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Loading... The Amulet of Samarkand (original 2003; edition 2003)by Jonathan Stroud (Author)
Work InformationThe Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud (2003)
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. This series (a trilogy beginning with The Amulet of Samarkand) was just meant to be an HP rebound for me, but I ended up really caring about it. Like the Great Rowling, Stroud's really good at making serious ethical questions exciting by giving them a magical spin; but where Harry is a sympathetic character that has greatness thrust upon him, Nathaniel is a total douche most of the time. It'd be like HP following Draco Malfoy's moral development. Also, in many ways this series is a bit more sophisticated than HP. It's got a lot of that dry British sarcasm going on and the alternative London Stroud imagines is way more unsettling than Rowling's. Imagine a world that's 98% Slytherin and you'll get the idea. I'm not saying this is better than HP. I'll admit there were times when I thought about putting it down and just rereading Order of the Phoenix, but I'm really glad I finished it. It was worth it. -interesting world and magic system -interesting how all the characters more or less were of dubious morality, including both main characters in different ways -unreliable narration -different sorts of point of view were used -corrupt politicians who are magicians but power comes from demons they summon -interesting conflicts between magicians and 'commoners' and magicians and demons, has some serious themes here -it did leave some gaps and things i thought could have been done better but overall quite good -a lot of politics for a kids book and morally dubious characters arent too common in this sort of book, but it definitely is a kids book not young adult and im sure kids can understand that sort of stuff, i didnt think it was generally more challenging than most kids books - was slightly dense to read in its style but not that much i suspect im just not used to reading anymore Belongs to SeriesIs contained inHas the adaptationAwardsNotable Lists
Nathaniel, a magician's apprentice, summons up the djinni Bartimaeus and instructs him to steal the Amulet of Samarkand from the powerful magician Simon Lovelace. No library descriptions found.
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)823.914Literature English English fiction Modern Period 1901-1999 1945-1999LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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So the story is told from both points of view in alternating chapters. Bartimaeus chapters are in first person while Nathaniel's are in third-person. Bartimaeus' narration is quite funny, and the dynamics between the two main characters works quite well. While that is the strongest point, the book is well-written and the setting and the adventure interesting, so it's very readable and entertaining. One of the best YA fantasies out there. ( )