Inkheart

Inkheart is a treat and echoes of its many colourful characters, nail-biting drama and unrelenting invention will stay with the reader for a long time. It's also a novel for people who really love books. (Recommended for ages 10 and over.) --John McLay

Reader Reviews:

Slow starter but pretty good, eventually! (0/0 people found this helpful)

It took me about a hundred and fifty pages to get into this and enjoy it. I was going to give it back to my friend, but one long car journey later with only this book and my mind was changed. It doesn't get good until Mo is kidnapped and you may be plodding slowly though it until then, but don't give up on it.

Better Than One Within (0/0 people found this helpful)

Meggie Folchart is twelve years old, and lives with her father, Mo. The pair are very close to each other, and have a shared passion for books - Mo, in fact, is a very talented book restorer. They have lived in their current home for a year, though it seems they have a history of moving from place to place. Strangely, however, Meggie had to teach herself to read - she can't ever remember Mo reading to her when she was small. Meggie's mother, on the other hand, has been missing for many years - she apparently went off on some sort of adventure holiday and never came back.

In the finest traditions of storytelling, Mo and Meggie's adventures start with the arrival of a visitor on a dark and rainy night. Meggie has no idea who he is, but they have met once before - nine years earlier, when Meggie was only three. While Meggie has no real memory of him, Mo remembers him very well. Their visitor is called Dustfinger, a fire-eating juggler with an unusual pet marten called Gwin. Strangely, Dustfinger calls Mo `Silvertongue' - and, furthermore, Mo seems to feel in Dustfinger's debt. Despite Mo insisting he talks to Dustfinger in private, Meggie listens to the conversation through the keyhole of Mo's workshop.

It seems that Dustfinger wants Mo to bring a mysterious book on to someone called Capricorn - another strange name, and clearly an utter villain. Mo, for his part, wants nothing to do with Capricorn, and is determined to keep this book out of his hands. He and Meggie pack up their belongings after Dustfinger leaves, and take off early the following morning. However, Dustfinger clearly expected the pair to run and catches up with them - and persuades Mo to let him tag along...

Since Capricorn is apparently based in the north, Mo has decided to head south and visit Elinor, an aunt of Meggie's mother. Elinor lives near the lakes in northern Italy, and she is also passionate about books - though more as a collector than a reader. She is very well off, and lives in a huge - and very imposing - house. However, Mo believes her fortune is dwindling due to the huge number of rare books she buys. Mo won't show Meggie the book that Capricorn is after, which only makes her even more curious about it. However, he doesn't keep it from Elinor. In fact, Elinor has heard of the mysterious book - it's extremely rare and, apparently, the few copies that become available are generally stolen. Elinor is single, has no children and - to begin with, at least - is rather crusty. There's quite a bit of verbal sparring between Elinor and Meggie when they first meet, but - in time - they warm to each other. Unfortunately, Elinor and her imposing house can't protect Meggie and Mo from Capricorn and his vicious henchmen...although they do pick up some rather unexpected allies along the way.

"Inkheart" is a great read and - despite being pretty long for a kids' book - rattles along a fair pace. There are plenty of nods to other famous books - "Huckleberry Finn", "Tom Sawyer", "Peter Pan", "Treasure Island", "Alice in Wonderland", "The Princess Bride", "Charlotte's Web" and "The Lord of the Rings", for example. (Elinor comments once that "our journey isn't going to be half as bad as those hairy-footed people's quest"). In fact, I could see this book encouraging the reader to reach for any number of those tiles as well - not to mention the sequels that follow on from this book. Totally recommended.

Inkheart (0/0 people found this helpful)

Meggie loves books. She sleeps with them under her pillow. It is a very special book that turns her world upside down and transports the reader into an enviable, yet terrifying, land. Not only does this book contain the fantasy element,at its core there is much to be learned about the value of family relationships and the need for bravery and trust. This book is quite simply a brilliant read and although considerably longer than the average children's novel, it is captivating throughout. I think that reading it in advance will only enhance enjoyment of the film when it is released.

Ink is the Future! (0/0 people found this helpful)

Inkheart is a book I only had the pleasure to read because my neighbour had accidently taken 2 copies and had kindly given to me.I must say if I hadn't had the fortune to be given that book I don't know what I'd do!The main pleasure of Inkheart is the fact it's not meant in particular to challenge you even though it has a not bad 500 pages. You will almost certainly like the dramatic way it unfolds and grips you from the first word till the last - recomended to the ages between 10 and 16 and possibly older! (Although I have to say it is a Teenaged read and not really for adults) Basil aged 11

Not a bad effort (0/0 people found this helpful)

Inkheart is usually the sort of book I really enjoy - there's nothing like good children's fantasy as escapism. Inkheart has an enjoyable premise, and the characters are generally likeable. The book gets off to a good start...but unfortunately, I found myself turning off more and more as I went on.

I felt the book to be too long, and by the end it felt more like a chore. The prose is a tad too heavy and ultimately I was no longer enjoying it, although I kept reading in order to find out what happened. For fans of this type of literature, it is still a worthy read - just don't go in expecting too much.

Cornelia Funke

Editorial Review: