"Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke
“Books have to be heavy because the whole world's inside them.”
Meggie loves living with her bookbinder father, Mo, in their little home in Italy. For as long as she can remember, it's been just the two of them. Together, they roam old bookshops and patch up broken books - but for some reason Mo insists they must never read the treasured books out loud.
Late one night, a thunderstorm brings in a stranger - a fire eater named Dustfinger and his horned marten, Gwin. To Meggie's bewilderment, he calls her father “Silvertongue” and seems to know Mo from years ago. Little does she know that Mo read out of a book called Inkheart and inexplicably read the villains out while accidentally reading Meggie's mother in.
Now on the run from villains read out of the dangerous storybook, Meggie and her father find themselves thrust into an adventure they’ve only read about in books. Working with cynical Dustfinger, old Aunt Elinor the book hoarder, and Fenoglio - the writer’s blocked author of the fated book Inkheart, Meggie must come face to face with the fictional world colliding with her own by righting wrongs and returning the characters back into their book before her world is lost.
I’m a little biased about this one. “Inkheart” is an all time favorite book of mine.
Like ever.
Although it was published in 2005, I didn’t read “Inkheart” until 2017. But once I cracked open the pages and read the first words, I was sucked into the book - just as Dustfinger and others were sucked out. “Inkheart” reads like a classic piece of literature with brilliant, serious narrative and descriptive imaginings. Each word is chosen thoughtfully and carries the story through the pages with passion and heart. But the dry humor, intricate world, and unique characters keep “Inkheart” fresh and modern for current readers.
The first book in Corneila Funke’s “Inkworld” series introduces us to a cast of wonderful and fantastical characters that grow and change throughout this book and the following sequels ("Inkspell" and "Inkdeath").
Quiet and curious Meggie wants her family to be together again in the real world but as she discovers the new world of Inkheart, it pulls her in - maybe a little too far.
Mo loves the books he works with but is weighed down by the guilt of his missing wife, afraid of the power his voice holds.
Although he desires only to go back home, Dustfinger the fire breather fears the ending of his own book and let's cowardice rule his life.
Aunt Elinor lives alone with thousands of books, hating and cursing the loud world outside her mansion, but has never lived an actual adventure.
The aging author, Fenoglio, knows Inkheart better than anyone else and yet the world he created goes against his very words.
Through their differences, these characters work together for the good of their families and for the worlds they love - fictional or not.
A note for your consideration... “Inkheart” was originally written in German and translated for English readers. Although I didn’t have any problems understanding the story, I do know some other readers had difficulty in how some of the sentences were phrased. Also, at the beginning of each chapter is a selected quote from different books or poems. Even though the quotes add to the artistry of the story, it does break the pacing of the book and I found myself skipping them completely. “Inkheart” is a beautifully written albeit a long winded book. But it’s totally worth the read.
This book is magical. Plain ol’ magic bound in paper. All book lovers have dreamed of their favorite characters coming into the real world and Cornelia Funke’s novel brings that to life for all of us all while sharing the power of the written word.
I give “Inkheart” 5 out of 5 horned martens named Gwin. ;)
What characters do you wish could come out of their books? (Or which ones do you not want to come out??)
Until the next book!
~ K.J. Haakenson
Meggie loves living with her bookbinder father, Mo, in their little home in Italy. For as long as she can remember, it's been just the two of them. Together, they roam old bookshops and patch up broken books - but for some reason Mo insists they must never read the treasured books out loud.
Late one night, a thunderstorm brings in a stranger - a fire eater named Dustfinger and his horned marten, Gwin. To Meggie's bewilderment, he calls her father “Silvertongue” and seems to know Mo from years ago. Little does she know that Mo read out of a book called Inkheart and inexplicably read the villains out while accidentally reading Meggie's mother in.
Now on the run from villains read out of the dangerous storybook, Meggie and her father find themselves thrust into an adventure they’ve only read about in books. Working with cynical Dustfinger, old Aunt Elinor the book hoarder, and Fenoglio - the writer’s blocked author of the fated book Inkheart, Meggie must come face to face with the fictional world colliding with her own by righting wrongs and returning the characters back into their book before her world is lost.
I’m a little biased about this one. “Inkheart” is an all time favorite book of mine.
Like ever.
Although it was published in 2005, I didn’t read “Inkheart” until 2017. But once I cracked open the pages and read the first words, I was sucked into the book - just as Dustfinger and others were sucked out. “Inkheart” reads like a classic piece of literature with brilliant, serious narrative and descriptive imaginings. Each word is chosen thoughtfully and carries the story through the pages with passion and heart. But the dry humor, intricate world, and unique characters keep “Inkheart” fresh and modern for current readers.
The first book in Corneila Funke’s “Inkworld” series introduces us to a cast of wonderful and fantastical characters that grow and change throughout this book and the following sequels ("Inkspell" and "Inkdeath").
Quiet and curious Meggie wants her family to be together again in the real world but as she discovers the new world of Inkheart, it pulls her in - maybe a little too far.
Mo loves the books he works with but is weighed down by the guilt of his missing wife, afraid of the power his voice holds.
Although he desires only to go back home, Dustfinger the fire breather fears the ending of his own book and let's cowardice rule his life.
Aunt Elinor lives alone with thousands of books, hating and cursing the loud world outside her mansion, but has never lived an actual adventure.
The aging author, Fenoglio, knows Inkheart better than anyone else and yet the world he created goes against his very words.
Through their differences, these characters work together for the good of their families and for the worlds they love - fictional or not.
A note for your consideration... “Inkheart” was originally written in German and translated for English readers. Although I didn’t have any problems understanding the story, I do know some other readers had difficulty in how some of the sentences were phrased. Also, at the beginning of each chapter is a selected quote from different books or poems. Even though the quotes add to the artistry of the story, it does break the pacing of the book and I found myself skipping them completely. “Inkheart” is a beautifully written albeit a long winded book. But it’s totally worth the read.
This book is magical. Plain ol’ magic bound in paper. All book lovers have dreamed of their favorite characters coming into the real world and Cornelia Funke’s novel brings that to life for all of us all while sharing the power of the written word.
I give “Inkheart” 5 out of 5 horned martens named Gwin. ;)
What characters do you wish could come out of their books? (Or which ones do you not want to come out??)
Until the next book!
~ K.J. Haakenson
Comments
Post a Comment