This might be the oddest book I've ever read. I highly recommend reading it just to experience the tremendous amount of odd that it possesses! Don't rThis might be the oddest book I've ever read. I highly recommend reading it just to experience the tremendous amount of odd that it possesses! Don't read descriptions of the story! Just go into it blindly, and experience the weirdness with a fresh mind.
That could probably be enough of a review, but if you want more......
I knew going into The Nest that it was supposed to be a creepy book. I don't read creepy books, unless it's children's, and then I'm too curious to stay away. As I read along through this book, I kept thinking it wasn't near as creepy as I thought it would be(though creepy, for sure). It was after closing the last page that the story kept running through my mind, and little bits and pieces of creepiness spooked me a bit. And, I'm an adult! For that reason, I wouldn't recommend this book to sensitive children or those prone to nightmares(like me)!
Within this book, I learned more about wasps than I ever really cared to know. Still, it was interesting. One of my children and my mother-in-law is allergic to wasps. I don't like the creatures! I believe the feeling is probably mutual with most people, making wasps the perfect creepy focus of this story. I left this book disliking them more than ever!
Wrapped up in all the oddness and all the creepiness, there are hug worthy moments as the author touches on issues, such as perfection and disabilities within the world. I won't elaborate on that too much, but it was this that made the book "hug worthy" to me. The main character, Steve , has OCD issues and suffers from nightmares. He has his struggles. I was the weirdest child you could ever dream of meeting back in my childhood days, so children that are labeled "not normal" by the world always pull on my heartstrings. Steve was no exception.
I highly recommend this book! I thought it was amazing and creative and beautiful, and don't forget, creepy and odd. ;)
*I was provided an ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion....more
This book was advertised as a mix between Roald Dahl and Mysterious Benedict Society, so there was no way I wanted to pass on reading it! I'd say it'sThis book was advertised as a mix between Roald Dahl and Mysterious Benedict Society, so there was no way I wanted to pass on reading it! I'd say it's more of a mix between Dahl and Joan Aiken, and what I like to call "wonderfully weird". Even with the liberal mention of "flatulence", I still adored this book!
Anastasia is an ordinary almost 11 year old that adores Francie Dewdrop mysteries and has "tragic flatulence". She has a loving dad, and a not so loving mom. One day she finds herself whisked away to a creepy old Victorian insane asylum, where she spends her days with her "aunties". Things get more and more exciting, yet creepy and even gross, as Anastasia takes a cue from her favorite fictional heroine, Francie, and starts investigating.
The narrator of this book talks to the reader as if telling a story in front of a campfire. We are called "gentle reader" or "alert reader" or something similar throughout the story. There are little breaks in the tale to address extra information pertaining to the story or tips for our lives should we ever find ourselves in Anastasia's circumstances. Although that might sound annoying, it was done beautifully within this book, and I adored it all the more because of it.
As I mentioned above, there is plenty of oddness within this book, and it won't be for everyone. I adore the odd worlds Dahl creates, but he's not for everyone. I imagine the same for this book and author.
The ending of this story leaves so many loose strings that I can't imagine there won't be another one. I'm very much looking forward to reading it!
*I was provided an ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book has a zany kookiness about it, which I like to refer to as "wonderfully weird", that reminds me a bit of Roald Dahl. There are lots of goofyThis book has a zany kookiness about it, which I like to refer to as "wonderfully weird", that reminds me a bit of Roald Dahl. There are lots of goofy lines and situations that made me snicker, and even laugh out loud. This book is a salute to the many worlds that can be visited and created through imagination. There's also a strong pull to read great classic books out there, especially one of the many mentioned within this story. With that combination, how can one go wrong with this book?!
On top of all that, there's a bit of mystery added in, as far as who Dr. Libris is and what exactly he's trying to accomplish, even if I was hoping for more concerning him. There's new friendships made, and favorite characters from classics reinvented. Even better, there's a bit of diversity added in. (Walter and his sister are African American. This is only mentioned briefly through descriptions, but I appreciated the diversity, either way.)
There's a side story that I know some parents won't care for. I appreciated the way it was done, though. Billy's parents are separated. He's determined to get them back together. The ending of this particular part is left open, so each reader can decide how happy to make their future, or make it to match their own family situation. Really, each reader can decide how much of the story, as a whole, is "real".
I had fun reading this book, and I won't hesitate to hand it over to my children down the road. I highly recommended it, as long as you don't mind a bit of silly corniness.
*I was provided an ARC, in exchange for my honest opinion....more
I really liked this one, but I felt guilty about it the whole time! Grandma gets called mean names by her son-in-law quite a bit. She WAS horrid, but I really liked this one, but I felt guilty about it the whole time! Grandma gets called mean names by her son-in-law quite a bit. She WAS horrid, but I still felt guilty that she was disrespected. On the positive side, though, George IS pretty respectful throughout, despite the fact that he threw his grandma's medicine out and spends a great deal of time mixing up things that in real life would kill a person. :S I like that Dahl always manages to throw in some lessons for children within his stories, whether through discussion between characters or through his crazy poems.
I loved that within this little story, Dahl's ability to create "wonderful weirdness" comes out full force, with wacky things happening.
I knew absolutely nothing about this book before reading it, except that it was by Neil Gaiman. I've wanted to try Gaiman's writing for quite awhile. I knew absolutely nothing about this book before reading it, except that it was by Neil Gaiman. I've wanted to try Gaiman's writing for quite awhile. He seems to be a Tim Burton to the writing world, which, of course, grabs my interest. Once I got to reading, I quickly realized just how short this book is. I hadn't looked at the page count, and I was expecting to settle in for a much longer read. I'm not complaining there! I actually loved the story! Even with the small page count, the book is generously sprinkled with illustrations, which I loved just as much, if not more, than the story. That said, I don't think one could work well without the other. I didn't time my reading, but I can't imagine it took me more than 30-45 minutes to read, and I'm not a quick reader.
With the Tim Burton reference, you might(or might not) be wondering, "Was it wonderfully weird?". Absolutely! I am thrilled to say, "Yes!". It actually kind of reminded me of Roald Dahl's Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, as far as nonsense corniness. Of course, the story lines are in no way the same. I DO feel that some of Gaiman's other works will be a better Burton comparison. This one is fun and sweet and laugh-worthy. I'm kind of looking forward to the dark factor being added to the mix, which still amazes me. Lord willing, though, I'll be reading The Graveyard Book soon!
I liked this book so much, I'm hoping my library gets it in physical form soon. I think it will make a perfect read aloud for Grasshopper(5)!
I definitely recommend this read for ALL ages!
(As a side note, there is comments referring to evolution, in case that will bother any of you. At no point does the story dwell on the subject, though.)
*Thank you to my local library for providing me with an e-copy of this book to read! ...more
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