Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Sweet Caroline!, May 23, 2006
This review is from: The Unhandsome Prince (Paperback)
The Unhandsome Prince took me by complete surprise. It is hilarious. I'm really glad I picked up this book, because my humor, at least, is fully engaged with this novel.
This book does something I've never seen another fantasy book do: the characters are amazingly modern. The ladies, instead of going out on a noble quest or having some innate, amazing talent, talk about dresses, boys, make-up, and hair. Some of the things they say are absolutely ridiculous and yet so normal that they're downright hilarious. There are a few pokes at modern society that are light-hearted and entertaining, a few more at the timeframe of the book, and definitely some of Mr. Moore's own quirky humor appears and I love it.
The characters, even though they're set up to be like normal teenagers, are extraordinarily charming... perhaps because they don't have the same degree of meanness as the modern teenagers on which they're based. At any rate, I really fell in love with the quirky characters, even some who I thought I would hate in the beginning.
The only thing that disappointed me was the romance. It just isn't at all satisfying. Other than that, this book is a wonderful read. I wish I could say more about the story and its characters, but I honestly don't wish to spoil this novel for future readers. (: At any rate, I'll definitely be reading more by Mr. Moore.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heartwarming, August 29, 2005
This review is from: The Unhandsome Prince (Paperback)
I bought this book and was *entirely* delighted with it. I've been recommending it to my friends, and will probably be giving a few as gifts. It is fun, with a wryly sweet sense of humor.
There is some strong language and some sexual concepts that may make it inappropriate for young children, but I think it's perfect for young adults and over.
I'm disheartened to see a negative review on the basis of it's being anti-Semitic. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, of course, but I strongly disagree with that interpretation. I'd much rather see a book where the historical events are explained ... as long as the heroes take a strong stand against injustice. The heroes of this fairy tale refuse to allow innocent people become pawns of economics. Kudos to Moore for taking an opportunity to broaden the understanding of the next generation.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fantasy with humor..., December 21, 2005
This review is from: The Unhandsome Prince (Paperback)
makes for a great combination in my book (no pun intended). I'm of the opinion that many of the present-day "fantasy" authors take themselves and their books much too seriously, believing that the bigger and more melodramatic their books are, the better. While I have read a number of those 800 pg doorstops, and actually liked some of them (GRRM and the early Jordans, did not care for the later Jordans, Goodkind or Robin Hobb), there will always be a place in my cluttered bookshelves for authors like John Moore.
Moore writes with a style that doesn't take anything too seriously, least of all himself or his characters, and that's what a true fantasy book should be in my opinion. Very refreshing in this over-the-top PC day and age. You may disagree if you like, after all I'm not taking this review all that seriously either. So be it.
But if you like fantasy books with a clearly defined sense of right and wrong, where you know the good guys are going to win in the end, crack some good jokes along the way and do all the above in 300 pgs or less, give The Unhandsome Prince or Heroics for Beginners a try. Or, if you're lucky enough to find it cheap in a used bookstore somewhere (as I did), Slay and Rescue. You won't be sorry.
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