Here, There Be Dragons (Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica, Bk 1)
Author:
Genres: Children's Books, Teen & Young Adult
Book Type: Hardcover
Author:
Genres: Children's Books, Teen & Young Adult
Book Type: Hardcover
Helpful Score: 2
Here, There Be Dragons is another great example of a book that I really wanted to like, but didn't. Although the premise is imaginative and "outside of the box," I found the writing too dry and the characters too flat to hold up the fantastic plot potential.
The story begins in 1917, when soon-to-be-famous literary giants J.R.R. (John) Tolkien, C.S. (Jack) Lewis and Charles Williams meet after the murder of a fellow Oxford man -- John's mentor. Although the three don't know each other, they're shared status as suspects in the murder quickly brings them together. The early bonds of friendship are galvanized when they fall under attack from mysterious hooded beings, and the trio begins on a spontaneous journey through the Archipelago of Dreams to protect the book John has been tasked as caretaker for, the Imaginarium Geographica. This book is a map to all the fantastic places that exist in literature and myth, from Avalon to Atlantis. As they journey aboard the Indigo King with a crew of fauns, the three future writers gain inspiration for their future literary classics, such as The Fellowship of the Ring and the Narnia series. (Admittedly, I'm not familiar with Charles Williams' work, but after a little research, learned that he was another famous English fantasy writer, and a fellow "Inkling" while at Oxford with Tolkien and Lewis.)
Owen's plot is ambitious, and in theory, should captivate any respectible bibliophile. Unfortunately, most people that call themselves book lovers also love language and the author just doesn't have a flair for words. The structure and setup are intriguing, but the story is told with very little color and passion. The characters are unbelievable and unrelatable, and although John is supposed to be the primary character, the only one that shines at all is Jack. At the end of the story, I didn't find myself caring about them enough to even idly wonder what will happen to them in the book's sequel. It was challenging enough to keep reading just to get resolution to Here, There Be Dragons. All in all, a disappointing read.
The story begins in 1917, when soon-to-be-famous literary giants J.R.R. (John) Tolkien, C.S. (Jack) Lewis and Charles Williams meet after the murder of a fellow Oxford man -- John's mentor. Although the three don't know each other, they're shared status as suspects in the murder quickly brings them together. The early bonds of friendship are galvanized when they fall under attack from mysterious hooded beings, and the trio begins on a spontaneous journey through the Archipelago of Dreams to protect the book John has been tasked as caretaker for, the Imaginarium Geographica. This book is a map to all the fantastic places that exist in literature and myth, from Avalon to Atlantis. As they journey aboard the Indigo King with a crew of fauns, the three future writers gain inspiration for their future literary classics, such as The Fellowship of the Ring and the Narnia series. (Admittedly, I'm not familiar with Charles Williams' work, but after a little research, learned that he was another famous English fantasy writer, and a fellow "Inkling" while at Oxford with Tolkien and Lewis.)
Owen's plot is ambitious, and in theory, should captivate any respectible bibliophile. Unfortunately, most people that call themselves book lovers also love language and the author just doesn't have a flair for words. The structure and setup are intriguing, but the story is told with very little color and passion. The characters are unbelievable and unrelatable, and although John is supposed to be the primary character, the only one that shines at all is Jack. At the end of the story, I didn't find myself caring about them enough to even idly wonder what will happen to them in the book's sequel. It was challenging enough to keep reading just to get resolution to Here, There Be Dragons. All in all, a disappointing read.
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