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pamjohnson01's review
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Second or third time reading the book.
guppyur's review
4.0
An old YA favorite. I re-read this as something of a light palate cleanser after my previous book took me months to get through. It was out of print until recently, and I picked it up for the find memories when it became available again.
Diana Wynne Jones was one of my favorite authors growing up. Charming, richly imaginative book that defies description. It's modern-day, but centers on the machinations of a family of seven siblings who run the town in which it's set in secret, each responsible for -- and gaining the bounty of -- different aspects of the town. The main characters, however, are a mostly normal family suffering through the fallout from the doings of those seven siblings.
This book is written for a YA audience, of course, but it's very readable, and fun to revisit in a fit of nostalgia. Don't think I ever read a DWJ book I didn't enjoy, at any age.
Not all of the mechanics are ever truly explained. I think that used to bother me a bit. These days I kind of like it that way.
Diana Wynne Jones was one of my favorite authors growing up. Charming, richly imaginative book that defies description. It's modern-day, but centers on the machinations of a family of seven siblings who run the town in which it's set in secret, each responsible for -- and gaining the bounty of -- different aspects of the town. The main characters, however, are a mostly normal family suffering through the fallout from the doings of those seven siblings.
This book is written for a YA audience, of course, but it's very readable, and fun to revisit in a fit of nostalgia. Don't think I ever read a DWJ book I didn't enjoy, at any age.
Not all of the mechanics are ever truly explained. I think that used to bother me a bit. These days I kind of like it that way.
votesforwomen's review
4.0
I have this weird thing about Dianna Wynn Jones books. I know that they will be wonderful and I will love them... but I have an awful case of cover judging EVERY SINGLE TIME.
Archer's Goon was no exception; the only reason I picked it up was that I had to return it to the library the next day. But I'd hardly started it when I was sucked into the story. I don't know if it was better than Howl, but that would take a lot. There's not much that is better than Howl.
Things I liked:
-The characters. I didn't trust any of them, but... yeah. Hathaway was one of my favorites, as was Shine, which is weird I know but whatever. I also really liked Howard.
-Howard gets his own bullet because he was just awesome. I liked how he was both similar and different than Blade from Dark Lord Of Derkholm? Although that revelation at the end... yeah. More about that later.
-I loved how everything worked. And the Goon! He was kind of great! Until you find out that he's ... not really a Goon, that is.
-The accurate representation of authors was the greatest thing ever. Quentin was stereotypical but not so much so that he got annoying, and he was still very real and unique. He was one of my favorites.
-The plot twists? Except for one which I didn't love? But I'll get to that.
What I didn't like:
-I just didn't understand the part where Howard was actually Venestrus? It came kind of out of nowhere and I don't appreciate it. ??
-I didn't like Fifi. I don't know.... we just didn't seem like the kind of people who would get along.
-The ending felt a tad bit easy? But other than that it was terrific.
4.5 stars! Another excellent story from DWJ.
Archer's Goon was no exception; the only reason I picked it up was that I had to return it to the library the next day. But I'd hardly started it when I was sucked into the story. I don't know if it was better than Howl, but that would take a lot. There's not much that is better than Howl.
Things I liked:
-The characters. I didn't trust any of them, but... yeah. Hathaway was one of my favorites, as was Shine, which is weird I know but whatever. I also really liked Howard.
-Howard gets his own bullet because he was just awesome. I liked how he was both similar and different than Blade from Dark Lord Of Derkholm? Although that revelation at the end... yeah. More about that later.
-I loved how everything worked. And the Goon! He was kind of great! Until you find out that he's ... not really a Goon, that is.
-The accurate representation of authors was the greatest thing ever. Quentin was stereotypical but not so much so that he got annoying, and he was still very real and unique. He was one of my favorites.
-The plot twists? Except for one which I didn't love? But I'll get to that.
What I didn't like:
-I just didn't understand the part where Howard was actually Venestrus? It came kind of out of nowhere and I don't appreciate it. ??
-I didn't like Fifi. I don't know.... we just didn't seem like the kind of people who would get along.
-The ending felt a tad bit easy? But other than that it was terrific.
4.5 stars! Another excellent story from DWJ.
kristensk's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
kettlekitten's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
pattydsf's review against another edition
3.0
“This book will prove the following ten facts:
1. A Goon is a being who melts into the foreground and sticks there.
2. Pigs have wings, making them hard to catch.
3. All power corrupts, but we need electricity.
4. When an irresistible force meets an immovable object, the result is a family fight.
5. Music does not always sooth the troubled beast.
6. An Englishman's home is his castle.
7. The female of the species is more deadly than the male.
8. One black eye deserves another.
9. Space is the final frontier, and so is the sewage farm.
10. It pays to increase your word power.”
I read this because Neil Gaiman recommended as a comfort read. Somehow, I am not the correct audience for this novel. I thought it was fine, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it. I am pretty sure this is my problem not the author’s or the book’s.
1. A Goon is a being who melts into the foreground and sticks there.
2. Pigs have wings, making them hard to catch.
3. All power corrupts, but we need electricity.
4. When an irresistible force meets an immovable object, the result is a family fight.
5. Music does not always sooth the troubled beast.
6. An Englishman's home is his castle.
7. The female of the species is more deadly than the male.
8. One black eye deserves another.
9. Space is the final frontier, and so is the sewage farm.
10. It pays to increase your word power.”
I read this because Neil Gaiman recommended as a comfort read. Somehow, I am not the correct audience for this novel. I thought it was fine, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to recommend it. I am pretty sure this is my problem not the author’s or the book’s.