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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing Book and Great Story, 30 Nov 2005
This is an amazing book and great story. I can't recommend it enough.Food is scarce. Sally Bones and her gang are imposing their law on all
the cats. Every cat suffers, but none can face Bones. She's the
fiercest, best fighter the cat world has known. She knows The Way that
Varjak knows, but has been practising it for far longer. She could
even be a better fighter than the mystical Jalal, of Varjak's dreams. However, there are things more powerful than fighting. Jalal suggests
"seeing" is more powerful. I would add the starlight between Holly and
Varjak, the courage of Mrs Mogg, the loyalty of Cludge the dog (and
you get to learn about his family), the cunning of Razor and the
ability to make cats as prone to fighting as the Scratch Sisters and
the Orrible Twins, come together in peace are all just as important. What a great story SF Said takes us through. Not only do we learn more
about the wonderful characters but we get new ones, such as Ozzie and
Omar the Orrible Twins, and great relationships between the
characters. The pacing is fast and superb. The language is beautiful
and at times poetic " like a string of lights, strong between two windows… like whisker of
starlight, fine and strong between them." …But always readable. And let me not forget the illustrations, which
are the usual Dave McKean masterpieces, just the right counterpoint to
the story. I don't think you need to read the first Varjak book to read this one,
but it might help in explaining some of the background between Holly &
Varjak, and Jalal & Varjak. The book is about facing your fears, but still going on to do what you
know is right. It's about what you love and the "strength of the
starlight" between those you love. It's about trying and trying and
not giving up. It's an heart lifting moving story, and most
importantly it's a gripping read. Now go and get it. Let's hope SF SAID "keeps the Way alive" and writes another one.
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Watch the author talk about this book in Windows Media
Player format:
by S.F. Said
by Inbali Iserles
by Pete Johnson
by Erin Hunter
by Desmond Tutu
