- Paperback: 257 pages
- Publisher: Gerald Duckworth & Co Ltd; 1st edition (26 Feb 2004)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0715632973
- ISBN-13: 978-0715632970
- Product Dimensions: 20.4 x 14.8 x 2.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 776,101 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
One for Sorrow: Two for Joy
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Product Description
Sunday Express
'Should we believe the hype? Yes'
Times Educational Supplement
'a heroic epic...savage as well as sentimental..an assured performance with dynamic narrative and structure'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I had really high hopes for this book when I read its blurb and its praise. How disappointing it turned out to be.
For a start, the description is so meagre that the book's practically a skeleton. Sure, we get told that Kirrick, the main character of the book, flies over trees and hills, but where is the quality of description that most other books have?
The author tells us so many times about Kirrick's "long and arduous journey" that you begin to wonder if he suffers from amnesia, and that he hasn't realised that he's already told us about Kirrick's arduours in all the other pages before.
The book also has some other annoying things, such as the use of the phrase "they had all the aces in the cardpack": would a magpie use that phrase, seeing as this is a supposedly mature novel in which humans do not interact with the characters? The author rushes headfirst into cliches too: after the book's beginning, Kirrick flies to a river and there meets a grebe (introduced as "a grebe called Anisse") who immediately tells him that the answers to his problems lie with a great, wise old owl who lives in the wood nearby, how convenient!
In fact, the only properly written parts were the descriptions of some magpie individuals, and how they become so merciless and savage through bloodthirsty murdering. Then that raises the question of how this book could therefore be classed as children's fiction.
A very poor novel. At least I only borrowed it from a library, rather than wasted money on it.
For a start, the description is so meagre that the book's practically a skeleton. Sure, we get told that Kirrick, the main character of the book, flies over trees and hills, but where is the quality of description that most other books have?
The author tells us so many times about Kirrick's "long and arduous journey" that you begin to wonder if he suffers from amnesia, and that he hasn't realised that he's already told us about Kirrick's arduours in all the other pages before.
The book also has some other annoying things, such as the use of the phrase "they had all the aces in the cardpack": would a magpie use that phrase, seeing as this is a supposedly mature novel in which humans do not interact with the characters? The author rushes headfirst into cliches too: after the book's beginning, Kirrick flies to a river and there meets a grebe (introduced as "a grebe called Anisse") who immediately tells him that the answers to his problems lie with a great, wise old owl who lives in the wood nearby, how convenient!
In fact, the only properly written parts were the descriptions of some magpie individuals, and how they become so merciless and savage through bloodthirsty murdering. Then that raises the question of how this book could therefore be classed as children's fiction.
A very poor novel. At least I only borrowed it from a library, rather than wasted money on it.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I first picked up the book unsure of what to make of it and was pleasantly surprised to find it such a joy to read. A really descriptive book, suitable for older children and anyone who liked lord of the rings or any of those fantasy epic adventures although not as epic itself it was an enthralling read and really made me care for the characters. a recommended read to anyone who can.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Basically, the magpies are killing off all the small bird species in Birddom. Kirrick, who is the last robin, is given a mission from a wise owl to persuade powerful birds to come to their aid.
The only reason I kept on reading this was so I could write this review! For this to be compared to Watership Down and Lord of the Rings is absolutely ridiculous. I just can't understand how they could be mentioned in the same breath.
The characters have no character at all, the owls are wise, magpies are evil and Kirrick is nothing in particular.
What annoyed and bored me the most about this book was the way you are not shown anything. You are told what a character is rather than coming to the conclusion yourself by their thoughts and actions. At every opportunity you are told how brave Kirrick is yet I saw nothing so exceptional about him. Because of this I didn't care about any of the characters at all, as they were boring and clearly not real. There are magpies ripping birds apart everywhere and I didn't feel horror, sadness or anything except disgust at the descrptions of it.
Everything is too black and white as well. The good characters are perfect, the bad characters are torturing and murdering everywhere, and Traska [who is often described as 'that evil bird'] rapes another magpie. I just found it a bit over the top.
I mainly read books above my age level. Yet I do not want to read about all this gore and that rape scene. I wouldn't mind if there was something to back it up like a good writing style, good characters or a decent plot, but there is none of that. The ending is so cheesy that I wanted to laugh, cry and be sick all at once. The only upside was that this is a really short book.
If you truly enjoyed Watership Down, then you won't like this at all.
The only reason I kept on reading this was so I could write this review! For this to be compared to Watership Down and Lord of the Rings is absolutely ridiculous. I just can't understand how they could be mentioned in the same breath.
The characters have no character at all, the owls are wise, magpies are evil and Kirrick is nothing in particular.
What annoyed and bored me the most about this book was the way you are not shown anything. You are told what a character is rather than coming to the conclusion yourself by their thoughts and actions. At every opportunity you are told how brave Kirrick is yet I saw nothing so exceptional about him. Because of this I didn't care about any of the characters at all, as they were boring and clearly not real. There are magpies ripping birds apart everywhere and I didn't feel horror, sadness or anything except disgust at the descrptions of it.
Everything is too black and white as well. The good characters are perfect, the bad characters are torturing and murdering everywhere, and Traska [who is often described as 'that evil bird'] rapes another magpie. I just found it a bit over the top.
I mainly read books above my age level. Yet I do not want to read about all this gore and that rape scene. I wouldn't mind if there was something to back it up like a good writing style, good characters or a decent plot, but there is none of that. The ending is so cheesy that I wanted to laugh, cry and be sick all at once. The only upside was that this is a really short book.
If you truly enjoyed Watership Down, then you won't like this at all.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
has a lot of promise, let down by poor structure
The cover blurb says that this is "an epic tale in the tradition of 'Watership Down' and 'Lord of the Rings'. That was clearly written by someone who has read neither book. Read more
Published 23 months ago by D. R. Cantrell
One For Sorrow, Two for Joy
As the title suggests this is about Magpies, in the book they and the other Corvidae are attempting to take over Birddom, but hope lies in a single Robin, and his courage. Read more
Published on 14 Aug 2009 by Jboweruk
Avian Racism
I don't care much for the Watership Down style of anthropomorphism at the best of times, but this is disgusting. Read more
Published on 1 Oct 2008 by Ms. M. K. Juby
Watered down
Fans of animal literature aren't spoiled for choice and when a new angle appears in a novel it can generate quite a bit of hype. Read more
Published on 25 Jun 2008 by Mr. G. Battle
stunning
ignore the reviewers who call this book poor and unrealistic. do not be put off that it is written by an ex-supermarket worker, it is exciting and stunning. Read more
Published on 19 April 2006 by Speedy
Red in beak and claw
This is an impressive book, and far from being a let-down or over-hyped it makes a good read, both for children and adults (it's not too gory for kids - at least, not for kids... Read more
Published on 10 Mar 2006 by Louise Stanley
It's a genuine page turner.....
I was amazed to read the negative reviews on this book - was I reading something different? its beautifully written and the characters are endearing. Read more
Published on 8 Nov 2005 by Janet Thomson
disappointing
Having been likened to 'Watership Down' and 'Lord of the Rings' this book falls well below the mark.
It shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence. Read more
It shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence. Read more
Published on 18 May 2005 by Zoethout
Too violent for kids, too simple for adults?
In the new-fashioned over-hyping hysteria that has taken over the nation, I have heard this author heralded as if a new JK Rowling. Read more
Published on 16 May 2005 by G. Thulbourn
One for Sorrow, Two for Joy - a brilliant read
This book is a fantastic read. The plot - a lone robin saving the land of Birddom - is truly imaginative, and don't let the reviews from people such as jun_pineda (see above) put... Read more
Published on 18 Aug 2004 by Dogz4
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