Karen's Book Nook: 'A Lion Among Men'
Karen Tableriou
Issue date: 11/12/08 Section: The Edge
The narrative provides a view of viable, dynamic characters. They feel pain; they suffer, and they have hopes and fears. The main characters in Maguire's novel are Brrr, an old prophetess, Yackle, a young girl saved from captivity by the keepers of the Clock of the Time Dragon and a strange, fragile cat that seems made of glass.
The story is told mostly from Brrr's point of view, and it is interesting to note how cynical the Cowardly Lion is. The reader automatically sympathizes with Brrr in the beginning as he recounts his first encounter with man: a conversation he had with a young man whose leg was caught in a trap. Brrr, a young cub at this point, does not understand the man's suffering and it's painful as a reader to watch the interaction between the two.
After a while, Brrr's tendencies, mannerisms and selfishness become aggravating and the question has to be asked: will Brrr ever be able to overcome his own cowardice to become a decent (and likeable) character?
Though the characterizations are fabulous, the storyline can be slow and tiresome. Some of the actions are easily passed over; dull to readers, the importance of some passages become inconsequential. The writing itself is average, on par with majority of other fantasy writers.
In Maguire's case, it's the storytelling that makes the novel so great, not the writing. When he debuted "Wicked" in 1995, it was a phenomenal hit. The story was new, exciting, intriguing and captivating. Sadly, as is the case with most sequels and series, "A Lion Among Men" pales in comparison. The bravado found first in "Wicked" has since diminished, and it is as if Maguire is continuing on his version of Oz to appease readers' insatiable desires to know what happens after the melting of the Wicked Witch.
Avid fan of the "Wicked" series? Go buy a copy today. Merely curious as to how Maguire personifies the Cowardly Lion? Go to the nearest library and rent a copy. Enjoy the novel and be prepared for dry spots. Stick with it though; it's rewarding in the end.
The story is told mostly from Brrr's point of view, and it is interesting to note how cynical the Cowardly Lion is. The reader automatically sympathizes with Brrr in the beginning as he recounts his first encounter with man: a conversation he had with a young man whose leg was caught in a trap. Brrr, a young cub at this point, does not understand the man's suffering and it's painful as a reader to watch the interaction between the two.
After a while, Brrr's tendencies, mannerisms and selfishness become aggravating and the question has to be asked: will Brrr ever be able to overcome his own cowardice to become a decent (and likeable) character?
Though the characterizations are fabulous, the storyline can be slow and tiresome. Some of the actions are easily passed over; dull to readers, the importance of some passages become inconsequential. The writing itself is average, on par with majority of other fantasy writers.
In Maguire's case, it's the storytelling that makes the novel so great, not the writing. When he debuted "Wicked" in 1995, it was a phenomenal hit. The story was new, exciting, intriguing and captivating. Sadly, as is the case with most sequels and series, "A Lion Among Men" pales in comparison. The bravado found first in "Wicked" has since diminished, and it is as if Maguire is continuing on his version of Oz to appease readers' insatiable desires to know what happens after the melting of the Wicked Witch.
Avid fan of the "Wicked" series? Go buy a copy today. Merely curious as to how Maguire personifies the Cowardly Lion? Go to the nearest library and rent a copy. Enjoy the novel and be prepared for dry spots. Stick with it though; it's rewarding in the end.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Jake
posted 11/13/08 @ 4:38 PM CST
Thanks for writing this up. The Cowardly Lion was always my favorite character, but I couldn't get through the first Wicked book-- I rented it through BookSwim and found myself mailing it back after the first two chapters. (Continued…)
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