Book: How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida CowellGenre: MG Fantasy
Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆☆
After much campaigning, book clubber Jenni Elyse finally got this book on our line up and it was finally its turn this past month! WOOT!
At first I was having a hard time getting my hands on a copy, but finally I got the audio version from Overdrive. And I only decided to relent on this because the lovely David Tennant is the narrator. Yum. (The whole thing is on YouTube if you are interested!)
However, I found that even so, my attention would wane as I listened. Either I would try to do something else and not hear, or fall asleep and not hear, or just zone off and not hear. Maybe David Tennant was just too dang lovely with that soothing voice of his. I don't know.
But I tried and it was fun trying. Eventually, I did get a hard copy from the library and I happily finished it off, and then went back and skimmed the parts I "missed" from my audio experience.
My thoughts? What a strange little story. And nothing at all like the movie. I was like... wait, the dragon talks? Wait, he's HOW small? Wait, where are the girls? Wait, they aren't going to fly on them? WHAT???
And there were a bunch of other little things that bugged me (wow, but there's an over usage of adverbs! Some I can see were part of the charm, but... I don't think ALL!!!) But when keeping in mind the audience intended for this book, it's really quite fun and cute and I can see how a whole fandom of kids are in love.
Do you want a summary? I forgot that that's the method here. So Hiccup goes out with his friends to charm up a dragon. And they find some, but not without adventure. And Hiccup ends up with this little bitty thing he names Toothless and proceeds to try and teach it stuff. But he is quite unsuccessful until he realizes he can be bribed with jokes. On the day of the big event where they get to show off their dragons, the dragons all get in a fight instead and now Hiccup is banished by his own father. But before that can happen, a huge dragon his awakened and threatens the town and so Hiccup, who can talk to dragons, is sent to find out what the dragon is up to. Well, he wants to eat everyone, but in the end... tiny little Toothless saves the day. Together with Hiccup's accidental contribution. And now they are heroes!!
Yes. Cute. :) But nothing like the movie.
I think it definitely appeals more to its intended audience.
ReplyDeleteHa! Yes, I did do much campaigning. I have to campaign for the books I want read at book club, lol. I'm glad most people liked it even if they didn't love it (me being in the same camp). But like you and Jenny both say, I think the intended audience love it and that's what matters. :)
ReplyDeleteYep. The book came first, there's a whole series. I read several of the others, too. I think it's kind of sad the film versions has so overshadowed the author's original, it definitely has its own charm. And so different. Girl shows up later in the series, btw, and becomes hiccup's regular sidekick.
ReplyDeleteHa! This review was fun to read. I like how you express your feelings.
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