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abdiel47's review
4.0
Much more tame than Whales on Stilts. Jasper Dash, Katie Mulligan, and Lily Gefelty are not trying to save the world. Still absurd. Still funny. But it’s on a much smaller scale. Someone has mysteriously invited all the children who have book series written about them to the Moose Tongue Lodge. A whodunit ensues.
While more mundane overall, it drifts into weird existentialism at the end. The discussion of how books are withdrawn from the library at the beginning of the book all by itself makes this book worth reading.
While more mundane overall, it drifts into weird existentialism at the end. The discussion of how books are withdrawn from the library at the beginning of the book all by itself makes this book worth reading.
bibliocat4's review against another edition
3.0
My enjoyment of this book would have been better if I had read it myself rather than listen to the audiobook. The character voices were fine but the timing...was off. It drove me a little crazy. But I really liked the ending and the asides. I wish I had started with book 1.
j_t_tobin's review against another edition
3.0
This story is equal parts comedy and confusion. Jumping into the middle of the series (not knowing there were more), has left me wondering what's going on. What are these characters on about? For the first few chapters(?), I had very little clue what was going on. But as the story progresses, you begin to get a feel for how things work in this new fictional world and it becomes rather enjoyable after that.
Everything that happens in the story, from the art, to the quirky way in which it is presented is entertaining. It's no Sugar Creek Gang - but it feels like a wacky modern equivalent.
I would also add, for Christian parents, there are some very subtle naturalistic views being teased out in the text. It's certainly not a God-glorifying work by any means, nor does it intend to be. But it also isn't as educational as it tries so hard to be.
Everything that happens in the story, from the art, to the quirky way in which it is presented is entertaining. It's no Sugar Creek Gang - but it feels like a wacky modern equivalent.
I would also add, for Christian parents, there are some very subtle naturalistic views being teased out in the text. It's certainly not a God-glorifying work by any means, nor does it intend to be. But it also isn't as educational as it tries so hard to be.
erine's review against another edition
2.0
Katie, Lily and Jasper are taking a break from their detective work, when they find that a mystery has followed them on vacation. They have to solve a kidnapping (five, actually), a stolen necklace, and disappearing stuffed animal heads. Along the way they get tied up, lied to, screamed at, and make new friends.
I found this book disjointed and hard to follow. The humor was great and I loved the spoof on the serial detective stories, but the story itself was a little too all-over-the-place for my frame of mind when I was reading it. I've heard so many great things about this author that I may have to try this one again at a later date, or at the very least try another of his stories.
The narrator's voice reminded me of A Series of Unfortunate Events.
I found this book disjointed and hard to follow. The humor was great and I loved the spoof on the serial detective stories, but the story itself was a little too all-over-the-place for my frame of mind when I was reading it. I've heard so many great things about this author that I may have to try this one again at a later date, or at the very least try another of his stories.
The narrator's voice reminded me of A Series of Unfortunate Events.
rizahw's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
middlekmissie's review against another edition
5.0
http://thebookfix.wordpress.com/2013/03/04/quick-takes-1
stefhyena's review
4.0
This book was genuinely funny in places and silly or even a bit sad in others. It managed not to be offensive or rely on stereotypes (except in so far as it could make fun of said stereotypes). A weakness was that Lily and Katie were bland and Jasper thus came across as the main character (when it was meant to be about the three of them).
The humour in it is based on outrageous things (like using someone else's hotel room as a lobby for your own parasitic hotel room, or like a huge action scene that happens exclusively in the sinuses or my favourite part- an admission by the author that they are hopeless at writing actions scenes or counting and cuts to the end of the scene). Logic is optional but everything is plotted to come together, it is not so random that you stop reading. I love where the diamond necklace is hidden and how this bit of silliness is never explained. I was going to love the absence of romance in the book but then there was one at the end. It was hilarious enough to pass the Stef test and I'll allow it.
My very favourite thing was the dedication The author here speaks as someone who sort of knows that pain (the plot of the book tells the same story). In solidarity then, the odd but songful misfits all!
I'll see if my (grown up) kids want to read this one.
The humour in it is based on outrageous things (like using someone else's hotel room as a lobby for your own parasitic hotel room, or like a huge action scene that happens exclusively in the sinuses or my favourite part- an admission by the author that they are hopeless at writing actions scenes or counting and cuts to the end of the scene). Logic is optional but everything is plotted to come together, it is not so random that you stop reading. I love where the diamond necklace is hidden and how this bit of silliness is never explained. I was going to love the absence of romance in the book but then there was one at the end. It was hilarious enough to pass the Stef test and I'll allow it.
My very favourite thing was the dedication The author here speaks as someone who sort of knows that pain (the plot of the book tells the same story). In solidarity then, the odd but songful misfits all!
I'll see if my (grown up) kids want to read this one.
mayhap's review against another edition
4.0
As unrelentingly clever and inventive as the first book.