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Rating: 
Summary: Great Fun
Review: Bartimaeus is a wonderful addition to my list of favorite literary characters. In the tradition of Robin Williams' genie in Alladin, Bartimaeus' wit and magic permeate this story and make it more fun, especially when things get a bit dark with the character of Nathaniel. Stroud has also created an incredibly realistic fantasy London, and it's this plausibility that makes the reader care (even when you may not like Nathaniel very much). I can't wait to read the next two.
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Summary: A new classic--with a unique voice
Review: I bought this book as a gift for my 15-year-old nephew. I got it home and meant to read just the first chapter (so I could talk about it with him when he opened it).... but I got so caught up in it that I had to go buy him another book so I could finish this myself!
The opening scene, told from the perspective of the djinni, grabbed me right away. The character, being summoned by a new master, is trying to figure out what special effects to add to his apparition to impress this new magician with his great powers...only to find himself facing an 11-year-old boy when he finally materializes. The struggle between the djinni, who is trying to get the upper-hand, and the boy--Nathaniel--who is dealing with magic that is perhaps a bit out of his league, goes on throughout the book.
The author's style is unique--in part, through the use of footnotes for the djinni to give his insights into what is happening. While the story may be compared to Harry Potter because a main character is a young boy who does magic, its really a very different story. Magic is out in the open in The Amulet's London. In fact, the magicians control the government and 'protect' the commoners. A substory (that plays a bigger role in the sequel) is that of a Resistance group that objects to the magicians' rule. There are themes in the book that will appeal to older readers but the story can still be appreciated by younger folks.
The book is sold in the young readers/young adult section of the bookstore but the story is entertaining for all ages. As an adult I fully enjoyed this book and went right out after I finished to buy the sequel, The Golem's Eye (also a great read)!
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Summary: highly original book
Review: I'm a science fiction/fantasy fan and read books like shannara, harry potter, lord of the rings, bartimeaus, and eragon. This book was highly original in the power of magicians. It's not just like using magic to do everything and being in secret from non-magic people. the structure of it is cool because of the way it has two main charaxters and switches views. Since magicians don't actually use magic, (they summon demons and the stronger the demon, the harder he is to control so you need to be a strong magician to control strong demons) Bartimeaus is actually the one with all the power, not Nathaniel (the magician). I loved the ending of the book because of the strategic plans the main characters come up with. BOTTOM LINE-------- if you're a fantasy fan, READ THIS SERIES.
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Summary: Bring on the next book!!!
Review: It's the story of this djinni, Bartimaeus, who gets summoned by a magician's apprentice, Nathaniel. On the search for revenge they get caught in a plot to destroy the magician government. When people describe this book, they always seem to start with Nathaniel. For me, it's ALL about the ironic, clever, slightly malicious djinni. Bartimaeus is written with such skill that i feel he could (i hate this cliche) jump right off the page. (i wish he would, i think he's great!) I don't think Nathaniel is quite as vivid but he still makes an alarmingly strong character. I love the way he's not "good" in the sweet polite little boy sense of the word, and that in the end of the book you are left wondering if he'll be manipulated into turning "evil". I think that Simon Lovelace lacks something. He makes a good baddy, just not a great one. And i like my villans proper nasty (i think Faquarl pulls this off wonderfully). Some people have compared this to Harry Potter and although i didnt notice the simularities while reading it, i do now. The young magician (or wizard) both in their type of school. Magicians treating commoners (or muggles) as second class citizens. The big wizard trying to take over the world and only this boy can stop him. It all sounds a bit familiar. However, i don't think Bartimaeus comes in anywhere in Harry Potter, and he's what makes the book. So Jonathan Stroud gets my full apprecation. I couldn't honestly say whether i prefer Harry Potter or The Amulet but so far there are 5 Harry Potter books and only one Amulet of Samarkand. All i can say is read it! In fact buy it! If you're anything like me, you'll love it!!!
Rating:
Summary: The Amulet of Samarkand
Review: This book was very good. It created a whole new way of percieving magic. Also, it brings this magic to modern-day London. Stroud did not have to create another world or time. It was an amazing tale of how even the greatest government can be undirmined by those in power. A good read. I highly recommend it.
Rating:
Summary: Not your average "boy wizard" novel
Review: This is a terribly amusing story, mostly narrated by the Djinni Bartimaeus who thinks quite highly of himself and his abilities, despite the fact that he is constantly getting caught up in different scrapes. He's a delightfully sarcastic demon and it makes for pretty entertaining reading. A few times some of the "humorous situations" seem a bit forced, but overall it's a very enjoyable read. I was wary because Boy Wizards in London are all the rage these days, but this story stands on its own, and bears almost no resemblance to Mr. Harry Potter's adventures. *smile* Set in a modern day London where wizards run the government it's an interesting premise.
Rating: 
Summary: JOURNEYMAN EFFORT FOR YOUNG ADULTS
Review: Two things keep this from being just another average young adult fantasy story. The first being that part of the story is told from the viewpoint of Bartimaeus, a centuries old djinni who finds himself enslaved by a 12 year old magician. His cynical and hard-bitten views of his enslavement, its something that happens quite often to djinni, is unique and often very amusing. The second unique aspect of this book is the young protagonist Nathan. Sold to the magicians at a young age he is brought up as an apprentice by a thoroughly despicable master magician. We find this is not unusual as most magicians in this alternate universe are thoroughly despicable. Magicians rule the world using their ability to control various spirits like the djinni's, it is not an especially benevolent dictatorship. What is unique about Nathan is that he is fairly unlikable. He's a brat, a genius and as it turns out a fairly powerful magician. Also for once he is a 12 year old boy who really acts like a 12 year old. Given power he doesn't have the emotional maturity to control it. He panics, makes mistakes and generally causes a real mess of things. He believes that it is natural for magicians to control the normal's and certainly has no intention of helping them in their rebellion. Like I said he's not very likable. If you're like me you will start rooting for the djinni early and often. Nathan is no Harry Potter. Although it has a fairly simple plot and weak characters it is exciting enough to captivate the attention of younger readers, I don't think adults will get as much enjoyment out of this one as other examples of young adult lit. Still it is suitable and age appropriate for young adults and for them I certainly RECOMMEND it.
Rating:
Summary: the Begining to one of my favorite trilogies
Review: When 12-year-old Nathaniel(cough, nice name) is humiliated in public by pompous Simon Lovelace, he is determined to have revenge. Nathaniel summons Bartimaeus, a 5,000 year old djinni with a pulsing hatred for magicians, to steal the Amulet of Samarkand from Lovelace. However, the Amulet turns out to worth much more than it seems, and because of it, Bartimaeus ends up in government prison, Nathaniel's (fusturatingly stubborn/narrow-minded)master and his (much nicer)wife, Mr and Mrs Underwood, die a firey and unpleasant death when Lovelace is tipped off about the Amulet's whereabouts. When Nathaniel learns what Lovelace intends to do with the Amulet, he has no choice but to travel to Heddleham Hall with Bartimaeus in hopes of revealing his scheme...
Crafty and downright hilarious, 'The Amulet of Samarkand' is a must-read for anyone who enjoys fantasy plot-twisters.
Reading things from Barimaeus' point of view is nice, and his comidical footnotes makes the story more bearable despite Nathaniel's show-off prig of a personality(I am not saying that Nathaniel is all bad). In my book, 'The Amulet' deserves a lot more than five stars.
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Summary: The Amazing Magic Of London!
Review: While I realize there is a large market for these types of adventure stories employing fantasy elements, I have to say that I would not recommend this book for impressionable minds when there are alternatives that carry more of a useful message. Specifically, I was disturbed by the fact that NONE of the major characters in the tale possesssed any of the qualities that I believe are virtues to emphasize for younger readers: loyalty, empathy, justice, fairness, assisting others, self-respect.
The protagonist certainly endures more than his share of hardship, but it leaves him embittered, withdrawn, disappointed, and prone to the types of possessiveness and pride that fuel a vengeful outlook. By the end of the book he never really emerges from this perspective. He is challenged, frustrated, and abetted by a cast of characters were are even more vile and self-serving, who value nothing of life but are instead motivated by greed. The bone thrown by the book to human warmth is the fragile gratitude the youngster feels toward the bit player who feeds him. Otherwise, all is self-interest and resentment. I believe it to be a bit of nastiness to set up the tale so that the reader is asked to root for someone whose identity is so tied up in acquisitiveness and power-gambits, and who never steps out of the shadow having learned anything of greater depth.
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