I sincerely doubt any other articles have been as pushed
forward as the book reviews promised ages ago. The simplest explanation: how
can you possibly do a writer’s words, what they painstakingly crafted, any
further justice without utterly corrupting the source material into an unrecognizable pile of SRSLY?
Still beefing. moarpowah
Short answer: you don’t. You speak your opinion and hope
whoever is reading the review is cool with spoilers and agrees with you because
all other points of view are wrong & you’re the only one that really gets the author.
Please proceed to the 5 things you'll enjoy the most in the book, below:
1. The Story
At its core, the story follows the traditional formula:
(Background/Introduction of characters) à (boy & girl meet) à (boy & girl get to
digging each other)
è
(boy and girl are separate by obstacles) à (boy and girl
overcome)
Wecker does a pretty admirable job of making you forget
you’re essentially reading a rom com and subconsciously adding Catherine
Hiegel’s face after every 3 female characters.
Or, worse. *adorkables internally* giphy
2. The Characters
The Golem is the ultimate Mary Sue if you look closely
enough, which we won’t, because we like this story and want it to prosper. More
than anyone else, you’ll either identify with her or root for her the entirety
of the story. Admittedly, having watched that Supernatural episode that
featured a Golem messed with my ability to picture her as described but that’s
my problem to be discussed with a therapist at a later date.
The Jinni is the consummate bad boy type in that way that
falls on the right side of the line between charismatic & slap-a-dude that
doesn’t actually happen ever at all anywhere. Capricious, lacking in general
self-control, alladat. Ladies, when you wake up next to that alcoholic bad boy
you married and begin to ask yourself why, this is it. This is why.
Worth it! ew.com
The supporting cast is lovely as well: from the respective
‘caretakers’ of our protagonists to even the major antagonist. Sure, the wizard
guy is terrible and evil, but you have to kind of feel bad for him in this
incarnation: he literally had no choice in the matter, being predestined to
evil (granted, by his former lives, but still, dude had no chance). The Doctor
haunted me well after I’d finished the book: to have been dealt such an ugly
lot by virtue of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, then still be incredibly selfless at the end
of the book. Not everyone and most certainly not me would have been so kind,
courageous an all-around stand up person. You guys! *tears up*
3. The Setting
History buff, here. I admit to greatly romanticizing the
lost years when everyone wore hats and ladies dropped their kerchiefs and said
“I do declare!” everywhere including ancient Egypt (these are listed as Queen Cleopatra’s
first words), so this book was like a toned down glimpse into the fairy tale
world I wish the late 1800s were like.
The setting, viewed with a cynical eye, is hella cliche: the
two characters couldn't have been from more different cultures and backgrounds,
a la Montagues and Capulets almost and ideally their paths needn't have
crossed, but they do because moving the story along and also TRUE
LOVE.
The descriptions of everything are spot on and merge nicely
with the Gossip Girl New York map engraved in my brain to create an immersive
backdrop to the central story. The descriptions of the work, the cafes, the
culture, 10,000% history pr0n and I love it. Loved it, I say!
*is reduced to tears by swag overdose* 100megspop3
4. The Writing
The writing style is super light and easy to read. The week
it took me to finish this book (I’m actually busy, particularly when I’m
avoiding things I’m actually meant to be doing) was the one week in the history
of EARTH that I didn’t once switch on the internet on my phone. At all. Any
free moment I had to be with my baby, I was on my e-reader.
It’s a great read with the tones you’d expect of each
character coming out very clearly any making them that much more relatable.
5. The Movie Potential
Don’t get it twisted: I most certainly do NOT want this to
be turned into a movie. Really. Everyone can do without Jennifer Lawrence as
the Golem and one of those One Direction chirruns as the Jinni. Making this
book a movie also means we lose the internal monologues of each character,
which can only cheapen the deeply nuanced story: most movie adaptations can do
absolutely no justice to the source material.
STILL. BEEFING. moarpowah
If it WAS to be made, however, can’t you just picture it? Indulge
me for a second: period pieces with the proper financial muscle behind them
make for the most breathtaking visual experience in cinema. Exhibit everything:
The Great Gatsby.
I loathe me some Daisy Buchanan but good heavens the sets!
The clothing! The music! I’m learning Arabic just thinking about it. Even with
this possibility, I do still hope Hollywood goes nowhere near this book, or if
they do, appoint Michael Bay…to make sure the Golem explodes upon completion,
taking out the Earth and everyone in it. *closing credits* It is the only way.
Final score, if you hadn't guessed it, is 9,000 stars out of 5. For script-writing, romantic novels and delayed reviews, ‘tis
I, Evey G. Have a good one.
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