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abaugher's review
5.0
Oliver, a young and lonely american in paris, is sloggin through a dreary winter and a rigorous school. His father is very busy and his mother thinks he's still three years old. His only friend, Neige, had a disagreement with him and they haven't spoken for months.
Then, on the night of Epiphany, he puts on a paper crown, stands in the window and tell himself, ironically, that he is king of the window. This is the end of normal life, and the beginning of an adventure that will, in one short week, span more than the universe, include lost souls, window wraiths, an old lady with disdain for most people, particularly Americans, feather swords, bubble wands, and the Eiffel tower--all in ways you never could imagine.
this book, although it has very simple explanations throughout, as if one were explaining meanings to a child, is also very thought-provoking and requires some serious intellectual ability. and it has some serious action! replete with a high-speed chase across the multiverse, snow in Paris, and an almost quantum computer, this is not a book of fluff and nonsense. at least, not in the way one might think. This takes a strong reader armed with a high level of credulity, and a sense of wonder.
Then, on the night of Epiphany, he puts on a paper crown, stands in the window and tell himself, ironically, that he is king of the window. This is the end of normal life, and the beginning of an adventure that will, in one short week, span more than the universe, include lost souls, window wraiths, an old lady with disdain for most people, particularly Americans, feather swords, bubble wands, and the Eiffel tower--all in ways you never could imagine.
this book, although it has very simple explanations throughout, as if one were explaining meanings to a child, is also very thought-provoking and requires some serious intellectual ability. and it has some serious action! replete with a high-speed chase across the multiverse, snow in Paris, and an almost quantum computer, this is not a book of fluff and nonsense. at least, not in the way one might think. This takes a strong reader armed with a high level of credulity, and a sense of wonder.
thazell's review
3.0
The King In The Window by Adam Gopnik is a book that cannot go a few pages without using (one after another and another) or talking about metaphors and similes. Everything in the book had a meaning, it was interesting to watch everything unfold in the end. The main character showed obvious character development from the start to finish which was also interesting to see. The characters all had meaning, everyone played an important part in this play. I can't think of one character that had zero purpose. The book featured many unique things that were refreshing. Although, I found the chapters too long. At the start, it was hard to get into plus it had chapters that felt like they continued on forever, it kinda repelled me from the book. The book wasn't bad, maybe it was the writing but the book wasn't really my cup of tea. 5/10 recommend.
misstessamaye's review
3.0
I found this book without a jacket at a thrift store for a quarter, so I didn't know anything about it going in. I knew it was a youth novel, but I didn't know that it had interesting pieces of French history, commentary on rhetoric, and a magical war between realms of mirror and glass. It was poetic and original and held my attention. I don't regret reading it. I would love to see a visual interpretation of it, like a film or a longer picture book, because it sounds dynamic and lovely.
That being said, the fantasy was a bit TOO fantastical, which isn't something I often say. I'm sure plot holes exist everywhere because the concepts of the various realms and how they interacted were just so complicated; I barely understood what was happening and just buckled in to see where it took us. I also think teaching children that there are various forms of lies we should utilize maybe isn't the greatest idea.
That being said, the fantasy was a bit TOO fantastical, which isn't something I often say. I'm sure plot holes exist everywhere because the concepts of the various realms and how they interacted were just so complicated; I barely understood what was happening and just buckled in to see where it took us. I also think teaching children that there are various forms of lies we should utilize maybe isn't the greatest idea.
wunder's review
4.0
The wonderful part about this book is the feel of Paris and the presence of the past in the present. Racine, Molière, and Richelieu (still adjusting his mayonnaise) are here, and Versailles is really a portal to a different world. The plot is fine, but what I remember is Paris, the dinner with Mrs. Pearson, the clochards, and all the windows.
I think the first half of the book was more satisfying and that it loses itself a bit when the American startup guy enters the story. Maybe New York authors just can’t write convincing Silicon Valley stereotypes. But that is a nit on a fun story with a nice bit of depth. My son didn’t see anything wrong with it. For me, catching myself reflected in the café window isn’t quite the same anymore.
I think the first half of the book was more satisfying and that it loses itself a bit when the American startup guy enters the story. Maybe New York authors just can’t write convincing Silicon Valley stereotypes. But that is a nit on a fun story with a nice bit of depth. My son didn’t see anything wrong with it. For me, catching myself reflected in the café window isn’t quite the same anymore.
jlynnelseauthor's review
4.0
Very intelligent fast-paced book. So many ideas and themes are brought into the story to make it more rich and detailed for the reader. Sometimes, the author can jump ahead of himself and make assumptions without connecting the dots. For instance, early in the book Oliver went to the Louve and found a glass sword which resulted lots of meyhem! Then Oliver thinks to himself, no wonder his teacher told him to stay away from the Louve. Well, she actually said to stay away from tthe King's Sword and NOT the Louve. So the author seems to bring about conclusions without letting the reader in on it. The last 1/3 of the book has some heavy concepts like multiple universes which can be difficult to wrap your head around as well as reflections of the world and the twisting of time/space in relation to your reality, etc.
Overall, think this was a very smart book with many great lines and observations about human behavior. Mrs. Pearson was a delight. Charlie's character was a little boring and shallow (of course, he's American, and they bash Americans throughout the book). I enjoyed Oliver's thought process that you followed along with. I did also think the ending was a little too quick. The character relationships seemed to be tied up, but the big conflict at the end in Paris and how they returned the sword to the Louve was never fully explained. So not everything was wrapped up to satisfaction.
Overall, I thought the book had incredible depth, was very engaging, and brought in lots of elements that you would not otherwise think related to create a fun and adventurous story! You do have to pay very close attention though, or you will get lost n the plot. In the end though, I really enjoyed the read and the way it challenged me while reading. This was an ending you could never guess! I loved that you could never guess what would happen next. Very enjoyable.
Overall, think this was a very smart book with many great lines and observations about human behavior. Mrs. Pearson was a delight. Charlie's character was a little boring and shallow (of course, he's American, and they bash Americans throughout the book). I enjoyed Oliver's thought process that you followed along with. I did also think the ending was a little too quick. The character relationships seemed to be tied up, but the big conflict at the end in Paris and how they returned the sword to the Louve was never fully explained. So not everything was wrapped up to satisfaction.
Overall, I thought the book had incredible depth, was very engaging, and brought in lots of elements that you would not otherwise think related to create a fun and adventurous story! You do have to pay very close attention though, or you will get lost n the plot. In the end though, I really enjoyed the read and the way it challenged me while reading. This was an ending you could never guess! I loved that you could never guess what would happen next. Very enjoyable.
digitalmozart's review
2.0
Good god this book
I have a lot more to say than I care to type, but I've never read such a pretentious book supposedly aimed at kids. The constant defining and redefining of French terms and replacing English words with their French equivalents was incredibly pointless. Look, I know that this book takes place in France, but that can be conveyed by names and locations, not being a dictionary. It's like that kid that comes back from studying abroad and who's like "Oh, sorry, the French just sort of slips out, haha, did I tell you I've been to France?"
There were many parts in this book where they paint Oliver as a complete idiot, taking everything completely literally (he looks around to greet someone when his friend say "we've got company"), and several completely meaningless exchanges that were inserted to seemingly only pad out the length of the book (here's looking at you, section that tries to explain quantum physics in two separate ways). There is also an entire chapter devoted to exposition dumping over dinner and I almost fell asleep during it.
Also, the fact that Mrs. Pearson is Alice Liddel's (of Alice in Wonderland fame) great granddaughter is the absolutely bonkers, but not in a good way. The parallels she draws between the characters in the mirror world and those in Through the Looking Glass were so absurd. So now I guess there's one more piece of media in the Alice in Wonderland Extended Universe™.
I'm giving this two stars due to being a very interesting premise (beings living in reflections is a neat concept), but good lord, this book was incrediblely frustrating to read.
I have a lot more to say than I care to type, but I've never read such a pretentious book supposedly aimed at kids. The constant defining and redefining of French terms and replacing English words with their French equivalents was incredibly pointless. Look, I know that this book takes place in France, but that can be conveyed by names and locations, not being a dictionary. It's like that kid that comes back from studying abroad and who's like "Oh, sorry, the French just sort of slips out, haha, did I tell you I've been to France?"
There were many parts in this book where they paint Oliver as a complete idiot, taking everything completely literally (he looks around to greet someone when his friend say "we've got company"), and several completely meaningless exchanges that were inserted to seemingly only pad out the length of the book (here's looking at you, section that tries to explain quantum physics in two separate ways). There is also an entire chapter devoted to exposition dumping over dinner and I almost fell asleep during it.
Also, the fact that Mrs. Pearson is Alice Liddel's (of Alice in Wonderland fame) great granddaughter is the absolutely bonkers, but not in a good way. The parallels she draws between the characters in the mirror world and those in Through the Looking Glass were so absurd. So now I guess there's one more piece of media in the Alice in Wonderland Extended Universe™.
I'm giving this two stars due to being a very interesting premise (beings living in reflections is a neat concept), but good lord, this book was incrediblely frustrating to read.
maiareads's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pxr014's review
4.0
Of all of the children's books I read this summer, this was probably the best. I loved the plot and the sudden, occasional, really insightful thoughts. And the writing style was really nice, though the random (though few) inconsistencies bugged me a bit. And it's just so original. I don't think I've read such an original fantasy novel in years. My only problems: Oliver's lucky guesses as the solution to problems (Deus-ex-machina-esque, although this was more at the beginning) and the easy way Mrs. Pearson and Charlie just completely believe his story. What almost bothered me was that there seemed to me to be very little development to the characters, except for Oliver. The other characters were well-developed and under-developed at the same time, especially Neige. It was weird. In any other book, I would've called her two-dimensional, but it was more like the author's lack of description described her well enough that she didn't really have to be further developed. We already knew her really well because everybody knows a sort of Neige. Hopefully that made sense. Anyway, gorgeous book. I really really loved this, even if it was a kid's book.
thecatochronicles's review
3.0
This was a fanciful tale of a boy who accidentally becomes the "King in the Window" and must lead an army of philosophical (think Racine, Moliere, etc) window wraiths against the evil mirror soul-suckers and his arc-nemesis, the Master of Mirrors.
It was a nice little coming-of-age story that got a bit complicated in it's dealings with mirrors and duality and the multiverse, but I enjoyed how Oliver had to grow up and think and learn to be a good King and defeat the evil Master. The long standing play with irony and metaphor was fun to see pop up ever now and then. And Oliver's friend Charlie provided a good amount of comic relief.
The story has the spirit of the Chronicles of Narnia, without the length and not quite as deep. Philosophical, but not spiritual. I enjoyed reading it.
It was a nice little coming-of-age story that got a bit complicated in it's dealings with mirrors and duality and the multiverse, but I enjoyed how Oliver had to grow up and think and learn to be a good King and defeat the evil Master. The long standing play with irony and metaphor was fun to see pop up ever now and then. And Oliver's friend Charlie provided a good amount of comic relief.
The story has the spirit of the Chronicles of Narnia, without the length and not quite as deep. Philosophical, but not spiritual. I enjoyed reading it.