Customer Reviews

Count Karlstein

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Pullman knows that every book can't be a masterpiece, or hugely ambitious and complex, like His Dark Materials. As a result he gives us plenty of these shorter, less deep and lighter books that are great for a light-hearted read. This book in particular is really funny, and a little spooky at times. Another little gem from a brilliant author.

This is one of the funniest books I've read in ages. It's based on the legend of the Wild Hunt and the Demon Huntsman. The story involves plenty of outlandish characters and hilarious incidents. The high point is the shooting match near the end where one very improbable coincidence after another is revealed. Grown-ups, don't miss out on this one. It's not just for children.

Excellent book for young adults and adults alike, Count Karlstien is a mixture of Roald Dahl and Edward Gorey. After finishing the His Dark Materials Trilogy, I ran to the nearest bookstore to find more books by Phillip Pullman - and this did not disappoint. I would warn, however, that Count Karlstein is meant for a younger audience than the Golden Compass, and therefore, is a bit more of a children's book. Still fun nonetheless.

Count Carlstein is a very funny book and it will make you laugh at every bizzare turn. The story is about the demon huntsmen Zamiel and Count Carlstein. Count Carlstein has an evil plan to put up both his neices, Lucy and Charlotte, to Zamiel for eating on All Soul's Eve, when the forest is free to Zamiel. Will Charlotte and Lucy escape the count's evil plan with the help of Hildi, the kitchen maid, their old teacher, Max, a new freind, and a crazy doctor? Or will the Count and his sidekick Snivelwurst get the better of them? This is a truly bizarre and funny story you are sure to enjoy. The reason I gave it only four stars was because I have read the Golden Compass and Subtle Knife before I read Count Carlstein. They are the most amazing books I have ever read, though. This is a hilarious book you are sure to enjoy.

Although not one of Pullman's best novels for children, Count Karlstein is a very well written, suspenseful tale that has both horror and fantasy in it. When the evil Cout Karlstein of Castle Karlstein plots to let his two nieces be killed by the legendary, frightful Zamiel the Demon Huntsman, in order to save his own soul, the two nieces find out from a caring nanny in the Castle, who will do anything to save the children. They become frightened at once. Hildi, the nanny, takes them into hiding, and leaving the children up to themselves, she hopes that they will survive the terrible night in which the Demon Huntsman will arrive. This was a funny and scary book in one, with many page turning events, a frightening climax, and characters that are brave, good, and true. Horror blends into this book perfectly, with a twist of a very good tale told with Phiip Pullman's wonderful mind.

A parody of gothic melodramas,COUNT KARLSTEIN, could be confusing to the presumed target audience of upper elementary and middle schoolers. The book is told from the viewpoint of several different people and Pullman's writing here is not as well delineated as in his later books. Lots of characters are quickly introduced and I found myself thumbing back to remind myself exactly who was who, especially in the beginning chapters. The plot is over the top and exciting with lots of fun surprises revealed in the closing chapters if the reader is patient enough to wade through the rather cumbersome beginning.

Count Karlstein-
Dark, fantasy novels have always been a favorite of mine. That's why I fell in love with Count Karlstein. Count Karlstein, by Phillip Pullman, was an ironic twist of inhumane seriousness and discreet humor. It was very well written and never once was I bored with it. I really enjoyed the writing style, characterization, and plot of Count Karlstein.
Phillip Pullman's use of colorful, vivid words, really brought flair to this story. I loved how he went from total seriousness to laugh out loud funniness. One example of his unique humor, was when Sergeant Snitsch was trying to write a police report on the arrest of Doctor Cadavarezzi. The Sergeant could never seem to get the Doctor's name right, and therefore, he was never arrested. Another situation was when Max tried to enter a competition with the prize of money and the title of being named forest ranger. Max didn't have a musket, so he used his coach horn and a frozen pea for his ammunition. Oddly enough, Max trips while firing his coach horn and the pea collides off the pillars, into the audience and ends up strangling the unsuspecting mayor's wife. Some of the situations in this story were so bizarre I couldn't help but laugh. This and other funny situations led to my great enjoyment in this book.
The characters in this story were so unique, I was amazed. When each new character was introduced, I fell in love with them instantly. Not only were they funny and interesting, they all had a mind of their own. First there was Hildi, the ever so kind, handmaiden who was always there when you needed her. Then there was Count Karlstein, the villain of the story, who always had an evil plan up his sleeve. There was also Snivelwurst, Count Karlstein's assistant, who couldn't stop sneezing and coughing, and was afraid of Count karlstein himself. Doctor Cadavarezzi however was a favorite of mine. He always had a trick to pull, or a pocket to pick, and you had to watch your back; otherwise you could be cheated by this mysterious man.
The eerie plot was what entranced me the most. Count karlstein takes place in a secluded village in the Swiss Alps. There, is Castle Karlstein, owned by Count Karlstein. The maidservant Hildi discovers the Count's horrible plan of disposing of his young nieces, Charlotte and Lucy, so Hildi decides to help them. Hildi hides the girls in the mountain guides hut. Trouble then explodes in the village when the girls appear missing. Several humorous chararacters try to help the girls, and make sure they stay out of harms way. Count karlstein was an awesome book about courage, bravery, and the fight for life. I was amazed at how the carefully woven plot could be scary, yet hysterical. It was almost like you were there, experiencing all the events that took place in the novel. The surprising twists had me engrossed until the very end. I never knew what was going to happen, and I couldn't wait to find out.
Overall, this was a very good book that was well worth the read. Phillip Pullman is my favorite author and I wasn't at all disappointed in reading Count Karlstein. I'd totally recommend this book to anyone who's into dark mystery and fantasy stories. It was an awesome book, with an awesome story line, awesome characters, and Phillip Pullman's writing style was awesome all in this own. This novel held my attention with its writing style, lively characters, and entertaining plot.

While I have not read the "His Dark Materials" series *hears audible gasps* they must have been superb,since Pullman writes this book with great gusto! Told mostly from the point of view from Hildi, and sometimes told from the point of view from others, it is nice to see how things turn out from different eyes. The book is action packed and a must-read for fans of Pullman, the comedy/horror genre, and any books in particular. While not for the very young, this book is great for children and adults!

I love this book, even though it's less complicated and a little less mature than "The Golden Compass". The characters will entrice you and the Count will make your blood run cold. It was terrific, and a quick read. I found the book amusing, frightening and heart-warming.

Count Karlstein is a step above the R.L.Stine horror books for children, but not a great deal better. The Golden Compass and The Subtle Knife have so much more depth to them, that, comparing them to his other books, I sometimes wonder how the same author could have written them. I have argued at several book stores that these two books should be put in the adult fantasy section- they are certainly not for children in lower school, although I really believe they are the stuff that classics are made of.[They are like Madeleine L'Engle's Wrinkle in Time Series, in that they are readable on a lower level, but so much better when read as a young adult or adult.] On the other hand, Count Karlstein could easily be ready by a fourth or fifth grader, as long as the child is not confused by the style. Each chapter is written by a different character, reciting happenings as they see the events in their eyes. The book spans only a couple of days in time, so there is a bit of "jumping around". I would not recommend this book, even to a child- there are certainly a lot of other books in the same genre that are much better.