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Rating: Summary: Short, but still Good. Review: "Clockwork" by Phillip Pullman is definitely one of the shortest books I've read in a long time. A determined reader could finish the book in an hour. However, such small size does not make this a bad book. Indeed, the plot is thick, intricate, but not confusing. The story is chillingly entertaining for readers of all ages. The art is creative and an excellent accompaniment to the book. In the end, I'd recommend this to almost everyone who asks.
Rating: Summary: Philip Pullman does it again Review: Great book. Very creepy, with some great suspense. The illustrations are beautiful and very appropriate. Some readers have pointed out that the characters are underdeveloped--yes, they are, but that's not at all a fault, as this is a story in the style of folktales, where the characters aren't meant to be fully developed. They don't have to be. All of you who were enchanted by Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy will want to check this out. It's an entertaining quick read, and it will satisfy your hunger for more Philip Pullman books.
Rating: Summary: a fine fairy tale in the tradition of the Brothers Grimm Review: Having read and enjoyed Pullman's 'His Dark Materials' trilogy, I decided to read this tale. It is definitely a fairy story in the tradition of the Brothers Grimm -- not for very young readers, but very entertaining for kids over 10, I'd say. Three interconnected stories revolve around the deeds of the mysterious and ingenious Dr. Kalmenius and his dealings with princes, apprentices and clockwork mechanisms. Though it is 109 pages long, the type is big and there are over 20 full-page illustrations, so this would be a good book for a child who shows an interest in the genre and seems ready to move on to a lengthier and more complex format.
Rating: Summary: Clockwork or All Wound Up Review: I think this is a great book for any age. At first I was reluctant to read it because after reading the back-cover it sounded rather complex. It was the first Pullman-book that I ever read and now I am reading The Golden Compass another Pullman-book. After reading it took a minute to think about but then it all came together like clockwork. It starts out in the White Horse Tavern in a small German town,(personally I think that it takes place in Munich because they have some sort of clocktower)and Herr Ringleman the clock-maker and and his apprentice Karl come in and Karl's friend Fritz teh novelist begins to tell his story about Prince Otto and his mechanical child Prince Florian when he gets to the part about Dr. Kalmenius when the doctor walks in the door. Well everyone leaves except for the apprentice Karl. Dr. Kalmenius is also a the clock-maker who made Prince Florian. Karl is uset because it ia nearing the end of his apprentiship and he was supposed to make new figure for the clocktower when Dr. Kalmenius gives Karl Sir Ironsoul who if someone was to say the word devil will not rest until his sword is in the throat of the person who uttered it. When Karl come back fom preparing a spot in the clocktower for Sir Ironsoul he finds Prince Florian who is turning back into a machine by the minute and has wondered from his sledge into the town and Karl likes him better than the night and puts the prince in the tower. When he comes back he by accident says the word devil and well you know what happens and Gretl the tavernowners daughter who can't sleep and was with the Prince but had gone to get Fritz to fix the story and was coming back when she found Karl who had the key to the tower and she knew just what he had done, she took the key and stayed up there with the prince and when the clock chimed ten the figures came out and there was the two children, two because Prince Florian was not a mechanical toy anymore but a real child because he had been failing because he had no heart and Prince Otto had taken him to Dr. Kalmenius who said the heart had to be given and kept too and that is just what Gretl did.
Rating: Summary: sweet and scary Review: like most people who also wrote reviews for this book, i bought this after reading "his dark material" trilogy, trying to fill the gap in my heart after lyra and will went away. it's by no mean did that, this story's very short, and the charecter are very superficial, as they often do in a story this short, and you can't realy learn to like or care much for them. however, i did find a very interesting and dark tale and a wonderful cinical methaphore for time and death and how life goes round like a story. also it has a wonderfuly happy ending - what more can i ask.however, i can't say that this story's suitble for the age goup amazon desided to put this book in (9-12) i'm 28 and this book gave me chills. i think every parent who gives his kid this book should read it first and chack (you'll have fun i promise). one more thing - i don't know if it was just my copy, but the binding wasn't done very well, too much glue made the pages a bit uneasy to turn and they had unapealing wrinkels and small folds in the inner edge, for me that's a bit of a turn off when it comes to books. i did had 3 really nice day of very light reading with it, it's the kind of book that's great to finish in an evening near the fire around holloween.
Rating: Summary: This book rocks! Review: This book ROCKS!!!!! It has adventure, mystery, and horror!! It may not be suitable for all ages (some "violent" events, and very descriptive scenes that aren't always "happy") and in my opinion, children nine years and older should read it because It is one good book!!! Here is a sample from the book that got me hooked. "No! No! Stop-wait-the tune-let me whistle the tune-" But his lips were too dry. Frantic, he licked them with a dry tongue. No use! He couldn't product a sound. Near and nearer the little knight came..... Does the little knight use his sword to hurt the man, or does the man get away? Why does he need to whistle, and why does that seem to save his life. You HAVE to read this book!!
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