Redwall and a Tangent

Cover of Redwall (Redwall, Book 1)

Die hard Redwall fans.... don't hate me.

3/5 stars 

***

Before I start this review, I would like to go over something that I think plagues stories in the worst possible way. The exclamation point.

This elusive little creature denotes excitement or a tone of voice that differs from the usual pitch. It is meant to let people know that 'hey, this thing that's happening right now is being delivered to you with lots of feels and urgency'. This little guy is the 'strong emotion' symbol in the punctuation family and if left to its own devices, it will murder its siblings.

Less is more. Strong, declarative sentences from a character shouldn't have to have an exclamation point at the end of the sentence in order to indicate to the reader that someone is upset or excited. That should come from word choice or from the narration surrounding the sentence. Furthermore, exclamation points shouldn't be in the narration. The narrator is often times a third party that is omniscient. They don't need to become excited like the characters. It's weird. Don't do it. Exclamation points have their time and their place. They should not be used because the writer can't seem to convey in any other way, the characters feelings at any given moment.

Redwall suffers from the plague of exclamation. Every character seems to be yelling at each other in impassioned tones. Maybe that was a choice on the authors part. Maybe the idea of a small little mouse talking, deserved exclamation points because they had to talk louder when speaking to badgers or foxes. I don't know but I desperately am hoping that Brian Jacques didn't just throw a handful of exclamation confetti at his story because he thought it was a great way to make his dialogue more exciting or intense. Although, the idea of small creatures yelling at each other in constant excitement or anger is funny. Though, when I imagine a world where everyone always talked to each other in exclamation point sentences, it is not pretty. I think it would probably look something like this... except for the scary center part.

That is not to say the exclamation point didn't work in moments. One thing that I learned about Redwall is that it is over the top. Very over the top. So, when the main bad guy Cluny had to repeatedly announce his title to people as “I am Cluny the Scourge!”, I felt like the exclamation point was deserved. Cluny was kind of one of those bad guys that thought he was a lot more awesome than he actually was. The frequent reminders of his title to everyone he met, even people that are in his presence constantly, is a pretty good indication that the guys a dick who probably thinks he's a hit with the ladies and is what all little rats want to grow up to be. When the reality is, all the other rats are talking behind his back and making fun of him. No, this wasn't actually in the story but its the story I've decided to make up about him. Because really, I felt like most scenes with Cluny went like this:

Cluny: “I'm Cluny the Scourge!”

Any other character in the book: “What would you like for breakfast, Cluny?”

Cluny: “Cluny the Scourge does not order breakfast! People bring Cluny the Scourge breakfast without asking! I am Cluny the Scourge! You should know what I want! Cluny the Scourge does not ask! He simply receives!”

Other Character: “So cheese is fine, then?”

Cluny stabs other character: “That will teach you to ask questions of Cluny the Scourge! All others must see and fear me and my actions! Know that I will kill you because I enjoy it! Cluny the Scourge takes no prisoners!”

That's how I felt most of the story with the bad guy went. No motive other than he was a dick that obviously didn't get enough love from his mother as a baby rat. And yes, he often did seem to be a toddler throwing a tantrum.

Now, I want to make it clear, I didn't dislike this book. I just had some major issues with it. Yes, I'm aware its a children/young adult novel and there are a lot of people who are going to bring that to light as a counter argument. But you know what my counter argument to them is? Harry Potter is also a children's/young adult novel. So is the Hobbit, any of the Everworld series, The Outsiders and The Giver. You don't have to dumb down your book for children. They are much smarter than we want to give them credit for.

Now for the good things. I love the fact that there are no humans in this. I adore that the cast of characters are small little mice and squirrels and badgers, running around, trying to save what they love. Redwall has all the makings of a classic fantasy novel where the young and naïve main character has to rise to greatness in order to save the people and the land that he loves. It is a great introduction into a fantasy series (story wise) for people first starting to read. It holds unbelievable imagination and charm with its cast of talking little rodents and is very reminiscent of Wind in the Willows in that respect. There were parts that made me giggle simply because I got to imagine a tiny little field mice making declarative statements and holding a sword high in the air. It was fantastic. Plus, there was Silent Sam the squirrel who is quite possibly the most adorable thing in all of fiction.

I didn't particularly enjoy the story that was told but that was more to do with the fact that it is a very typical ABC story. In my mid twenties, I want something more out of my literature and the writing wasn't done well enough for me to enjoy reading a story that I've read a thousand times before. Redwall unfortunately suffers from having a storyline that is repeated throughout cinema and literature. But, I would again like to point out that this is a great introduction novel into the fantasy world in the respect that the story was good if you've not had much experience with this type of fantasy novel. The writing definitely left a lot to be desired, but if a child is struggling to get into reading, the story is probably more important than a good writing style. I don't feel like this tale holds up once you become an experienced reader, however, or if you are a beginning reader who enjoys a bit more than the surface value retelling of the hero's tale.

I'm afraid in the case of Redwall, nostalgia is what keeps it lasting. I wasn't a Redwall kid so much but I did read a few of them. I do plan on continuing on, at least through Mossflower because I do remember that when I read Redwall the first time around, I was pretty luke warm towards the story and characters.Mossflower was the one that gutted me.

Overall, I think Redwall is great for inexperience readers who are looking for an interesting fantasy to indulge in. For experienced readers, however (young children included), this might be a bit of a let down. Also, if you are an adult that loved this series as a kid, continue to love it. Don't go back and read it because like most things we re read when we're older, cringing may ensue.

To see what else I'm reading this month go to: http://papertales4u.blogspot.com/2013/07/july-book-reads.html

Like me on Facebook, follow me on Pinterest or Twitter, or send me a comment or message to let me know what you think!!!! (see what I did there?)

July Book Reads

Not all the reviews for my June books are up yet. I'm still working on the Annotated Peter Pan and on Screwtape Letters. Both should be done pretty soon but I like taking my time with Pan. There's a lot to dive into with that story and I want to make sure I'm soaking it all in. So, continue to look for those but in the meanwhile, I figured I'd start on my July list as well.

Redwall by Brian Jacques

Knights, damsels in distress, wars fought across generations and quests that seem dismal during the dark of night. Also, mice. Rats, birds, mice, frogs and toads. That is our cast of characters.

I see the cover of this book and I immediately think of my brother. He read them when he was a kid and when I got to be a bit older, he gave me some of them to read as well. Being the Harry Potter kid I was, though, I think I struggled to get into this story for whatever reason. Too many creatures talking, not enough of wizards casting. Although, I remember that I did read this book and the proceeding one Mossflower, then balled like a baby when a certain character died. Close to twenty years later, that's all I remember about the story. That being said, it's the same reason I picked up the book again.

I've always had trouble remembering details about stories. Books that I read as a child, I'm lucky to now even remember the main characters name. I'd like to think that it's because I've learned so much in life that little things like names and events have to get pushed aside in order to learn something new. Most likely, however, I just don't pay close attention to things because my brain likes to frolic off in fields of daisy’s or break into some horrible Disney movie song.

Side note: Is it just me or does that stupid Beauty and the Beast, Belle walking down the street song, get stuck in anyone else's head?

The fact that I remembered the character who dies and that I remember the main mouse to be Martin, speaks highly of this story in my mind. Little me wasn't big on details. Little me loved to read but tended to get lost very easily in other things. The fact that I deemed these details important enough to still remember, and to stick with me the way it did, is interesting. I'm curious to see how I feel about this book now that I'm reading it with the cynical and often times, critical, eyes of a mid twenty something.

Review Now Up: http://papertales4u.blogspot.com/2013/07/redwall-and-tangent.html

John Dies at the End by David Wong

I know nothing about this book. Nothing. I was in Portland, Oregon over the weekend and attended a lecture done by Mark Oshiro and by lecture I mean the man read bad fan fiction to us. :P. When this book was brought up, he pretty much expressed in a sobbing voice that this book both broke him and blew his mind simultaneously. How can I not want to read it after that endorsement?

Like I said though, I know nothing about this book. I briefly skimmed the back cover but that is the extent of my knowledge.

Red Seas Under Red Skies by Scott Lynch

This is a sequel to a book that I have previously read called the Lies of Locke Lamora. If you have not read it, go do it now. The first hundred pages or so are a bit hard to get through, I will admit, but after that, the book turns into a whirlwind of swashbuckling scoundrels who have no choice but to take on the likes of a one man mafia. If you're curious, here's the link to my Goodreads review http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/256659186 ) but I'd honestly suggest to just go pick up the book and read it. Months later, this book is still ruining me for all other novels.

(

Because of that, I of course had to pick up the second in the Gentleman Bastard series. Come on. That's the title of the entire series. It's a name that is such an oxymoron that it makes me giddy and plays right into the fangirling part that loves her pirates and scoundrels.

Review Now Up: http://papertales4u.blogspot.com/2013/09/red-seas-under-red-skies.html

Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle

John Green may be the only young adult author out there that I have immense respect for.  I have no experience with the other two authors so we'll see what I think after I read this.  However, Green's writing deals with teen issues without it being melodramatic. That's always been my complaint with teen fiction. The characters come off as whiny and self absorbed. That's not to say teenagers aren't. They completely are. But here's the thing. Teens also have the weight of the world on their shoulders. Everything is new. They don't know how to handle certain situations until they've experienced them and experiencing them can often be terrifying. Maybe I'm not so far removed from the teen generation that I remember how scary it was to be that age and how much I hated it at times. Nothing would set me off more than someone telling me that “high school is going to be the best years of your life” because all I could think at the time was “You got to be kidding me? This is as good as it gets?”. John Green, I feel, understands that there is a lot more to a teenage head space than the whiny and prepubescent/hormonal driven thoughts that most teen novels portray. And bonus? None of his book jackets look like the covers for a soft core porn novel. That right there should make you like him.

Furthermore, take a moment and examine the below picture then try to tell me he's not an amazing man.

Green also runs a YouTube series called VlogBrothers and is a out and loud and proud nerd. Watch his videos. Read his books. Watch his brothers videos and if you are a young teen, listen to both of their advice on what its like to be a budding Nerdfighter. Also, understand that when someone says that things do get better, what they actually mean is that the current situation does get better but new ones are always around the bend so hold onto what you love in this world and understand that fiction can go a long way with helping you cope.

Let it Snow is most likely going to be one of those books that I hug at night and love with a little sigh of whimsy. I don't think that it would have been anything I would have liked growing up but in hindsight, I really wish I had read him close to a decade ago (WHY DIDN'T YOU PUBLISH SOONER GOOD SIR?!?).

Review Now Up: http://papertales4u.blogspot.com/2013/07/let-it-snow-im-swooning-like-im-in-80s.html

On the Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Again, I know nothing. The only thing I do know about this book? It was a bitch to track down.

This is another young adult novel and since John Green's name is not plastered on it, I am nervous. As said above, teen novels rarely seem to be done right. I often cringe when I see people reading things like City of Bones or any of the other numerous books out there with pale pretty boys on the cover and some doe eyed girl in a nighty. I'm pretty sure this is not literature. I'm pretty sure this is some device used to brainwash the youth of the nation and make them into Barbies that have a vampire fetish.

Review Now Up: http://papertales4u.blogspot.com/2013/08/jellicoe-road-by-melina-marchetta.html

Hopefully, Jellicoe Road is none of the above. The cover seems promising so at least there's that going for it.

:/

Okay, now I'm really nervous. Why, teen fiction? Why is there so much of your suck in the world?

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Also, if you have an good teen novels to suggest me, PLEASE DO!  I'm putting this in bold because I am going to force your eyes to read this and then use the force to get you to suggest books to me.  

I may love books a little bit.