Clockwork Expectations - A Review on the correlation between Dickens Great Expectations & Cassandra Clare’s Clockwork Prince
The year began with me interacting with two very contrasting books. As a Christmas indulgence I had decided to read Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare before the actual two books I needed to read for class once Christmas break was over. Being a fan on this series beforehand, I had speculated the uselessness of reading this book was close to being as useful as a chocolate candy bar in a rigid diet. Still I decided to do so anyway and I was up for a big surprise.
Previously on my encounter with the first book – Clockwork Angel – I hadn’t paid much attention to the main characters reading preferences. I skipped through it in my head, concentrated only in the action and essence of the new prequel series. Upon my recent encounter with Clockwork Prince the name Charles Dickens captured my attention for one of the books I had to read was by that author. As it turns out, besides the wonderful action, dialogue, character development and romance the rare shadowhunter book had to offer, it gave me a perspective on Dickens I had never expected to find. As the main character turned to Dickens quite a few times during the novel for means of support, to quote, or to recall a memory my intrigue to read this author’s works sparked and I found myself looking forward to it. So enthralled did I become with understanding the characters more thoroughly that when I did find myself reading Charles Dickens and his world renounced novel “Great Expectations” the dullness that had struck me years before when I first tried to read it – didn’t hit me. I was enjoying it to the very fullest and with a highly critical eye.
Of course, this enjoyment is not just due to Dickens appearance in Cassandra Clare’s novel, growing up makes you appreciate these types of books a whole lot more. The book was, of course, slow and irrational in its surface, but deep inside into the character, Pip’s story is full of dynamic life turmoil. I couldn’t stop appreciating the reflection of a child’s young mind and its evolving nature through the years of his life. I cannot say I can relate to Pip in life experiences for I was not brought up by hand, traumatized by a convict and then given high sums of money out of the blue but everyone knows what is like to grow up and see your perspective change trough times. Impressions of those young years still linger in your mind and probably contribute to that idiosyncrasy of yours. For example, Pip was always good at heart and noble, and that followed him till the end of the book.
Overall what I enjoyed most of this experience was reading these two books back to back. It is not the most likely combination and perhaps by doing this yourself you might find it was a really wrong way to approach Great Expectations. I was forced to read it, for academic reasons, which is one strong force that drives me upon encountering books that at first glance I do not enjoy at all, but as I progress I find myself both enlighten and extremely happy to have read. Great Expectations by Charles Dickens is a wonderful book, one that can be enjoyed by any who set their mind to enjoy it (or likes Victorian Age writing with passion in which in that case you have already read it). Either way, both books are marvelous & extremely differently written. It is quite a ride to read two stories set on Victorian Age, one written by a contemporary author and the other from someone who was actually there. It shows perspective and contrasts beautifully in a clash between generations. Reading these two books as complementary to the other served as a wonderful exercise to learn how time affects the brain and perception. Life has indeed changed and time keeps running but human emotions shall forever be kept intact.
City of Bones, Cassandra Clare Review
The impression a book gives you that first time you read it is irreplaceable. It is that first feel of the characters – whose overridden emotions fill you with surprise of the unexpected. The characters come vaguely alive to the reader in their mind & slowly – but surely – you grow fond of them and somehow, you find yourself thinking about them every day. The reader grows and feels with the characters and every little pain or stupid decision lingers in our minds until a resolution comes at the end of the book. And yet, when it ends we are not satisfied because the fun is over.
This review is not based on that first time I read City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. After reading Clockwork Prince by the same author this last December I realized how I needed, in order to take my enjoyment of the series and their correlation to the maximum level, to reread the contemporary part of the story. For those wondering, Mortal Instruments (contemporary) & Infernal Devices (prequel) are stories on the shadowhunters, people who are carefully trained to take care to of our world and rid it of demons. With a series of unique weapons and laws they make sure all the downworlders (which include vampires, werewolves, fairies, and warlocks) follow the rules and help control the demon population in this world. The main characters on both series are two girls who find themselves involved in this invisible parallel existence which combines the intricate and peculiar traditions of the shadowhunter culture mixed with their respective realities. Passion, love triangles, action and violence are all packed into these masterfully written works by Cassandra Clare.
What makes this book highly enjoyable is how Cassandra Clare makes make belief into looking so normal. Although shadowhunters do not exist and their terms and traditions are not from an existent country, this author makes the reader believe they are real by being so keen in expressing the minor detail of her invented world. The characters are relatable and their inquisitive nature can be resembled to the reader’s own. The first time around, the reader is enthralled with the romances in the book and forgets much of the action. Usually girls are the ones who read these books and – let’s face it ladies, we do enjoy romance when it is so plainly and beautifully handed to us. This book in particular is not as action packed as the others but there is still plenty of action to enjoy. The writing is great, especially if you are in your teens and are in need of a wonderful time with paper, ink, and imagination. Cassandra Clare was crafty in this book in particular for she decided to leave a lot unsettled and unresolved. Basically this book is like an introduction to a really intricate story. Besides being intricate, she tries to be as colloquial as she possibly can, and for those of you who enjoy sarcasm and irony – this book will satisfy your needs.
It is an all-round good book, and the characters are simply hilarious and adoring. How could avoid thinking of a Jace and a Magnus Bane once in a while? In those moments of anger, who could help thinking of Clary and her spontaneous needs to combust? While the book is clearly the start of a very long and beautiful series, the quality of work and the hours spent on it clearly shows. City of Bones is a beautiful mixture of fantasy, romance, action and just plain fun!
Howl’s Moving Castle
Last night I finished reading Howl’s Moving Castle by Dyane Wynne Jones.
The book begins with the declaration that in this country the story takes place being the eldest is a curse that destines he or she to failure. The main character of the story, Sophie, is the eldest and so she resigns herself to submission into being a hat making apprentice. This remains so until Sophie gets turned into an old woman by the fearful Witch of the Waste, and through this curse is when she finally decides to go out and seek her fortune. Seeking her fortune leads her to a Moving Castle owned by none other than the heart-eating Wizard Howl.
The book is good, that much I will share with you. It makes you impatient the first chapters. You want to see more magic and action and you barely get customers at the hat store. If you are a strong willed person then you will get annoyed by Sophie’s constant moping and resignation because “it comes with being the oldest of three sisters”. The book makes you experience strong feelings that are quite difficult to express. It might get you thinking or debating internally with the main character, so I guess in that aspect the book is better than I expected.
It is slow, sometimes I got so frustrated I put it down and waited some days until I regained my enthusiasm. That also could have been caused by Final Exams… XD Still, once summer arrived I couldn’t stop making it my night routine to sit down and enjoy the magic that the book offered as it progressed. It’s not a violent book, it rather makes you experience different points of view and the reality of human emotions. It’s slightly psychological if you really pay attention to what the characters are doing and their reasons to do it. It’s a good book that gets you thinking and imagining. The scenery is difficult to picture if you haven’t seen the movie. If you have then that can also mess with your head because some things are similar and then a lot of things are different from the movie. I had to turn back and read things over again to try and picture them even though I have seen the movie before.
The end… you must read it in order to know. I liked it, but then again the friend that lend the book to me (ironically named Sophie) didn’t like it that much. So, it depends on your mood and your experience while reading the book.
It’s an all ages book and I would recommend it to anyone through ages 8 and up. If your young loved one likes reading buy it for them because they will enjoy it. It’s a good story.
You should also buy the movie by Hayao Miyasaki because it is great! It’s even better than the book! That adaptation is simply… well see it and you’ll know what I mean. ;)
This is the cover art of the book I have. I do not own this in any way and I did not take this picture. This was taken by the internet in Google Images.
The genres of this book are fiction, magic, romance, and action.
This edition has 429 pages.
