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The Grand Tour review
Jan. 13th, 2008 09:40 amI received an interesting Amazon order the other day - two complete sets of the same trilogy: The Enchanted Chocolate Pot, The Grand Tour and The Missing Magician. I don't think I've ever ordered several copies of the same books before, but there was good reason for it. I read book one a couple of months ago, then gave it to my mum at Christmas to keep, so I had to order another copy for me. Then, we each needed a copy of the other two books so we could read them at the same time and discuss them. And, I also decided to get another copy of the first book, to give to Lindsay when I go to LA next weekend.
Anyway, I have now completed book two - The Grand Tour (all of them are by Patricia C Wrede and Caroline Stevermer) and my reaction to it was interesting. The format had been changed from the first book - instead of the narrative being letters between the two main characters, it was the diary of one and the deposition of the other. This took a little getting used to, and I think it lost something in the lack of direct reaction of each to what the other writes, as well as the tone of each being slightly different in that they are writing for a different audience. The other difference from the first book is that the plot is much less ridiculous, which actually makes it less convincing in a way. With the other one, it was so silly, you just had to go with it and not worry about it, whereas this one opened itself up to greater scrutiny for being slightly more serious.
Anyway, it was still great fun, well written, and highly entertaining. It only suffers in comparison with the first book. If I hadn't read the first one, I would have said unreservedly that the second is really good (which it is), but it is eclipsed somewhat by the sheer genius of the first.
Anyway, I have now completed book two - The Grand Tour (all of them are by Patricia C Wrede and Caroline Stevermer) and my reaction to it was interesting. The format had been changed from the first book - instead of the narrative being letters between the two main characters, it was the diary of one and the deposition of the other. This took a little getting used to, and I think it lost something in the lack of direct reaction of each to what the other writes, as well as the tone of each being slightly different in that they are writing for a different audience. The other difference from the first book is that the plot is much less ridiculous, which actually makes it less convincing in a way. With the other one, it was so silly, you just had to go with it and not worry about it, whereas this one opened itself up to greater scrutiny for being slightly more serious.
Anyway, it was still great fun, well written, and highly entertaining. It only suffers in comparison with the first book. If I hadn't read the first one, I would have said unreservedly that the second is really good (which it is), but it is eclipsed somewhat by the sheer genius of the first.
