Customer Reviews

Pure Dead Magic

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I read this book at approximately the same time as Amelia Atwater-Rhodes's "Shattered Mirror," and was struck by the turgidity of one and the originality of the other. This book manages to portray junior gothicism with tongue planted firmly in cheek.

Signor Luciano Strega-Borgia vanished a month ago, prompting his household to deal with the situation. Signora Strega-Borgia is now working on her witchcraft course, and as a result the young children Titus (12), Pandora (10) and baby Damp (1 1/2) in the care of a new nanny. What else has happened? A henchman in a bunny suit, the baby getting uploaded onto the Web (fantasy for 2001!), the monsters in the castle (including a yeti, griffin, dragon...), a frozen grandma in the basement, and some delightfully over-the-top villains.

Indeed, this book may appeal to fans of Lemony Snicket, given that the lead trio (boy, girl, baby girl) is quite similar. This book, while equally amusing, does not possess the despairing tone but rather a darkly upbeat manner. There's also a bit of tech humor. Unlike the Harry Potter series, and like "Artemis Fowl," this book fully acknowledges modern technology, enjoyably inaccurate as the idea of losing a little sister on the modem. At the same time, we are granted more traditional items such as the attempted murder of a character by his evil conniving brother.

The lead trio is plenty of fun, smart and gutsy kids who have enough of an edge to be above-average. The villains are... well, villains. They don't really amount to much more, but the bunny suit is worth it.

That is not to say this book is flawless. A few bits of potty-humor spring up that got a bit tiresome, and there are some plot holes that you could throw a basketball through (such as the call for help). However, because of the quirkiness of the plot many readers may simply shrug and say, "Hey, it's fun."

Overall, an original fantasy. Hope the next two books are written!

The weird Strega-Borgia family lives in their large (and very strange) home, known as StregaSchloss, in the Scottish Highlands. There's Titus, who's twelve and is obsessed with computers, his ten-year-old sister Pandora, who has a pet rat, and their baby sister Damp, who is... well, a baby. And of course their parents: their mom, a witch-in-training, and their father, currently in the captivity of his evil half-brother, as well as the cook (who actually can't cook for her life), the butler, and the nanny. Not to mention the various beasts and creatures that also make their home at StregaSchloss. Of course, the REAL trouble starts when Pandora dabbles in magic, shrinks Damp, and sends her over the Internet. This unusual, hilarious, and VERY WEIRD book is great for readers who like humorous fantasy books.

As Amazon.com's review points out, this story overflows with imagination, and may turn out to be a great example of post-Harry Potter juvenile fantasy. Combining the classic trappings of a magical adventure with modern children's fascinations with computers and techonlogy, she has created a book that is hip, fast-paced, and very funny. The characters are clearly depicted with definite, individual personalities. It's a shame that the plot doesn't live up to the quality of the prose.

While I enjoyed the book while reading it, I felt unsatisfied the second I turned the last page. It felt as if Ms. Gliori had so many good ideas, she was more concerned with cramming them all in rather than exploring any of them. From the start, we learn that Mrs. MacLachlan, the new nanny, is a former witch determined not to use her magic on her new job as nanny. Why not? Family parents Signor and Signora Strega-Borgia are currently separated, which is an important element to the story. Why? The reader is never given much real information, and that makes it difficult to become truly involved with the story.

Ultimately, then, the book is fun, but slight. With its short chapters, it might make a good book for teachers to read aloud to their students in daily installments, but for me, it failed to come together to form a strong enough novel to impress me as much as the works of JK Rowling or Lemony Snickett.

The story begins at StregaSchloss. Three children, Damp (14 months), Pandora (9 years) and Titus (12 years). Their mother and their father have separated, and now the harassed mother is looking for a good nanny that can make french fries crunchy on the outside and soft in the middle. Damp immediately falls in love with the new nanny, Mrs. Flora McLachlan, and Titus and Pandora admit that her fries are tasty.
Meanwhile, the childrens' father, Luciano, has been kidnapped-by his own half brother, Lucifer. Lucifer has been after Luciano for twelve years, trying to get rid of him. Lucifer wants the money that has been left in the bank for Titus, and he has an evil scheme that involves Luciano signing a paper enabling Lucifer to steal Titus' money!
Pandora's rats are missing, and she has made a bet with Titus that she can find them in five days. If not, she has to swim across their moat. the very same moat that happens to contain a very large, very hungry crocodile named Tock. A crocodile that hasn't eaten for weeks...

This story is about one wizard's family. The dad, Luciano, the mom Baci and the kids: Titus, Pandora and Damp. Luciano is kidnapped by his own brother, the mother Baci is studying to be a witch and Titus is always on the computer and Pandora looses her pet, the Turrentula that wears lipstick and beasts live in the basement... Just to describe a few things. I love this book because it was very different and full of surprises. Everyone should read it. It is so funny! Eleanora

The blurb enthuses, "Harry Potter meets Lemony Snicket" but should mourn, "Disney meets Charles Adams... and wins."

A sheep in wolf's clothing: toothless, bland, and shamelessly derivative.

Titus, Pandora, and their baby sister Damp live in a spooky mansion and had decent lives until their father disappeared from them. Unaware that their father has actually been captured as a pawn in an insidious plot, the kids don't know if they'll ever see their parents back together ever again. They don't like their new nanny, and their lives have become miserable. Not only are they upset -- the crocodile who guards the moat hasn't eaten anyone in a long time, and neither has the big spider in their attic. And their grandmother, preserved in a block of ice for centuries, certainly has a lot to complain about. But little do the kids know what adventure is in store for them all -- and adventure that begins long before their baby sister is accidentally shrunk and sent in an e-mail. Pure Dead Magic is a funny, dark, and witty fantasy in a planned trilogy by Debi Gliori, but not among the most enjoyable books out there. However, it's very hilarious and fairly entertaining.

I am a sixth grader, I read the book Pure Dead Magic by Debi Gliori. It was a very entertaining book. This book was full of humor and magic with a modern day twist. The main characters Titus and his sister Pandora (aka Pan) go through a lot of events such as their father Signor Luciano Strega-Borgia, has been kidnapped. Their mother, Signora Baci Strega-Borgia, is to preoccupied with her advance ed witchcraft classes. Their baby sister ,Damp, has been accidentally shrunk, e-mailed, and lost in the World Wide Web. Finally to top it all off there is a gangster in a bunny suit lurking around. As things are getting worst in Strega-Borgia house hold their irritatingly cheerful nanny, Mrs. McLachlan, might be more help than they ever imagine.

This book is for people who like magic and suspense. I like how the author used fiction creatures as pets, ones such as a yeti, a griffin, a dragon, a talking spider and a great-great-great-great-great-great- grandmother sleeps preserved in the freezer, patiently waiting the day when the cure for old age will be found. I found myself able to relate to the characters and their emotions and troubles. This book can relate to Harry Potter, Lemony Snicket, and Mary Poppins. This what I think of the book Pure Dead Magic.

Signor Strega-Borgia has deserted his family. The house (and family) are badly in need of a nanny, housekeeper, and cook rolled into one. A man-eating crocodile inhabits the moat. Great-great-great-great-great-great- grandmother sleeps preserved in the freezer, patiently waiting the day when the cure for old age will be found.

Everything seems to be going wrong in the Strega-Borgia family. Titus, Pandora, and baby sister Damp must go through a series of darkly zany, magical events to re-unite their family and find peace in their home.

I found myself able to relate to the characters and their emotions and hardships. The magic wasn't dwelt on heavily as in the Harry Potter books, it simply "was". It didn't seem extraordinary in the least to pull out a disposable wand or come across a talking spider in this crazy household!

With its simple prose and dark aspects, I found myself comparing the book to Angie Sage's new, delightful little "Araminta Spookie" series. Not quite as clever and funny as the Lemony Snicket books but more enjoyable then the Spiderwick Chronicles, I had fun with this romp of a story and will be looking eagerly for the next installments in this series at my local library.

Beware the books that proudly display blurbs using the word "meets". On the paperback copy of Deb Gliori's, "Pure Dead Magic", kids will learn that the book they hold in their hot little hands is both "Harry Potter meets Lemony Snicket" thanks to "Booklist", as well as "Mary Poppins meets the Addams Family" thanks to "Kirkus". I try to avoid the word "meets" when I write a review, but quite frankly I think "Kirkus" had a far better grasp on the book. An odd combination of fantasy-laden technology and sci-fi Dadaism, "Pure Dead Magic" is sure to prove popular with a whole assortment of kids. Whether it deserves its praise or not is entirely dependent on what kind of books your average child reader enjoys.

The Strega-Borgia family has been having a rough time of it. Not too long ago the patriarch of the family disappeared without leaving so much as a forwarding address. Now Mrs. Strega-Borgia is taking witchcraft lessons and hardly has any time at all to watch her three growing children. Fortunately, the answer to her prayers comes in the form of one Mrs. Flora McLachlan. Smart as a whip and not about to take any guff, McLachlan whips the house into shape and knows just how to deal with computer-obsessed Titus, rat-loving Pandora, and little baby Damp. Unfortunately, that doesn't mean the family still doesn't have problems. Apparently the kids' missing father has been taken hostage by his half-brother, a grand Mafioso. Also, the ancient ancestor currently cryogenically frozen in the basement freezer is thawing out, baby Damp has been accidentally shrunken and sent over the Internet via e-mail, and Pandora may have to swim with the family crocodile soon. Just add in the killer in the bunny suit and the fact that Mrs. McLachlan isn't all that she appears to be and you've got yourself a wacky tale with farce, large animals, and good timing.

The book doesn't have any qualms about channeling "The Addams Family". Heck, the butler in the story is named Latch (a switch of a vowel and a consonant) and the first thing out of his mouth when he answers the door is (I kid you not), "You rang?". But beyond that the only similarity comes in the form of creepy/extraordinary things. "The Addams Family" never employed a yeti and the Strega-Borgias would frown on dumping hot oil on visitors. Dragon poo on the other hand...

Any comparison with Lemony Snicket (which was done by "Booklist", "Kirkus" AND "School Library Journal") has to contend with the fact that whatever the flaws of "A Series of Unfortunate Events" may be, at least that series didn't engage in out-and-out potty humor. No such luck here. If the thought of a dragon killing a man through diarrhea doesn't disgust you particularly then THIS is the book for you! I gotta say, I've a pretty high "ick" tolerance, but there were times when this puppy definitely turned my tummy. Gliori also gets a bit sloppy on her finer details. We know right from the start that nanny McLachlan is a witch who tells herself at the start, "You want to forget the past?....Here is your chance to put it behind you". If we are to assume that the nanny ever has any qualms about using magic, however, that is quickly done away with the moment she needs something done. Gliori never says why McLachlan doesn't want to perform magic anymore. Perhaps that's a detail she's put on hold for a future book. Still, it's rather lazy giving the audience a big piece of information like that right at the start without caring to elaborate on it later.

You know, logic dictates that I should've really disliked this book. It had all kinds of things in it that I just don't care for. It's as if Gliori wanted to cram in as much craziness and characters as possible in as short a novel as necessary. But when at I look at its goofy little cover, I just can't do it. Yes, it's gross and not particularly inventive or new. But it has a kind of joyfulness to it that's hard to get past. Gliori is having such a good time writing this book and the kids who pick it up will have such a good time reading it that I'd have to be some kind of a cold-hearted ghoul of a wretch not to let some of that joy rub off onto me. The fact of the matter is that "Pure Dead Magic" accomplishes exactly what it sets out to do. It tells an amusing story with some new ideas and amusing characters. Not the best-written or smartest fantasy out there, but perfectly readable and acceptable for your young `uns.