Inkheart

by Cornelia Funke

Meggie's father, Mo, has a very special talent: when he reads books aloud, the books come alive. And characters leave the books and enter Mo's world. And vice versa.

There is one very special book, and that is Inkheart. When Mo last read this book aloud, characters left the book, AND Meggie's mother entered the tome. Several characters left the book, including the evil Capricorn and the amusing Dustfinger. And all of these characters know that Mo has a special reading ability. So special that they call him Silvertongue.

Silvertongue is a hot commodity, and he is pursued and captured by Capricorn. Silvertongue's copy of Inkheart is equally as precious as its reader. When both Mo and the book are acquired by Capricorn, Meggie's adventure truly begins.

I don't know how to say this, but I was not wild about this story. I think that the concept is excellent, but the execution is poor. The novel contains no character development whatsoever and is full of bloated description of less than exciting events. I had a hard time with this one; it went way too slowly for me.

1/3/09