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Tintenwelt #1
Inkheart
Meggie's father, Mo, has an wonderful and sometimes terrible ability. When he reads aloud from books, he brings the characters to life--literally. Mo discovered his power when Maggie was just a baby. He read so lyrically from the the book Inkheart, that several of the book's wicked characters ended up blinking and cursing on his cottage floor. Then Mo discovered something even worse--when he read Capricorn and his henchmen out of Inkheart, he accidentally read Meggie's mother in.
Meggie, now a young lady, knows nothing of her father's bizarre and powerful talent, only that Mo still refuses to read to her. Capricorn, a being so evil he would "feed a bird to a cat on purpose, just to watch it being torn apart," has searched for Meggie's father for years, wanting to twist Mo's powerful talent to his own dark means. Finally, Capricorn realizes that the best way to lure Mo to his remote mountain hideaway is to use his beloved, oblivious daughter Meggie as bait!
Cornelia Funke's imaginative ode to books and book lovers is sure to be enjoyed by fans of her breakout debut, The Thief Lord, and young readers who enjoyed the similarly themed The Great Good Thing by Roderick Townley. (Ages 10 to 15) --Jennifer Hubert
10 pages, Audio Cassette
First published September 15, 2003
7203 people are currently reading
191631 people want to read
About the author
Cornelia Funke
429 books14.1k followersCornelia Funke is a multiple award-winning German illustrator and storyteller, who writes fantasy for all ages of readers. Amongst her best known books is the Inkheart trilogy. Many of Cornelia's titles are published all over the world and translated into more than 30 languages. She has two children, two birds and a very old dog and lives in Los Angeles, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 15,664 reviews
December 3, 2025
"Books have to be heavy because the whole world's inside them."Magic, this book is pure unadulterated magic.
Meggie and Mo (her father) are a pair. They're two peas in a pod, they're a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, they're ice cream and sprinkles. No matter what - they are together.
Mo works as a book binder/restorer and Meggie is a full-time reader - she reads every single moment she's not in school.
When a mysterious man from Mo's past shows up on their doorstep, he packs up all of their things and whisks Maggie away to to her Aunt Elinor's house.
And, despite all their efforts, evil is circling ever closer to their little family and Maggie is at a complete loss at what to do.
She's read countless stories of heroines ... but to actually become one? That will take pure bravery and nerves of steel...
There is something inexplicable about the way Funke weaves magic into her novel. Even after all these years, as soon as I read this book, I check the garden for fairies and glassmen.
There's something so heartwarming and true regarding the dynamic between Maggie and her father, Mo.
Even the crankiness of Eleanor as she begrudgingly takes in Maggie is enough to set my eyes alight as I read, and reread this book.
Perhaps, it is because (for the first time) characters in a book loved reading as much as I do
Honestly, every quote in this book just speaks to me:
"When you open a book it's like going to the theater first you see the curtain then it is pulled aside and the show begins."
Highly, highly recommended for kids (and adults) of all ages!
"Is there anything in the world better than words on the page?"
Audiobook Comments
Read by Lynn Redgrave - and she did a rather good job. Nice characterization!
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July 8, 2008
I was very much looking forward to reading this, as it had very good word-of-mouth as a high-quality children's/YA fantasy that adults will also enjoy. And the premise, that characters can exist in the "real world" outside of books, or that real people can enter the world inside a book, is endlessly appealing. However, my local library is on the verge of opening a new wing with my overdue book fines on this, because I keep hanging onto it in the hope that eventually I will be able to finish reading it.
I think it's just not going to happen. First of all, there is something very stilted and anachronistic in the writing, and I can't tell whether that's just Cornelia Funke, or a result of the translation work. Also, the book is simply too long. It takes 150 pages for anything to begin to happen, and that's much too long, even for an adult book. I blame J.K. Rowling for this kind of bloating.
Finally, I'm extremely annoyed by people, whether real or fictional, who pat themselves on the back for loving books. People have loved books for as long as there have been books, and even before books, people loved storytelling and drama. You're not a special kind of intellect for loving books and wordplay. The people in Inkheart are paraded before us as people with an extra special super duper love of books that is so powerful that they can cause the boundary between books and reality to melt. But just carrying around favorite books in a little trunk and bragging you've loved books since you were a baby and could read before you could talk and so forth isn't particularly magical or distinctive or worthy of praise, and I got tired pretty quickly of Meggie and her father and aunt and their extreme reverence for books. Capping it off is Funke's annoying habit of using an epigram from other (mostly fantasy) books for each chapter. If she found those inspiring, fine, stick them on your bulletin board while writing. But they were yet more reason to jump out of the story, rather than having it propel along.
I think it's just not going to happen. First of all, there is something very stilted and anachronistic in the writing, and I can't tell whether that's just Cornelia Funke, or a result of the translation work. Also, the book is simply too long. It takes 150 pages for anything to begin to happen, and that's much too long, even for an adult book. I blame J.K. Rowling for this kind of bloating.
Finally, I'm extremely annoyed by people, whether real or fictional, who pat themselves on the back for loving books. People have loved books for as long as there have been books, and even before books, people loved storytelling and drama. You're not a special kind of intellect for loving books and wordplay. The people in Inkheart are paraded before us as people with an extra special super duper love of books that is so powerful that they can cause the boundary between books and reality to melt. But just carrying around favorite books in a little trunk and bragging you've loved books since you were a baby and could read before you could talk and so forth isn't particularly magical or distinctive or worthy of praise, and I got tired pretty quickly of Meggie and her father and aunt and their extreme reverence for books. Capping it off is Funke's annoying habit of using an epigram from other (mostly fantasy) books for each chapter. If she found those inspiring, fine, stick them on your bulletin board while writing. But they were yet more reason to jump out of the story, rather than having it propel along.
April 11, 2021
Reread - April 2021.
Still a 5 star read, but mainly for nostalgic purposes. If I read it for the first time now, it might be a 4 star. It’s interesting to see how my thoughts towards the characters have changed. As an adult I relate a lot to both Elinor and Dustfinger, but find Meggie a bit annoying at times.
Still a truly magical tale that will always hold a special place in my heart.
*************************
Original read 2016.
Honestly one of my favourite fantasy reads. I loved all the characters - even the villians! They were vivid, colourful, the world Cornelia Funke creates is absolutely extraordinary and if it were up to me I would live in the Inkworld for ever!
For anyone that likes a good dose of escapism, a book about books, a story that will make you laugh, cry and just generally never want to finish then this is for you!
5 stars!
Still a 5 star read, but mainly for nostalgic purposes. If I read it for the first time now, it might be a 4 star. It’s interesting to see how my thoughts towards the characters have changed. As an adult I relate a lot to both Elinor and Dustfinger, but find Meggie a bit annoying at times.
Still a truly magical tale that will always hold a special place in my heart.
*************************
Original read 2016.
Honestly one of my favourite fantasy reads. I loved all the characters - even the villians! They were vivid, colourful, the world Cornelia Funke creates is absolutely extraordinary and if it were up to me I would live in the Inkworld for ever!
For anyone that likes a good dose of escapism, a book about books, a story that will make you laugh, cry and just generally never want to finish then this is for you!
5 stars!
May 6, 2008
Oy... I really wanted to like this book. I had such high hopes for it. It was one of those books that whenever my students saw me reading it they said, "Oh, I really liked that book! It was so good." So, I thought it would be great. It just wasn't. The story was nice. In short (very short): Meggie's father repairs books. Her mother disappeared nine years ago. After a mysterious visitor shows up at their house, Meggie finds out that her father has a secret. He can read characters out of books. Nine years ago he was reading aloud and read a terrible villian out of the book and simultaneously read Meggie's mother into the book. The rest of the story is Meggie and her father trying to defeat the villian and maybe get her mother back.
Overall... it was a great idea for a book, it just wasn't particularly well excecuted. I can't exactly place my finger on what I didn't like, but it just didn't sit well with me. I think it was the lack of character development. I didn't feel like I really knew the characters. I also felt like I couldnt' quite picture what was happening. I wanted more description-strange for such a long novel. And overall, it was just too long. I felt like it really dragged. I wanted it to move more quickly and have a bit more action. Great premise, but I'm not super excited to read the next one.
Overall... it was a great idea for a book, it just wasn't particularly well excecuted. I can't exactly place my finger on what I didn't like, but it just didn't sit well with me. I think it was the lack of character development. I didn't feel like I really knew the characters. I also felt like I couldnt' quite picture what was happening. I wanted more description-strange for such a long novel. And overall, it was just too long. I felt like it really dragged. I wanted it to move more quickly and have a bit more action. Great premise, but I'm not super excited to read the next one.
August 4, 2007
This book is everything I ever wanted. It's a book about a book and lovers of books. It's very self-affirming for me. Now I don't feel like a COMPLETE goober for 1) smelling books 2) learning Elvish or 3) bringing at least 5 books with me everywhere I go.
Note: just because I don't FEEL like a complete goober, does not mean I am not one.
"Inkheart" is the first in a trilogy. "Inkspell" is already out, and "Inkdeath" will be out in 2008.
You may not love "Inkheart" in and of itself; however, if you are a lover of books, I find you will at least appreciate the characters and the sentiments within the pages if not like the story as a whole.
Note: just because I don't FEEL like a complete goober, does not mean I am not one.
"Inkheart" is the first in a trilogy. "Inkspell" is already out, and "Inkdeath" will be out in 2008.
You may not love "Inkheart" in and of itself; however, if you are a lover of books, I find you will at least appreciate the characters and the sentiments within the pages if not like the story as a whole.
December 30, 2014
Enjoyed it well enough. Interesting concept. Good execution. Struck me as a little grim for YA though.
By which I mean it's not something I'd read to my boy. (He's fiveish.) I might consider something like this for him when he hits 10 or so.
By which I mean it's not something I'd read to my boy. (He's fiveish.) I might consider something like this for him when he hits 10 or so.
November 9, 2021
I must be insane to want to read the further installments of a book I rated a one just 5 seconds ago. This review is an attempt at understanding why I ended up disliking a book whose author has talent and passion for reading and inventing stories. Cornelia Funke has spun a good story but I still will not read Inkheart ever again in this lifetime.
This story should have clocked at 300 pages max. Instead the wordy tale maxed my patience and milked any kindness that might have been sloshing inside me. "Just end already, I can't bear another sentence anymore." This is the first time I've quoted myself in a review. Shows how desperate I was to end a book that I wasn't going to abandon reading. I don't do that anymore. Each sentence seemed to be lovingly glued to form a mushy work of art which left me puzzled and drained.
At first the lengthiness if the book puzzled me mighty fine. There weren't any flowery description. And though Mo is a "book doctor", there is no documentary like account of book binding and repairing. There isn't any lingering or focusing on any single thing for an inordinate amount of time. But then I discovered part of the reason for the boredom, it was because the names peopling Inkheart often moved like banal chess pieces on a board. Mo and Elinor get captured. They escaped. Meggie gets captured. At one point there's traveling towards danger, at other points the evading persons flee away. Just pieces of a board game getting captured then coming back from entrapment.
Inkheart is a book within a book. Just like Sophie's world. Unlike the latter however, this author doesn't big up or flatter its own work. Only fragments of the "real" Inkheart book is shown. The author shies away from praising her shadowy fiction. I found the characters of Capricorn and Basta et al terribly dull and frustrating. They don't do anything evil. They don't feel evil. They should have been even more pathetic in their native world, where magicians and faeries abound. How they came to get any sense of entitlement is a baffling mystery. They seem like losers. Like bullies. Capricorn dies like a fool.
The best part throughout is when Resa is introduced. From then you get the feeling that a showdown is preparing to be deployed. There's what people used to call a lost and found formula here. How Mo was going to rescue his family turned out to be a disappointment. Another dead end and a letdown. But the end makes me slightly curious for Inheart 2. I must be mental. I want to know what happens to Dustfinger and where Fenoglio went. It seemed bad when the book ended where it did. Did I say BAD? I meant good. Good like in good riddance.
This story should have clocked at 300 pages max. Instead the wordy tale maxed my patience and milked any kindness that might have been sloshing inside me. "Just end already, I can't bear another sentence anymore." This is the first time I've quoted myself in a review. Shows how desperate I was to end a book that I wasn't going to abandon reading. I don't do that anymore. Each sentence seemed to be lovingly glued to form a mushy work of art which left me puzzled and drained.
At first the lengthiness if the book puzzled me mighty fine. There weren't any flowery description. And though Mo is a "book doctor", there is no documentary like account of book binding and repairing. There isn't any lingering or focusing on any single thing for an inordinate amount of time. But then I discovered part of the reason for the boredom, it was because the names peopling Inkheart often moved like banal chess pieces on a board. Mo and Elinor get captured. They escaped. Meggie gets captured. At one point there's traveling towards danger, at other points the evading persons flee away. Just pieces of a board game getting captured then coming back from entrapment.
Inkheart is a book within a book. Just like Sophie's world. Unlike the latter however, this author doesn't big up or flatter its own work. Only fragments of the "real" Inkheart book is shown. The author shies away from praising her shadowy fiction. I found the characters of Capricorn and Basta et al terribly dull and frustrating. They don't do anything evil. They don't feel evil. They should have been even more pathetic in their native world, where magicians and faeries abound. How they came to get any sense of entitlement is a baffling mystery. They seem like losers. Like bullies. Capricorn dies like a fool.
The best part throughout is when Resa is introduced. From then you get the feeling that a showdown is preparing to be deployed. There's what people used to call a lost and found formula here. How Mo was going to rescue his family turned out to be a disappointment. Another dead end and a letdown. But the end makes me slightly curious for Inheart 2. I must be mental. I want to know what happens to Dustfinger and where Fenoglio went. It seemed bad when the book ended where it did. Did I say BAD? I meant good. Good like in good riddance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2025
“She whispered as she opened the book, “please get me out of here just for an hour or so, please take me far, far away” ”
While INKHEART is a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy tale that will suit lovers of the fantasy genre of all ages, there is no question that the style and the plot is aimed no higher than mature child or young adult reader. But the messages, if you care to pay attention are very adult and timeless. INKHEART, aside from being that typical story of good against evil, is also a blend of simultaneous riffs on a number of themes which it could be argued become more important with every passing day in the 21st century – the power of books and the written word; the joy of reading out loud to truly bring a book and its characters to life; the awesome responsibility of authors and the skills that are inherent in the execution of their craft; the importance of censorship and control of reading, learning and knowledge in the installation of totalitarian governments.
A typical example: Fenoglio, the author of the title book INKHEART, lectured Basta, one of his evil creations who had magically come to life to torment the modern world, “ … the magic of the written word … Nothing is more powerful for good or evil.” While the themes might be mature stuff for mature minds, the delivery is in-your-face and clearly intended to be easy to pick up for the younger reading audience. INKHEART is, after all, a young adult fantasy. But, once again, that bare-faced simplicity takes away nothing from the pleasure that an adult reader will derive from the reading.
Definitely recommended.
P.S. If you are a book hoarder (as I am) and proud of your library (as I am), you’ll get a special kick out of this brief little goodie that was used to introduce Chapter 5:
“For him that stealeth, or borroweth and returneth not, this book from its owner, let it change into a serpent in his hand and rend him.
Let him be struck with palsy, and all his members blasted.
Let him languish in pain, crying aloud for mercy, and let there be no surcease to this agony till he sing in dissolution.
Let bookworms gnaw his entrails … and when at last he goeth to his last punishment, let the flames of hell consume him forever.”
Curse on book thieves, from the monastery of San Pedro, Barcelona, Spain.
I concur.
Paul Weiss
While INKHEART is a thoroughly enjoyable fantasy tale that will suit lovers of the fantasy genre of all ages, there is no question that the style and the plot is aimed no higher than mature child or young adult reader. But the messages, if you care to pay attention are very adult and timeless. INKHEART, aside from being that typical story of good against evil, is also a blend of simultaneous riffs on a number of themes which it could be argued become more important with every passing day in the 21st century – the power of books and the written word; the joy of reading out loud to truly bring a book and its characters to life; the awesome responsibility of authors and the skills that are inherent in the execution of their craft; the importance of censorship and control of reading, learning and knowledge in the installation of totalitarian governments.
A typical example: Fenoglio, the author of the title book INKHEART, lectured Basta, one of his evil creations who had magically come to life to torment the modern world, “ … the magic of the written word … Nothing is more powerful for good or evil.” While the themes might be mature stuff for mature minds, the delivery is in-your-face and clearly intended to be easy to pick up for the younger reading audience. INKHEART is, after all, a young adult fantasy. But, once again, that bare-faced simplicity takes away nothing from the pleasure that an adult reader will derive from the reading.
Definitely recommended.
P.S. If you are a book hoarder (as I am) and proud of your library (as I am), you’ll get a special kick out of this brief little goodie that was used to introduce Chapter 5:
“For him that stealeth, or borroweth and returneth not, this book from its owner, let it change into a serpent in his hand and rend him.
Let him be struck with palsy, and all his members blasted.
Let him languish in pain, crying aloud for mercy, and let there be no surcease to this agony till he sing in dissolution.
Let bookworms gnaw his entrails … and when at last he goeth to his last punishment, let the flames of hell consume him forever.”
Curse on book thieves, from the monastery of San Pedro, Barcelona, Spain.
I concur.
Paul Weiss
August 20, 2008
Oof... it took me 12 days to finish this book. Not like me at all.
I liked the storyline. I love the fact that it is a book about books, and that is what initially made me want to read it. I read the blurb on the book and it sounded like a really fun read.
I was wrong.
The book was VERY long-winded. Whilst the plotline was good, and the characters were nicely built, the actual story dragged on most of the time. The best part of the book is the last few chapters, by which point I didn't care - I just wanted the book to end so I could move onto something more enjoyable.
I've given it 2 stars because the story is interesting, I just think that it could have been condensed into less pages. Either that or the writing could have had more cliffhangers - therefore making it more unputdownable. Maybe if I could read German, the original book may be more enticing. It's always possible with translations that the book doesn't end up coming across as the author intended it to. I guess I'll never know.
I have no desire whatsoever to read the other books. I think this generally works on its own as a standalone novel, but the thought of reading another 500 pages doesn't fill me with joy.
I liked the storyline. I love the fact that it is a book about books, and that is what initially made me want to read it. I read the blurb on the book and it sounded like a really fun read.
I was wrong.
The book was VERY long-winded. Whilst the plotline was good, and the characters were nicely built, the actual story dragged on most of the time. The best part of the book is the last few chapters, by which point I didn't care - I just wanted the book to end so I could move onto something more enjoyable.
I've given it 2 stars because the story is interesting, I just think that it could have been condensed into less pages. Either that or the writing could have had more cliffhangers - therefore making it more unputdownable. Maybe if I could read German, the original book may be more enticing. It's always possible with translations that the book doesn't end up coming across as the author intended it to. I guess I'll never know.
I have no desire whatsoever to read the other books. I think this generally works on its own as a standalone novel, but the thought of reading another 500 pages doesn't fill me with joy.
November 12, 2017
Tolle fantasievolle Geschichte, die mir in jüngeren Jahren sicherlich besser gefallen hätte...
Die Aufmachung war - genau wie bei Reckless - liebevoll und detailverliebt. Ich fand die Idee mit den Zitaten aus berühmten Büchern zu Anfang jedes Kapitels klasse, genauso wie den Schreibstil. Allerdings fand ich die Story an sich etwas lahm und es ist gefühlt auch nicht allzu viel passiert... außerdem hatte ich das ein oder andere Problem mit der Logik, was ich aber nicht allzu schlimm fand. Cornelia Funkes Schreibstil hat mir wieder gut gefallen, vor allem wie sie Bücher und Menschen beschreibt, sehr märchenhaft. Ich denke ich werde dem nächsten Teil trotz allem noch eine Chance geben.
Die Aufmachung war - genau wie bei Reckless - liebevoll und detailverliebt. Ich fand die Idee mit den Zitaten aus berühmten Büchern zu Anfang jedes Kapitels klasse, genauso wie den Schreibstil. Allerdings fand ich die Story an sich etwas lahm und es ist gefühlt auch nicht allzu viel passiert... außerdem hatte ich das ein oder andere Problem mit der Logik, was ich aber nicht allzu schlimm fand. Cornelia Funkes Schreibstil hat mir wieder gut gefallen, vor allem wie sie Bücher und Menschen beschreibt, sehr märchenhaft. Ich denke ich werde dem nächsten Teil trotz allem noch eine Chance geben.
March 11, 2008
What a great story!
This is quite the page-turner! I was driven to read more by both the action/adventure and the plot/conclusion. Both are excellently written! Funke’s style of writing (and indeed the translation made by Anthea Bell) makes for a smooth and beautiful read.
Wonderfully drawn and very detailed characters fill this book from cover to cover, each character being unique and complete. The story is told from multiple viewpoints, which adds another interesting dimension to the story and plot.
The book doesn’t contain many light-hearted chapters (as you would find in Harry Potter or Narnia) but the wonderful lead characters are such good people that the book is far from dark.
The whole idea of the story is beautiful and intriguing! And the quotes that begin each chapter are perfectly chosen.
I kept wondering if there were areas that Funke could have taken out to make the book shorter – but I couldn’t really find anything that wouldn’t mar the story in some way, and I was grateful there were as many pages to read as there were!
A wonderful read and an interesting story that I think has become a new favorite!
***
I've read through chapter 16 now, and things have begun to be explained. The book is so very dear, and so very addicting! I now am not at all concerned with finishing it by the movie's release date!:D
***
I plan to begin this book today. I've got so many others that I'm in the midst of reading right now, but the fact that I want to finish this before the movie comes out (eek!) I'd best hurry up and start it!!
***
Oh dear!! I'd totally blanked and forgotten that this was being made into a movie!! I saw in the paper today that it's being released in mid-March. While this is wonderful, it means that I'd better hurry up and read it!!!
This is quite the page-turner! I was driven to read more by both the action/adventure and the plot/conclusion. Both are excellently written! Funke’s style of writing (and indeed the translation made by Anthea Bell) makes for a smooth and beautiful read.
Wonderfully drawn and very detailed characters fill this book from cover to cover, each character being unique and complete. The story is told from multiple viewpoints, which adds another interesting dimension to the story and plot.
The book doesn’t contain many light-hearted chapters (as you would find in Harry Potter or Narnia) but the wonderful lead characters are such good people that the book is far from dark.
The whole idea of the story is beautiful and intriguing! And the quotes that begin each chapter are perfectly chosen.
I kept wondering if there were areas that Funke could have taken out to make the book shorter – but I couldn’t really find anything that wouldn’t mar the story in some way, and I was grateful there were as many pages to read as there were!
A wonderful read and an interesting story that I think has become a new favorite!
***
I've read through chapter 16 now, and things have begun to be explained. The book is so very dear, and so very addicting! I now am not at all concerned with finishing it by the movie's release date!:D
***
I plan to begin this book today. I've got so many others that I'm in the midst of reading right now, but the fact that I want to finish this before the movie comes out (eek!) I'd best hurry up and start it!!
***
Oh dear!! I'd totally blanked and forgotten that this was being made into a movie!! I saw in the paper today that it's being released in mid-March. While this is wonderful, it means that I'd better hurry up and read it!!!
December 7, 2008
I have no idea why people like this book. Where is the character developement, the intrigue, the plot? It's like a lump. After I read it, I thought back and couldn't even remember the storyline - it was too jumpy and mumbled. Not a good work of fiction.
February 16, 2017
The best fantasy novel, I'ver read.
I was too much curious while reading that.
I just loved it.
The way writer moves the story.
Specially,3 ratings for character making.
Thanks Cornelia Funke.
I was too much curious while reading that.
I just loved it.
The way writer moves the story.
Specially,3 ratings for character making.
Thanks Cornelia Funke.
August 6, 2019
Ah! A book about a magical book!!
How delightful!
Twelve year old Meggie lives in a small farmhouse with her father, Mo, as Meggie calls him, who repairs and restores books. Meggie doesn't think that 'bookbinder' describes the care and love her father takes when he's fixing books and prefers to say that he's a "book doctor." He has a plaque on the bookshop door that reads:
Some books should be tasted
some devoured
but only a few
should be chewed and digested thoroughly.
One dark and rainy night, a stranger arrives at the door. Mo invites him in, saying he's a "friend" and sends Meggie roughly back to bed. Mo has never treated her that way but more than that, Meggie senses fear, like icy fingers around her heart, and a feeling of foreboding surrounding the visitor. And something else, a familiarity deep down that she can't explain. What kind of friend comes knocking in the middle of the night? Not easily dissuaded, Meggie creeps out of bed and listens through the door. She hears Mo call the visitor Dustfinger who then calls her father Silvertongue. Then the voices become only low murmurs, a hushed argument of sorts.
"don't underestimate him" she heard Dustfinger say.
"He'd do anything to get hold of it" .....
"And when I say 'anything,' I can assure you I mean anything."......
"I'll never let him have it." That was Mo. ...
"Oh, yes? And for how much longer, do you think? What about your daughter?....
Meggie wonders what the strange names mean, including the other one Dustfinger said "Capricorn" and what could he want that Mo will never give up?
Very early the next morning Mo tells Meggie to pack quickly, that they're going to visit his aunt Elinor who needs some of her books repaired. Meggie is confused as she still has a week of school left but Mo, not in the mood to argue, has been unusually distressed since Dustfinger's arrival and is clearly in a hurry to leave.
And, as always, he reminds her to pack plenty of books to read. He's always says
"It's a good idea to have your own books with you when you're in a strange place."
They just reach the gate when Dustfinger suddenly appears in the road and says he's coming along. This seems to upset Mo even more and Meggie, still fearful, isn't at all happy, either.
As the journey lags on the discord between Mo and Dustfinger continues and Meggie knows something is being kept secret from her, something to do with a book she saw Mo hide in his suitcase, something that has Mo very anxious and worried.
Elinor's house is enormous with bookshelves full of books, floor to ceiling in every room. In addition, Elinor makes it very apparent that she doesn't care for children. Not at all.
Late that first night Meggie hears Mo and Elinor whispering about hiding the book so it can never be found. Only a little while later, that very night, men come and steal the book, taking Mo with them. The book was indeed kept safe and the men will soon discover that they have the wrong book. What will happen to Mo then?
Elinor dislikes and doesn't trust Dustfinger but he says he knows where Mo has been taken leaving Meggie and Elinor no choice but to trust him to take them to exchange the book for Mo. Elinor finds she was right not to trust Dustfinger as he's deceived them, leading them right into a trap. They've been taken by gun point and reunited with Mo but are now locked up, terrified, and at the complete mercy of Capricorn.
Mo has no choice but to tell Maggie the secret he's been hiding, why he's never read out loud to her, and about what really happened to her mother when Meggie was just three years old.
Mo explains to Meggie that he can literally read characters out of a book.
Mo was reading INKHART aloud to Meggie's mother when suddenly Capricorn appeared in their living room, along with a few of his men.
And her mother was gone. Vanished.
Mo managed to escape with Meggie, and the book and has been hiding from Capricorn ever since.
Now, Meggie and Elinor are beginning to understand why Capricorn won't let them go now that he has the book. He needs Mo to read aloud everything he wants out of the book including gold and treasure. Dustfinger, too, has his own selfish adjenda for getting his hands on the book as he, himself, was read from the pages of INKHEART, and he wants to go back. More than anything in this world.
Mo has refused to do what Capricorn wants thus far. And for good reason.
But now, thanks to Dustfinger, Capricorn finally has everything he needs to make Mo obey. He has his Daughter, Meggie.
And that's just the beginning.
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke is a magical adventure that I found very hard to put down.
It was everything a great story should be. A believable story line with magic for added fun and adventure. Endearing characters in Mo, Meggie, and Elinor who have me looking forward to reading their further adventures in Inkspell. Characters who are merciless and evil, who have no quandary about deceit, ruthlessness, and murder. It all goes flat out which I found surprising as it's a 500+ page book. It's an exciting and original story with lots of uncertainty and anticipation throughout that never loses momentum and keeps you guessing from beginning to end. I was drawn straight in and I found myself captivated within the pages for hours on end, turning the pages as fast as could to see what might happen next. I got goose bumps on countless occasions!
Oh! What a sensational adventure!! I highly recommend it to anyone who loves books. Books to read, collect, and treasure.
How delightful!
Twelve year old Meggie lives in a small farmhouse with her father, Mo, as Meggie calls him, who repairs and restores books. Meggie doesn't think that 'bookbinder' describes the care and love her father takes when he's fixing books and prefers to say that he's a "book doctor." He has a plaque on the bookshop door that reads:
Some books should be tasted
some devoured
but only a few
should be chewed and digested thoroughly.
One dark and rainy night, a stranger arrives at the door. Mo invites him in, saying he's a "friend" and sends Meggie roughly back to bed. Mo has never treated her that way but more than that, Meggie senses fear, like icy fingers around her heart, and a feeling of foreboding surrounding the visitor. And something else, a familiarity deep down that she can't explain. What kind of friend comes knocking in the middle of the night? Not easily dissuaded, Meggie creeps out of bed and listens through the door. She hears Mo call the visitor Dustfinger who then calls her father Silvertongue. Then the voices become only low murmurs, a hushed argument of sorts.
"don't underestimate him" she heard Dustfinger say.
"He'd do anything to get hold of it" .....
"And when I say 'anything,' I can assure you I mean anything."......
"I'll never let him have it." That was Mo. ...
"Oh, yes? And for how much longer, do you think? What about your daughter?....
Meggie wonders what the strange names mean, including the other one Dustfinger said "Capricorn" and what could he want that Mo will never give up?
Very early the next morning Mo tells Meggie to pack quickly, that they're going to visit his aunt Elinor who needs some of her books repaired. Meggie is confused as she still has a week of school left but Mo, not in the mood to argue, has been unusually distressed since Dustfinger's arrival and is clearly in a hurry to leave.
And, as always, he reminds her to pack plenty of books to read. He's always says
"It's a good idea to have your own books with you when you're in a strange place."
They just reach the gate when Dustfinger suddenly appears in the road and says he's coming along. This seems to upset Mo even more and Meggie, still fearful, isn't at all happy, either.
As the journey lags on the discord between Mo and Dustfinger continues and Meggie knows something is being kept secret from her, something to do with a book she saw Mo hide in his suitcase, something that has Mo very anxious and worried.
Elinor's house is enormous with bookshelves full of books, floor to ceiling in every room. In addition, Elinor makes it very apparent that she doesn't care for children. Not at all.
Late that first night Meggie hears Mo and Elinor whispering about hiding the book so it can never be found. Only a little while later, that very night, men come and steal the book, taking Mo with them. The book was indeed kept safe and the men will soon discover that they have the wrong book. What will happen to Mo then?
Elinor dislikes and doesn't trust Dustfinger but he says he knows where Mo has been taken leaving Meggie and Elinor no choice but to trust him to take them to exchange the book for Mo. Elinor finds she was right not to trust Dustfinger as he's deceived them, leading them right into a trap. They've been taken by gun point and reunited with Mo but are now locked up, terrified, and at the complete mercy of Capricorn.
Mo has no choice but to tell Maggie the secret he's been hiding, why he's never read out loud to her, and about what really happened to her mother when Meggie was just three years old.
Mo explains to Meggie that he can literally read characters out of a book.
Mo was reading INKHART aloud to Meggie's mother when suddenly Capricorn appeared in their living room, along with a few of his men.
And her mother was gone. Vanished.
Mo managed to escape with Meggie, and the book and has been hiding from Capricorn ever since.
Now, Meggie and Elinor are beginning to understand why Capricorn won't let them go now that he has the book. He needs Mo to read aloud everything he wants out of the book including gold and treasure. Dustfinger, too, has his own selfish adjenda for getting his hands on the book as he, himself, was read from the pages of INKHEART, and he wants to go back. More than anything in this world.
Mo has refused to do what Capricorn wants thus far. And for good reason.
But now, thanks to Dustfinger, Capricorn finally has everything he needs to make Mo obey. He has his Daughter, Meggie.
And that's just the beginning.
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke is a magical adventure that I found very hard to put down.
It was everything a great story should be. A believable story line with magic for added fun and adventure. Endearing characters in Mo, Meggie, and Elinor who have me looking forward to reading their further adventures in Inkspell. Characters who are merciless and evil, who have no quandary about deceit, ruthlessness, and murder. It all goes flat out which I found surprising as it's a 500+ page book. It's an exciting and original story with lots of uncertainty and anticipation throughout that never loses momentum and keeps you guessing from beginning to end. I was drawn straight in and I found myself captivated within the pages for hours on end, turning the pages as fast as could to see what might happen next. I got goose bumps on countless occasions!
Oh! What a sensational adventure!! I highly recommend it to anyone who loves books. Books to read, collect, and treasure.
June 2, 2021
Edit 2.6.2021:
Now that I've been able to let this book sink in and have almost finished the second volume of the trilogy, I unfortunately have to revise my original assessment a little.
Apparently I tried to live up to the general reputation of this trilogy in my original review. In retrospect, however, I have to admit that I liked the book a lot less than I had figured out in my wishful thinking.
I found the story really too tenacious and the characters too unapproachable and too little comprehensible to be rated with more than 3 stars.
********************
Edit 2.6.2021:
Nachdem ich dieses Buch nun sacken lassen konnte und den zweiten Band der Trilogie fast beendet habe, muss ich meine ursprüngliche Einschätzung leider etwas revidieren.
Ich habe offenbar versucht, in meiner urspünglichen Rezension, dem allgemeinen Ruf dieser Trilogie gerecht zu werden. Im Nachhinein muss ich allerdings zugeben, dass mir das Buch deutlich weniger gefallen hat, als ich mir das in meinem Wunschdenken zurecht gelegt hatte.
Ich fand die Geschichte wirklich zu zäh und die Charaktere zu wenig nahbar und nachvollziehbar, als dass ich mit mehr als 3 Sternen bewerten könnte.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ink Heart starts off the Ink World trilogy and is a really nice fantasy novel for children and young teenagers. Although I don't see it in the all-age book category, grown-ups can read it and have fun while doing it. I'm very much grown up now and read the book for the first time and it entertained me pretty well.
The story itself is quite well known, so I won't go into it any further here.
I found the protagonist Meggie's behavior quite annoying at times, but maybe I've already forgotten how annoying 12-year-olds can be.
Linguistically, the book was very nice and the plot was appropriately exciting and proceeded at the right speed.
I am looking forward to the sequel volumes, as I feel that this first volume has a clear ending. But since I bought the trilogy as a set, I will soon find out how Cornelia Funke continues the story.
From my point of view it deserves 4 stars.
---------------------------------------------------
Tintenherz leitet die Tintenherz-Trilogie ein und ist ein wirklich schöner Fantasy-Roman für Kinder bzw. junge Teenager. Obwohl ich es nicht in der Kategorie der All Age-Bücher sehe, kann man es auch als Erwachsener gut lesen und Spaß dabei haben. Ich bin ja nun schon ziemlich erwachsen und habe das Buch erstmals gelesen und es hat mich wirklich gut unterhalten.
Die Geschichte selbst ist ja sehr bekannt und daher gehe ich hier nicht weiter darauf ein.
Ich fand die Protagonistin Meggie in ihrem Verhalten manchmal ziemlich nervig, aber vielleicht habe ich auch schon vergessen, wie nervig 12-jährige sein können.
Sprachlich war das Buch sehr schön und auch der Plot war angemessen spannend und ging in der richtigen Geschwindigkeit voran.
Ich bin gespannt auf die Fortsetzungsbände, da dieser erste Band für mein Empfinden einen klaren Abschluss hat. Da ich aber die Trilogie im Set gekauft habe, werde ich wohl bald herausfinden, wie Cornelia Funke die Geschichte fortführt.
Aus meiner Sicht verdiente 4 Sterne.
Now that I've been able to let this book sink in and have almost finished the second volume of the trilogy, I unfortunately have to revise my original assessment a little.
Apparently I tried to live up to the general reputation of this trilogy in my original review. In retrospect, however, I have to admit that I liked the book a lot less than I had figured out in my wishful thinking.
I found the story really too tenacious and the characters too unapproachable and too little comprehensible to be rated with more than 3 stars.
********************
Edit 2.6.2021:
Nachdem ich dieses Buch nun sacken lassen konnte und den zweiten Band der Trilogie fast beendet habe, muss ich meine ursprüngliche Einschätzung leider etwas revidieren.
Ich habe offenbar versucht, in meiner urspünglichen Rezension, dem allgemeinen Ruf dieser Trilogie gerecht zu werden. Im Nachhinein muss ich allerdings zugeben, dass mir das Buch deutlich weniger gefallen hat, als ich mir das in meinem Wunschdenken zurecht gelegt hatte.
Ich fand die Geschichte wirklich zu zäh und die Charaktere zu wenig nahbar und nachvollziehbar, als dass ich mit mehr als 3 Sternen bewerten könnte.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ink Heart starts off the Ink World trilogy and is a really nice fantasy novel for children and young teenagers. Although I don't see it in the all-age book category, grown-ups can read it and have fun while doing it. I'm very much grown up now and read the book for the first time and it entertained me pretty well.
The story itself is quite well known, so I won't go into it any further here.
I found the protagonist Meggie's behavior quite annoying at times, but maybe I've already forgotten how annoying 12-year-olds can be.
Linguistically, the book was very nice and the plot was appropriately exciting and proceeded at the right speed.
I am looking forward to the sequel volumes, as I feel that this first volume has a clear ending. But since I bought the trilogy as a set, I will soon find out how Cornelia Funke continues the story.
From my point of view it deserves 4 stars.
---------------------------------------------------
Tintenherz leitet die Tintenherz-Trilogie ein und ist ein wirklich schöner Fantasy-Roman für Kinder bzw. junge Teenager. Obwohl ich es nicht in der Kategorie der All Age-Bücher sehe, kann man es auch als Erwachsener gut lesen und Spaß dabei haben. Ich bin ja nun schon ziemlich erwachsen und habe das Buch erstmals gelesen und es hat mich wirklich gut unterhalten.
Die Geschichte selbst ist ja sehr bekannt und daher gehe ich hier nicht weiter darauf ein.
Ich fand die Protagonistin Meggie in ihrem Verhalten manchmal ziemlich nervig, aber vielleicht habe ich auch schon vergessen, wie nervig 12-jährige sein können.
Sprachlich war das Buch sehr schön und auch der Plot war angemessen spannend und ging in der richtigen Geschwindigkeit voran.
Ich bin gespannt auf die Fortsetzungsbände, da dieser erste Band für mein Empfinden einen klaren Abschluss hat. Da ich aber die Trilogie im Set gekauft habe, werde ich wohl bald herausfinden, wie Cornelia Funke die Geschichte fortführt.
Aus meiner Sicht verdiente 4 Sterne.
February 9, 2008
Okay, I'm at hundred pages, and I'm like: someone just kill that loser Capricorn, and then FedEx the rest of the gang home! PLEASE! I'll pay Preferred!
It goes like this: go here, go there, go back here, go back there, return to here, and so on...
Also, this story was kind of scary, which doesn't rate high in my book (pun intended).
The idea was excellent, but poorly executed.
It goes like this: go here, go there, go back here, go back there, return to here, and so on...
Also, this story was kind of scary, which doesn't rate high in my book (pun intended).
The idea was excellent, but poorly executed.
November 3, 2025
2021: 4/5
2025: 3,5/5
2025: 3,5/5
April 11, 2013
1. Don't watch the movie. Please, don't watch it, the movie is nothing compared with the books!
2. This series is a must-read for all book-lovers, if you ask me...
A father who can awake characters from books just by reading and a daughter with equal abilities.
A series about books and reading. A series that offeres exciting adventures, lots of reading, love and friendship, danger, amazing characters and sympathetic villians...
What more does a true book-lover need?!
Right...Nothing!
This is one of the best series ever. Read it. And if you already did then re-read it once again! :)
2. This series is a must-read for all book-lovers, if you ask me...
A father who can awake characters from books just by reading and a daughter with equal abilities.
A series about books and reading. A series that offeres exciting adventures, lots of reading, love and friendship, danger, amazing characters and sympathetic villians...
What more does a true book-lover need?!
Right...Nothing!
This is one of the best series ever. Read it. And if you already did then re-read it once again! :)
December 28, 2019
Rating: 2.5* of five
EDITED TO ADD the 2008 film is very pretty, but not a lot less tedious than the book.
A doorstop of a tome, it's way too long for the story. Meggie isn't interesting enough to make me want to follow her through the convolutions of discovery with Mo and Elinor. I can't believe this took over 500pp to tell!
And yet, and yet...it's aimed at a very different demographic than I am...young girls, it would seem, want long long long books about nothing much, like those hideous Stephenie Meyer warts on the Devil's buttcheeks. So for its target audience, it's a huge improvement over the otherwise available material.
What is it, BTW, that leads adolescent females down these primrose paths of tedium? My daughter loooved the Robert Jordan "Wheel of Time" crapola, and I think she still reads them (I'm afraid to ask). If Inkheart had weighed in at 300pp or so, it would have been a much more exciting book. Is there some double-X-chromosome disorder that prevents y'all from liking excitement?
Inquiring minds want to know.
EDITED TO ADD the 2008 film is very pretty, but not a lot less tedious than the book.
A doorstop of a tome, it's way too long for the story. Meggie isn't interesting enough to make me want to follow her through the convolutions of discovery with Mo and Elinor. I can't believe this took over 500pp to tell!
And yet, and yet...it's aimed at a very different demographic than I am...young girls, it would seem, want long long long books about nothing much, like those hideous Stephenie Meyer warts on the Devil's buttcheeks. So for its target audience, it's a huge improvement over the otherwise available material.
What is it, BTW, that leads adolescent females down these primrose paths of tedium? My daughter loooved the Robert Jordan "Wheel of Time" crapola, and I think she still reads them (I'm afraid to ask). If Inkheart had weighed in at 300pp or so, it would have been a much more exciting book. Is there some double-X-chromosome disorder that prevents y'all from liking excitement?
Inquiring minds want to know.
April 30, 2009
As much as I hate to say it, but this book is really boring. I love children's books and read Harry Potter and His Dark Materials several times. Inkheart disappointed me. I never stop reading a book until I read at least 100 pages, to give an author a chance to develop a story. Unfortunately, I had to stop reading this book after page 150. It is extremely slowpaced and uneventful. It is surprising to know that kids actually have enough patience to finish and thoroughly enjoy this book. Maybe it's just not my cup of tea...
October 18, 2007
A wonderful, imaginative story. The characters are so vivid, the tale so engaging, the prose so poetic... A glorious tale for anyone who ever dreamed of being transported into the stories she reads, or of having friends from the tales brought into our world!
On her website, author Cornelia Funke says,
"I didn't suspect that this story would grow untill it could fill more than one book. I have dreamed for a long time of writing a story in which characters from a book come into our world. Which book addict doesn’t know the feeling that the characters in a book can seem more real than the people around us? And there is of course a simple reason for that. For which real person would permit us to look into their hearts as deeply as a storyteller permits us to look into his characters’? Into the deepest regions of their souls we may spy, see all their fears, all their love and all their dreams."
On her website, author Cornelia Funke says,
"I didn't suspect that this story would grow untill it could fill more than one book. I have dreamed for a long time of writing a story in which characters from a book come into our world. Which book addict doesn’t know the feeling that the characters in a book can seem more real than the people around us? And there is of course a simple reason for that. For which real person would permit us to look into their hearts as deeply as a storyteller permits us to look into his characters’? Into the deepest regions of their souls we may spy, see all their fears, all their love and all their dreams."
August 16, 2023
Nach so vielen Jahren bin ich endlich wieder in die Tintenwelt eingetaucht und schon nach den ersten Seiten hat sich dieses Gefühl eingestellt, dass mich eine großartige Geschichte erwartet.
Schon die Zitate zu den Kapitelanfängen sind sehr bewusst und perfekt gewählt, aus Büchern, die man kennt und die die folgenden Ereignisse gekonnt einleiten.
Es ist ein Buch über die Liebe zu Geschichten, über die Welt, die hinter jedem Buchdeckel steckt und die den Leser in Abenteuer entführen und den Alltag vergessen lassen. Cornelia Funke schreibt hier mit einer wundervoll verspielten Leidenschaft, verstrickt mit einem Abenteuer, dass mit all seiner Magie tatsächlich real erscheint. Ich war von Anfang an gefesselt und hab mich in dieser Geschichte wieder so wohl gefühlt, mit all ihren spannenden Momenten, ihren Überraschungen und den großartigen Charakteren.
Meggie ist mit ihren 12 Jahren ein selbstbewusstes Mädchen, dass aber auch ihre Ängste und Hoffnungen zeigt. Was ihr Vater Mo ihr über ihre Mutter offenbart war jahrelang ein großes Geheimnis und als sie sich den Gefahren stellen muss beweist sie großen Mut.
Aber auch Elinor, die zuerst doch recht kratzbürstig wirkt, zeigt, wieviel Herzblut in ihr steckt und dass sie sich jahrelang in ihrer Liebe zu Büchern nur eine Mauer gebaut hat, um sich vor den bitteren Erfahrungen des Lebens zu verschanzen.
Der Bösewicht Capricorn ist wirklich der Inbegriff einer hinterhältigen und selbstsüchtigen Figur, ebenso charakteristisch bestens ausgearbeitet wie auch seine Handlanger Basta und Flachnase.
Besonders hängt mein Herz an Staubfinger - er hat eine besonders tragische Rolle zu spielen und ich hab hier die ein oder andere Träne verdrücken müssen.
Der Schauplatz führt uns ja nach Italien, das eine wunderbare Kulisse bildet und jede Szene hat ein lebendiges Bild gezaubert, so dass ich alles um mich herum vergessen konnte und jeden Moment mit Meggie mitgefiebert habe.
Die Idee, Charaktere aus Büchern in die reale Welt zu holen war ja damals total neu und ist für mich bisher auch unerreicht. Die Autorin hat hier so viele schöne Impulse und abenteuerliche Momente in eine magische Geschichte verpackt, die mich erneut total verzaubert hat. Es ist wirklich schwierig zu beschreiben ohne zuviel zu verraten, deshalb kann ich euch nur raten, es selbst zu lesen falls ihr das Buch bisher noch nicht gelesen habt!
© Aleshanee
Weltenwanderer
Die Tinten Trilogie
1 - Tintenherz
2 - Tintenblut
3 - Tintentod
Schon die Zitate zu den Kapitelanfängen sind sehr bewusst und perfekt gewählt, aus Büchern, die man kennt und die die folgenden Ereignisse gekonnt einleiten.
Es ist ein Buch über die Liebe zu Geschichten, über die Welt, die hinter jedem Buchdeckel steckt und die den Leser in Abenteuer entführen und den Alltag vergessen lassen. Cornelia Funke schreibt hier mit einer wundervoll verspielten Leidenschaft, verstrickt mit einem Abenteuer, dass mit all seiner Magie tatsächlich real erscheint. Ich war von Anfang an gefesselt und hab mich in dieser Geschichte wieder so wohl gefühlt, mit all ihren spannenden Momenten, ihren Überraschungen und den großartigen Charakteren.
Meggie ist mit ihren 12 Jahren ein selbstbewusstes Mädchen, dass aber auch ihre Ängste und Hoffnungen zeigt. Was ihr Vater Mo ihr über ihre Mutter offenbart war jahrelang ein großes Geheimnis und als sie sich den Gefahren stellen muss beweist sie großen Mut.
Aber auch Elinor, die zuerst doch recht kratzbürstig wirkt, zeigt, wieviel Herzblut in ihr steckt und dass sie sich jahrelang in ihrer Liebe zu Büchern nur eine Mauer gebaut hat, um sich vor den bitteren Erfahrungen des Lebens zu verschanzen.
Der Bösewicht Capricorn ist wirklich der Inbegriff einer hinterhältigen und selbstsüchtigen Figur, ebenso charakteristisch bestens ausgearbeitet wie auch seine Handlanger Basta und Flachnase.
Besonders hängt mein Herz an Staubfinger - er hat eine besonders tragische Rolle zu spielen und ich hab hier die ein oder andere Träne verdrücken müssen.
Der Schauplatz führt uns ja nach Italien, das eine wunderbare Kulisse bildet und jede Szene hat ein lebendiges Bild gezaubert, so dass ich alles um mich herum vergessen konnte und jeden Moment mit Meggie mitgefiebert habe.
Die Idee, Charaktere aus Büchern in die reale Welt zu holen war ja damals total neu und ist für mich bisher auch unerreicht. Die Autorin hat hier so viele schöne Impulse und abenteuerliche Momente in eine magische Geschichte verpackt, die mich erneut total verzaubert hat. Es ist wirklich schwierig zu beschreiben ohne zuviel zu verraten, deshalb kann ich euch nur raten, es selbst zu lesen falls ihr das Buch bisher noch nicht gelesen habt!
© Aleshanee
Weltenwanderer
Die Tinten Trilogie
1 - Tintenherz
2 - Tintenblut
3 - Tintentod
September 17, 2021
I admit I'm a fan of unabashed book-loving books in general. I am a pretty big reader and imagination is a lot of my world, so as I got into this YA novel, smirked and nodded along with all the "my daddy REALLY loves books" and all the book doctor references. It never turned sour when I knew it would get magical and reading aloud from books often brought characters right out of the books, themselves.
It had SO much promise. And indeed, I was liking this book much more than the other Cornelia Funke series I had already read.
But then something happened. Either the execution just went into meh territory or it was just me, but the promise just wasn't enough. From everything I've heard, however, it's truly excellent in its original language, so I might have to give it some benefit of the doubt. I actually wish I could have read it in German. There's probably a lot of subtlety I missed in the English.
As it is, it came across as milk toast. Not bad, but not glorious.
It had SO much promise. And indeed, I was liking this book much more than the other Cornelia Funke series I had already read.
But then something happened. Either the execution just went into meh territory or it was just me, but the promise just wasn't enough. From everything I've heard, however, it's truly excellent in its original language, so I might have to give it some benefit of the doubt. I actually wish I could have read it in German. There's probably a lot of subtlety I missed in the English.
As it is, it came across as milk toast. Not bad, but not glorious.
April 12, 2016
This is certainly for children and children who like fantasies and adventures and books and who are patient enough to read so many pages that sometimes you'd think you're just going in circles. The story is interesting enough to make me finish the first book but not enough to make me read its sequels.
October 9, 2022
هیچ وقت فکر نمیکردم یه کتاب 600 صفحه ای رو توی پنج روز بخونم. یکی از اولین کتابهای فانتزی که خوندمه. واقعا دوستش داشتم. من عاشق این جزئیاتم طوری که بتونم گوشه گوشه صحنه رو تصور کنم. بعد از اینکه کتاب تموم شد رفتم سراغ فیلمش که انقدر چرت و به دردنخور بود که وسطش خوابم برد. به هیچ عنوان سراغ فیلمش نرین. حتی یک سکانسش هم شبیه کتاب نیست. بخونیدش که شما رو با خودش میبره به سرزمین کاپریکون و گردانگشت و کتابها. خوشحالم خریدمش. تنها چیزی که یه ذره منو اذیت کرد، ویراستاری کتاب بود. جمله ها بکب درمیون ادبی و عامیانه میشدن. یعنی مثلا وقتی مگی داره سه خط حرف میزنه از سه تا فعل نوشتاری و چهار تا فعل گفتاری استفاده شده. لحن شخصیت ها منسجم نیست. توی چاپ بعدی خوبه که ناشر به این مسئله توجه کنه. ترجمه کتایون سلطانی واقعا خوبه.
May 1, 2021
I was a little disappointed. I think it was because it couldn't quite live up to the hype for me. It was still a pretty good read though.
I'm planning on reading the other two books in the series. Maybe they will be better.
My biggest complaint would have to be that I don't think my kids would relate well to the heroine, Meggie. The story centers around a father and daughter who love books. I mean really looove books. I got a little sick of hearing about it, to be honest. Yes. Books are great. We get it. At one point, Meggie recalls how her father lovingly strokes the cover of a book before he opens it. Huh? Even when Meggie is being held captive by the villain, she is looking for something to read. I thought it was a bit much.
Like I said, I'm still hoping the other two books will be better.
I'm planning on reading the other two books in the series. Maybe they will be better.
My biggest complaint would have to be that I don't think my kids would relate well to the heroine, Meggie. The story centers around a father and daughter who love books. I mean really looove books. I got a little sick of hearing about it, to be honest. Yes. Books are great. We get it. At one point, Meggie recalls how her father lovingly strokes the cover of a book before he opens it. Huh? Even when Meggie is being held captive by the villain, she is looking for something to read. I thought it was a bit much.
Like I said, I'm still hoping the other two books will be better.
April 6, 2023
"Manche Bücher müssen gekostet werden,
Manche verschlingt man,
und nur einige wenige kaut man
und verdaut sie ganz."
- Cornelia Funke, "Tintenherz"
Meggie und ihr Vater Mortimer leben auf einem einsamen Hof, einige Kilometer entfernt von der nächsten Stadt. Ihr Haus ist bevölkert von Büchern, denn nichts lieben die Beiden so sehr wie die Bücher und das Lesen. In einer stürmischen Nacht entdeckt Meggie einen unheimlichen Fremden vor dem Fenster - doch Mo scheint diesen Mann, den er Staubfinger nennt, zu kennen. Staubfinger warnt ihren Vater vor einem Mann namens Capricorn und überstürzt fliehen sie früh am nächsten Morgen zu Tante Elinor Richtung Süden. Doch vor Capricorn und seinen Männern sind sie auch dort nicht sicher...
Keine Buchreihe habe ich als Kind und Jugendliche so sehr geliebt, wie Cornelia Funkes Tintenwelt-Trilogie. Als ich letztes Jahr erfahren habe, dass die Trilogie im Herbst 2023 um einen vierten Band erweitert wird, war für mich sofort klar, dass ich "Tintenherz", "Tintenblut" und "Tintentod" vorher unbedingt noch einmal lesen muss - und das war die absolut richtige Entscheidung! Es war wunderschön, wieder in die Geschichte rund um Meggie, Mo und Staubfinger einzutauchen, mit "Tintenherz" einen ersten Vorgeschmack auf die Wesen zu bekommen, die die Tintenwelt bevölkern und mich in diese wohligen Kindheitserinnerungen einzumummeln.
Obwohl ich die Reihe gut kenne und sie auch schon mehr als einmal gelesen habe, habe ich doch einiges von diesem ersten Band vergessen - zum Beispiel, dass er komplett in "unserer" Welt spielt und eigentlich auch in sich abgeschlossen gewesen wäre. Zum Glück hat Cornelia Funke nach "Tintenherz" nicht aufgehört, sondern uns die Möglichkeit gegeben, uns mit den Folgebänden selbst in diese magische Welt, von der Staubfinger und Resa sprechen, hineinzulesen.
"Tintenherz" ist eine Hommage an die Liebe zu Büchern und das Vorlesen, ein Liebesbrief an das Lesen und steckt voller Spannung und Magie. Ich wurde auch als Erwachsene zutiefst verzaubert und kann es kaum abwarten, demnächst den zweiten und dritten Band der Reihe - und letztlich im Herbst eine ganze neue Geschichte! - zu lesen. Diese Bücher sind wahre Gefährten, da würde mir Meggie wohl beipflichten 📖❤️
Manche verschlingt man,
und nur einige wenige kaut man
und verdaut sie ganz."
- Cornelia Funke, "Tintenherz"
Meggie und ihr Vater Mortimer leben auf einem einsamen Hof, einige Kilometer entfernt von der nächsten Stadt. Ihr Haus ist bevölkert von Büchern, denn nichts lieben die Beiden so sehr wie die Bücher und das Lesen. In einer stürmischen Nacht entdeckt Meggie einen unheimlichen Fremden vor dem Fenster - doch Mo scheint diesen Mann, den er Staubfinger nennt, zu kennen. Staubfinger warnt ihren Vater vor einem Mann namens Capricorn und überstürzt fliehen sie früh am nächsten Morgen zu Tante Elinor Richtung Süden. Doch vor Capricorn und seinen Männern sind sie auch dort nicht sicher...
Keine Buchreihe habe ich als Kind und Jugendliche so sehr geliebt, wie Cornelia Funkes Tintenwelt-Trilogie. Als ich letztes Jahr erfahren habe, dass die Trilogie im Herbst 2023 um einen vierten Band erweitert wird, war für mich sofort klar, dass ich "Tintenherz", "Tintenblut" und "Tintentod" vorher unbedingt noch einmal lesen muss - und das war die absolut richtige Entscheidung! Es war wunderschön, wieder in die Geschichte rund um Meggie, Mo und Staubfinger einzutauchen, mit "Tintenherz" einen ersten Vorgeschmack auf die Wesen zu bekommen, die die Tintenwelt bevölkern und mich in diese wohligen Kindheitserinnerungen einzumummeln.
Obwohl ich die Reihe gut kenne und sie auch schon mehr als einmal gelesen habe, habe ich doch einiges von diesem ersten Band vergessen - zum Beispiel, dass er komplett in "unserer" Welt spielt und eigentlich auch in sich abgeschlossen gewesen wäre. Zum Glück hat Cornelia Funke nach "Tintenherz" nicht aufgehört, sondern uns die Möglichkeit gegeben, uns mit den Folgebänden selbst in diese magische Welt, von der Staubfinger und Resa sprechen, hineinzulesen.
"Tintenherz" ist eine Hommage an die Liebe zu Büchern und das Vorlesen, ein Liebesbrief an das Lesen und steckt voller Spannung und Magie. Ich wurde auch als Erwachsene zutiefst verzaubert und kann es kaum abwarten, demnächst den zweiten und dritten Band der Reihe - und letztlich im Herbst eine ganze neue Geschichte! - zu lesen. Diese Bücher sind wahre Gefährten, da würde mir Meggie wohl beipflichten 📖❤️
February 24, 2009
My reading soul was battered and bruised, and a friend offered this book to me to help soothe the hurt. A lovely fantasy tale, with just enough villains and heroic folks to keep it balanced. You root for a happy ending and keep reading. Each chapter starts with a quote from a beloved children's classic, so you get to visit old friends on the journey through the story.
A few passages helped assure me how much the author really does love books and all they represent. Meggie, tired and distressed at one point, wearily "took out a book and tried to make herself a nice nest in its familiar words." Any book lover should be able to identify with that! Or later, Elinor, when trying to get comfortable in the ruins of a deserted cottage, ponders, "Why are adventures so much more fun when you read about them?"
But perhaps my favorite is:
A few passages helped assure me how much the author really does love books and all they represent. Meggie, tired and distressed at one point, wearily "took out a book and tried to make herself a nice nest in its familiar words." Any book lover should be able to identify with that! Or later, Elinor, when trying to get comfortable in the ruins of a deserted cottage, ponders, "Why are adventures so much more fun when you read about them?"
But perhaps my favorite is:
Only in books could you find pity, comfort, happiness--and love. Books loved anyone who opened them, they gave you security and friendship and didn't ask anything in return; they never went away, never, not even when you treated them badly.Love, truth, beauty, wisdom and consolation against death. Who said that? Someone else who loved books:..."
November 25, 2015
Attention: I read this book as a library book and I only just realised that the book I have is only part 1! So this review is going to be of the first half of "Inkheart".
This was a truly magical story that I know I would've absolutely adored as a child. It's about a love for books, and it's about how we - as readers - step into a fictional world, and how this fictional world can sometimes come true. I loved this story; especially the first 150 pages where the characters and setting are introduced.
That being said, it did take me some effort to get through the last part (of this first part) of the book. As I said, I think I would've loved this book as a child, but reading it now as an adult made me a bit bored at this big escape that the characters are going on. I think I would've been perfectly happy if Meggie and her father Mo could've just stayed at home with their books and each other, because while the beginning of the big adventure was interesting, it did drag on for a bit too long in my opinion.
Knowing that the second part of this book will probably just pick up from where part one ended, I'm not sure I'm going to pick it up anytime soon. Now, I know what the story and the characters are like, and I don't feel an urgent need to read the rest of it. BUT I still think that this is a magical story that will take you on quite a fictional adventure, and I'm happy that I got to know Meggie and Mo and their love for books.
This was a truly magical story that I know I would've absolutely adored as a child. It's about a love for books, and it's about how we - as readers - step into a fictional world, and how this fictional world can sometimes come true. I loved this story; especially the first 150 pages where the characters and setting are introduced.
That being said, it did take me some effort to get through the last part (of this first part) of the book. As I said, I think I would've loved this book as a child, but reading it now as an adult made me a bit bored at this big escape that the characters are going on. I think I would've been perfectly happy if Meggie and her father Mo could've just stayed at home with their books and each other, because while the beginning of the big adventure was interesting, it did drag on for a bit too long in my opinion.
Knowing that the second part of this book will probably just pick up from where part one ended, I'm not sure I'm going to pick it up anytime soon. Now, I know what the story and the characters are like, and I don't feel an urgent need to read the rest of it. BUT I still think that this is a magical story that will take you on quite a fictional adventure, and I'm happy that I got to know Meggie and Mo and their love for books.
April 3, 2019
First read: 2009 approx.
Second read: 2019.
When I first read this, I was 12. My English teacher recommended it to me. I am 22 now, as I am rereading this. I loved it so much. From the characters, the plot, the old fashioned writing. I'm reading the sequel now, as a part of my O.W.L.s and I love the sequel even more.
full RTC.
Second read: 2019.
When I first read this, I was 12. My English teacher recommended it to me. I am 22 now, as I am rereading this. I loved it so much. From the characters, the plot, the old fashioned writing. I'm reading the sequel now, as a part of my O.W.L.s and I love the sequel even more.
full RTC.
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