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tracey_stewart's review
3.0
I hated giving a Lloyd Alexander book three stars, but I did not enjoy Rope Trick. Much of the book was enjoyable, and felt like Alexander, but while Lidi, our heroine, had a very definite goal and aimed straight for it the book did not. It wandered a bit aimlessly, and the ending was just ... baffling. And disappointing. I hoped for, expected, magic and humor and the joy of a nice solid story from a long-beloved writer, and in the end felt cheated.
margaretann84's review
2.0
This book really isn't all that long, but it took me almost four days to read because it moved so slowly. The characters seemed poorly developed, the language was dull and repetitive, and the ending made no sense. I've liked some of Alexander's other novels, but this one...I wish I'd skipped it.
2/5 on here, 4/10 for myself
2/5 on here, 4/10 for myself
stephaniereads's review
adventurous
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Okay, so this book! I was recently cleaning out a closet and found a library receipt for May 2011 - a really tumultuous time for me. I was in my hometown for a few weeks and checked out a childhood favorites: The Rope Trick by Lloyd Alexander. And I thought, hey, I should reread that!
The dedication reads, "for those in search of their own magic," which just feels perennially fitting. This middle grade novel is about Lidi, a young magician, who is on the road with her gruff canvasmaster, performing tricks at inns and in fields whenever she can. At one stop, she takes on a little girl with a quick wit, and at another she falls in with a handsome young ruffian. It's often whimsical, sometimes meloncholy, and the characters spin a lot of yarns. As the story goes on, the lines between performance and real magic blur. All along the way, Lidi is trying to find the elusive magician Ferramondo so she can learn his famous rope trick.
This reading, I wondered what drew me in as a child. Of course, the inkling that magic is real. The understated romance. The dreaminess and how Lidi both has friends and gets shit done all on her own.
kelseykreme's review
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
emlickliter's review
3.0
The Rope Trick by Lloyd Alexander – I personally think I read this when I was too old for it. I would have liked it a lot in elementary school! Lloyd Alexander is a fantastic world builder! Happy Reading!
holtfan's review
3.0
Strong, flashy, red-headed female fantasy lead?
Actually, there is nothing that unusual about a redheaded character, especially in fantasy, but I'm still going to cheer every time anyway. RED REPRESENT.
ANYWAY, The Rope Trick was clever and poignant as only [a:Lloyd Alexander|8924|Lloyd Alexander|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1353430382p2/8924.jpg] can be. I liked the main character, Lidi, who is talented but not unbelievably/magically so, and stubborn. I liked that this wasn't a coming of age story for her. She is a grown woman. I wanted more of her, though. The lyrical writing is illuminating but also hides a lot. Like personality. I felt the minute the love interest was introduced, she got weaker and less interesting. There are some nice secondary characters though, like the orphan girl Daniella. I like that this is the story of Lidi and her "family", but also every person they run into whose life was touched by the wise Ferramondo.
I loved the use of Ferramando and how he appears differently to different people.
However, I didn't really care for the romance. It smacks of insta-love and makes little sense. Perhaps the problem is that I didn't care for Julian much. His character was clever but I didn't love him. And Lidi got weaker around him.
I also was super confused by the ending.
It was a good book but I was looking for more in it. Still sweet and satisfying, mostly. (That end CONFUSES me!)
Actually, there is nothing that unusual about a redheaded character, especially in fantasy, but I'm still going to cheer every time anyway. RED REPRESENT.
ANYWAY, The Rope Trick was clever and poignant as only [a:Lloyd Alexander|8924|Lloyd Alexander|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1353430382p2/8924.jpg] can be. I liked the main character, Lidi, who is talented but not unbelievably/magically so, and stubborn. I liked that this wasn't a coming of age story for her. She is a grown woman. I wanted more of her, though. The lyrical writing is illuminating but also hides a lot. Like personality. I felt the minute the love interest was introduced, she got weaker and less interesting. There are some nice secondary characters though, like the orphan girl Daniella. I like that this is the story of Lidi and her "family", but also every person they run into whose life was touched by the wise Ferramondo.
I loved the use of Ferramando and how he appears differently to different people.
However, I didn't really care for the romance. It smacks of insta-love and makes little sense. Perhaps the problem is that I didn't care for Julian much. His character was clever but I didn't love him. And Lidi got weaker around him.
I also was super confused by the ending.
Spoiler
Did they die?! Is this just another reality? Am I missing some great, allegorical thing here?It was a good book but I was looking for more in it. Still sweet and satisfying, mostly. (That end CONFUSES me!)
elevetha's review
4.0
I'm hard pressed to find a book of Alexander's I don't love or, at the very least, like. The Rope Trick is magic and romance and family and gypsies, and it's a lovely little book.
katekat's review
4.0
Lloyd Alexander is an author I have always enjoyed. This is one of his lesser known books and while it is not my favorite of his it is still quite good. His writing style is such that it definitely stands up to the test of time.