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Title: Mister Monday (Keys to the Kingdom, Book 1)
ISBN: 0439551234
Author:
Garth Nix
Publicate Date: 2003-07-01
Publish: 2003-07-01
List Price: $6.99
Average Customer Rating: 4.5
Format: Mass Market Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $2.08
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $0.01
Amazon Merchant Price: $6.99
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| Customer Review: |
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1: I Was Confused, but Eventually Caught On
To me, this book requires some imagination and patience. I could not just breeze through the Prologue and other parts of the book without having to go back and reread some parts. But once I got into the beginning and reading about Arthur, the hesitant hero, the book grew on me.
I found it was quite easy to visualize the main character's adventures when he was on Earth in the beginning, but when the book shifted to the other world..I kind of got confused again. But I did not give up reading the book. I kept on, trying to visualize where Arthur was. The other world is quite original with its descriptions and the names given to different places, the characters, and so forth.
I was kind of expecting Leaf to be with Arthur through the book as a sidekick, but I liked Suzy just as well. I really like the quick adventure on the stairs and where it lead Suzy and Arthur. I was glad to find out where Suzy came from. I didn't even think about that until they reached the one platform. Mr. Monday was a funny, lazy villian (or rather a sleepy villian).
But I will say that Garth Nix is a very clever, talented writer. I liked how he made me think about what I was reading. It wasn't the kind of book, for me at least, where you can just read through and not pay attention. You have to pay attention to the writing because he eventually goes back to those details later on. There are connections, and I like a book like that.
So, in my opinion, if you read it, pay attention to the writing, be patient, and don't forget to add your imagination. Thanks.
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2: a fresh new look at children's fantasy
I have always had a particular interest in children/teen fantasy. I normally am an adult fantasy reader, but sometimes it is nice to read a book that isn't trying to play off like the real world. This book is such a clever, compelling read that I was sorely disappointed to have to wait for more. I have never (so far) read a Garth Nix book that doesn't re-inspire me to read more books.
Anyway, onto the actually book itself. We are introduced to the typical male-boy protagonist, the awkward in school, unsure of himself protagonist with an incredible future. Arthur soon learns that his immediate problems are not the first day of school, but instead are the fact that he has to become the heir to the center of the universe.
The entire idea of the House with different levels of work (mostly paperwork) is extremely creative. Everything about the environment and, we could say, culture of the House is a parody and play on real life. It is ironic that the nether-world still has to deal with paperwork and useless workers and bosses that could care less if what they are doing is right or not. The House also offers a sense of the extreme. Anything described inside usually is accompanied by ridiculous dimensions. For example any major room is about 40-50 football fields length or the job of filling a few hundred thousand ink bottles. It also offers a different version of the afterlife, as in it doesn't exist. The main reoccurring theme is "from nothing we came, and to nothing we return" a bit unsettling for the typical child.
And that brings me to my next point. These books are labeled, "Children Fantasy", but contains many references to myths and ideas that I believe are beyond a normal 9 year's old pool of knowledge. There are also a few really violent scenes that make me want to classify this more for Teens. Not that I am saying don't read this for the violence, just be warned if your a parent I recommend reading this ahead of time to make sure it'd be ok for your child (and really it only takes about a day or two to do).
In conclusion, this is a highly originally tale and I for one can't wait to read the other books of this series. My only complaint is that Garth Nix takes about a year for every book he writes and that's a long time to wait. But I guess if it makes the books a masterpiece, it's a small sacrifice.
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3: Could have been brilliant
This book had some wonderfully absurd moments along with brief flashes of pure genius. The bibliophages at the end were brilliant along with the way they were defeated. Unfortunately the rest of the story just felt like a bunch events related one after another, not unlike the bible. The main character was only moderately likable with a barely intact sense of humor. The rest of the characters were a bit like paper dolls.
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4: Why all the hype?
I wish I could give a summary! This book, hyped to be the first in the "next Harry Potter" was so confusing that I can't figure out what was happening or why it was supposed to be important. Ok, that's a slight exaggeration. I managed to figure out what was happening, more or less. But this is definitely not the next Harry Potter. The main character, a young asthmatic with greatness thrust upon him is not fleshed out very well, nor do we see much growth in him from the beginning of the book until the end. His supposed motivation for jumping through all the hoops that Nix puts him through is to find a cure for the plague that's sweeping his hometown, but it really seems like he's just going through the motions because he has to. Perhaps his motivations become clearer in the next 6 books, or perhaps we see some growth in the character, but I'm not sure I care enough to go through 6 more books.
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5: A Great Fantasy
The book Mister Monday by Garth Nix , was a very good book. Mister
Monday was fantasy.
It all started when Arthur Penholgon was given a key and a atlas from
Mister Monday while Arthur was having a asthma attack and some fetchers
gave a plague called the sleepy plague. After that, Noon ( one of Mister
Monday's assistant ) sets fire to Arthur's school trying to get the key back
because the Will tricked Mister Monday into giving the key to Arthur, Noon
didn't get it but his Fetchers got the atlas. Then Arthur went inside a house that
was secretly another dimension. T here Arthur met a girl named Suzy Turquoise
Blue. After that, Arthur met Noon again with his brother and sister, Dawn and
Dusk who tried to get the key but could not because the key has already bonded
with Arthur which meant that they can't take it. Only Arthur could give it to
them so they sent him to the Deep Coal Cellar so they could torture him until he
gives them the key. While at The Deep Coal Center Arthur met the Old One and
Pravuil. Then here comes Suzy to the rescue. Arthur made some stairs to get out
and I am not aloud tell you the end so I won't.
I thought this book was an okay book because it had old words like hip. I
think this book is for fifth graders because it was a little too kid like. I liked that
it was a good adventure.
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