with Will being dragged back into his cell.
Review
One thing I have to say about this:
Honestly, these last few chapters have grown exponentially in length and interest. There is now a definite antagonist, and now the friendship between Will and Chester is being strained as they are put to the end of their wits. I am really getting excited for the next chapters. The dynamics between Caleb and Will are already extremely interesting, as Caleb has fond memories of Will, who can't even remember the underground civilization in the first place.
The Styx are menacing and conniving villains, who do whatever they want, when they want. I am really starting to enjoy this book, but I still have a few noticeable problems with it. Most of these are minor, so I won't list them, but there is one in particular that is really getting to me. That problem is the extreme excessiveness of description in this book. Now, I have nothing with a book that gives detail and life into the world that the characters are interacting with, but when they first discover the underground town, they spend a good thirty or so pages on talking about how: Spoooooooooky! It's a street! And there are houses! And lamposts! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH! I just find it funny how gruelling some of these descriptions are, and honestly it starts to drag on.
In fact, I think the best way for me to explain this is with me simply saying one thing: between chapters 17, 18, 19, and 20, there was about 205 pages. For what I put in my review, that is insane. Yes, a lot happens, but not enough to warrant the length of most children's book. Combined with the rest of the book that we have read so far, the total right now is at 318 pages. We still have 20 chapters to go, but I am becoming worried that these are going to be extremely compressed because there are only 180 or so pages left. Anyway. those are my two cents on this section of the book.
'Till Next Time Adventurers!
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Tunnels Review (Part 4/8)
Quick update, there will be a slight format change to these reviews. Also, I want to apologise for a lack of reviews this last week, I have been away during the majority of march break. So, let us continue on with our first review, Tunnels by Roderick Gordon and Brian Williams.
Summary
Chapter 13 - This chapter starts off with a scene showing Will being mercilessly insulted by his main bully, Speed, who berates him with insults about his skin (which, as I mentioned before, is missing in most of its pigment, making it extremely pale) and his father, who everyone now knows has ran away. This continues until Chester stands up for Will, and Speed backs off. Later that night, Will and Chester search Will's dad's cellar (where they last saw him go before disappearing) to look for clues. They find a hidden tunnel that their father had evidently dug behind a bookcase, that has been caved in just like Chester and Will's old mine that they made a while ago, with out-of-place limestone deposits in the soil.
Chapter 14 - Over the next few weeks, Will and Chester continue to dig. Rebecca questions Will about how he has been out every night after school, and he confesses that he is digging, but doesn't say where or why. It ends with him having a nightmare about being chased by the pale skinned men, and being sucked into the earth.
Chapter 15 - A police inspector comes to Will's house to further the investigation on Will's father, and to Will's surprise his mother's usually filthy and lazy demeanour has changed for the better, with her room and herself being spotlessly clean. The policeman evidently has suspicion of Will's mother. The questioning ends as the mother makes the officer leave. The next day, Will and Chester get chased by the mysterious trench-coat wearing pale men. The two boys are able to evade them by entering 'Clarke's Grocer', where they have a unimportant conversation with a strange man, Mr.Clarke Junior.
Chapter 16 - This last chapter of this section starts with Will and Chester talking about the definite connection between the pale men and the deliberate dismantlement of both Will's mine and his father's secret tunnel. This conversation ends with them saying that they should continue digging to see where the secret tunnel leads. That night, Will finds that a package was delivered to the house. Inside is the photosensitive sphere that Will's father talked about; this sphere that lights up whenever in the dark. Inside the package there is also a note from a university that Will's father sent the sphere to. The note says that they have no idea what metal the item is made of, how it works, or what the liquid inside is. The chapter ends with the end of the note.
Review
So, my predictions have not come true yet, but looking at the direction that the story is going, I could totally see my predictions coming true. I believe (like Will and Chester), that there is a definite connection between the pale men, the filling of the different tunnels, and Will's dad disappearing. I think that Will and Chester will unearth something that will lead them far into the earth, where they will probably find their father, and possibly some form of underground civilization that has lived under our noses for years. I kind of hope that I am not right, because I think it is a detriment to the story if I can guess what will happen chapters and chapters before this stuff happens.
Another thing to note is that we FINALLY reached a point in the story that had some humour (albeit relatively dry, but I'll take it over more bullying scenes). Mr.Clarke Jnr. was a very strange character to meet, and he was just funny. It is hard to explain, but I just found his odd mannerisms and little quips and quotes hilarious (possibly because it starkly contrasted with the dark scenes that came before it). I am happy to see at least some humour in this story, as I was beginning to become sick of the constant mean that was found in the story. Anyway, I hope my predictions come true and that we get some more character development in the next section.
'Till Next Time, Adventurers!
So, my predictions have not come true yet, but looking at the direction that the story is going, I could totally see my predictions coming true. I believe (like Will and Chester), that there is a definite connection between the pale men, the filling of the different tunnels, and Will's dad disappearing. I think that Will and Chester will unearth something that will lead them far into the earth, where they will probably find their father, and possibly some form of underground civilization that has lived under our noses for years. I kind of hope that I am not right, because I think it is a detriment to the story if I can guess what will happen chapters and chapters before this stuff happens.
Another thing to note is that we FINALLY reached a point in the story that had some humour (albeit relatively dry, but I'll take it over more bullying scenes). Mr.Clarke Jnr. was a very strange character to meet, and he was just funny. It is hard to explain, but I just found his odd mannerisms and little quips and quotes hilarious (possibly because it starkly contrasted with the dark scenes that came before it). I am happy to see at least some humour in this story, as I was beginning to become sick of the constant mean that was found in the story. Anyway, I hope my predictions come true and that we get some more character development in the next section.
'Till Next Time, Adventurers!
Friday, March 11, 2016
Tunnels Review (Part 3/8)
So, now that I have reached up to chapter twelve, I have found that I am starting to really get into the mystery and story behind Roderick Gordon's magnum opus. The characters are even beginning to grow on me, even after the brutal argument scene from last time. So let's start with a quick recap:
So, after the pointless trash rummaging-scene, the argument, and Will seeing his father digging near their house in the middle of the night, Will wakes up to his dad not being in the house. Will's father has completely dissipated from Highfield, with all traces of him wiped away. Trying to get his mind off of this, he and Chester go to their secret dig site, only to learn that their tunnel into the earth has been blocked off. Will thinks that this is connected to his father's disappearance, and believes that there is something going on in Highfield behind the scenes. After a brief talk with the police, Will can clearly see that nobody really cares about his secluded father's disappearance. Will then decides to convince Chester to help him break into the museum that Will's father worked in. Inside his father's office, Will finds strange notes in his journal talking about how he is constantly being followed by the mysterious pale-skinned men, and how they have blocked the entrances to mysterious tunnels and entrances that he has been discovering over the last few months. The journal entries end with Will's father saying the key to this puzzle is the construction company magnate from the 1800's, Sir Gabriel Marteneau, and incoherent ramblings on how he is about to do something dangerous and insane, exclaiming that 'he would be remembered'. This segment of the book ends with Will stating that his fathers digging equipment is also gone.
So what have I thought of this section of the book? Well, as I said before, I am really starting to dig this book (I am so sorry for that pun). Honestly, there is not many clever observations for this section of the book, but I do have some predictions. I think that Will and Chester are going to probably find some vital clue that allows them to follow Will's dad, and, judging by the title of the book and the fact that Will and his father have an obsession with digging, I have the feeling this is going to have to do with going deep underground somewhere (maybe a hidden city, looking at the cover of the book...).
Again, a stark lack of humorous moments in the bleak world of Highfield, with themes of abandonment being added in to the mix, as the already dysfunctional and spiteful family tries to struggle with even less income and the idea that the father of the family up and left. Throughout this section the mother is completely unresponsive to everyone as she watches her T.V. crying over last night's argument. Like, god. This is more freaking depressing than David Bowie's song Lazarus; I dont even know what to say to some of the scenes in this book...
Well, that is all I really have to say for now. I hope we get something even a bit lighter next time. So...
'Till Next Time Adventurers
So, after the pointless trash rummaging-scene, the argument, and Will seeing his father digging near their house in the middle of the night, Will wakes up to his dad not being in the house. Will's father has completely dissipated from Highfield, with all traces of him wiped away. Trying to get his mind off of this, he and Chester go to their secret dig site, only to learn that their tunnel into the earth has been blocked off. Will thinks that this is connected to his father's disappearance, and believes that there is something going on in Highfield behind the scenes. After a brief talk with the police, Will can clearly see that nobody really cares about his secluded father's disappearance. Will then decides to convince Chester to help him break into the museum that Will's father worked in. Inside his father's office, Will finds strange notes in his journal talking about how he is constantly being followed by the mysterious pale-skinned men, and how they have blocked the entrances to mysterious tunnels and entrances that he has been discovering over the last few months. The journal entries end with Will's father saying the key to this puzzle is the construction company magnate from the 1800's, Sir Gabriel Marteneau, and incoherent ramblings on how he is about to do something dangerous and insane, exclaiming that 'he would be remembered'. This segment of the book ends with Will stating that his fathers digging equipment is also gone.
So what have I thought of this section of the book? Well, as I said before, I am really starting to dig this book (I am so sorry for that pun). Honestly, there is not many clever observations for this section of the book, but I do have some predictions. I think that Will and Chester are going to probably find some vital clue that allows them to follow Will's dad, and, judging by the title of the book and the fact that Will and his father have an obsession with digging, I have the feeling this is going to have to do with going deep underground somewhere (maybe a hidden city, looking at the cover of the book...).
Again, a stark lack of humorous moments in the bleak world of Highfield, with themes of abandonment being added in to the mix, as the already dysfunctional and spiteful family tries to struggle with even less income and the idea that the father of the family up and left. Throughout this section the mother is completely unresponsive to everyone as she watches her T.V. crying over last night's argument. Like, god. This is more freaking depressing than David Bowie's song Lazarus; I dont even know what to say to some of the scenes in this book...
Well, that is all I really have to say for now. I hope we get something even a bit lighter next time. So...
'Till Next Time Adventurers
Tuesday, March 8, 2016
Tunnels Review (Part 2/8)
So, now this story is finally getting interesting. I mean, I found that the first 4 chapters quite boring, with a very depressing tone and minimal character development. The first 4 chapters focused mainly on overly-describing the location that they lived in, but they did not give the town a name (it is now said to be called 'Highfield').
So, let's talk about this new mystery that is being established in this story. Will's father is visited by an old man that has found a glass orb filled with liquid that glows like sunlight whenever left in darkness. Will's father has no explanation for this, and leaves it for further investigation. Will introduces Chester to his secret dig site, where he is digging as far as he can deep into the earth; after digging over the course of a week, they unearth a secret room buried under limestone that isn't native to where they live. This secret room looks like a Victorian-era morgue, with names written on the walls and a rose carved into one of the walls. Will notices a pit in the ground of this room, and feels an updraft coming from it; they then leave as they become spooked because of this out-of-place updraft. Will's father notices that after the discovery of the light orb he is being followed by pale, stout, men in trench coats, dark sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. He chases one to no avail.
This section of the book ends with Rebecca seeing someone rummaging through their garbage and then sifting away into the night; at the same time, Will notices his father digging in the common of their house (just outside of their backyard).
So, what do I think of this section of the book? I am starting to see promise. Yes, there is still a resounding tone of depression and dreariness, and I would prefer some humour or light moments to provide balance. One thing that I am on the fence about is the extremely detailed descriptions of every individual thing. This is one of the main problems that many people have with this book; you know the scene I described with Rebecca seing a guy rummaging through the garbage? Yeah, that is 12 pages long...and it is about as interesting as Ben Stein reading the dictionary. Honestly, my short summary there with some slightly more descriptive words would have sufficed. Needless to say, these descriptions carry on throughout the rest of the book.
There was also one scene in one of the chapters that made me almost cringe. At one point Will enters the house to a heated argument between his usually senile mother and uninterested father. This scene involves the mother berating and beating the father, calling him a useless worm and a royal failure that is only a waste of space that holds the family down. On top of this brutally unforgiving scene, Will (being the cynic that he suddenly is) makes a joke about this fight. This made me annoyed with Will as a character, since it is noticeably disturbing and upsetting his sister, and he decides to act like a complete ass (am I allowed to say that? Whatever...) and tell of his sister saying it really doesn't matter.
So, in summary, I am enjoying the mysterious things being added into the mix of depression and description, but I can't say that I can agree with some critical reviews saying that the book was 'The next Harry Potter'. I am seeing some promise, but also I am beginning to dislike the protagonist of the story, which is never a good thing, as he is not made out to be an anti-hero.
'Till Next Time, Adventurers!
P.S. That one chapter about the Rebecca seeing someone go through the garbage? Yeah, that goes nowhere, and doesn't add to the plot whatsoever.
So, let's talk about this new mystery that is being established in this story. Will's father is visited by an old man that has found a glass orb filled with liquid that glows like sunlight whenever left in darkness. Will's father has no explanation for this, and leaves it for further investigation. Will introduces Chester to his secret dig site, where he is digging as far as he can deep into the earth; after digging over the course of a week, they unearth a secret room buried under limestone that isn't native to where they live. This secret room looks like a Victorian-era morgue, with names written on the walls and a rose carved into one of the walls. Will notices a pit in the ground of this room, and feels an updraft coming from it; they then leave as they become spooked because of this out-of-place updraft. Will's father notices that after the discovery of the light orb he is being followed by pale, stout, men in trench coats, dark sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. He chases one to no avail.
This section of the book ends with Rebecca seeing someone rummaging through their garbage and then sifting away into the night; at the same time, Will notices his father digging in the common of their house (just outside of their backyard).
So, what do I think of this section of the book? I am starting to see promise. Yes, there is still a resounding tone of depression and dreariness, and I would prefer some humour or light moments to provide balance. One thing that I am on the fence about is the extremely detailed descriptions of every individual thing. This is one of the main problems that many people have with this book; you know the scene I described with Rebecca seing a guy rummaging through the garbage? Yeah, that is 12 pages long...and it is about as interesting as Ben Stein reading the dictionary. Honestly, my short summary there with some slightly more descriptive words would have sufficed. Needless to say, these descriptions carry on throughout the rest of the book.
There was also one scene in one of the chapters that made me almost cringe. At one point Will enters the house to a heated argument between his usually senile mother and uninterested father. This scene involves the mother berating and beating the father, calling him a useless worm and a royal failure that is only a waste of space that holds the family down. On top of this brutally unforgiving scene, Will (being the cynic that he suddenly is) makes a joke about this fight. This made me annoyed with Will as a character, since it is noticeably disturbing and upsetting his sister, and he decides to act like a complete ass (am I allowed to say that? Whatever...) and tell of his sister saying it really doesn't matter.
So, in summary, I am enjoying the mysterious things being added into the mix of depression and description, but I can't say that I can agree with some critical reviews saying that the book was 'The next Harry Potter'. I am seeing some promise, but also I am beginning to dislike the protagonist of the story, which is never a good thing, as he is not made out to be an anti-hero.
'Till Next Time, Adventurers!
P.S. That one chapter about the Rebecca seeing someone go through the garbage? Yeah, that goes nowhere, and doesn't add to the plot whatsoever.
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