Jayson’s Reviews > The Amulet of Samarkand > Status Update
Jayson
is finished
Notes:
(1) I don't usually reread books I didn't care for initially, This would be the first. Before I had any prominence or visibility on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ whatsoever, my first review for this book drew a lot of heated opposition.
- While this audiobook was a different experience, I can't say reading it again (as many people have suggested/insisted) made me like it any better. If anything, it underscored my initial opinion.
— Aug 16, 2023 10:30PM
(1) I don't usually reread books I didn't care for initially, This would be the first. Before I had any prominence or visibility on Å·±¦ÓéÀÖ whatsoever, my first review for this book drew a lot of heated opposition.
- While this audiobook was a different experience, I can't say reading it again (as many people have suggested/insisted) made me like it any better. If anything, it underscored my initial opinion.
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Jayson’s Previous Updates
Jayson
is 86% done
Notes:
(1) I don't find either of the two protagonists all that likeable.
- The boy, Nathaniel, whines all the time about things not going his way, and only thinks to plot revenge on people who've wronged him.
- The djinni, Bartimaeus, is cheeky and smug, but has no admirable qualities. Even helping Nathaniel is rooted in pure self-interest.
(2) Despite all the escapes and explosions, the story's not exciting at all.
— Aug 15, 2023 10:30PM
(1) I don't find either of the two protagonists all that likeable.
- The boy, Nathaniel, whines all the time about things not going his way, and only thinks to plot revenge on people who've wronged him.
- The djinni, Bartimaeus, is cheeky and smug, but has no admirable qualities. Even helping Nathaniel is rooted in pure self-interest.
(2) Despite all the escapes and explosions, the story's not exciting at all.
Jayson
is 56% done
Notes:
(1) Of all the odd things to find in a modern, present-set, book, the author goes in hard on who, Disraeli or Gladstone, was the greater Prime Minister.
- In this alternate history, Gladstone is the greatest ever, whereas Disraeli's bashed to no end.
(2) One of my biggest issues with this book is how precious it is about its own lore.
- To me, lore is only as good as the characters that make you care about it.
— Aug 15, 2023 12:15AM
(1) Of all the odd things to find in a modern, present-set, book, the author goes in hard on who, Disraeli or Gladstone, was the greater Prime Minister.
- In this alternate history, Gladstone is the greatest ever, whereas Disraeli's bashed to no end.
(2) One of my biggest issues with this book is how precious it is about its own lore.
- To me, lore is only as good as the characters that make you care about it.
Jayson
is 38% done
Notes:
(1) Not to compare this too much to Harry Potter, but it is one of the first series to ride the initial wave of Pottermania to greater notoriety.
- Though, how can you not? Both feature emotionally abused foster-children who learn magic in a school setting.
(2) I don't find Nathaniel here all that likeable. He's a whiny know-it-all who's only really interesting for a possessive crush he has on his art teacher.
— Aug 14, 2023 05:20AM
(1) Not to compare this too much to Harry Potter, but it is one of the first series to ride the initial wave of Pottermania to greater notoriety.
- Though, how can you not? Both feature emotionally abused foster-children who learn magic in a school setting.
(2) I don't find Nathaniel here all that likeable. He's a whiny know-it-all who's only really interesting for a possessive crush he has on his art teacher.
Jayson
is starting
Notes:
(1) I'm presently reading "The Trials of Apollo" series, and while I'd planned to continue my journey through Rick Riordan audiobooks, I don't read the same author concurrently, it's too easy to get things mixed up. My rule with audiobooks is it has to be something I've read already so I don't have to concentrate too much while multitasking.
- This book fits the bill and happened to be available at my library.
— Aug 13, 2023 10:00PM
(1) I'm presently reading "The Trials of Apollo" series, and while I'd planned to continue my journey through Rick Riordan audiobooks, I don't read the same author concurrently, it's too easy to get things mixed up. My rule with audiobooks is it has to be something I've read already so I don't have to concentrate too much while multitasking.
- This book fits the bill and happened to be available at my library.
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Juho wrote: "At least now you know. It can be an insightful experience to re-read works from many years past, to see if your opinion on them has changed or evolved now that you've read more and know better. Som..."I don't find that particularly contentious. Saying you prefer one very popular series over another might be curious, but everyone has different tastes in juvenile fantasy. Now, saying you outright dislike something that's beloved, that gets you in hot water.
On the whole, I find people don't really mind you being extra-positive about something, people just have a hard time accepting any negativity 😅
Jayson wrote: "I find people don't really mind you being extra-positive about something, people just have a hard time accepting any negativity"No surprises there. It's difficult for us to see through other people's eyes and accept they might have different tastes, and we wonder incessantly how someone might not love the objective masterpiece that has captured our hearts. I've been on both sides of that fence. The desire to argue is great. To get people to accept the thing I like, to show them the light even if I have to drag them kicking and screaming at it - not understanding that this only serves to turn mild dislike into genuine spiteful hatred. It just gets people to want to keep well away from the thing I like simply because I've proven myself to be an obnoxious fan they don't want to associate themselves with.
Worse, fantasy such as this is often enjoyed by kids who don't yet understand such nuances and can't hold back their outrage. So when you admit to not liking the thing, it can get weird.
Juho wrote: "Worse, fantasy such as this is often enjoyed by kids who don't yet understand such nuances and can't hold back their outrage..."Kids and adults aren't so different in that regard. Frankly, the most miopic outrage I've had directed at me have been from adults. The older, the more calcified in their self-righteousness.
Myself - on the subject of contentious opinions - I still like it better than Harry Potter.