(Books on my Bookshelf is not a review, just my personal thoughts, feelings, and memories on the books I own).
Another book for this series 😀
This week I have chosen, Magic Kingdom for Sale- Sold! By Terry Brooks.
Nice chapter headings!
I actually didn’t realise this was the first book in a series until recently, so I might have to g check out the rest.
I got this book for free because someone I knew quite a few years ago was having a big turn out, and I saw this in his pile of ‘rubbish’ and it caught my interest.
Not only because the title looked great fun, but because of how well read it looked! I figured any book that looked like it had been opened over and over again had to be a good read.
So he let me have it, and it sat on my bookshelf for a couple of years longer until I finally got around to it.
One of my main memories of this book is that it was a major slog to get through the first few chapters. I mean, seriously a slog. It probably wasn’t like that for a lot of people, but I’m not very good with books that don’t start the story or action within a couple of chapters. I lose interest with all the scene setting and background setting.
I get that it has to be done sometimes, especially in series, but it didn’t help that the main character’s background that was being set up was really rather depressing!
But, I managed to churn my way through the chapters and I’m glad I stuck with it! It was a great read, and was packed with a great deal of fun as the cover and title hinted at.
I also have to say it’s one of those books that really inspired me to want to write my own books. I love those stories where someone goes from a hum-drum life and is thrown into a new world of adventure and excitement (that also might have something to do with all the fairytales my mum read me as a kid, it really spurred my imagination!).
Those books where an ordinary person is thrown into another world just is such a great parllel to readers.
You pick up a book and, as the reader, you’re like the character being thrown into this whole new world and story to enjoy. And sometimes it can be just as confusing, but also incredible!
But that’s what books do and why we read them, right? To let ourselves be taken somewhere else for a few hours, away from the hum-drum of everyday life.
So, yeah, it was a book that I definitely remember for the slow start, but also the incredible adventure that lay beyond it.
Random quote: “Ben grimaced. Wonderful. Just tap the red shoes together three times and repeat, ‘There’s no place like home.’ Off he would go, back to Kansas. Just wonderful.”
Favourite thing about the book: The story of the ordinary being thrown into the extraordinary. It was definitely one that got my imagination and creativeness pumping!
Least favourite thing: The incredibly slow start. My word. Ugh.
Something I took away from the book: That I shouldn’t be afraid to write the story I want to, even if it seems outlandish. You just got to write it!
Have you read any books with a slow start but a great story? Do you enjoy these kind of fish out of water tales?
–
Progress Report:
Status of sixth manuscript: A bit up in the air!
Word count: … Don’t ask.
Books read towards goal: 1/50
Currently reading: The Creative Writing Workbook by Matthew Branton.
A Writer's Life For Me. 
I have this book and agree about the slow start. I think I have the second one around here somewhere. The one thing I really enjoyed was how Brooks opened up the world in a way that the reader felt like an explorer. That and Kobolds. Really loved his version of Kobolds.
You’re totally right, it really felt like we were experiencing the world along with the character! Was a great read 😀
I usually enjoy Terry Brooks – I love the journeys he takes us on and the natural humour in his work. The quote made me chuckle 🙂
I did love his style of humour throughout, definitely helped the writing flow and read quicker 😀
I love a good ‘fish out of water’ book as well and it’s cool that you can pinpoint some of the exact books that inspired you to write 🙂
It is nice doing this series, as it means going back through my books and finding all the ones that are really special 🙂
Sometimes books say, “I know I could write this better!” We need to read those also. 🙂
Very true! I always enjoy books that make me strive to write better 🙂
This was the first Terry Brooks book I read. I remember thinking that we must have all done it at some time, wished ourselves somewhere magical. Landover was certainly that. I love the humour of that and other books in fact I re-read it recently. You really should try the others Mishka.
xxx Huge Hugs xxx
I always enjoy those types of stories where not only the character but the reader can delve into another world 😀 Definitely think I will be looking at the rest of the series too!
This book was actually one of the springboards for my imagination in writing. I think I’ve read it about five times, and it’s one of the few paperbacks I still own. It made me a fan of Terry Brooks, and I ended up writing him a fan letter afterwards. 🙂
It’s nice to hear so many people were also inspired by this 😀 It was such a great story, wasn’t it? It’s on my list of re-reads too!
“…I shouldn’t be afraid to write the story I want to…” Write on Mishka!
It’s not a story I thought would have caught many people’s interest, but I’m amazed at how many people loved the book. So it inspires me even more to go for the stories I want to write, even if they seem strange 😀
One book (really a book series) that I would say had great stories but slow starts was The Babysitter Club books from my childhood. Each story would always start with a chapter (or two) introducing the characters which became quite boring, especially after reading several books and already knowing the characters. Of course, I could have skipped over them, but I always have to read every word of a story, just to make sure I don’t miss anything 🙂
I know what you mean! Book series often have slower starts, what with introducing everyone and everything, and I can give them a little more lenience with it, but that doesn’t mean it’s not still a drag to get through 😀
The premise sounds great! I’ve never read this though. I don’t mind a slow start if I know the story will be a fun ride ultimately.
It was definitely worth struggling through the beginning to get to the story beyond, was a great read 😀 And certainly got the writing urges flowing!
I actually didn’t have a problem with the beginning chapters. ^-^ It really sets up the character and his reasons for various things very well. Of course I am someone who almost never thinks a story is ‘slow’ as long as the writing is good. Haha
It is definitely super sad in the beginning though, totally agree about that. I think that’s part of the magic of the rest of the book. Not only do we get to discover this great new world, but we get to watch poor Ben discover amazement and wonder, among other things, again. ^-^ A thoroughly enjoyable journey!
I wish my copy wasn’t buried somewhere in mound of storage buckets, cause now I want to read it again!
I am a very picky reader, so slow starts always get me, but I know tons of people who don’t mind at all, and as you say, as long as the writing is good! 😀
But yeah, this one is on my re-read list, as I forgot how awesome it was. I definitely have to pick up the rest of the series now too!
I decided to read this after reading your review. I can deal with the slow starts, so it shouldn’t be a biggie, since it looks very promising. Added to my goodreads shelf. Thanks for the informative review!
It certainly is a worthwhile read, and one I didn’t realise so many other people had enjoyed too! Most of the comments were from those who had loved it and the other books in the series, so I’m sure it won’t disappoint! 😀
I’m actually pretty good with slow starts, so long as they’re building up to something. Chapters and chapters of basic slice of life stuff isn’t really my thing.