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The Beginning Woods
A MYSTERY NO ONE CAN SOLVE
The Vanishings started without warning. People disappearing into thin air--just piles of clothes left behind. Each day, thousands gone without a trace.
A BABY NO ONE WANTED
Abandoned in a bookshop, Max has grown up haunted by memories of his parents. Only he can solve the mystery of the Vanishings.
A SECRET THAT COULD SAVE THE FUTURE
To find the answers, Max must leave this world and enter the Beginning Woods, a realm of magic and terror where stories are all too real.
A STORY THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO ANOTHER WORLD
Greater than your dreams. Darker than your fears. Full of more wonder than you could ever desire. Welcome to the ineffable Beginning Woods. . . .
The Vanishings started without warning. People disappearing into thin air--just piles of clothes left behind. Each day, thousands gone without a trace.
A BABY NO ONE WANTED
Abandoned in a bookshop, Max has grown up haunted by memories of his parents. Only he can solve the mystery of the Vanishings.
A SECRET THAT COULD SAVE THE FUTURE
To find the answers, Max must leave this world and enter the Beginning Woods, a realm of magic and terror where stories are all too real.
A STORY THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO ANOTHER WORLD
Greater than your dreams. Darker than your fears. Full of more wonder than you could ever desire. Welcome to the ineffable Beginning Woods. . . .
432 pages, Hardcover
First published August 21, 2014
58 people are currently reading
851 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
July 29, 2016
2.5 stars
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Pushkin Press and NetGalley.)
This was a YA fantasy/adventure story about a world where people simply vanished.
Max was an okay character, and he desperately wanted to find his birth parents, even if he had to risk his own life to do it.
The storyline in this was about a world where people vanished into thin air. There was a theory that this was actually Max’s fault simply because he was born, and another storyline about Max wanting to find his birth parents. Both of these storylines converged with Max having to travel to a different world, to a place called The Beginning Woods in an effort to both find his parents and solve the mystery of the vanishings. We also got some dragons, witches, and ‘cold’ people, but I did find the book quite confusing in places, and I really didn’t enjoy parts of it.
The ending to this was okay, but I was pleased to get to the end.
5 out of 10
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Pushkin Press and NetGalley.)
“It was time to run away, into London, into the world. Into the woods. To find his Forever Parents.”
This was a YA fantasy/adventure story about a world where people simply vanished.
Max was an okay character, and he desperately wanted to find his birth parents, even if he had to risk his own life to do it.
The storyline in this was about a world where people vanished into thin air. There was a theory that this was actually Max’s fault simply because he was born, and another storyline about Max wanting to find his birth parents. Both of these storylines converged with Max having to travel to a different world, to a place called The Beginning Woods in an effort to both find his parents and solve the mystery of the vanishings. We also got some dragons, witches, and ‘cold’ people, but I did find the book quite confusing in places, and I really didn’t enjoy parts of it.
The ending to this was okay, but I was pleased to get to the end.
5 out of 10
September 16, 2016
I read some of the reviews here on Goodreads and they weren't all too positive, sadly. That didn't stop me from requesting it (obviously) because hello, woods? Mystery? Fairytale?
The negative criticism mostly focusses on the slow pace. Some people found the story boring and/or confusing.
Yes, it's quite a hefty tome with almost 500 pages. Yes, we don't get dropped into one action scene after the other. But my opinion here is that you can look at it as a slow roast: not many people have the patience for it, but if you do, you'll end up with a much nicer juicier and more tender piece of meat. Nobody likes a dehydrated burnt sausage!
As for the confusing part, yes, this is a weird story and requires your imagination to run like a steam locomotive on full speed, but isn't that why we like to read in the first place? Give me weird any day! Weird is good. Weird is awesome.
So the story huh? Max has been abandoned in a bookshop as a baby. Instead of looking like any other baby, he has spindly legs, pointy ears and a big row of sharp teeth. Because of this, finding a pair of foster parents for him proves to be a real challenge.
When Max grows up, he's very much aware of being an orphan and wants to find his real 'forever' parents no matter what. Meanwhile, the vanishings keep getting worse and worse and even the most brilliant scientists don't know what's causing them, let alone how it can be fixed. Max thinks there's a correlation between finding his parents and putting an end to the vanishings.
In an attempt to trigger his earliest memories, he starts reading. A LOT. Storybook after storybook. In the hope of finding his own story hidden in there somewhere.
But what if all the stories somehow actually happened? This is where Max finds out about The Beginning Woods.
The Beginning Woods (all puns left aside here) is like a parallel world to the one we know. It's the world where all the stories come from. Where the witches live, and the dragons, and basically all the other typical fairytale characters. Yet there's nothing typical about these characters because everything is just a tat bit off. Fairytales on acid, if you will. The Alice in Wonderland comparison is easily made, but The Beginning Woods is a lot more realistic than Wonderland. The geography in the Woods, for example, is almost the same as in our own puny world.
What made me give this book four brownies?
Its rich worldbuilding, for one. The possibilities are endless. There are massive dragons (which aren't the sharpest tools in the shed), fairies, evil witches, dragon hunters, ghosts (who prefer to be called 'cold people'), wizards and just 'plain' forest folk.
It's not a Middle-Grade story; it's way too dark for that. With its 15-year-old (ish) protagonist and fairy tale elements, it's dark YA mostly but certainly also suitable for fans of the regular Fantasy genre.
There are some odd dialogue sections which take a bit of getting used to and would annoy me to no end in other books, but it somehow works here. I even had to chuckle out loud a couple of times because of it.
Some of the characters were pretty funny. There's a wind giant who has to remove all of his clothing before blowing or he will rip his clothes apart. The evil witch is a horrible person, yet I still had to laugh at some of the things she said.
I've been struggling between rating it with four and four and a half brownies, and ended up going with four. It was a very nice read, but Max was getting on my nerves quite a few times, plus, it could've probably been trimmed down by fifty pages or so.
One of the evil characters was clearly inspired by Hitler, which makes no sense storywise, yet made sense anyhow. Yeah, go figure!
TL; DR:
Lots of books, an evil witch, gory cruelty, fairytales, a parallel (story) world. Dark woods, ghosts, crazy people. Travelling by massive hot air balloons (aka zeppelins) from city to city, fueled by wind giants.
***When I checked this one out on Amazon I saw only three USED copies were available. And it has one review!! That is just fucking ridiculous. So I encourage you all to, if this book sounds intriguing to you in any way, request an ARC of this book HERE, or (even better) buy a copy and leave a review once you've read it. I really think it deserves more than this.***
A big thank you to Pushkin Children's Books for providing me with a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion!
The negative criticism mostly focusses on the slow pace. Some people found the story boring and/or confusing.
Yes, it's quite a hefty tome with almost 500 pages. Yes, we don't get dropped into one action scene after the other. But my opinion here is that you can look at it as a slow roast: not many people have the patience for it, but if you do, you'll end up with a much nicer juicier and more tender piece of meat. Nobody likes a dehydrated burnt sausage!
As for the confusing part, yes, this is a weird story and requires your imagination to run like a steam locomotive on full speed, but isn't that why we like to read in the first place? Give me weird any day! Weird is good. Weird is awesome.
So the story huh? Max has been abandoned in a bookshop as a baby. Instead of looking like any other baby, he has spindly legs, pointy ears and a big row of sharp teeth. Because of this, finding a pair of foster parents for him proves to be a real challenge.
When Max grows up, he's very much aware of being an orphan and wants to find his real 'forever' parents no matter what. Meanwhile, the vanishings keep getting worse and worse and even the most brilliant scientists don't know what's causing them, let alone how it can be fixed. Max thinks there's a correlation between finding his parents and putting an end to the vanishings.
In an attempt to trigger his earliest memories, he starts reading. A LOT. Storybook after storybook. In the hope of finding his own story hidden in there somewhere.
But what if all the stories somehow actually happened? This is where Max finds out about The Beginning Woods.
The Beginning Woods (all puns left aside here) is like a parallel world to the one we know. It's the world where all the stories come from. Where the witches live, and the dragons, and basically all the other typical fairytale characters. Yet there's nothing typical about these characters because everything is just a tat bit off. Fairytales on acid, if you will. The Alice in Wonderland comparison is easily made, but The Beginning Woods is a lot more realistic than Wonderland. The geography in the Woods, for example, is almost the same as in our own puny world.
What made me give this book four brownies?
Its rich worldbuilding, for one. The possibilities are endless. There are massive dragons (which aren't the sharpest tools in the shed), fairies, evil witches, dragon hunters, ghosts (who prefer to be called 'cold people'), wizards and just 'plain' forest folk.
It's not a Middle-Grade story; it's way too dark for that. With its 15-year-old (ish) protagonist and fairy tale elements, it's dark YA mostly but certainly also suitable for fans of the regular Fantasy genre.
There are some odd dialogue sections which take a bit of getting used to and would annoy me to no end in other books, but it somehow works here. I even had to chuckle out loud a couple of times because of it.
Some of the characters were pretty funny. There's a wind giant who has to remove all of his clothing before blowing or he will rip his clothes apart. The evil witch is a horrible person, yet I still had to laugh at some of the things she said.
I've been struggling between rating it with four and four and a half brownies, and ended up going with four. It was a very nice read, but Max was getting on my nerves quite a few times, plus, it could've probably been trimmed down by fifty pages or so.
One of the evil characters was clearly inspired by Hitler, which makes no sense storywise, yet made sense anyhow. Yeah, go figure!
TL; DR:
Lots of books, an evil witch, gory cruelty, fairytales, a parallel (story) world. Dark woods, ghosts, crazy people. Travelling by massive hot air balloons (aka zeppelins) from city to city, fueled by wind giants.
***When I checked this one out on Amazon I saw only three USED copies were available. And it has one review!! That is just fucking ridiculous. So I encourage you all to, if this book sounds intriguing to you in any way, request an ARC of this book HERE, or (even better) buy a copy and leave a review once you've read it. I really think it deserves more than this.***
A big thank you to Pushkin Children's Books for providing me with a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion!
July 6, 2016
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
3.5 Stars
I've been picking up this book and putting it down for a few days now. The writing is fabulous. It has a fairytale quality to it as you can see in my quote below....
“We found out about snowflakes today,” he’d told them. “How they’re shaped like a star, with all these patterns and diamonds. Mr Chandra told us that’s how water crystals form when they freeze.” “That’s right,” said Forbes. “And did you learn how they all have eight arms? Like an octopus?” “Six,” said Alice, giving him an elbow. “It’s six, isn’t it Max?” “Yes,” said Max. “But Mr Chandra is wrong.
It doesn’t have anything to do with how water freezes. It’s the Starmakers. “Oh-ho!” said Forbes, wriggling with pleasure. “Who are the Starmakers?” “Don’t you know?” Max had been surprised at this, because Mr Chandra hadn’t known either. “If you look even closer at a snowflake, if you look much more closer than ever, you see tiny chisel marks on the snowflake. Tiny chisel marks made by tiny silver chisels.” “Is that so?” Forbes said, winking at Alice.“The chisels belong to the Starmakers,” Max explained “Snowflakes are stars that weren’t good enough. Each Starmaker makes thousands of stars a year, and they throw most of them away because of little mistakes.
But now and again, once every million years, one of the Starmakers looks up from his anvil. And all the other Starmakers look up as well and put down their chisels, because they know what’s happened—finally there’s a star perfect enough to go in the sky."
Certain parts would suck me completely in, while others seem to drag on a bit. Hence the picking up and putting down over the course of several days. I enjoyed the characters though. The World building was interesting. A bit of an old World feel, but with modern touches. Actually, it had a bit of an Alice In Wonderland feel to it.
Overall I enjoyed it.
3.5 Stars
I've been picking up this book and putting it down for a few days now. The writing is fabulous. It has a fairytale quality to it as you can see in my quote below....
“We found out about snowflakes today,” he’d told them. “How they’re shaped like a star, with all these patterns and diamonds. Mr Chandra told us that’s how water crystals form when they freeze.” “That’s right,” said Forbes. “And did you learn how they all have eight arms? Like an octopus?” “Six,” said Alice, giving him an elbow. “It’s six, isn’t it Max?” “Yes,” said Max. “But Mr Chandra is wrong.
It doesn’t have anything to do with how water freezes. It’s the Starmakers. “Oh-ho!” said Forbes, wriggling with pleasure. “Who are the Starmakers?” “Don’t you know?” Max had been surprised at this, because Mr Chandra hadn’t known either. “If you look even closer at a snowflake, if you look much more closer than ever, you see tiny chisel marks on the snowflake. Tiny chisel marks made by tiny silver chisels.” “Is that so?” Forbes said, winking at Alice.“The chisels belong to the Starmakers,” Max explained “Snowflakes are stars that weren’t good enough. Each Starmaker makes thousands of stars a year, and they throw most of them away because of little mistakes.
But now and again, once every million years, one of the Starmakers looks up from his anvil. And all the other Starmakers look up as well and put down their chisels, because they know what’s happened—finally there’s a star perfect enough to go in the sky."
Certain parts would suck me completely in, while others seem to drag on a bit. Hence the picking up and putting down over the course of several days. I enjoyed the characters though. The World building was interesting. A bit of an old World feel, but with modern touches. Actually, it had a bit of an Alice In Wonderland feel to it.
Overall I enjoyed it.
April 9, 2017
Wow. Just wow. I cannot believe how much I ended up enjoying this book.
The first few chapters were incredibly vague, which caused quite a bit of confusion for me initially as the story just started without any form of explanation as to what was going on or what the premise of the story was.. but it gets easier to understand! Definitely stick with it!
Things DO get explained, and you do receive answers regarding all the questions you have from your initial confusion.
This book has so many twists and turns, honestly, it was so interesting to read, never a dull moment. I never knew what reveal would come next, and it made for an extremely exciting read from cover to cover. I am glad that I put aside any doubts and reservations I had about this book, I really would have hated missing out on such an amazing tale.
Speaking of the cover, it is beautiful. A gorgeous blue, the woods, the hot air balloon, the dragon... It encompasses every little detail of this story that makes up the incredible novel, and yet it is not an overly complicated illustration. It is simple, detailed, inclusive and beautiful.
The protagonist, Max, is perfect. He is exactly what this story needed. A brave, outgoing child who stems from a tragic background of abandonment and pain.
The best thing about Max is that he is a dreamer. While dreaming is discouraged throughout the story and he is forced to be a realist, Max continues to dream - and some of his dreams are real! Go figure - he is told to be a realist, but his dreams are what is real. Incredible.
Perhaps one of my favorite parts of this book is the message presented towards the end of the novel about technology. That technology is making life easy and convenient - people no longer have to struggle. But it is the struggles we face that build character and allows us to gain experience. The premise that science and technological advances are actually making life worse is an interesting stance compared to most opinions in society today - and while I love technology and reap the benefits, I found myself somewhat agreeing with McNeill's suggestion. He wrote it so well that I was persuaded, and I am able to see that technology is impacting society both positively and negatively - it has made me consider cutting back on my use of and reliance on technology.
This book is just amazing, an incredible piece of literature. I am very glad that I bought this and read it. Congratulations to Malcolm McNeill for an outstanding novel, and I look forward to reading more from him in the future.
The first few chapters were incredibly vague, which caused quite a bit of confusion for me initially as the story just started without any form of explanation as to what was going on or what the premise of the story was.. but it gets easier to understand! Definitely stick with it!
Things DO get explained, and you do receive answers regarding all the questions you have from your initial confusion.
This book has so many twists and turns, honestly, it was so interesting to read, never a dull moment. I never knew what reveal would come next, and it made for an extremely exciting read from cover to cover. I am glad that I put aside any doubts and reservations I had about this book, I really would have hated missing out on such an amazing tale.
Speaking of the cover, it is beautiful. A gorgeous blue, the woods, the hot air balloon, the dragon... It encompasses every little detail of this story that makes up the incredible novel, and yet it is not an overly complicated illustration. It is simple, detailed, inclusive and beautiful.
The protagonist, Max, is perfect. He is exactly what this story needed. A brave, outgoing child who stems from a tragic background of abandonment and pain.
The best thing about Max is that he is a dreamer. While dreaming is discouraged throughout the story and he is forced to be a realist, Max continues to dream - and some of his dreams are real! Go figure - he is told to be a realist, but his dreams are what is real. Incredible.
Perhaps one of my favorite parts of this book is the message presented towards the end of the novel about technology. That technology is making life easy and convenient - people no longer have to struggle. But it is the struggles we face that build character and allows us to gain experience. The premise that science and technological advances are actually making life worse is an interesting stance compared to most opinions in society today - and while I love technology and reap the benefits, I found myself somewhat agreeing with McNeill's suggestion. He wrote it so well that I was persuaded, and I am able to see that technology is impacting society both positively and negatively - it has made me consider cutting back on my use of and reliance on technology.
This book is just amazing, an incredible piece of literature. I am very glad that I bought this and read it. Congratulations to Malcolm McNeill for an outstanding novel, and I look forward to reading more from him in the future.
August 23, 2017
This book has it all. Many people might not be keen on the fantasy-realism genre and if that's the case it may not be for them: but they would be missing out. Sorely. McNeill's debut novel is incredibly accomplished in terms of plot, setting and characters with an ending so well-woven together at the end that I audibly let out a sigh with the final sentence.
Although probably aimed at a teen audience (it's quite challenging book in terms of language and concepts) I genuinely believe that highly accomplished UKS2 readers would just get it and fall in love. It is a story about the importance of stories and McNeill's ability to weave so many stories into the folds of the Beginning Woods is one that I can only applaud.
Although probably aimed at a teen audience (it's quite challenging book in terms of language and concepts) I genuinely believe that highly accomplished UKS2 readers would just get it and fall in love. It is a story about the importance of stories and McNeill's ability to weave so many stories into the folds of the Beginning Woods is one that I can only applaud.
September 7, 2016
"When you read, you discover who you really are. You find traces of yourself, little pieces you didn't know were there."
My rating: 3.5
If I could describe The Beginning Woods in one word, it would be: peculiar.
Max is a boy who no one wanted, a baby who appeared, when people all around the world started to disappear. One day, mysterious Vanishings started and soon thousands of people would disappear into thin air, leaving behind only a pile of clothes. The clues leading to solving the mystery point to Max, who is said to be the only one able to stop the Vanishings. In order to find the answers and his "real" parents, Max must enter The Beginning Woods, a completely different world full of fantastic creatures and dangers lurking at every corner.
As you pick up The Beginning Woods, you know right from the start that it will be an unusual book and that's what I loved about it. My favourite part of the whole story was a fantastic world building. The sheer amount of details and imagination that the author put into the creation of the book is amazing. The world is full of magic and the atmosphere in the story made me think a little of old fairy tales. I loved the concept of the importance of dreams, all the book love in there, the idea of Old and New Light. Everything felt unique, fresh and magical.
The focus here is equally divided into the story and the creation of the characters, which are all well written too. The main protagonist Max isn't always likeable, but he's always intriguing, which is well enough for me to read on with interest. I really liked the whole cast of the characters, they were creative, interesting and fun to read about. However, one thing that I wasn't very fond of was the way Max treated the Mulgans. I know that the book is a fantasy and it's targeted to young adults but I would be a little worried that some impressionable readers could pick up his sort of behaviour as "okay" or "normal". I was happy when later on what he did was addressed as bad, but in my opinion, it still wasn't okay.
The writing was good and I particularly enjoyed some of the word games and the humour in the story. However, one of the weakest parts of the book for me was its slow pace. I admire how detailed the created world was and that it's a stand alone novel, but sometimes it felt like too much was happenning at once, too much being thrown at the reader. Yet I wished that the big reveal at the end came a little sooner. On top of that, the pace of the story was slow too and I found myself putting the book down in order to read something else for a bit, and come back to it later. But personally I'm glad that I kept on reading through the slower moments, because it was a truly magical adventure story.
All in all, if you're looking for a fresh and imaginative fantasy story, full of interesting and fun characters, The Beginning Woods is a book for you!
I have kindly received a copy of this book from Pushkin Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The review also appeared on my blog.
My rating: 3.5
If I could describe The Beginning Woods in one word, it would be: peculiar.
Max is a boy who no one wanted, a baby who appeared, when people all around the world started to disappear. One day, mysterious Vanishings started and soon thousands of people would disappear into thin air, leaving behind only a pile of clothes. The clues leading to solving the mystery point to Max, who is said to be the only one able to stop the Vanishings. In order to find the answers and his "real" parents, Max must enter The Beginning Woods, a completely different world full of fantastic creatures and dangers lurking at every corner.
As you pick up The Beginning Woods, you know right from the start that it will be an unusual book and that's what I loved about it. My favourite part of the whole story was a fantastic world building. The sheer amount of details and imagination that the author put into the creation of the book is amazing. The world is full of magic and the atmosphere in the story made me think a little of old fairy tales. I loved the concept of the importance of dreams, all the book love in there, the idea of Old and New Light. Everything felt unique, fresh and magical.
The focus here is equally divided into the story and the creation of the characters, which are all well written too. The main protagonist Max isn't always likeable, but he's always intriguing, which is well enough for me to read on with interest. I really liked the whole cast of the characters, they were creative, interesting and fun to read about. However, one thing that I wasn't very fond of was the way Max treated the Mulgans. I know that the book is a fantasy and it's targeted to young adults but I would be a little worried that some impressionable readers could pick up his sort of behaviour as "okay" or "normal". I was happy when later on what he did was addressed as bad, but in my opinion, it still wasn't okay.
The writing was good and I particularly enjoyed some of the word games and the humour in the story. However, one of the weakest parts of the book for me was its slow pace. I admire how detailed the created world was and that it's a stand alone novel, but sometimes it felt like too much was happenning at once, too much being thrown at the reader. Yet I wished that the big reveal at the end came a little sooner. On top of that, the pace of the story was slow too and I found myself putting the book down in order to read something else for a bit, and come back to it later. But personally I'm glad that I kept on reading through the slower moments, because it was a truly magical adventure story.
All in all, if you're looking for a fresh and imaginative fantasy story, full of interesting and fun characters, The Beginning Woods is a book for you!
I have kindly received a copy of this book from Pushkin Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The review also appeared on my blog.
August 26, 2017
The Beginning Woods is never what you expect. It has one of the best openings I’ve ever read, and promises a snappy, tight, fantasy-mystery. A handful of carefully-drawn characters are introduced, each a delicate balance of tall-tale exaggeration and emotional sensitivity. A few flashbacks and odd stories start to creep into the narrative, and before you realise it, the whole book starts to broaden out into something entirely unexpected, and keeps on stretching. It’s thrilling, fascinating, disorientating, beautiful and unlike anything I’ve read before.
What I admire most is the freedom of the imagination in this story. Really, nothing has limits. It pushes the reality/fantasy genre quite hard, as it doesn’t give itself the usual set of rules to obey: I mean, you think the fantasy works like *this* and has *that* sort of character; and then you look back to find everything’s shifted, and you were in another sort of story after all. If this sounds exciting, it is; but it also challenges the reader to shape themselves to the story, instead of the other way round.
Some reviews suggest that people have found this hard, so I would say this: You are about to read a 500-page fantasy book that doesn’t stick to the normal rules. If you wake up half-way through thinking “Where am I? How did I get here? Where on earth am I going?” then just go back and keep reading. This book’s a bit different from most, and if you trust it and let it carry you along like a big river, through its rapids and eddies - you will be deeply rewarded by the end.
What I admire most is the freedom of the imagination in this story. Really, nothing has limits. It pushes the reality/fantasy genre quite hard, as it doesn’t give itself the usual set of rules to obey: I mean, you think the fantasy works like *this* and has *that* sort of character; and then you look back to find everything’s shifted, and you were in another sort of story after all. If this sounds exciting, it is; but it also challenges the reader to shape themselves to the story, instead of the other way round.
Some reviews suggest that people have found this hard, so I would say this: You are about to read a 500-page fantasy book that doesn’t stick to the normal rules. If you wake up half-way through thinking “Where am I? How did I get here? Where on earth am I going?” then just go back and keep reading. This book’s a bit different from most, and if you trust it and let it carry you along like a big river, through its rapids and eddies - you will be deeply rewarded by the end.
October 27, 2016
4.5 stars.
This story was unique and beautiful. It had a wonderful, fairytale like quality to it and the writing style (for me) was simply marvelous.
However, I found that the middle of the story (when Max first entered the beginning woods) lost its spark for a while and at times I was a tad confused at what was going on. Despite this, the beginning woods has definitely earned it's place in my favourites pile.
This story was unique and beautiful. It had a wonderful, fairytale like quality to it and the writing style (for me) was simply marvelous.
However, I found that the middle of the story (when Max first entered the beginning woods) lost its spark for a while and at times I was a tad confused at what was going on. Despite this, the beginning woods has definitely earned it's place in my favourites pile.
July 27, 2016
(I received a copy from Netgalley, In exchange for an honest review.)
This just wasn't for me.
I felt bored a few pages in, and it just got worse unfortunately. There were quite a few times where it confused me too, so the whole thing dragged really badly. It felt like it would never end at times.
Overall, Not an enjoyable read at all.
This just wasn't for me.
I felt bored a few pages in, and it just got worse unfortunately. There were quite a few times where it confused me too, so the whole thing dragged really badly. It felt like it would never end at times.
Overall, Not an enjoyable read at all.
October 27, 2017
This book is definitely for patient readers, I believe that I am quite lenient when it comes to waiting for the story to start and reviewing a book but it was so painful trying to read this. From the first page I was put off from this book, the writing style in general did not interest me and i got a solid 5 chapters in until i began to notice i was skipping whole paragraphs and not processing them when i was reading. I eventually just ended up skipping parts if they were boring me, personally, it wasn't for me unfortunately.
May 27, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review to come!!
Review to come!!
April 29, 2021
Abstrus, merkwürdig, seltsam und verrückt - irgendwie total verquer! Aber auch unheimlich fantastisch! Das sind die Schlagwörter meiner Hirnwindungen beim Lesen dieses Buches. Und: Wie „fantastisch“ darf ein Fantasybuch sein bevor es „too much“ wird? Muss es nicht eigentlich genau das sein?
Naja. Zumindest für mich war es hier
stellenweise etwas ZU viel und ZU verquer.
Wir finden hier viele kleine Geschichten in dieser einen großen verpackt - das ist toll weil nicht einseitig, aber auch hier fast schon zu viel. Der rote Faden ging für mich zwischenzeitlich immer wieder verloren und störte den Lesefluss. Leider!
Auch die Charaktere fand ich leider nicht so gelungen - ich konnte mich null mit ihnen identifizieren oder mitfühlen und fand sie teilweise sogar eher nervig.
Inhaltlich und sprachlich wandelt man zwischen zeitweise philosophisch anmutend und komplex - dann wieder sehr einfach und kindlich!
Auf der einen Seite konnte es mich nicht zu 100% packen, auf der anderen Seite wollte ich es aber auch nicht weglegen - also auf eine verrückte Art und Weise hatte es mich dann doch irgendwie.
Insgesamt hat mich das Buch jetzt nicht vom Hocker gerissen, aber nett zu lesen war es dennoch
Es ist ein Buch voller Zwiespalte - und genau so lässt es mich auch zurück!
Wer den Titel liest denkt sofort: ooooh das klingt nach einem Buch für Buchliebende - also perfekt für uns oder? Naja, darüber bilde sich ja bitte jeder seine eigene Meinung - aber auch wenn es nicht so war wie ich mir vorgestellt hatte, eines muss ich zugeben auch wenn ich mir das Buch ganz anders vorgestellt hatte: Wundervolle Zitate zum Lesen und über Bücher findet man durch aus mehrere in diesem Buch!
𝗙𝗔𝗭𝗜𝗧 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 𝟯/𝟱
Eine durch und durch vor Fantasie strotzende aber auch zwiespältige Geschichte, zu der sich lieber Jeder selbst eine Meinung machen sollte. Aber definitiv nett zu lesen.
Naja. Zumindest für mich war es hier
stellenweise etwas ZU viel und ZU verquer.
Wir finden hier viele kleine Geschichten in dieser einen großen verpackt - das ist toll weil nicht einseitig, aber auch hier fast schon zu viel. Der rote Faden ging für mich zwischenzeitlich immer wieder verloren und störte den Lesefluss. Leider!
Auch die Charaktere fand ich leider nicht so gelungen - ich konnte mich null mit ihnen identifizieren oder mitfühlen und fand sie teilweise sogar eher nervig.
Inhaltlich und sprachlich wandelt man zwischen zeitweise philosophisch anmutend und komplex - dann wieder sehr einfach und kindlich!
Auf der einen Seite konnte es mich nicht zu 100% packen, auf der anderen Seite wollte ich es aber auch nicht weglegen - also auf eine verrückte Art und Weise hatte es mich dann doch irgendwie.
Insgesamt hat mich das Buch jetzt nicht vom Hocker gerissen, aber nett zu lesen war es dennoch
Es ist ein Buch voller Zwiespalte - und genau so lässt es mich auch zurück!
Wer den Titel liest denkt sofort: ooooh das klingt nach einem Buch für Buchliebende - also perfekt für uns oder? Naja, darüber bilde sich ja bitte jeder seine eigene Meinung - aber auch wenn es nicht so war wie ich mir vorgestellt hatte, eines muss ich zugeben auch wenn ich mir das Buch ganz anders vorgestellt hatte: Wundervolle Zitate zum Lesen und über Bücher findet man durch aus mehrere in diesem Buch!
𝗙𝗔𝗭𝗜𝗧 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ 𝟯/𝟱
Eine durch und durch vor Fantasie strotzende aber auch zwiespältige Geschichte, zu der sich lieber Jeder selbst eine Meinung machen sollte. Aber definitiv nett zu lesen.
February 6, 2017
This fantasy story has some good ideas, but suffers from a chaotic and confused plot, and an array of cardboard characters. As a fan of fantasy, I like the portrayal of the World and the Woods, how to cross over, and the idea of Old and New Light, but otherwise the author seems to have tried to shoe-horn in every single idea he could from fairy story and folk tale. In an already over-long book, too much is never explained or resolved.
I struggled to warm to Max as a character, as he only cares about his mythical Forever Parents (whom he never finds). He is halfheartedly trying to stop the Vanishings, but no one he (or we) cares about ever Vanishes. We don't hear what happens to the main villains in the end. The obligatory female side-kick character (Martha) starts off well, but lapses to become no more than an occasional voice in Max's head.
There is a flawed understanding of science, in that breakthroughs don't come only through fact, logic and argument, but often through precisely the inspiration, imagination and dreaming that the scientists in the story are trying to suppress.
I feel the publishing editors should have worked harder to help a clearly imaginative author to produce a more coherent story. A disappointing book that I had to wade through to the last page.
I struggled to warm to Max as a character, as he only cares about his mythical Forever Parents (whom he never finds). He is halfheartedly trying to stop the Vanishings, but no one he (or we) cares about ever Vanishes. We don't hear what happens to the main villains in the end. The obligatory female side-kick character (Martha) starts off well, but lapses to become no more than an occasional voice in Max's head.
There is a flawed understanding of science, in that breakthroughs don't come only through fact, logic and argument, but often through precisely the inspiration, imagination and dreaming that the scientists in the story are trying to suppress.
I feel the publishing editors should have worked harder to help a clearly imaginative author to produce a more coherent story. A disappointing book that I had to wade through to the last page.
August 20, 2016
A solid book. Was sent for review and ate through in a few days. Fairytales meet fantasy conspiracy and Alice in Wonderland
April 3, 2018
McNeill, Malcolm The Beginning Woods, 522 pages. Sky Pony Press, 2018. $18. Language: PG (2 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG.
As a baby, Max Mulgan was abandoned in a bookshop and then left on the steps of an orphanage without any sign of where he had come from. Because of his scary sharp teeth and other peculiar features, he wasn’t adopted until the day he was about to be shipped away to another orphanage. Even though the Mulgans, his adoptive parents, are loving parents, Max is obsessed with finding his birth parents, what he calls his “forever parents.” He also becomes entangled in the search to discover what has been causing the “vanishings,” in which thousands of people disappear into thin air every day. A scientist named Boris and an odd old woman named Mrs. Jeffers, who turns out to be a wizard, believe that Max is at the heart of what started the vanishings and that he is the key to stopping them. When the Mulgans vanish, Max leaves on an adventure to uncover the mysteries surrounding his life. He enters into a parallel world called the Woods and discovers a place where the creatures he’s read about in fairy tales are real. With the help of friends and mentors along the way, Max learns some dark truths about his own life and solves the vanishings in the process.
This book got off to a bit of a slow start and there were a few spots in which I felt like I had missed a subtle clue earlier in the reading, which made me feel confused at times. It felt like the explanations came just a little later than I’m used to as a reader. In spite of those small problems, I found myself captivated by the mystery and the characters. The book had a Grimm’s fairy-tale feel to it with its magic and sinister villains. The world-building in the book was creative and consistent. Max was sometimes difficult to relate to, but he realistically struggled with some of his choices. He was so completely focused on finding his “forever parents” that he sometimes forgot the bigger picture of his role in saving the world from the vanishings. Likewise, he was courageous sometimes and then swayed by peer pressure and discouragement at others. He wasn’t a perfect hero, but his choices realistically reflected his age and maturity. He needed a lot of help and made mistakes along the way, but he grows and learns in a redeeming way. With its adventure, first-crush romance, and questions about belonging and the consequences of technological advances, there is something for everyone in this book.
HS – ADVISABLE. MS – OPTIONAL. Reviewer: MQ.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
As a baby, Max Mulgan was abandoned in a bookshop and then left on the steps of an orphanage without any sign of where he had come from. Because of his scary sharp teeth and other peculiar features, he wasn’t adopted until the day he was about to be shipped away to another orphanage. Even though the Mulgans, his adoptive parents, are loving parents, Max is obsessed with finding his birth parents, what he calls his “forever parents.” He also becomes entangled in the search to discover what has been causing the “vanishings,” in which thousands of people disappear into thin air every day. A scientist named Boris and an odd old woman named Mrs. Jeffers, who turns out to be a wizard, believe that Max is at the heart of what started the vanishings and that he is the key to stopping them. When the Mulgans vanish, Max leaves on an adventure to uncover the mysteries surrounding his life. He enters into a parallel world called the Woods and discovers a place where the creatures he’s read about in fairy tales are real. With the help of friends and mentors along the way, Max learns some dark truths about his own life and solves the vanishings in the process.
This book got off to a bit of a slow start and there were a few spots in which I felt like I had missed a subtle clue earlier in the reading, which made me feel confused at times. It felt like the explanations came just a little later than I’m used to as a reader. In spite of those small problems, I found myself captivated by the mystery and the characters. The book had a Grimm’s fairy-tale feel to it with its magic and sinister villains. The world-building in the book was creative and consistent. Max was sometimes difficult to relate to, but he realistically struggled with some of his choices. He was so completely focused on finding his “forever parents” that he sometimes forgot the bigger picture of his role in saving the world from the vanishings. Likewise, he was courageous sometimes and then swayed by peer pressure and discouragement at others. He wasn’t a perfect hero, but his choices realistically reflected his age and maturity. He needed a lot of help and made mistakes along the way, but he grows and learns in a redeeming way. With its adventure, first-crush romance, and questions about belonging and the consequences of technological advances, there is something for everyone in this book.
HS – ADVISABLE. MS – OPTIONAL. Reviewer: MQ.
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
September 2, 2017
Wow. What a journey!
The weaving of stories is wonderful, mixing the two worlds only to realise they cannot co-exist because of opposing ideologies.
The part that resonated with me was Boris' story at the end, about scientific and technological innovations making us lazy and not living our lives fully. It made me ponder on my childhood in the 70s and childhood nowadays. I preferred mine...a mix of being outdoors when I could and reading stories when I couldn't.
I cannot imagine a world without stories.
The weaving of stories is wonderful, mixing the two worlds only to realise they cannot co-exist because of opposing ideologies.
The part that resonated with me was Boris' story at the end, about scientific and technological innovations making us lazy and not living our lives fully. It made me ponder on my childhood in the 70s and childhood nowadays. I preferred mine...a mix of being outdoors when I could and reading stories when I couldn't.
I cannot imagine a world without stories.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 22, 2017
I love fairy tales and I love books about fairy tales. There is something about that whole mysterious world full of dark woods, dragons, princesses, talking frogs, wolves and witches that can fascinate me both as a child and an adult. So when I stumbled across a book that promised to delve into fairy tales in a very new and different way, I knew I had to pick it up and devour it. I'm talking, of course, about The Beginning Woods. It feels like a well-worn and trusted classic and yet is beautifully modern and complicated as well, which is a stunning combination. Thanks to Pushkin Press and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Clocking in at almost 450 pages, The Beginning Woods is a chunk of a book, which likes to take its time. Some reviews of this novel have taken an issue with its "slow pace", while also complaining about being confused by the plot. These two criticisms surprise me because they feel antithetical to me. The Beginning Woods takes its time, at the beginning, setting up various different plot lines for the reader to become adjusted to before the major story takes off. Rather than jumping from dramatic scene to dramatic scene, McNeill actually lingers on his characters, allowing his readers to sink into them and their minds. This especially counts for Max, the young protagonist of the novel. We get to know Max slowly but surely in the first 100 pages or so, and this kind of pace can be, I guess, off-putting to some who prefer to be dropped straight into the action. But for a novel like The Beginning Woods, which has so much to give for those readers who pay close attention, this kind of pace is a boon because it allows the reader to relax into the prose, be inspired and transported by it. Although it is difficult to maintain this kind of magic over 400+ pages, but for most of The Beginning Woods McNeill manages to bewitch.
At the heart of The Beginning Woods lies the importance and power of words and dreams. The Vanishings that plague the world, the Beginning Woods, Max's quest for his parents, the beautiful fairy tale-esque stories intertwined with the main plot lines; all this comes together to impress upon the reader how important it is to dream. Max comes into the world alone and is haunted by the desire to find his real parents. As the world becomes more and more paranoid about the Vanishings, Max is drawn to the Beginning Woods which seems to hold more questions and only few answers. Max is supported by a very interesting mix of characters, both magical and normal. Through these side-characters McNeill is able to pose some of life's most difficult questions and formulate some potential answers for the reader to figure out. Choosing a teenage boy as a protagonist comes with the same kind of dangers as picking a teenage girl, there is a lot of internal angst to potentially deal with. At times Max's worries and actions can be a bit annoying, but this is also natural for such a long and complex novel.
McNeill's writing throughout the novel is stunning, which made it very hard for me to believe this is his first book. As the plot moves along, there are some absolutely stunning moments and images which are incredibly inspired. I often find myself disappointed in Fantasy authors who copy without adding any new life to the old material. In The Beginning Woods there are witches, dragons, giants and ghosts, but the reader meets them in a completely new guise. It is incredibly refreshing to read a Fantasy novel that isn't lazy, that goes beyond and tries to create truly new and different ideas for the genre. Although this kind of experimentation can also go wrong every once in a while, overall I think that The Beginning Woods is a tour-de-force of fantastical experimentation. The Beginning Woods also isn't afraid to go dark and deep, whether it is in reaimagining fairy tale staples or having Max confront his most inner dark secrets. It's the kind of Fantasy novel you feel would inspire children, to read and to dream, and that is one of the best things any book could ever do.
I really loved The Beginning Woods! Although there are lesser moments in the novel, overall it is a fascinating Fantasy novel that celebrates dreaming and imagining, reading and loving. I will most definitely be rereading this novel and trying to find a hardback to add to my Fantasy/Fairy Tale shelf. I'd recommend this to fans of both Fantasy and Young Adult.
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.tw/20...
Clocking in at almost 450 pages, The Beginning Woods is a chunk of a book, which likes to take its time. Some reviews of this novel have taken an issue with its "slow pace", while also complaining about being confused by the plot. These two criticisms surprise me because they feel antithetical to me. The Beginning Woods takes its time, at the beginning, setting up various different plot lines for the reader to become adjusted to before the major story takes off. Rather than jumping from dramatic scene to dramatic scene, McNeill actually lingers on his characters, allowing his readers to sink into them and their minds. This especially counts for Max, the young protagonist of the novel. We get to know Max slowly but surely in the first 100 pages or so, and this kind of pace can be, I guess, off-putting to some who prefer to be dropped straight into the action. But for a novel like The Beginning Woods, which has so much to give for those readers who pay close attention, this kind of pace is a boon because it allows the reader to relax into the prose, be inspired and transported by it. Although it is difficult to maintain this kind of magic over 400+ pages, but for most of The Beginning Woods McNeill manages to bewitch.
At the heart of The Beginning Woods lies the importance and power of words and dreams. The Vanishings that plague the world, the Beginning Woods, Max's quest for his parents, the beautiful fairy tale-esque stories intertwined with the main plot lines; all this comes together to impress upon the reader how important it is to dream. Max comes into the world alone and is haunted by the desire to find his real parents. As the world becomes more and more paranoid about the Vanishings, Max is drawn to the Beginning Woods which seems to hold more questions and only few answers. Max is supported by a very interesting mix of characters, both magical and normal. Through these side-characters McNeill is able to pose some of life's most difficult questions and formulate some potential answers for the reader to figure out. Choosing a teenage boy as a protagonist comes with the same kind of dangers as picking a teenage girl, there is a lot of internal angst to potentially deal with. At times Max's worries and actions can be a bit annoying, but this is also natural for such a long and complex novel.
McNeill's writing throughout the novel is stunning, which made it very hard for me to believe this is his first book. As the plot moves along, there are some absolutely stunning moments and images which are incredibly inspired. I often find myself disappointed in Fantasy authors who copy without adding any new life to the old material. In The Beginning Woods there are witches, dragons, giants and ghosts, but the reader meets them in a completely new guise. It is incredibly refreshing to read a Fantasy novel that isn't lazy, that goes beyond and tries to create truly new and different ideas for the genre. Although this kind of experimentation can also go wrong every once in a while, overall I think that The Beginning Woods is a tour-de-force of fantastical experimentation. The Beginning Woods also isn't afraid to go dark and deep, whether it is in reaimagining fairy tale staples or having Max confront his most inner dark secrets. It's the kind of Fantasy novel you feel would inspire children, to read and to dream, and that is one of the best things any book could ever do.
I really loved The Beginning Woods! Although there are lesser moments in the novel, overall it is a fascinating Fantasy novel that celebrates dreaming and imagining, reading and loving. I will most definitely be rereading this novel and trying to find a hardback to add to my Fantasy/Fairy Tale shelf. I'd recommend this to fans of both Fantasy and Young Adult.
For full review: http://universeinwords.blogspot.tw/20...
July 19, 2021
This was an amazing read. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy.
December 7, 2025
This is a very challenging book to read to a 3-4 year old, but we both enjoyed the story. It was a good spooky season read. I’m not sure what the intended age group is, but there were definitely multiple deeper themes I was not expecting. My only issue is that for a kids book, the girl pressured the boy to strip so he could go wild in the woods, and only kissed him once he was stripped. Wouldn’t care if it were an adult book, but I thought it was a weird scene for kids.
August 30, 2021
This is a hard review to write because much like the book, my head is unable to understand what is happening and is all over the place.
In saying that, although this book was slow and horribly disorganised at times, I can appreciate the creativity and orginnality of this author. This story was unlike any other fantasy book I have read and I really enjoyed not having a clue to where the story was going.
I did enjoy reading this book but it felt chaotic and messy with the plot twist at the end not feeling like so much of a twist and more of 'ah okay then i guess' sort of feeling
In saying that, although this book was slow and horribly disorganised at times, I can appreciate the creativity and orginnality of this author. This story was unlike any other fantasy book I have read and I really enjoyed not having a clue to where the story was going.
I did enjoy reading this book but it felt chaotic and messy with the plot twist at the end not feeling like so much of a twist and more of 'ah okay then i guess' sort of feeling
November 18, 2016
The Beginning Woods is Malcolm McNeill's debut novel, a peculiar story that is full of magic and wonder. The Vanishings are a mystery that no one can solve -- people disappearing into thin air without any trace left behind aside from piles of clothing. Max was the baby no one wanted, abandoned in a bookshop. As Max grows up, he is haunted by memories of his real 'forever' parents, and sets out to find them no matter what it takes. What is to come when Max believes there is a connection to finding his parents and putting an end to The Vanishings? Meanwhile, the number of people disappearing is increasing rapidly, and scientists have yet to discover the cause of what is going on, let alone how to fix it.
While it is marketed towards children, I would find YA more suitable because it is a chunky book with 448 pages, and I think that would be too long for some young readers on top of that it is a fairly dark story with fantasy elements. I think that adults would enjoy The Beginning Woods, too, and be able to appreciate the philosophical aspect that is throughout the story. It does at times become complex and can be a bit confusing, and while there are also parts that seemed to drag on, I did often pick it up to read a couple chapters then set it down again--I feel like it was a bit too long, and wouldn't be such a heavy read at times if it were cut down in length. This is a dark fairy-tale with such rich world-building; unexpected characters like witches, dragons, fairies, 'cold' people that we know as ghosts; and endless adventure. Anyone who picks this up will find their imagination is as vivid and weird as this story was crafted. My thoughts on this are still settling, but I do know that while at times I took breaks in-between reading, it was a wonderful, whimsical read, and this is one of the few books I will be rereading in the future.
I received a copy in exchange for an unbiased review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
While it is marketed towards children, I would find YA more suitable because it is a chunky book with 448 pages, and I think that would be too long for some young readers on top of that it is a fairly dark story with fantasy elements. I think that adults would enjoy The Beginning Woods, too, and be able to appreciate the philosophical aspect that is throughout the story. It does at times become complex and can be a bit confusing, and while there are also parts that seemed to drag on, I did often pick it up to read a couple chapters then set it down again--I feel like it was a bit too long, and wouldn't be such a heavy read at times if it were cut down in length. This is a dark fairy-tale with such rich world-building; unexpected characters like witches, dragons, fairies, 'cold' people that we know as ghosts; and endless adventure. Anyone who picks this up will find their imagination is as vivid and weird as this story was crafted. My thoughts on this are still settling, but I do know that while at times I took breaks in-between reading, it was a wonderful, whimsical read, and this is one of the few books I will be rereading in the future.
I received a copy in exchange for an unbiased review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
September 8, 2018
Wow. If this book does not become a classic, there is no justice in the world. I bought "The Beginning Woods" a while ago, and it has patiently been sitting on my shelf, waiting for me to begin it. I had deliberately stayed away from reviews of it, not wanting to build up any assumptions or potentially accidentally stumble across a spoiler. What I had garnered before I started it was that it was 'weird' but in a good way.
The basic plot follows a phenomenon which has been called The Vanishings; people all across the world have been vanishing, suddenly and without warning. All that is left behind is a pile of their clothes, where they last were. Scientists have gathered, trying to find out the mystery to this, but also to try and find a solution. Amongst all of this, is the sudden appearance of a child (albeit a strange one), who suddenly appears on the shelf within a bookshop. Could this child somehow be a link to The Vanishings?
I loved this book. I cannot say more about the plot; it is far more complex, intricate, intelligent than I would be able to convey. As we learn more about this strange child, and the Vanishings themselves, we are taken on a journey which mixes magic realism, fairy/ folk-lore, monsters and all sorts of strange characters. At the heart of the tale is a very relevant philosophical, modern problem:
"We vanish because we do not live. We simply consume, and operate, and press buttons, and turn dials." (p.429)
Although this book was in the children's section, I think it is one of the most accomplished, well written pieces that I have had the pleasure of reading for a long time. Adults should find a lot to enjoy here; this has a message that readers of all ages will be able to relate to, and maybe even ponder on well after finishing the last page.
I loved it; I would highly recommend it to others.
The basic plot follows a phenomenon which has been called The Vanishings; people all across the world have been vanishing, suddenly and without warning. All that is left behind is a pile of their clothes, where they last were. Scientists have gathered, trying to find out the mystery to this, but also to try and find a solution. Amongst all of this, is the sudden appearance of a child (albeit a strange one), who suddenly appears on the shelf within a bookshop. Could this child somehow be a link to The Vanishings?
I loved this book. I cannot say more about the plot; it is far more complex, intricate, intelligent than I would be able to convey. As we learn more about this strange child, and the Vanishings themselves, we are taken on a journey which mixes magic realism, fairy/ folk-lore, monsters and all sorts of strange characters. At the heart of the tale is a very relevant philosophical, modern problem:
"We vanish because we do not live. We simply consume, and operate, and press buttons, and turn dials." (p.429)
Although this book was in the children's section, I think it is one of the most accomplished, well written pieces that I have had the pleasure of reading for a long time. Adults should find a lot to enjoy here; this has a message that readers of all ages will be able to relate to, and maybe even ponder on well after finishing the last page.
I loved it; I would highly recommend it to others.
April 27, 2019
This story was one written for lovers of stories, I could tell that much. For people that treasure the sense of freedom and adventure that words give you, and immerse themselves in the realm of imagination that just a simple sentence can invoke. If you're one of those people, this book is for you!
I loved how the raw and the poetic blended together in the descriptions, switching from a boggy clump caught in a stagnant river to the 'old light' of the world reflecting in the reflection on the river or the twinkle in the eye. It's beautiful, and tells the story as it should be told, with settings that evolve to fit the plot.
My only criticism was how the plot was almost entirely driven by the main character (which I suppose could make a refreshing change from the usual). Although it was nice for him to have his freedom to make decisions and roam free, it did suck a lot of the tension out of the book, as I wasn't often quite sure what his current goals were, exactly.
I would set it down for even just an evening, and then find the grip that the story had on me quickly fading as I began to realise that I had no idea at all in what direction this book was heading. And although that did allow for major twists and surprises, it did leave me feeling like I was being yanked around by the plot on leash, not quite knowing where we were walking to.
Other than that, the main merits of this novel were:
* A fluid, poetic and breathtaking prose
* Experimental plays on text formatting and writing that immerse you in the feeling of the moment
* A realistic and likable main character, certainly not your typical 'hero' type
* An original (albeit somewhat complex) concept, with a meaning behind it that resonated
* An ending that actually leaves you satisfied
Overall, a gorgeous book that will remain in my heart for some time, I imagine.
I loved how the raw and the poetic blended together in the descriptions, switching from a boggy clump caught in a stagnant river to the 'old light' of the world reflecting in the reflection on the river or the twinkle in the eye. It's beautiful, and tells the story as it should be told, with settings that evolve to fit the plot.
My only criticism was how the plot was almost entirely driven by the main character (which I suppose could make a refreshing change from the usual). Although it was nice for him to have his freedom to make decisions and roam free, it did suck a lot of the tension out of the book, as I wasn't often quite sure what his current goals were, exactly.
I would set it down for even just an evening, and then find the grip that the story had on me quickly fading as I began to realise that I had no idea at all in what direction this book was heading. And although that did allow for major twists and surprises, it did leave me feeling like I was being yanked around by the plot on leash, not quite knowing where we were walking to.
Other than that, the main merits of this novel were:
* A fluid, poetic and breathtaking prose
* Experimental plays on text formatting and writing that immerse you in the feeling of the moment
* A realistic and likable main character, certainly not your typical 'hero' type
* An original (albeit somewhat complex) concept, with a meaning behind it that resonated
* An ending that actually leaves you satisfied
Overall, a gorgeous book that will remain in my heart for some time, I imagine.
September 1, 2016
**YOU CAN READ THE FULL REVIEW HERE**
Thank you Pushkin Press for sending me an advance copy through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
“The Beginning Woods is bigger than the best of dreamers could ever imagine,
darker than they could ever fear,
full of more wonders than they could ever desire.”
This book got my interest because they were people who disappeared leaving just their clothes behind and it was so similar to ‘The leftovers’, I mean I haven’t read the book but I’m a huge tvshow fan.. It’s so peculiar. I’ve found out already in the first chapters that this was a story completely different from what I’ve expected. The storyline focused on Max, a baby different from any other infant who suddenly pops up from nowhere; after Max gets adopted people stars to disappear.. logically, it seems that he has something to do with it.
Thank you Pushkin Press for sending me an advance copy through netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
“The Beginning Woods is bigger than the best of dreamers could ever imagine,
darker than they could ever fear,
full of more wonders than they could ever desire.”
This book got my interest because they were people who disappeared leaving just their clothes behind and it was so similar to ‘The leftovers’, I mean I haven’t read the book but I’m a huge tvshow fan.. It’s so peculiar. I’ve found out already in the first chapters that this was a story completely different from what I’ve expected. The storyline focused on Max, a baby different from any other infant who suddenly pops up from nowhere; after Max gets adopted people stars to disappear.. logically, it seems that he has something to do with it.
October 1, 2016
This is one of those books that had some things that irritated me - the capitalisation for dialogue and seemingly unconnected events - but the overall feeling was of a story that captivated me.
We are told that people are vanishing. Nobody can explain it, and we don't really understand why,but it seems to be connected to a young orphan.
Max, as he comes to be known, has an otherworldly quality to him. This could explain his acceptance of very unusual events.
What I loved about this story was the descriptive quality to the writing. It had a real sense of a fairy tale, while there were elements that puzzled me and I'm really not sure about. Not a straightforward read, but it was one that will stick with me for a while.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
We are told that people are vanishing. Nobody can explain it, and we don't really understand why,but it seems to be connected to a young orphan.
Max, as he comes to be known, has an otherworldly quality to him. This could explain his acceptance of very unusual events.
What I loved about this story was the descriptive quality to the writing. It had a real sense of a fairy tale, while there were elements that puzzled me and I'm really not sure about. Not a straightforward read, but it was one that will stick with me for a while.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 1, 2017
DNF at 42%
I really hate DNF-ing books, especially for books I'm requesting myself. The premise for this book sounds really interesting, and in reality it is. But the pacing is really slow, I'm not even sure crawling would be the right word. The writing is really intricate, and yet also dry and I can't connect neither to the story nor the characters. It's just not a book for me.
I'm still curious about the ending though so if you're already read this book feel free to spoil me!
I really hate DNF-ing books, especially for books I'm requesting myself. The premise for this book sounds really interesting, and in reality it is. But the pacing is really slow, I'm not even sure crawling would be the right word. The writing is really intricate, and yet also dry and I can't connect neither to the story nor the characters. It's just not a book for me.
I'm still curious about the ending though so if you're already read this book feel free to spoil me!
July 31, 2018
This book was magical and I enjoyed every page.
The atmosphere this book created was super immersive and I felt like I was transported to another world (kind of like Max).
I really enjoyed the writing style, dazzlingly descriptive and provocative.
The characters were good, some were difficult to follow but overall they progressed well throughout the book.
I really, really liked this book.
The atmosphere this book created was super immersive and I felt like I was transported to another world (kind of like Max).
I really enjoyed the writing style, dazzlingly descriptive and provocative.
The characters were good, some were difficult to follow but overall they progressed well throughout the book.
I really, really liked this book.
did-not-finish
December 7, 2017Sadly, this isn't working for me. I'm 140 pages in and I find the narrative style atrocious.
November 25, 2023
Ich möchte kurz 2 Dinge festhalten: 1. Diese Rezension wiederspiegelt sehr stark meine persönlichen Präferenzen, 2. ich hatte ursprünglich vor sie morgen zu schreiben, aber jetzt sind wir hier, es ist sehr spät und ich bin potentiell nicht sonderlich kohärent.
Wie dem auch sei: Dieses Buch hat mich ein wenig enttäuscht. Ich bin per Zufall in der Bibliothek darüber gestolpert und habe mir ein paar Rezensionen dazu angeschaut, wobei mir im Kopf geblieben ist, dass es sich sehr stark um einen Wald dreht und die Handlung sich ziemlich langsam bewegt. In meiner Welt ist das die perfekte Kombination für ein Buch. Leider hat sich diese Vorhersage nicht so bewahrheitet, wie ich das gerne gesehen hätte. Ich kann zwar objektiv erkennen, dass sich die Handlung ziemlich langsam bewegt, aber es hat sich nie so angefühlt, weil viel mehr oberflächliche Geschichten um die Handlung rum erzählt wurden, statt dass die Handlung richtig ausgekundschaftet wurde. Andererseits, wird zwar oft über «den Wald» gesprochen, aber ich könnte jetzt auch einen Paragraphen Schreiben der nur aus dem Wort «Honigkuchen» 1000x besteht und deshalb habe ich keinen Paragraphen über Honigkuchen geschrieben.
(kurze Warnung - ich werde im nächsten Paragraphen über die Handlung am Ende des Buches sprechen. Ich tue dies in sehr groben und unpassenden Worten, weshalb man absolut nichts konkretes über die Handlung erfahren kann, aber falls das für dich unangenehm ist, hier nur soviel: es fehlt der Handlung an Tiefe.)
Die beiden Probleme haben sich einstweilen in Tandem gerührt, wenn zum Beispiel gesagt wird, dass Max «ein paar Tage Zeit hat um den Wald zu erkunden» und dann ist nach einem Tages(-und-nachts-)ausflug schon wieder alles vorbei. Das bedeutet, dass es der ganzen Handlung sehr stark an Tiefe fehlt. So sehr, dass ich zwar von Anfang an bis auf einen alle Offenbarungen des Endes schon erahnt habe, aber dann immer mal wieder dachte «aber dafür hätte doch hier so viel mehr Dinge erklärt werden müssen, oder?». Es wurde mehr oder weniger genug über ein Thema geredet, dass man sofort wusste, wie es sich auf das Ende des Buches auswirken würde, aber nicht genug, dass dies eine zufriedenstellende Entwicklung abgeben würde. Max, zum Beispiel, muss eine wichtige persönliche Lektion lernen und daran wachsen – wie so viele Protagonisten auch, weshalb das nicht so sehr ein «das Ende erahnen» und mehr eine generelle Erwartung ist – aber es dauert 400 Seiten, bis er selbst ein Verständnis dafür hat, inwiefern er sich vielleicht verbessern könnte. Tatsächlich passieren tut das dann auf den letzten 15 Seiten. Es hatte 530 Seiten, um einen anständigen Bogen mit seinem Charakter herzustellen und dann passiert so etwas? Innerhalb von 15 Seiten wird er plötzlich ein viel besserer Mensch? Ich weiss nicht… Und das besonders, weil er im Zuge dieses letzten Aktes direkt wieder die «schlechte Angewohnheit» demonstriert, die er ja eigentlich ändern wollte.
Ein anderes grosses Problem, das ich hatte, ist die «Nachricht» des Buches. Ich verstehe, dass McNeill mit viel Grauzonen die Idee von Geschichten diskutieren wollte, aber es wurde teilweise doch sehr unangenehm. Die Angewohnheit wie ein Priester über gewisse Themen zu reden, die absolut keine andere Interpretation zulassen, ist ja schon doof genug (und ganz besonders in einem Kinderbuch), aber dann in genau dem Ton z.B. ausschweifend darüber zu sprechen inwiefern Wissenschaft uns Menschen fundamental schadet ist mindestens fragwürdig. Und hat ausserdem nicht einmal mehr zur Handlung beigetragen oder war von sonstiger Konsequenz.
Jetzt war ich aber doch sehr negativ also möchte ich auch ein paar gute Dinge sagen: Die Idee an sich war spannend! Genau so das hin-und-her zwischen «der realen Welt» und «der Geschichtenwelt» und inwiefern das eine potentiell realer sein könnte als das andere hat viel potential zu anregenden Gedanken. Viele der Erwachsenen waren ausserordentlich spannende Charaktere, von denen ich gerne mehr gehört hätte. Ich mag die Idee mit den Drachen und den Drachenjägern. Das Buch war seehr einfach zu lesen, ich bin förmlich durchgeflogen, wenn ich Zeit hatte zum lesen.
Alles in allem, ein ok Buch. Potentiell werde ich aus den (jetzt noch) 3 Sternen auch 2.5 machen, je nachdem wie sich meine Meinung in nächster Zeit ändert. "Ok" ist normalerweise eher 2.5-Sterne-Territorium, aber es war doch einiges spannendes dabei, weshalb ich mich im Moment bei den 3 wohler fühle.
Wie dem auch sei: Dieses Buch hat mich ein wenig enttäuscht. Ich bin per Zufall in der Bibliothek darüber gestolpert und habe mir ein paar Rezensionen dazu angeschaut, wobei mir im Kopf geblieben ist, dass es sich sehr stark um einen Wald dreht und die Handlung sich ziemlich langsam bewegt. In meiner Welt ist das die perfekte Kombination für ein Buch. Leider hat sich diese Vorhersage nicht so bewahrheitet, wie ich das gerne gesehen hätte. Ich kann zwar objektiv erkennen, dass sich die Handlung ziemlich langsam bewegt, aber es hat sich nie so angefühlt, weil viel mehr oberflächliche Geschichten um die Handlung rum erzählt wurden, statt dass die Handlung richtig ausgekundschaftet wurde. Andererseits, wird zwar oft über «den Wald» gesprochen, aber ich könnte jetzt auch einen Paragraphen Schreiben der nur aus dem Wort «Honigkuchen» 1000x besteht und deshalb habe ich keinen Paragraphen über Honigkuchen geschrieben.
(kurze Warnung - ich werde im nächsten Paragraphen über die Handlung am Ende des Buches sprechen. Ich tue dies in sehr groben und unpassenden Worten, weshalb man absolut nichts konkretes über die Handlung erfahren kann, aber falls das für dich unangenehm ist, hier nur soviel: es fehlt der Handlung an Tiefe.)
Die beiden Probleme haben sich einstweilen in Tandem gerührt, wenn zum Beispiel gesagt wird, dass Max «ein paar Tage Zeit hat um den Wald zu erkunden» und dann ist nach einem Tages(-und-nachts-)ausflug schon wieder alles vorbei. Das bedeutet, dass es der ganzen Handlung sehr stark an Tiefe fehlt. So sehr, dass ich zwar von Anfang an bis auf einen alle Offenbarungen des Endes schon erahnt habe, aber dann immer mal wieder dachte «aber dafür hätte doch hier so viel mehr Dinge erklärt werden müssen, oder?». Es wurde mehr oder weniger genug über ein Thema geredet, dass man sofort wusste, wie es sich auf das Ende des Buches auswirken würde, aber nicht genug, dass dies eine zufriedenstellende Entwicklung abgeben würde. Max, zum Beispiel, muss eine wichtige persönliche Lektion lernen und daran wachsen – wie so viele Protagonisten auch, weshalb das nicht so sehr ein «das Ende erahnen» und mehr eine generelle Erwartung ist – aber es dauert 400 Seiten, bis er selbst ein Verständnis dafür hat, inwiefern er sich vielleicht verbessern könnte. Tatsächlich passieren tut das dann auf den letzten 15 Seiten. Es hatte 530 Seiten, um einen anständigen Bogen mit seinem Charakter herzustellen und dann passiert so etwas? Innerhalb von 15 Seiten wird er plötzlich ein viel besserer Mensch? Ich weiss nicht… Und das besonders, weil er im Zuge dieses letzten Aktes direkt wieder die «schlechte Angewohnheit» demonstriert, die er ja eigentlich ändern wollte.
Ein anderes grosses Problem, das ich hatte, ist die «Nachricht» des Buches. Ich verstehe, dass McNeill mit viel Grauzonen die Idee von Geschichten diskutieren wollte, aber es wurde teilweise doch sehr unangenehm. Die Angewohnheit wie ein Priester über gewisse Themen zu reden, die absolut keine andere Interpretation zulassen, ist ja schon doof genug (und ganz besonders in einem Kinderbuch), aber dann in genau dem Ton z.B. ausschweifend darüber zu sprechen inwiefern Wissenschaft uns Menschen fundamental schadet ist mindestens fragwürdig. Und hat ausserdem nicht einmal mehr zur Handlung beigetragen oder war von sonstiger Konsequenz.
Jetzt war ich aber doch sehr negativ also möchte ich auch ein paar gute Dinge sagen: Die Idee an sich war spannend! Genau so das hin-und-her zwischen «der realen Welt» und «der Geschichtenwelt» und inwiefern das eine potentiell realer sein könnte als das andere hat viel potential zu anregenden Gedanken. Viele der Erwachsenen waren ausserordentlich spannende Charaktere, von denen ich gerne mehr gehört hätte. Ich mag die Idee mit den Drachen und den Drachenjägern. Das Buch war seehr einfach zu lesen, ich bin förmlich durchgeflogen, wenn ich Zeit hatte zum lesen.
Alles in allem, ein ok Buch. Potentiell werde ich aus den (jetzt noch) 3 Sternen auch 2.5 machen, je nachdem wie sich meine Meinung in nächster Zeit ändert. "Ok" ist normalerweise eher 2.5-Sterne-Territorium, aber es war doch einiges spannendes dabei, weshalb ich mich im Moment bei den 3 wohler fühle.
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