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The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep
The ultimate book-lover's fantasy, this sparkling debut is a "delight of magic and literature, love and adventure" (Kat Howard) featuring a young scholar with the power to bring literary characters into the world.
For his entire life, Charley Sutherland has concealed a magical ability he can't quite He can bring characters from books into the real world.
But when literary characters start causing trouble throughout the city and threatening to destroying the world, he learns he's not the only one with his ability. Now it's up to Charley and his reluctant older brother, Rob, to stop them--hopefully before they reach The End.
Praise for The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep:
"A star-studded literary tour and a tangled mystery and a reflection on reading itself; it's a pure delight." --Alix E. Harrow, Hugo Award-winning author
"This beautifully-written novel is an exploration of the power fiction wields -- the power to inform and to change, even to endanger, our everyday world." --Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches
"Equal parts sibling rivalry, crackling mystery, and Dickensian battle royale, it'll be one of your most fun reads this year." --Mike Chen, author of Here and Now and Then
For his entire life, Charley Sutherland has concealed a magical ability he can't quite He can bring characters from books into the real world.
But when literary characters start causing trouble throughout the city and threatening to destroying the world, he learns he's not the only one with his ability. Now it's up to Charley and his reluctant older brother, Rob, to stop them--hopefully before they reach The End.
Praise for The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep:
"A star-studded literary tour and a tangled mystery and a reflection on reading itself; it's a pure delight." --Alix E. Harrow, Hugo Award-winning author
"This beautifully-written novel is an exploration of the power fiction wields -- the power to inform and to change, even to endanger, our everyday world." --Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of Witches
"Equal parts sibling rivalry, crackling mystery, and Dickensian battle royale, it'll be one of your most fun reads this year." --Mike Chen, author of Here and Now and Then
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First published July 23, 2019
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About the author
H.G. Parry
9 books1,311 followersH.G. Parry lives in a book-infested flat in Wellington, New Zealand, which she shares with her sister and two overactive rabbits. She holds a PhD in English Literature from Victoria University of Wellington, and teaches English, Film, and Media Studies. Her short fiction has appeared in Intergalactic Medicine Show, Daily Science Fiction, and small press anthologies. The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,581 reviews
December 4, 2019
I don’t have an ass.
I mean, I have an ass, but not much of one, which makes finding jeans difficult. Usually, I look like an assless child wearing Dad’s Jordaches. But, every once in a while, I find a pair that makes me look like Kim Kardashian, and I’m just now realizing this is a terrible metaphor that I should immediately abandon.
But, if I hadn’t abandoned it, I would say this book is like those jeans: it just really fits me.
It’s a delightful mix of Victorian lit, brotherly love (and sibling rivalry), fantastical imagination, and whimsy. It may not fit, or suit, everyone in quite the same way, though I daresay, at least within the confines of Goodreads, that there are a lot of other assless lovers of story, wit, and the fine line that separates the imaginary from the real that Parry takes such delight in tightroping until she decides to just cut the line in half and yank the threads about willy-nilly.
Highly recommended for close-reading, text-analyzing Victorians who enjoy a little dark with their light and a touch of reality with their flights of fancy.
I mean, I have an ass, but not much of one, which makes finding jeans difficult. Usually, I look like an assless child wearing Dad’s Jordaches. But, every once in a while, I find a pair that makes me look like Kim Kardashian, and I’m just now realizing this is a terrible metaphor that I should immediately abandon.
But, if I hadn’t abandoned it, I would say this book is like those jeans: it just really fits me.
It’s a delightful mix of Victorian lit, brotherly love (and sibling rivalry), fantastical imagination, and whimsy. It may not fit, or suit, everyone in quite the same way, though I daresay, at least within the confines of Goodreads, that there are a lot of other assless lovers of story, wit, and the fine line that separates the imaginary from the real that Parry takes such delight in tightroping until she decides to just cut the line in half and yank the threads about willy-nilly.
Highly recommended for close-reading, text-analyzing Victorians who enjoy a little dark with their light and a touch of reality with their flights of fancy.
September 23, 2019
I received a copy of this book from the publisher (Orbit US/Redhook) in exchange for an honest review.
Sometimes you just need to escape into a good book. But if you’re Charles Sutherland, sometimes you inadvertently facilitate the escape of fictional characters into the real world. Imagine being able to read out your favorite character from a story and have an actual conversation with them. That sounds like a dream come true for most bookworms, but it’s been a nightmare that Rob, Charley’s big brother and our first person perspective character, has spent his life trying to avoid. He’s had to clean up Charley’s fictional messes a multitude of times throughout his life, but the current fictional mess they find themselves in is the zaniest and more far reaching, and frankly the most dangerous, that the Sutherland family has ever faced. Their world is going to be changed forever if they can’t figure out a way to thwart what’s coming.
When I first started reading this book, I was strongly reminded of some of my favorite pieces of children’s fiction, most specifically Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. That book also involves the reading out of fictional characters from their books. However, The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep takes this concept a few steps further. Whereas the characters in Inkheart came from an imaginary book of the same name, Parry used real books and real characters from them to populate her fictional cast. We have Dorian Gray and Heathcliff, the White Witch from Narnia and Roald Dahl’s Matilda, Sherlock Holmes and five different incarnations of Mr. Darcy and a plethora of Dickensian characters who make themselves known in this novel. It was a delightful inclusion that made me actually want to read more Dickens, especially David Copperfield and Great Expectations. I’ve only ever read Oliver Twist, Bleak House, and A Christmas Carol, but I now find myself looking forward to remedying that lack.
I also deeply appreciated how much textual interpretation influenced the appearance and character of any fictional entity read from the page into reality. While each character took on a life of the their own once they were read into being, their identity was shaped by how their reader viewed them. I love that Parry used this to show how radically two people can view the same character, and how that dichotomy can completely change how different people understand the same story. And yet, each character who appeared in this book felt very true to their character in their original work, and often quoted either themselves or their author, which was a delightful inclusion. So while interpretation definitely matters, it can’t change the core of the character as written by the author. Also, the fact that certain characters were summoned by readers who only ever had this one moment of connection to and clarity regarding a fictional character was a fun addition, because that means that everyone is capable of magically connecting to a novel. It’s a lovely thought that I firmly believe is representative of the truth about reading; it really is for everyone, and there’s no magic quite like it.
This is one of the first books I’ve ever read that was set in New Zealand and written by an author native to the area, which added a fun element that I didn’t know I’d be getting from this book. The settings, both of the Wellington of reality and the fictional Street that hides within it, were very atmospheric. The Dickensian Street was incredibly easy to visualize, and I can see why so many fictional refugees made their way to said Street and settled there. I also loved how these characters built their own motley family, and how tightly knit they were.
Both Parry’s original characters and those she pulled from other works of fiction were delightful and uniquely their own. However, I have to confess that it took me a while to connect to Rob, Charley’s brother and our only first person perspective character. He seemed so irrationally close-minded and judgmental when it came to Charley and what he could do that I couldn’t bring myself to like him. However, he truly grew as the story progressed and as Parry showed us more and more the reasoning behind his mentality. While he still wasn’t my favorite by the end of the book, I did appreciate and respect him. But Charley takes the cake. He is one of the most precious characters I’ve come across in adult fiction, and I just wanted to both protect and delight in him.
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is such a fun ode to books. Books about books always spark joy in me, and this particular book fanned that spark into a cheery and inviting fire. Stories matter, and Parry’s debut celebrates that fact. If you’re a lover of the written word and believe that there’s nothing better than getting lost in a good book, this book is so definitely for you.
You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.
It’s.
Not.
Fair.
I know that life isn’t.
But stories are. Or if they’re not fair, they’re not fair with purpose.
I wish I could tell better where stories end and life begins.
Sometimes you just need to escape into a good book. But if you’re Charles Sutherland, sometimes you inadvertently facilitate the escape of fictional characters into the real world. Imagine being able to read out your favorite character from a story and have an actual conversation with them. That sounds like a dream come true for most bookworms, but it’s been a nightmare that Rob, Charley’s big brother and our first person perspective character, has spent his life trying to avoid. He’s had to clean up Charley’s fictional messes a multitude of times throughout his life, but the current fictional mess they find themselves in is the zaniest and more far reaching, and frankly the most dangerous, that the Sutherland family has ever faced. Their world is going to be changed forever if they can’t figure out a way to thwart what’s coming.
“That’s the danger of stories… They bring things into the world, and they can’t be put away again.”
When I first started reading this book, I was strongly reminded of some of my favorite pieces of children’s fiction, most specifically Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. That book also involves the reading out of fictional characters from their books. However, The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep takes this concept a few steps further. Whereas the characters in Inkheart came from an imaginary book of the same name, Parry used real books and real characters from them to populate her fictional cast. We have Dorian Gray and Heathcliff, the White Witch from Narnia and Roald Dahl’s Matilda, Sherlock Holmes and five different incarnations of Mr. Darcy and a plethora of Dickensian characters who make themselves known in this novel. It was a delightful inclusion that made me actually want to read more Dickens, especially David Copperfield and Great Expectations. I’ve only ever read Oliver Twist, Bleak House, and A Christmas Carol, but I now find myself looking forward to remedying that lack.
“If you’re wanting some sort of theory about what we’re made of, old thing, that’s the best I can do. We’re half words, and half thought.”
“The point where language and interpretation meet…”
I also deeply appreciated how much textual interpretation influenced the appearance and character of any fictional entity read from the page into reality. While each character took on a life of the their own once they were read into being, their identity was shaped by how their reader viewed them. I love that Parry used this to show how radically two people can view the same character, and how that dichotomy can completely change how different people understand the same story. And yet, each character who appeared in this book felt very true to their character in their original work, and often quoted either themselves or their author, which was a delightful inclusion. So while interpretation definitely matters, it can’t change the core of the character as written by the author. Also, the fact that certain characters were summoned by readers who only ever had this one moment of connection to and clarity regarding a fictional character was a fun addition, because that means that everyone is capable of magically connecting to a novel. It’s a lovely thought that I firmly believe is representative of the truth about reading; it really is for everyone, and there’s no magic quite like it.
“…you know when you read a book, sometimes, and you suddenly realize that you’ve been missing something your whole life, and you weren’t even aware, and all at once you’ve found it and are just a little bit more whole?”
This is one of the first books I’ve ever read that was set in New Zealand and written by an author native to the area, which added a fun element that I didn’t know I’d be getting from this book. The settings, both of the Wellington of reality and the fictional Street that hides within it, were very atmospheric. The Dickensian Street was incredibly easy to visualize, and I can see why so many fictional refugees made their way to said Street and settled there. I also loved how these characters built their own motley family, and how tightly knit they were.
“This street is complicated, isn’t it?”
“Thousands of years of the written word, filtered through countless readerships… How can it not be?”
Both Parry’s original characters and those she pulled from other works of fiction were delightful and uniquely their own. However, I have to confess that it took me a while to connect to Rob, Charley’s brother and our only first person perspective character. He seemed so irrationally close-minded and judgmental when it came to Charley and what he could do that I couldn’t bring myself to like him. However, he truly grew as the story progressed and as Parry showed us more and more the reasoning behind his mentality. While he still wasn’t my favorite by the end of the book, I did appreciate and respect him. But Charley takes the cake. He is one of the most precious characters I’ve come across in adult fiction, and I just wanted to both protect and delight in him.
“Truth, at least complete truth, isn’t held in words. But there can be no truth at all without them. It lies behind them and lurks around them and shines through them, in glimpses of metaphor, and connotation, and story.”
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is such a fun ode to books. Books about books always spark joy in me, and this particular book fanned that spark into a cheery and inviting fire. Stories matter, and Parry’s debut celebrates that fact. If you’re a lover of the written word and believe that there’s nothing better than getting lost in a good book, this book is so definitely for you.
You can find this review and more at Novel Notions.
January 26, 2022
I don’t think that the publisher of this book did a very good job of publicizing it because I had never heard of it before I saw it among my library’s new acquisitions. Judging by the small number of reviews, not many people have heard of it and that is a shame because this book was imaginative, charming and witty.
Charley was a precocious child, but his secret gift was the ability to bring fictional characters to life. He is a summoner who extracts characters like Uriah Heep from the books he is reading. Charley and his older brother Rob discover that some of these characters have not returned to their books. In their attempt to thwart a sinister plot, Charley and Rob encounter Heathcliff, Lancelot, the Artful Dodger, Dorian Gray, Dr. Frankenstein, the hound of the Baskervilles (a/k/a Henry), Sherlock Holmes, Scrooge, several variations of Mr. Darcy and many others. While meeting these familiar characters is enjoyable for readers it is not necessary to have read the books before reading this fantasy novel. I believe that the book would entertain readers who don’t already know these characters (although you might miss some of the sly references to their stories). Honestly, I’m not even sure the plot totally holds together, especially at the end, but I still had a good time reading it.
Charley was a precocious child, but his secret gift was the ability to bring fictional characters to life. He is a summoner who extracts characters like Uriah Heep from the books he is reading. Charley and his older brother Rob discover that some of these characters have not returned to their books. In their attempt to thwart a sinister plot, Charley and Rob encounter Heathcliff, Lancelot, the Artful Dodger, Dorian Gray, Dr. Frankenstein, the hound of the Baskervilles (a/k/a Henry), Sherlock Holmes, Scrooge, several variations of Mr. Darcy and many others. While meeting these familiar characters is enjoyable for readers it is not necessary to have read the books before reading this fantasy novel. I believe that the book would entertain readers who don’t already know these characters (although you might miss some of the sly references to their stories). Honestly, I’m not even sure the plot totally holds together, especially at the end, but I still had a good time reading it.
Want to read
July 23, 2019NOW AVAILABLE!
mine came with a neat little library checkout card, proving the book was previously read by the likes of dorian gray and anna karenina! and soon, ME!
mine came with a neat little library checkout card, proving the book was previously read by the likes of dorian gray and anna karenina! and soon, ME!
January 12, 2020
A review copy received from the publisher, Orbit UK, in exchange for an honest review.
How many of us readers have experienced the kind of immersion and connection to a story, its setting or its characters, which made us wish that it could be real? I'd gander a guess that it covers pretty much all of us. H.G. Parry's marvellous debut novel, The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep, perfectly illustrates the magic of stories and words on a page.
Pardon the long quote above, but it was such an excellent description of why we love to read that it has to be shared. The basis of the story in The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is exactly how that perfect connection can result in a reader pulling a literary character out of the book into the real world. That magic arising from reading a story that resonated completely with your heart and mind. I loved this concept which superbly depicted in the book; reading it was tremendously enjoyable.
The real world setting was modern Wellington, New Zealand and the story centred around two brothers, Robert and Charles Sutherland. Charles is the prodigy of the family and the one who has the uncanny ability to summon characters and even important objects out of books. The narrative was written mainly in the first person perspective of Robert, who came across as too protective of his brother - sometimes to the point of being quite irritating in my opinion. I wasn't particularly fond of Robert for quite a while, even though I did sort of understand his reasons. Charles, on the other hand, was simply precious. How could one not adore a character whose home overflows with books, and would perhaps occasionally leave one in the fridge absent-mindedly.
The fictional characters and their setting are decidedly Victorian, specifically Dickensian given that is Charles' specialisation. One of the 'shortcomings' of my reading repertoire had been the lack of adult classics which I've been trying to address in the last couple of years; Dickens was definitely one of those which I've yet to read. I have to say that after reading this, I am most keen to read David Copperfield and Great Expectations - both which featured prominently in the narrative. I was so glad that I've read enough in the last couple of years to at least identify with and relate to several of the literary characters like Dorian Gray, Mr Darcy, Dr Frankenstein and Sherlock Holmes (well, this last one came from mainly from watching the superb TV series since I've only read A Study of Scarlet so far)). One of the remarkable achievements of Parry's writing of these characters was the fact that I didn't feel alienated by the characters or books which I was not familiar with. The well-written narrative enabled me, as a reader who hasn't read Dickens, to appreciate said author's writing and his commentary around social injustices during the Victorian era.
Let's see if the extract below doesn't make you want to read David Copperfield.
The author wrote this book as a love letter to literary analysis. All readers, critics or otherwise, perform some kind of analysis of our own when we read a book. The way we view or form the characters in our minds, or the commentary or allegory or themes that the author was trying to communicate through the story. This is why there is not a single book out there which is for every reader. Our personal experiences and preferences will necessary shape our view and interpretation or analysis of the narrative. As such, the fictional characters who have been pulled from books have different nuances about them depending on the reader who did it - intentionally or otherwise. (I found this to be such an important message to all readers out there. No two persons read a book in exactly the same way. Opinions differ - so let's all agree to disagree at some point or another.)
What this means in the book is that these literary characters that we know might not completely conform to our own understanding. The best illustration of this was that there were five incarnations of Mr Darcy, each shaped a bit differently by their respective readers. The best part, however, was how Parry maintained the core characterisation of each of these Mr Darcy. The voice of each character in this book remains true to how they were written by the author. Sometimes even quoting themselves from the books; which makes for some really funny moments when put in context. In the case of Dorian Gray, he thoroughly personified the flamboyance of Oscar Wilde. As Oscar Wilde was one of my favourite author, Dorian was one of my favourite characters from the book.
The importance of words, stories and books was not the only significant theme in this narrative. Brotherly love forms the emotional backbone of Robert and Charles' story. It was enough to make me tear up a bit towards the end.
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is a magical, delightfully clever and fun celebration of books. I've not read many books about books yet, but I can safely recommend this to pretty much all bibliophiles, who appreciate stories about the wonder of reading.
You can purchase a copy of this book from Amazon US | Amazon UK | Book Depository (Free shipping)
You can find this and my other reviews at Novel Notions.
How many of us readers have experienced the kind of immersion and connection to a story, its setting or its characters, which made us wish that it could be real? I'd gander a guess that it covers pretty much all of us. H.G. Parry's marvellous debut novel, The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep, perfectly illustrates the magic of stories and words on a page.
"That's how the story works, the way the sentence and metaphor and reference feeds into the other to illuminate something important. That explosion of discovery, of understanding, is the most intoxicating moment there is. Emotional, intellectual, aesthetic. Just for a moment, a perfect moment, a small piece of the world makes perfect sense. And it's beautiful. It's a moment of pure joy, the kind that brings pleasure like pain."
Pardon the long quote above, but it was such an excellent description of why we love to read that it has to be shared. The basis of the story in The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is exactly how that perfect connection can result in a reader pulling a literary character out of the book into the real world. That magic arising from reading a story that resonated completely with your heart and mind. I loved this concept which superbly depicted in the book; reading it was tremendously enjoyable.
The real world setting was modern Wellington, New Zealand and the story centred around two brothers, Robert and Charles Sutherland. Charles is the prodigy of the family and the one who has the uncanny ability to summon characters and even important objects out of books. The narrative was written mainly in the first person perspective of Robert, who came across as too protective of his brother - sometimes to the point of being quite irritating in my opinion. I wasn't particularly fond of Robert for quite a while, even though I did sort of understand his reasons. Charles, on the other hand, was simply precious. How could one not adore a character whose home overflows with books, and would perhaps occasionally leave one in the fridge absent-mindedly.
The fictional characters and their setting are decidedly Victorian, specifically Dickensian given that is Charles' specialisation. One of the 'shortcomings' of my reading repertoire had been the lack of adult classics which I've been trying to address in the last couple of years; Dickens was definitely one of those which I've yet to read. I have to say that after reading this, I am most keen to read David Copperfield and Great Expectations - both which featured prominently in the narrative. I was so glad that I've read enough in the last couple of years to at least identify with and relate to several of the literary characters like Dorian Gray, Mr Darcy, Dr Frankenstein and Sherlock Holmes (well, this last one came from mainly from watching the superb TV series since I've only read A Study of Scarlet so far)). One of the remarkable achievements of Parry's writing of these characters was the fact that I didn't feel alienated by the characters or books which I was not familiar with. The well-written narrative enabled me, as a reader who hasn't read Dickens, to appreciate said author's writing and his commentary around social injustices during the Victorian era.
Let's see if the extract below doesn't make you want to read David Copperfield.
"The opening lines of David Copperfield may be the most perfect in the history of literature; certainly they are among the most well-known, and the most well-loved. Because they are all our opening lines. They are how our stories all begin.
"Chapter One. I am Born. Whether I shall turn out to be hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show.""
The author wrote this book as a love letter to literary analysis. All readers, critics or otherwise, perform some kind of analysis of our own when we read a book. The way we view or form the characters in our minds, or the commentary or allegory or themes that the author was trying to communicate through the story. This is why there is not a single book out there which is for every reader. Our personal experiences and preferences will necessary shape our view and interpretation or analysis of the narrative. As such, the fictional characters who have been pulled from books have different nuances about them depending on the reader who did it - intentionally or otherwise. (I found this to be such an important message to all readers out there. No two persons read a book in exactly the same way. Opinions differ - so let's all agree to disagree at some point or another.)
What this means in the book is that these literary characters that we know might not completely conform to our own understanding. The best illustration of this was that there were five incarnations of Mr Darcy, each shaped a bit differently by their respective readers. The best part, however, was how Parry maintained the core characterisation of each of these Mr Darcy. The voice of each character in this book remains true to how they were written by the author. Sometimes even quoting themselves from the books; which makes for some really funny moments when put in context. In the case of Dorian Gray, he thoroughly personified the flamboyance of Oscar Wilde. As Oscar Wilde was one of my favourite author, Dorian was one of my favourite characters from the book.
"I don't really do living or daylight," Dorian said. "I'm a Gothic masterpiece."
The importance of words, stories and books was not the only significant theme in this narrative. Brotherly love forms the emotional backbone of Robert and Charles' story. It was enough to make me tear up a bit towards the end.
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is a magical, delightfully clever and fun celebration of books. I've not read many books about books yet, but I can safely recommend this to pretty much all bibliophiles, who appreciate stories about the wonder of reading.
You can purchase a copy of this book from Amazon US | Amazon UK | Book Depository (Free shipping)
You can find this and my other reviews at Novel Notions.
January 31, 2020
4☆ A Riveting, Unique and Enchanting Tale I Highly Recommend
When I first read the blurb for The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep I wasn't sure what to expect just that it really intrigued me.
It's not my normal genre but I have to say I really enjoyed it.
Charlie is special, so special in fact that when he reads any kind of literature he can bring it to life.
Ever since he was a small child he has always over excelled in his development but this was completely unique and his mother and older brother Rob swore to keep it secret & him safe. However Rob resents the fact his younget brother has never needed him... that is until now! He needs him more than ever.
So it comes as no surprise to Rob when Charlie calls him up in the middle of the night for help, when one of his characters escape from the book David Copperfield and comes too life causing chaos.
However this one character Uriah Heep came out with a warning and is determined to cause trouble.
But can Charlie and Rob discover what is happening before it's too late? And just what was Uriah Heep talking about when he said something is coming?
The Characters are Eclectic , fascinating, beautifully researched and very memorable.
The pace flows along seamlessly it's not a fast paced read, but there is adventure, mystery and danger which makes for a highly Compelling and Evocative Read.
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep
is a riveting tale filled with colorful characters and is simply Enchanting in every sense, one unique read I couldn't put down and highly recommend reading.
Thank you to Compulsive Readers Tours and Orbit Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/0...
When I first read the blurb for The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep I wasn't sure what to expect just that it really intrigued me.
It's not my normal genre but I have to say I really enjoyed it.
Charlie is special, so special in fact that when he reads any kind of literature he can bring it to life.
Ever since he was a small child he has always over excelled in his development but this was completely unique and his mother and older brother Rob swore to keep it secret & him safe. However Rob resents the fact his younget brother has never needed him... that is until now! He needs him more than ever.
So it comes as no surprise to Rob when Charlie calls him up in the middle of the night for help, when one of his characters escape from the book David Copperfield and comes too life causing chaos.
However this one character Uriah Heep came out with a warning and is determined to cause trouble.
But can Charlie and Rob discover what is happening before it's too late? And just what was Uriah Heep talking about when he said something is coming?
The Characters are Eclectic , fascinating, beautifully researched and very memorable.
The pace flows along seamlessly it's not a fast paced read, but there is adventure, mystery and danger which makes for a highly Compelling and Evocative Read.
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep
is a riveting tale filled with colorful characters and is simply Enchanting in every sense, one unique read I couldn't put down and highly recommend reading.
Thank you to Compulsive Readers Tours and Orbit Books for this copy which I reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
My Review is also on my Blog Website :-
https://dashfan81.blogspot.com/2020/0...
April 13, 2020
When I picked up this novel, I expected an adult version similar (yet different) to "Inkheart" by Cornelia Funke. A story of fictionalized characters being read to life was too tempting for me to be able to resist but I will say that I was disappointed.
I had a very difficult time getting into the story and then maintaining an interest in it. Between the characters and the writing style, it was just not the novel for me. It eventually became a chore to read (especially with the writing style combined with the length of the novel).
I loved the overall premise of the story and what was eventually revealed regarding a certain character's past; however, I think the story being told was failed in the execution of how it was delivered.
As a fan of literature, this novel sounded like a dream but some things are too good to be true.
I had a very difficult time getting into the story and then maintaining an interest in it. Between the characters and the writing style, it was just not the novel for me. It eventually became a chore to read (especially with the writing style combined with the length of the novel).
I loved the overall premise of the story and what was eventually revealed regarding a certain character's past; however, I think the story being told was failed in the execution of how it was delivered.
As a fan of literature, this novel sounded like a dream but some things are too good to be true.
March 1, 2020
This was such a wonderful read!
Charley Sutherland has a very special ability. He can bring fictional characters to life, and has been able to do so for almost his entire life, forcing his family to get used to having Sherlock Holmes around for tea on a regular basis. Which is all fine. But the rest of the world can’t know about his gift, and it’s a bit difficult to keep something like that hidden when fictional characters that he didn’t bring out roams around Wellington. Which means there’s someone else who shares the same abilities as Charley, only they’re using it to threaten not only the city but the world.
The book is told from Rob’s perspective, and a few chapters from Millie and Lydia. Lydia is Rob’s gf/fiancée and she doesn’t really know about Charlie’s gift. Millie’s one of the fictional characters living in the city. While I did enjoy reading from Rob’s POV, I had wanted a few chapters from Charlie as well, because he’s my sweet precious little bean and I was sad whenever he wasn’t around.
It’s not as action-packed as the last part of my summary makes it sound like. The action aspect is pretty low. But it doesn’t mean the book wasn’t brilliant. Because it was brilliant. The writing is really good and engaging. And the characters, the fictional characters that was brought into this world. I loved the way they where written. Without going into spoilers, they are brought into the world as the reader had interpreted them while reading, and not brought out as the character the author had fully intended. This meant that the same character could look or behave differently depending on who read them out. Like, there’s a handful of different Darcy’s in there.
I would definitely recommend this book to those who love to read books about books. Or people who love books in general.
Charley Sutherland has a very special ability. He can bring fictional characters to life, and has been able to do so for almost his entire life, forcing his family to get used to having Sherlock Holmes around for tea on a regular basis. Which is all fine. But the rest of the world can’t know about his gift, and it’s a bit difficult to keep something like that hidden when fictional characters that he didn’t bring out roams around Wellington. Which means there’s someone else who shares the same abilities as Charley, only they’re using it to threaten not only the city but the world.
The book is told from Rob’s perspective, and a few chapters from Millie and Lydia. Lydia is Rob’s gf/fiancée and she doesn’t really know about Charlie’s gift. Millie’s one of the fictional characters living in the city. While I did enjoy reading from Rob’s POV, I had wanted a few chapters from Charlie as well, because he’s my sweet precious little bean and I was sad whenever he wasn’t around.
It’s not as action-packed as the last part of my summary makes it sound like. The action aspect is pretty low. But it doesn’t mean the book wasn’t brilliant. Because it was brilliant. The writing is really good and engaging. And the characters, the fictional characters that was brought into this world. I loved the way they where written. Without going into spoilers, they are brought into the world as the reader had interpreted them while reading, and not brought out as the character the author had fully intended. This meant that the same character could look or behave differently depending on who read them out. Like, there’s a handful of different Darcy’s in there.
I would definitely recommend this book to those who love to read books about books. Or people who love books in general.
July 18, 2022
3.5 ⭐️ Indubbiamente una lettura carina, vedere famosi personaggi letterari della letteratura dell’800 prendere vita in situazioni e forme diverse è stato divertente.
Tutto molto bello se me ne fosse fregato qualcosa.
Purtroppo non ho provato nessun tipo di empatia nei confronti dei personaggi, non sono entrato completamente nella loro storia.
Tradotto: tutto bellino ma non vedevo l’ora che finisse.
Tutto molto bello se me ne fosse fregato qualcosa.
Purtroppo non ho provato nessun tipo di empatia nei confronti dei personaggi, non sono entrato completamente nella loro storia.
Tradotto: tutto bellino ma non vedevo l’ora che finisse.
November 10, 2019
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is hands down one of my favourite novels of the last few years – any fan of literature is going to adore this rip rollicking adventure, where the real and the fictional merge and you never know just who you might meet around the corner…
Practical, realistic Rob is a lawyer whose younger brother Charlie is somewhat the bane of his existence, having as he does the power to read characters and sometimes real items out of books into the real world. After an early hours phone call begging Rob to help Charlie catch Uriah Heep, we are off to the races – as the discovery that there may be another “summoner” out there, this one with rather more nefarious purposes, is revealed.
The plotting in this story is intricate, engaging and utterly brilliant, filled with vibrant characters you’ll know very well- from the enigmatic Dorian Gray to several versions of Mr Darcy, H G Parry brings them all to vivid reality – then pits them and our fraternal duo against a dangerously intelligent enemy who has a dastardly master plan. One of my favourite parts of this was when I said to myself OH I KNOW WHO THIS IS because after all there is one particularly definitive criminal mastermind who has been much copied but never equalled…I’ll leave that one with you…
ANYWAY, from the moment you fall into this book until the moment you reluctantly, tearfully leave it behind you will be immersed into this world, one where Excalibur is unceremoniously dumped into the boot of a car and the Hound of the Baskervilles greets you at the door, it is a sheer joy to read for anyone with a love of books – it matters not what your favourite genre is, you’ll love this.
The most compelling part was definitely the relationship between the two brothers, one of both love and exasperation, growing in the readers mind with every passing interaction. All the connections are beautifully layered quite apart from that one, in the end I was reminded that blood does not a family make but that we all in the end find our people.
I adored it from first word to last word and all the words in between. Don’t miss this one whatever you do. I really hope we’ll get more from this beautifully built world where literally anything could happen…
HIGHLY recommended.
Practical, realistic Rob is a lawyer whose younger brother Charlie is somewhat the bane of his existence, having as he does the power to read characters and sometimes real items out of books into the real world. After an early hours phone call begging Rob to help Charlie catch Uriah Heep, we are off to the races – as the discovery that there may be another “summoner” out there, this one with rather more nefarious purposes, is revealed.
The plotting in this story is intricate, engaging and utterly brilliant, filled with vibrant characters you’ll know very well- from the enigmatic Dorian Gray to several versions of Mr Darcy, H G Parry brings them all to vivid reality – then pits them and our fraternal duo against a dangerously intelligent enemy who has a dastardly master plan. One of my favourite parts of this was when I said to myself OH I KNOW WHO THIS IS because after all there is one particularly definitive criminal mastermind who has been much copied but never equalled…I’ll leave that one with you…
ANYWAY, from the moment you fall into this book until the moment you reluctantly, tearfully leave it behind you will be immersed into this world, one where Excalibur is unceremoniously dumped into the boot of a car and the Hound of the Baskervilles greets you at the door, it is a sheer joy to read for anyone with a love of books – it matters not what your favourite genre is, you’ll love this.
The most compelling part was definitely the relationship between the two brothers, one of both love and exasperation, growing in the readers mind with every passing interaction. All the connections are beautifully layered quite apart from that one, in the end I was reminded that blood does not a family make but that we all in the end find our people.
I adored it from first word to last word and all the words in between. Don’t miss this one whatever you do. I really hope we’ll get more from this beautifully built world where literally anything could happen…
HIGHLY recommended.
October 11, 2023
Abandoned halfway through. Unique premise and fantastic start, but unfortunately became a monotonous slog 200 pages in. Would have benefitted greatly from an editor and losing 150-200 pages.
February 26, 2020
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
THIS BOOK THOUGH!!!! After a long stretch of moderate mediocre books, “The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep” has come into my life and granted all my literary wishes and dreams. With similarities to “The Invisible Library” series by Genevieve Cogman and J.K Rowling’s “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”, I have found a new author to follow (i.e stalk and obsess over) in H.G Parry.
For as long as he can remember, Charley Sutherland has been an avid reader, constantly reading and obsessed with the written word, especially Charles Dickens. At a young age, Charley discovers he can literally “read” characters from books to life, a feat that is impressive but embarrassing to Charley’s brother, Rob. Rob is desperately trying to live a normal life outside of his brother’s shadow, trying to maintain his successful career as a lawyer and managing a romantic life with his girlfriend, Lydia. But when Charley calls out of the blue one night, desperate for Rob’s help, Rob immediately rushes to his aid. Soon, Rob realizes that the entire human world is under siege, and he must form an alliance with his brother, and his brother’s favourite literary characters, to try and save the world from chaos.
This novel is an absolute must for book lovers. Full of iconic literary characters from past and present fiction, swordplay, magic and full-on adventure, “The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep” has something for everyone, and it is clear that Ms. Parry completely understands the life of a bibliophile.
It is impossible to read this novel and not immediately root for Charley (and later, Rob) as they battle dragons and villains such as Uriah Heep and Dorian Grey, in order to keep the outside world from being swallowed up.
I have found my kindred spirit with this book- full of Charles Dickens characters and Victorian era settings (with a few head-nods to the great C.S Lewis as well!), “Uriah Heep” is an immersive masterpiece.
THIS BOOK THOUGH!!!! After a long stretch of moderate mediocre books, “The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep” has come into my life and granted all my literary wishes and dreams. With similarities to “The Invisible Library” series by Genevieve Cogman and J.K Rowling’s “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”, I have found a new author to follow (i.e stalk and obsess over) in H.G Parry.
For as long as he can remember, Charley Sutherland has been an avid reader, constantly reading and obsessed with the written word, especially Charles Dickens. At a young age, Charley discovers he can literally “read” characters from books to life, a feat that is impressive but embarrassing to Charley’s brother, Rob. Rob is desperately trying to live a normal life outside of his brother’s shadow, trying to maintain his successful career as a lawyer and managing a romantic life with his girlfriend, Lydia. But when Charley calls out of the blue one night, desperate for Rob’s help, Rob immediately rushes to his aid. Soon, Rob realizes that the entire human world is under siege, and he must form an alliance with his brother, and his brother’s favourite literary characters, to try and save the world from chaos.
This novel is an absolute must for book lovers. Full of iconic literary characters from past and present fiction, swordplay, magic and full-on adventure, “The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep” has something for everyone, and it is clear that Ms. Parry completely understands the life of a bibliophile.
It is impossible to read this novel and not immediately root for Charley (and later, Rob) as they battle dragons and villains such as Uriah Heep and Dorian Grey, in order to keep the outside world from being swallowed up.
I have found my kindred spirit with this book- full of Charles Dickens characters and Victorian era settings (with a few head-nods to the great C.S Lewis as well!), “Uriah Heep” is an immersive masterpiece.
June 27, 2019
This book was on my to-read list, I guess I must have read about it somewhere as an "up and coming" fantasy book. Anyway, I added it to my to-read list and then later won it in a GoodReads giveaway.
I wish I didn't have to give this such a low rating since the book isn't even out yet, but I just didn't care for it. There's just too much about the book that doesn't make sense to me. Like characters come out of books, but they don't behave according to their character in the book, they behave however the person that brought them out THINKS they could act. They come out of the book and are instantly at home in "our world" - they can even shapeshift and look totally different. It just doesn't make sense to me.
I did not care for it.
I wish I didn't have to give this such a low rating since the book isn't even out yet, but I just didn't care for it. There's just too much about the book that doesn't make sense to me. Like characters come out of books, but they don't behave according to their character in the book, they behave however the person that brought them out THINKS they could act. They come out of the book and are instantly at home in "our world" - they can even shapeshift and look totally different. It just doesn't make sense to me.
I did not care for it.
May 20, 2019
Oh this was a delight! As a literature major this book hit deeply close to my heart!
This book brings favorite classics to life (quite literally.) There's five Dr. Darcys in this book lol.
This is a love letter to literature and academics who study literature. Even if you've never been a literature major, this book is a blast to read.
What's charming is this book is really about two brothers who try to figure out who they are and work through their relationship with each other. At the heart it's a story of siblings and it's really well done. I love the complexity built in their relationship.
This book brings favorite classics to life (quite literally.) There's five Dr. Darcys in this book lol.
This is a love letter to literature and academics who study literature. Even if you've never been a literature major, this book is a blast to read.
What's charming is this book is really about two brothers who try to figure out who they are and work through their relationship with each other. At the heart it's a story of siblings and it's really well done. I love the complexity built in their relationship.
March 2, 2023
It's $2.99 on Kindle and worth all that and more for its entertainment value.
https://smile.amazon.com/Unlikely-Esc...
https://smile.amazon.com/Unlikely-Esc...
September 4, 2021
This is a story about fictional characters from classic literature beginning to impinge on reality. According to this book there are a few very rare people living in the real world who are so involved and consumed by the world of literature that they are able to “summon” fictional characters into the real world. Anyone familiar with literature knows that not all fictional characters are nice people, so it’s no surprise that some of these summoned characters are a nuisance and even a threatening presence in the non-fiction world.
This book is somewhat unique for the fantasy genre in that it is likely to inspire its readers to be interested in the writings of renowned authors such as Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, Mary Shelley, Arthur Conan Doyle, Jane Austen, Margaret Mahy, Roald Dahl, C.S. Lewis, Emily Bronte, and others. Many of the characters developed by these authors appear in The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heap, and there’s a slew of inside literature references to spark the curiosity of any reader to investigate further.
So to fully appreciate the fantasy world of this book the reader will also want to read these works of literature so they’ll know the full back story of characters such as David Copperfield, Sherlock Holmes, Dorian Gray, Heathcliff, and Mr. Darcy, among others. Uriah Heep from the book's title, for those who don't already know, is an unsavory character from David Copperfield..
However things can be a bit confusing when tracking down characters from this book. I assumed that Millie Radcliffe-Dix, an important character in this book, was borrowed from a 1950s era girl-detective adventure series (à la mixture of Nancy Drew plus bit of spunky Brit). But I’ve been unable to locate any novels with a character by that name. Apparently she is a fictional character from a fictional book series concocted for this book and is not borrowed from elsewhere. (Please let me know if anyone knows other information about the source for the Millie character.)
Readers who enjoy magic and fantasy should enjoy this book, and they may also be inspired to delve deeper into the world of English Literature.
I think the following excerpt provides a good descriptive summary of The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heap.
This book is somewhat unique for the fantasy genre in that it is likely to inspire its readers to be interested in the writings of renowned authors such as Charles Dickens, Oscar Wilde, Mary Shelley, Arthur Conan Doyle, Jane Austen, Margaret Mahy, Roald Dahl, C.S. Lewis, Emily Bronte, and others. Many of the characters developed by these authors appear in The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heap, and there’s a slew of inside literature references to spark the curiosity of any reader to investigate further.
So to fully appreciate the fantasy world of this book the reader will also want to read these works of literature so they’ll know the full back story of characters such as David Copperfield, Sherlock Holmes, Dorian Gray, Heathcliff, and Mr. Darcy, among others. Uriah Heep from the book's title, for those who don't already know, is an unsavory character from David Copperfield..
However things can be a bit confusing when tracking down characters from this book. I assumed that Millie Radcliffe-Dix, an important character in this book, was borrowed from a 1950s era girl-detective adventure series (à la mixture of Nancy Drew plus bit of spunky Brit). But I’ve been unable to locate any novels with a character by that name. Apparently she is a fictional character from a fictional book series concocted for this book and is not borrowed from elsewhere. (Please let me know if anyone knows other information about the source for the Millie character.)
Readers who enjoy magic and fantasy should enjoy this book, and they may also be inspired to delve deeper into the world of English Literature.
I think the following excerpt provides a good descriptive summary of The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heap.
“That doesn’t make any sense.”
“It doesn’t have too,” I said. “It’s a story.” (p426)
November 13, 2022
English version below
***************
Ich weiß zwar nicht so sehr viel über die Literatur des viktorianischen England, aber immerhin noch genug, um außergewöhnliche Freude an diesem Buch zu haben.
Wir begleiten hier einen jungen, hochbegabten Literaturprofessor und seinen Bruder, einen Anwalt, dabei literarischen Charakteren hinterherzujagen, die es mysteriöserweise aus ihren Büchern in die Realität geschafft haben.
Diese Geschichte ist so voller Phantasie, Spannung, liebenswerter Charaktere und übler Schurken, dass es eine wahre Freude ist und ich als Leserin das Buch mit vollem Herzen beendet habe und heute glücklich zu Bett gehen werde. Wer Phantastik mag, Bücher liebt und eine Neigung zu Dickens hat, sollte dieses Buch unbedingt lesen.
Das ist für mich ohne jeden Zweifel ein 5 Sterne Buch.
------------------
While I don't know that much about the literature of Victorian England, I still know enough to derive exceptional pleasure from this book.
We follow a young, highly gifted professor of literature and his brother, a lawyer, as they chase after fictional characters who have mysteriously made it out of their books into reality.
This story is so full of fantasy, suspense, lovable characters and evil villains that it is pure joy and I as a reader finished the book with a full heart and will go to bed happy tonight. Anyone who likes fantasy, loves books and has a penchant for Dickens should definitely read this book.
This is without a doubt a 5 star book for me.
***************
Ich weiß zwar nicht so sehr viel über die Literatur des viktorianischen England, aber immerhin noch genug, um außergewöhnliche Freude an diesem Buch zu haben.
Wir begleiten hier einen jungen, hochbegabten Literaturprofessor und seinen Bruder, einen Anwalt, dabei literarischen Charakteren hinterherzujagen, die es mysteriöserweise aus ihren Büchern in die Realität geschafft haben.
Diese Geschichte ist so voller Phantasie, Spannung, liebenswerter Charaktere und übler Schurken, dass es eine wahre Freude ist und ich als Leserin das Buch mit vollem Herzen beendet habe und heute glücklich zu Bett gehen werde. Wer Phantastik mag, Bücher liebt und eine Neigung zu Dickens hat, sollte dieses Buch unbedingt lesen.
Das ist für mich ohne jeden Zweifel ein 5 Sterne Buch.
------------------
While I don't know that much about the literature of Victorian England, I still know enough to derive exceptional pleasure from this book.
We follow a young, highly gifted professor of literature and his brother, a lawyer, as they chase after fictional characters who have mysteriously made it out of their books into reality.
This story is so full of fantasy, suspense, lovable characters and evil villains that it is pure joy and I as a reader finished the book with a full heart and will go to bed happy tonight. Anyone who likes fantasy, loves books and has a penchant for Dickens should definitely read this book.
This is without a doubt a 5 star book for me.
January 8, 2025
A book written for readers.
As an avid reader and an English major who also studied law - this felt made for me. It was filled with literary references, academic insights and jokes, a love for reading that only true bookworms could ever understand.
So I’ll be drifting in words, absorbing, and the words I absorb will be racing through my bloodstream. Every nerve, every neuron will be sparking and catching fire, and my heart will be quickening to carry it through faster, and my eyes will be tearing ahead to take in more and more. This isn’t magic yet, or whatever the word is. (It’s always annoyed me that I can’t find the word.) This is just reading a book.
Rob’s brother Charley is not only a genius, but he can also bring characters from books into the real world. Rob has always felt slightly jealous and angry with his brother’s peculiarity and is just very happy to lead a normal life as an adult working as a lawyer.
Then Charley returns to town as villainous Dickerson characters start causing havoc and the hound of Baskerville starts barging down doors.
While each character took on a life of the their own once they were read into being, their identity is shaped by how readers and authors view them. So we have four Mr. Darcy’s who are invisibly the same person but have slightly different traits or habits or preferences. Our own experiences can influence our own reading of a book or character and this can change how different people understand the same story.
Charley sneezed, and made a face. “Oh, wonderful. I’m going to catch cold from a pathetic fallacy.
This isn’t only all fun, whimsy, and imagination. There is also a real focus on identity, belonging, and feeling loved.
There is a strong sense of family, protectiveness, and respect.
It’s.
Not.
Fair.
I know that life isn’t.
But stories are. Or if they’re not fair, they’re not fair with purpose.
I wish I could tell better where stories end and life begins.
Things didn’t always flow smoothly , but this is a book where characters come to life so plot holes can literally be excused.
Also, Dorian Grey is one of the most witty characters and does exceedingly well in the modern world.
If you enjoyed Inkheart - definitely pick this up!
The Victorians don’t mind coincidence—they wanted the world to make sense. They love people turning out to be related, especially people with titles. Seriously, if you bump into a kind aristocrat in a Dickens novel, he will turn out to be your uncle by chapter fifty-seven, so aim well.”
Tottering between four and five stars. 🌟
Bookstagram
As an avid reader and an English major who also studied law - this felt made for me. It was filled with literary references, academic insights and jokes, a love for reading that only true bookworms could ever understand.
So I’ll be drifting in words, absorbing, and the words I absorb will be racing through my bloodstream. Every nerve, every neuron will be sparking and catching fire, and my heart will be quickening to carry it through faster, and my eyes will be tearing ahead to take in more and more. This isn’t magic yet, or whatever the word is. (It’s always annoyed me that I can’t find the word.) This is just reading a book.
Rob’s brother Charley is not only a genius, but he can also bring characters from books into the real world. Rob has always felt slightly jealous and angry with his brother’s peculiarity and is just very happy to lead a normal life as an adult working as a lawyer.
Then Charley returns to town as villainous Dickerson characters start causing havoc and the hound of Baskerville starts barging down doors.
While each character took on a life of the their own once they were read into being, their identity is shaped by how readers and authors view them. So we have four Mr. Darcy’s who are invisibly the same person but have slightly different traits or habits or preferences. Our own experiences can influence our own reading of a book or character and this can change how different people understand the same story.
Charley sneezed, and made a face. “Oh, wonderful. I’m going to catch cold from a pathetic fallacy.
This isn’t only all fun, whimsy, and imagination. There is also a real focus on identity, belonging, and feeling loved.
There is a strong sense of family, protectiveness, and respect.
It’s.
Not.
Fair.
I know that life isn’t.
But stories are. Or if they’re not fair, they’re not fair with purpose.
I wish I could tell better where stories end and life begins.
Things didn’t always flow smoothly , but this is a book where characters come to life so plot holes can literally be excused.
Also, Dorian Grey is one of the most witty characters and does exceedingly well in the modern world.
If you enjoyed Inkheart - definitely pick this up!
The Victorians don’t mind coincidence—they wanted the world to make sense. They love people turning out to be related, especially people with titles. Seriously, if you bump into a kind aristocrat in a Dickens novel, he will turn out to be your uncle by chapter fifty-seven, so aim well.”
Tottering between four and five stars. 🌟
Bookstagram
July 25, 2020
Imagine you’re completely immersed in a book......I think most of us know that feeling.....but then imagine that you’ve become so captivated....or perhaps so horrified by a particular character, that not only does that character come alive in your imagination, he, or she does actually come alive!
That character isn’t necessarily going to be exactly the personality the author envisaged, but your own interpretation.....
Unfortunately, not everyone can conjure up these characters.....only a few people have the gift.
That’s what this book is about....characters who’ve escaped from fiction, and those capable of liberating them....and as you might expect, there are some who are good, some who are bad, and then of course, there are those who want to exploit everything to gain world domination.
It’s a clever idea, but for me, although there were parts I enjoyed.....especially the Dickens characters, Sherlock Holmes and a few others, it just didn’t work, and I felt unsatisfied and disappointed.
I’m not totally sure why.....
It seemed that some of the conversations between the characters were overly long, and lost the impact they should have had on the story.....
There were some exciting parts, but other scenes were dragged out....or fizzled out......
I felt that some story lines concerning the real life characters were just ridiculously unbelievable.....even in a fantasy story, the actions of the real people have to make basic sense.....and I felt the book was just too long, and that what could have been a good story got lost in so much unnecessary stuff......my three stars are mostly for what was such a good idea......
But that’s just me.....I’m definitely in the minority, as the GR rating is 4.2*, so perhaps I’ve missed something.....
That character isn’t necessarily going to be exactly the personality the author envisaged, but your own interpretation.....
Unfortunately, not everyone can conjure up these characters.....only a few people have the gift.
That’s what this book is about....characters who’ve escaped from fiction, and those capable of liberating them....and as you might expect, there are some who are good, some who are bad, and then of course, there are those who want to exploit everything to gain world domination.
It’s a clever idea, but for me, although there were parts I enjoyed.....especially the Dickens characters, Sherlock Holmes and a few others, it just didn’t work, and I felt unsatisfied and disappointed.
I’m not totally sure why.....
It seemed that some of the conversations between the characters were overly long, and lost the impact they should have had on the story.....
There were some exciting parts, but other scenes were dragged out....or fizzled out......
I felt that some story lines concerning the real life characters were just ridiculously unbelievable.....even in a fantasy story, the actions of the real people have to make basic sense.....and I felt the book was just too long, and that what could have been a good story got lost in so much unnecessary stuff......my three stars are mostly for what was such a good idea......
But that’s just me.....I’m definitely in the minority, as the GR rating is 4.2*, so perhaps I’ve missed something.....
January 17, 2020
As always this review can also be found on my blog The Tattooed Book Geek: https://thetattooedbookgeek.wordpress...
Dr Charles Sutherland is a lecturer at the Prince Albert University of Wellington, New Zealand with an ability, he can bring characters from books to life. Engrossed in a book, lost in the created world he reads them into being, from off the pages and into reality. One night, whilst deep in his research Charley reads Uriah Heep straight out of the pages of David Copperfield and into the English department of the University. Charley calls his older brother Rob for help in assisting him with getting Uriah back in his book. Before they manage to get Uriah Heep back into David Copperfield he gives Charley and Rob a warning, telling them that a new world is coming. There is another summoner, someone like Charley who can bring characters into existence and they have bad intentions.
After the encounter with Uriah Heep and a few other events (no spoilers from me), Charley feels a pull to a street in the centre of Wellington, an impossible street that sits halfway between fiction and reality. A hidden Victorian street where an assortment of literary characters that have all been pulled out of their books have made their home. It is while investigating the street that Rob and Charley meet Millie Radcliffe-Dix, a plucky fictional heroine who is full of moxie. Millie is a girl detective and adventuress from the Millie Radcliffe-Dix series of detective stories from the 1930s and 1940s and written by Jacqueline Blaine. With the help of Millie, Charley and Rob will attempt to find out who the other summoner is and stop them.
Millie Radcliffe-Dix is a new character created by Parry for her book. Unlike many of the others who have been borrowed, purloined, transported and mixed into her book in a cocktail of classic characters with Sherlock Holmes, the Hound of the Baskervilles, a number of Mr Darcy’s, Matilda Wormwood, The Witch Witch, Heathcliff, Dorian Gray, Dr Frankenstein, Dracula, the Artful Dodger and others all making appearances and the work of Charles Dickens plays a large part in the story. I will say that my own Dickens knowledge is admittedly bare-bones and it is based solely on the TV adaptations and films of his work. I have never read an actual Dickens book and, the same goes for Bronte and Austen, I haven’t read any of their work either. But, all isn’t lost for me and I’m not a complete illiterate buffoon as I have read all the Conan Doyle Holmes collections and stories (I’ve also read Matilda). I mention this because my lack of any detailed knowledge on certain characters/authors works wasn’t an impediment to my enjoyment of the story, at all and others out there might be the same as me and haven’t read the classics either.
Along with characters Charley can also bring objects out of books too, not the mundane, everyday type of items. But, items and objects that have meaning and that are important to the story in the book that he is reading. The character that Charley brings out of the book is the character with their core, their personality and their traits remaining the same as those written by the author and their creator. But, at the same time, they are also shaped by Charley’s own perception of them. I thought that this was extremely well done and a nice little touch by Parry. We know that as a reader that we all view a character (and, for that matter, a story too) slightly differently from another reader. That we develop our own individual impression of the characters visualising their appearances, certain aspects of their personality and their traits that to the reader might be more or less pronounced than intended and written by the author. And, even if we see them exactly as the author intended we are still reading them, seeing them through our own eyes.
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is well-written by Parry and told mostly from the first-person perspective of Rob, with occasional third-person chapters from Millie and Lydia (Rob’s girlfriend) along with a few interspersed excerpts from Charlie’s childhood diaries. Rob is a terrific voice as the narrator and, he, along with Charley and Millie make for a fantastic trio of characters that are ably supported by an eclectic cast of secondary characters.
Charley is a genius, a child prodigy and Rob is his normal older brother. Charley left Wellington to study at Oxford at the age of thirteen-years-old and was gone for a decade only returning three years ago and taking up a job as a university lecturer. Rob became a lawyer and has made his life in Wellington but with Charley’s return, his life has seen an upheaval back to the days of his youth when he had to help Charley put characters back into their books. Rob is exasperated when it happens. With Charley now an adult he expects that he should either be able to deal with it himself. Or, that he should be able to control the ability so that it doesn’t happen. Charley gets easily lost in the book, the story and the characters that he is reading about, connecting with them, bringing them to life in his mind, picturing them and thinking about them. Lost in the book, the characters, the story and the world all become real to him and he inadvertently brings a character out. Rob will help Charley, they are brothers but it is a reluctant help, given begrudgingly because it keeps happening. Rob seems to war with himself, he is Charley’s older brother, he loves him, he will protect him. But, at the same time he annoys, irritates and vexes him. Rob has never understood Charley’s ability and it makes him uncomfortable. With Charley he is out of his element, he is realistic, living in the real while Charley, with his ability, seems to live between worlds, half in reality and half in the fantastical. Unlike being a duo of friends or thrown together acquaintances Rob and Charley being brothers and all the history that comes with their relationship adds an extra layer to the story. It’s a complicated relationship between the two siblings, fraught and tenuous. They are family with the familial bond, the ties that bind, that run deep and sometimes, it is only through adversity that you see how much someone means to you and you discover the lengths that you will go to in order to protect them.
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is weird, wonderful, funny and at times, emotional. A delightfully entertaining romp where the fictional and the real world collide merging together adventure and mystery. It is a bibliophile’s paradise, a treasure trove of literary characters, of references, a book that celebrates the bond that is created between a reader and a book and the perfect book for readers everywhere regardless of their favoured genre.
Simply, if you love reading, you will love this book.
Dr Charles Sutherland is a lecturer at the Prince Albert University of Wellington, New Zealand with an ability, he can bring characters from books to life. Engrossed in a book, lost in the created world he reads them into being, from off the pages and into reality. One night, whilst deep in his research Charley reads Uriah Heep straight out of the pages of David Copperfield and into the English department of the University. Charley calls his older brother Rob for help in assisting him with getting Uriah back in his book. Before they manage to get Uriah Heep back into David Copperfield he gives Charley and Rob a warning, telling them that a new world is coming. There is another summoner, someone like Charley who can bring characters into existence and they have bad intentions.
After the encounter with Uriah Heep and a few other events (no spoilers from me), Charley feels a pull to a street in the centre of Wellington, an impossible street that sits halfway between fiction and reality. A hidden Victorian street where an assortment of literary characters that have all been pulled out of their books have made their home. It is while investigating the street that Rob and Charley meet Millie Radcliffe-Dix, a plucky fictional heroine who is full of moxie. Millie is a girl detective and adventuress from the Millie Radcliffe-Dix series of detective stories from the 1930s and 1940s and written by Jacqueline Blaine. With the help of Millie, Charley and Rob will attempt to find out who the other summoner is and stop them.
Millie Radcliffe-Dix is a new character created by Parry for her book. Unlike many of the others who have been borrowed, purloined, transported and mixed into her book in a cocktail of classic characters with Sherlock Holmes, the Hound of the Baskervilles, a number of Mr Darcy’s, Matilda Wormwood, The Witch Witch, Heathcliff, Dorian Gray, Dr Frankenstein, Dracula, the Artful Dodger and others all making appearances and the work of Charles Dickens plays a large part in the story. I will say that my own Dickens knowledge is admittedly bare-bones and it is based solely on the TV adaptations and films of his work. I have never read an actual Dickens book and, the same goes for Bronte and Austen, I haven’t read any of their work either. But, all isn’t lost for me and I’m not a complete illiterate buffoon as I have read all the Conan Doyle Holmes collections and stories (I’ve also read Matilda). I mention this because my lack of any detailed knowledge on certain characters/authors works wasn’t an impediment to my enjoyment of the story, at all and others out there might be the same as me and haven’t read the classics either.
Along with characters Charley can also bring objects out of books too, not the mundane, everyday type of items. But, items and objects that have meaning and that are important to the story in the book that he is reading. The character that Charley brings out of the book is the character with their core, their personality and their traits remaining the same as those written by the author and their creator. But, at the same time, they are also shaped by Charley’s own perception of them. I thought that this was extremely well done and a nice little touch by Parry. We know that as a reader that we all view a character (and, for that matter, a story too) slightly differently from another reader. That we develop our own individual impression of the characters visualising their appearances, certain aspects of their personality and their traits that to the reader might be more or less pronounced than intended and written by the author. And, even if we see them exactly as the author intended we are still reading them, seeing them through our own eyes.
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is well-written by Parry and told mostly from the first-person perspective of Rob, with occasional third-person chapters from Millie and Lydia (Rob’s girlfriend) along with a few interspersed excerpts from Charlie’s childhood diaries. Rob is a terrific voice as the narrator and, he, along with Charley and Millie make for a fantastic trio of characters that are ably supported by an eclectic cast of secondary characters.
Charley is a genius, a child prodigy and Rob is his normal older brother. Charley left Wellington to study at Oxford at the age of thirteen-years-old and was gone for a decade only returning three years ago and taking up a job as a university lecturer. Rob became a lawyer and has made his life in Wellington but with Charley’s return, his life has seen an upheaval back to the days of his youth when he had to help Charley put characters back into their books. Rob is exasperated when it happens. With Charley now an adult he expects that he should either be able to deal with it himself. Or, that he should be able to control the ability so that it doesn’t happen. Charley gets easily lost in the book, the story and the characters that he is reading about, connecting with them, bringing them to life in his mind, picturing them and thinking about them. Lost in the book, the characters, the story and the world all become real to him and he inadvertently brings a character out. Rob will help Charley, they are brothers but it is a reluctant help, given begrudgingly because it keeps happening. Rob seems to war with himself, he is Charley’s older brother, he loves him, he will protect him. But, at the same time he annoys, irritates and vexes him. Rob has never understood Charley’s ability and it makes him uncomfortable. With Charley he is out of his element, he is realistic, living in the real while Charley, with his ability, seems to live between worlds, half in reality and half in the fantastical. Unlike being a duo of friends or thrown together acquaintances Rob and Charley being brothers and all the history that comes with their relationship adds an extra layer to the story. It’s a complicated relationship between the two siblings, fraught and tenuous. They are family with the familial bond, the ties that bind, that run deep and sometimes, it is only through adversity that you see how much someone means to you and you discover the lengths that you will go to in order to protect them.
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is weird, wonderful, funny and at times, emotional. A delightfully entertaining romp where the fictional and the real world collide merging together adventure and mystery. It is a bibliophile’s paradise, a treasure trove of literary characters, of references, a book that celebrates the bond that is created between a reader and a book and the perfect book for readers everywhere regardless of their favoured genre.
Simply, if you love reading, you will love this book.
February 24, 2020
A love letter to classic novels and literary theory, as well as an exploration of complicated sibling relationships, The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is high concept, character driven, and fairly slow paced. It's also quite funny at times! There was a lot that I enjoyed about this, but I do think it suffers a bit from too-slow pacing that drags in the middle. I like character-driven stories, but in this case both the action and the character development sometimes take awhile to go anywhere in favor of exploring more world ideas and literary characters. So I liked it, but I wish it was 50-100 pages shorter.
Charley has always had the ability to pull things and characters from books into the real world, and this has made life for him and his family complicated. He also happens to be a genius and these things have led to a complicated relationship with his older brother Rob who resents feeling less smart and special, while simultaneously resenting Charley frequently needing his help when he accidentally pulls something out of a book and gets in trouble. (Especially now that Charley is a successful literature professor and Rob is a lawyer) The most emotionally resonant thread through the story is the relationship between the two brothers, who ultimately love each other but have to work through some real issues. It can be painful to read at times, but I think that element feels pretty realistic and well-handled. As an older sibling, it can be a difficult transition to seeing a younger brother or sister as a capable adult and get out of childhood patterns of relating. You see a lot of that here.
What's really fun about the story is that we get to see lots of literary characters interact, often in quite entertaining ways! From the eponymous Uriah Heep (villain of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens) to a millennial version of Dorian Gray, an angsty White Witch of Narnia, and several Mr. Darcy's, readers of classic literature will get a kick out of all the nods to books. There is also a lot here about literary theory, different ways of interpreting a text and how that changes what we see. I think that has to do with the background of the author. I really enjoyed it, but some readers may not. Overall, I found a lot to love despite the uneven pacing. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Charley has always had the ability to pull things and characters from books into the real world, and this has made life for him and his family complicated. He also happens to be a genius and these things have led to a complicated relationship with his older brother Rob who resents feeling less smart and special, while simultaneously resenting Charley frequently needing his help when he accidentally pulls something out of a book and gets in trouble. (Especially now that Charley is a successful literature professor and Rob is a lawyer) The most emotionally resonant thread through the story is the relationship between the two brothers, who ultimately love each other but have to work through some real issues. It can be painful to read at times, but I think that element feels pretty realistic and well-handled. As an older sibling, it can be a difficult transition to seeing a younger brother or sister as a capable adult and get out of childhood patterns of relating. You see a lot of that here.
What's really fun about the story is that we get to see lots of literary characters interact, often in quite entertaining ways! From the eponymous Uriah Heep (villain of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens) to a millennial version of Dorian Gray, an angsty White Witch of Narnia, and several Mr. Darcy's, readers of classic literature will get a kick out of all the nods to books. There is also a lot here about literary theory, different ways of interpreting a text and how that changes what we see. I think that has to do with the background of the author. I really enjoyed it, but some readers may not. Overall, I found a lot to love despite the uneven pacing. I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
January 22, 2024
Very fun and voice driven in a way that worked for me! Pacing wise, the middle was baggy, but the references were fun and I appreciated that the ending "went for it"
February 29, 2020
This is a fun, exciting, literary adventure. Rob Sutherland is a lawyer in Wellington, who lives with his girlfriend, Lydia. His younger brother, Charlie, is a Dickens scholar and, somewhat the bane of his life. For Charlie has a secret which his family have closed ranks on, to protect him, for most of his life. He has an ability to take characters out from books and deposit them in the real world.
So, when Charlie calls Rob at 4am to say that Uriah Heep is on the loose and he can’t catch him, Rob sleepily makes his excuses and sets off to help catch the ‘umble Uriah. What evolves is an extremely fascinating romp through literature. This involves a character called Milly Radcliffe-Dix, who Charlie brought out of a book as a child, and who is now living in a secret, hidden street, peopled by characters such as Roald Dahl’s Matilda, various Darcy’s, Dorian Gray and Heathcliff.
It soon appears that Charlie is not alone in his abilities. There is another ‘summoner,’ who can bring characters out of book and he is putting not only Milly, and her friends, in danger, but the whole world. Rob, who has always slightly resented his brother, becomes involved in this adventure and also in investigating where these secret skills of Charlie’s have come from. If you are a book lover, you will enjoy meeting everyone from Dickens, to the Jabberwocky and the Hound of the Baskervilles, in these pages. A great read, with characters you will care about.
So, when Charlie calls Rob at 4am to say that Uriah Heep is on the loose and he can’t catch him, Rob sleepily makes his excuses and sets off to help catch the ‘umble Uriah. What evolves is an extremely fascinating romp through literature. This involves a character called Milly Radcliffe-Dix, who Charlie brought out of a book as a child, and who is now living in a secret, hidden street, peopled by characters such as Roald Dahl’s Matilda, various Darcy’s, Dorian Gray and Heathcliff.
It soon appears that Charlie is not alone in his abilities. There is another ‘summoner,’ who can bring characters out of book and he is putting not only Milly, and her friends, in danger, but the whole world. Rob, who has always slightly resented his brother, becomes involved in this adventure and also in investigating where these secret skills of Charlie’s have come from. If you are a book lover, you will enjoy meeting everyone from Dickens, to the Jabberwocky and the Hound of the Baskervilles, in these pages. A great read, with characters you will care about.
September 1, 2023
This is one of the MOST enjoyable books I have ever read. Why wasn't this book marketed to show how truly stunning this is?!?!? If there was ever a book world I would want to run into, it would be Charlie Sutherlands. Fans of Charles Dickens will love this book, but I wouldn't let not having read Dickens work put anyone off reading this. It's a vibrant, thrilling book that is beautifully written. I'm so glad I found this.
January 24, 2020
Originally posted to I Should Read That
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
There is a certain kind of magic that you get from books about books -- regardless of age range or genre, these kinds of stories will always warm my heart. I was absolutely thrilled to get the chance to read The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep before the UK publication date and was totally charmed by this fantastic book!
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep focuses mainly on Victorian literature, particularly the works of Charles Dickens, however I do not think you need to have read -- or studied, in my case -- classics in order to comprehend the wonder of this book. Regardless of whether or not you’re a fantasy fan, I think you’ll love this book if you’re a reader.
For me, this book can be summed up in one word: charming. You can really feel Parry's passion not only for these classic tales, but for the original characters she creates as well. Parry does a fantastic job of taking beloved and well-known characters and breathing life into them -- each was recognisable from the source material yet felt like an original creation. She adds layers of creativity and innovation with the magic that brings these characters into the real world -- they manifest with certain aspects of their readers' imagination so no two individual characters (or five, in some cases) are quite the same.
However, the book doesn't just focus on fictional favourites. Rob and Charley had just as much spark to them as characters like Uriah Heep or Heathcliff, and the interactions between the fictional characters and real people were just wonderful. There was so much humor and banter and I got so much joy from reading this book -- it's the prefect thing to snuggle up with on sofa in the evenings.
But this book isn’t just fluff and literary love. My favourite aspect of the book is actually the deep and complex relationship between Rob and Charley -- in a way, this book is really all about the complexities of familial relationships, especially between siblings who are just dramatically different people. I really loved the fact that the story is told from Rob’s point of view rather than Charley's -- who would maybe be the more obvious choice for a POV character. This gave a much more interesting perspective on the narrative because of his complicated feelings about Charley and the amazing and unique power he possesses. Giving the reader the complexity of his point of view helped shape this book from a good one to a great one.
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is a lovely, complex, and charming book that is sure to delight any book lover. I couldn't recommend it more highly, regardless of whether you're a reader of classics or not.
4.5 out of 5 stars
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This review is spoiler-free.
There is a certain kind of magic that you get from books about books -- regardless of age range or genre, these kinds of stories will always warm my heart. I was absolutely thrilled to get the chance to read The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep before the UK publication date and was totally charmed by this fantastic book!
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep focuses mainly on Victorian literature, particularly the works of Charles Dickens, however I do not think you need to have read -- or studied, in my case -- classics in order to comprehend the wonder of this book. Regardless of whether or not you’re a fantasy fan, I think you’ll love this book if you’re a reader.
For me, this book can be summed up in one word: charming. You can really feel Parry's passion not only for these classic tales, but for the original characters she creates as well. Parry does a fantastic job of taking beloved and well-known characters and breathing life into them -- each was recognisable from the source material yet felt like an original creation. She adds layers of creativity and innovation with the magic that brings these characters into the real world -- they manifest with certain aspects of their readers' imagination so no two individual characters (or five, in some cases) are quite the same.
However, the book doesn't just focus on fictional favourites. Rob and Charley had just as much spark to them as characters like Uriah Heep or Heathcliff, and the interactions between the fictional characters and real people were just wonderful. There was so much humor and banter and I got so much joy from reading this book -- it's the prefect thing to snuggle up with on sofa in the evenings.
But this book isn’t just fluff and literary love. My favourite aspect of the book is actually the deep and complex relationship between Rob and Charley -- in a way, this book is really all about the complexities of familial relationships, especially between siblings who are just dramatically different people. I really loved the fact that the story is told from Rob’s point of view rather than Charley's -- who would maybe be the more obvious choice for a POV character. This gave a much more interesting perspective on the narrative because of his complicated feelings about Charley and the amazing and unique power he possesses. Giving the reader the complexity of his point of view helped shape this book from a good one to a great one.
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep is a lovely, complex, and charming book that is sure to delight any book lover. I couldn't recommend it more highly, regardless of whether you're a reader of classics or not.
4.5 out of 5 stars
July 9, 2020
3,5 Sterne
Idee:
Von Beginn an gefiel mir die Idee, Figuren aus Büchern zu holen, sehr und ich hatte sehr hohe Erwartungen an die Geschichte, was wohl unter anderem daran lag, dass das Buch so lange ungelesen bei mir im Regal stand.
Auch während des Lesen erging es mir nicht weniger so. Die Geschichte rund um Charley und Rob ist wirklich einzigartig und das hat mir sehr gefallen, weil man an keiner Stelle etwas hatte, was einem bekannt vorkam. Außerdem hat die Autorin viele Wendungen eingebaut, die man so nicht erwartet hätte, weil man so etwas in der Art noch nicht gelesen hatte.
Schreibstil:
Hier sind wir bei einem meiner Kritikpunkte angelangt. Der Schreibstil der Autorin ist nicht schlecht, das auf keinen Fall, aber ich fand, dass er nicht zur Geschichte passte. Vielleicht mag das auch zum Teil an der Übersetzung liegen, aber ich fand, dass alles geschrieben war, als handle es sich hier um einen Roman, der in der Vergangenheit spielt, dabei spielte die Geschichte im Hier und Jetzt. Dieser Punkt hat es mir sehr schwer gemacht, mich auf die Geschichte zu konzentrieren, weil ich mich gefühlt habe, wie im falsche Film.
Spannung:
Spannend war die Geschichte auf jeden Fall, keine Frage. Die Autorin schuf Wendungen, die unvorhersehbar waren und den Leser sowohl fesselten als auch verwirrten, was mir half, trotz meiner Probleme mit dem Schreibstil, etwas dranzubleiben.
Logik:
Die meisten Handlungen waren nachvollziehbar, auch wenn ich sagen muss, dass es mir an manchen Stellen wirklich ein bisschen zu sehr an den Haaren herbeigezogen war. Trotzdem konnte die Autorin es so verpacken, dass ich die für mich mangelnde Logik an manchen Stellen trotzdem verkraften konnte.
Charaktertiefe:
Die Charaktere waren mir zu Beginn etwas zu wenig beschrieben. Man erfuhr, wie Rob zu Charley stand, aber nicht warum. Das erfuhr man meiner Meinung nach etwas zu spät. Doch später bekamen die Charaktere vor allem durch die Tagebucheinträge mehr Tiefe.
Fazit:
Eine Geschichte mit Höhen und Tiefen, die zwar in punkto Schreibstil nicht gerade glänzt, aber trotzdem eine Bereicherung für jedes Regal darstellt! Lesenswert für alle, die gerne einmal mit Sherlock Holmes Tee trinken oder mit David Copperfield in Dickens Werken schmökern möchten!
Idee:
Von Beginn an gefiel mir die Idee, Figuren aus Büchern zu holen, sehr und ich hatte sehr hohe Erwartungen an die Geschichte, was wohl unter anderem daran lag, dass das Buch so lange ungelesen bei mir im Regal stand.
Auch während des Lesen erging es mir nicht weniger so. Die Geschichte rund um Charley und Rob ist wirklich einzigartig und das hat mir sehr gefallen, weil man an keiner Stelle etwas hatte, was einem bekannt vorkam. Außerdem hat die Autorin viele Wendungen eingebaut, die man so nicht erwartet hätte, weil man so etwas in der Art noch nicht gelesen hatte.
Schreibstil:
Hier sind wir bei einem meiner Kritikpunkte angelangt. Der Schreibstil der Autorin ist nicht schlecht, das auf keinen Fall, aber ich fand, dass er nicht zur Geschichte passte. Vielleicht mag das auch zum Teil an der Übersetzung liegen, aber ich fand, dass alles geschrieben war, als handle es sich hier um einen Roman, der in der Vergangenheit spielt, dabei spielte die Geschichte im Hier und Jetzt. Dieser Punkt hat es mir sehr schwer gemacht, mich auf die Geschichte zu konzentrieren, weil ich mich gefühlt habe, wie im falsche Film.
Spannung:
Spannend war die Geschichte auf jeden Fall, keine Frage. Die Autorin schuf Wendungen, die unvorhersehbar waren und den Leser sowohl fesselten als auch verwirrten, was mir half, trotz meiner Probleme mit dem Schreibstil, etwas dranzubleiben.
Logik:
Die meisten Handlungen waren nachvollziehbar, auch wenn ich sagen muss, dass es mir an manchen Stellen wirklich ein bisschen zu sehr an den Haaren herbeigezogen war. Trotzdem konnte die Autorin es so verpacken, dass ich die für mich mangelnde Logik an manchen Stellen trotzdem verkraften konnte.
Charaktertiefe:
Die Charaktere waren mir zu Beginn etwas zu wenig beschrieben. Man erfuhr, wie Rob zu Charley stand, aber nicht warum. Das erfuhr man meiner Meinung nach etwas zu spät. Doch später bekamen die Charaktere vor allem durch die Tagebucheinträge mehr Tiefe.
Fazit:
Eine Geschichte mit Höhen und Tiefen, die zwar in punkto Schreibstil nicht gerade glänzt, aber trotzdem eine Bereicherung für jedes Regal darstellt! Lesenswert für alle, die gerne einmal mit Sherlock Holmes Tee trinken oder mit David Copperfield in Dickens Werken schmökern möchten!
August 30, 2022
Un libro per gli amanti dei libri.
L'improbabile fuga di Uriah Heep vede come protagonisti due fratelli, Rob e Charley.
Charley ha la possibilità di portare in vita personaggi dei libri e Rob, beh, si ritrova sempre ad aiutarlo a farli sparire.
Ma un giorno i personaggi dei romanzi iniziano a combinare disastri e il mondo rischia di essere distrutto...
Avevo un po' paura ad approcciarmi a questo libro: quando si tratta di libri che parlano di libri, infatti, sto sempre attenta, perchè potrei non capire tutti i riferimenti. E questo libro è tutto focalizzato sulle storie e sui loro lettori.
HG Perry però ha fatto un buonissimo lavoro e sebbene L'improbabile fuga di Uriah Heep parli prevalentemente di personaggi dickensiani, sono abbastanza caratterizzati/spiegati da non essere incomprensibili nel caso in cui non si siano letti i libri da cui provengono.
Sono personaggi che a loro modo risultano nuovi, rielaborati e per questo interessanti.
Nonostante il libro sia un mattoncino l'ho letto con avidità e ho apprezzato il modo in cui sia i protagonisti che i personaggi fictional venissero utilizzati all'interno della trama per creare una storia nuova.
Ho fatto tante teorie e supposizioni (sentendomi anche un genio quando ne ho capito una), ho empatizzato con Rob e la sua "normalità" e con Charley e la sua sensibilità, adorandoli entrambi.
Sul finale sono leggermente rimasta delusa perchè avrei voluto più suspance, più difficoltà nell'arrivare al punto clou, più complicazioni e risvolti di trama prima del finalissimo, che invece si è risolto piuttosto velocemente.
A parte questo piccolo neo, comunque, ho davvero adorato il libro.
L'improbabile fuga di Uriah Heep vede come protagonisti due fratelli, Rob e Charley.
Charley ha la possibilità di portare in vita personaggi dei libri e Rob, beh, si ritrova sempre ad aiutarlo a farli sparire.
Ma un giorno i personaggi dei romanzi iniziano a combinare disastri e il mondo rischia di essere distrutto...
Avevo un po' paura ad approcciarmi a questo libro: quando si tratta di libri che parlano di libri, infatti, sto sempre attenta, perchè potrei non capire tutti i riferimenti. E questo libro è tutto focalizzato sulle storie e sui loro lettori.
HG Perry però ha fatto un buonissimo lavoro e sebbene L'improbabile fuga di Uriah Heep parli prevalentemente di personaggi dickensiani, sono abbastanza caratterizzati/spiegati da non essere incomprensibili nel caso in cui non si siano letti i libri da cui provengono.
Sono personaggi che a loro modo risultano nuovi, rielaborati e per questo interessanti.
Nonostante il libro sia un mattoncino l'ho letto con avidità e ho apprezzato il modo in cui sia i protagonisti che i personaggi fictional venissero utilizzati all'interno della trama per creare una storia nuova.
Ho fatto tante teorie e supposizioni (sentendomi anche un genio quando ne ho capito una), ho empatizzato con Rob e la sua "normalità" e con Charley e la sua sensibilità, adorandoli entrambi.
Sul finale sono leggermente rimasta delusa perchè avrei voluto più suspance, più difficoltà nell'arrivare al punto clou, più complicazioni e risvolti di trama prima del finalissimo, che invece si è risolto piuttosto velocemente.
A parte questo piccolo neo, comunque, ho davvero adorato il libro.
August 26, 2019
This is a pretty solid 3 star book. Considering this is Parry's first book, it had some style issues and story meandering that I wasn't fond of but overall I enjoyed the story. I really enjoyed the concept and the way it was executed. I also liked the reimagining of classical fictional characters in a real-world scenario where they are still fictional. Kudos to the narrator of the audiobook, and his awesome New Zealand (or at the very least, Down Under) accent - it absolutely helped sell the setting for me. For me, the hardest part to believe was that the two main characters were adults. Their actions and even dialogue just didn't really reflect that. If they were teens or even young adults, I think I could have bought into the story a little more. There were parts that were kind of repetitive, and in some places the narrative dragged (especially at the end), but again, overall, it was pretty good.
August 14, 2025
I was just introduced to author H.G. Parry a month ago when I read her brilliant new novel A Far Better Thing. She absolutely blew me away with a talent that seamlessly recreated Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities as a portal fantasy with terrifyingly amoral fey and the doomed changelings that serve them. After giving five stars to this brilliantly creative reinterpretation, I went searching for more of Parry’s work to read.
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep seemed the obvious choice for my next foray into Parry’s work. The book’s premise — that an eccentric, young literary prodigy, Charley Sutherland, can read literary characters out of their books and into the material world — was promising. Imagining the creative hijinks possible if Uriah Heep, the Artful Dodger, Sherlock Holmes, Dorian Gray, and Heathcliff were set loose in the modern world!
Unfortunately, despite this promising premise, I immediately begin running into issues with this book. My biggest problem was the character of Rob Sutherland, big brother to the eccentric Charley, and the primary narrative voice of the novel. I didn’t like him. From the first chapter Rob’s character makes it obvious that this book will be as much about a dysfunctional family dynamic between the brothers as it is about the chaos caused by free range Victorian literary characters loose in the city. Moreover, the conflict between the brothers is of the most banal and boring variety. Rob, a solid citizen lawyer, is resentful of being responsible for getting his brilliantly impractical brother out of the extraordinary messes his arcane talent creates for him. Rob just wants his life to be normal, wants his brother to be normal, wants to stop being embarrassed by the disconcerting vagaries of his brother’s magical manifestations.
Another issue is that, at times, it seemed like the ideas of the book were too large for Parry, and it often appeared that she was struggling to wrestle them into some kind of shape. This may have contributed to the book being overlong. (464 pages is really rather bloated for a book of this genre.)
Reading The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep took me through an unpredictable roller coaster of reactions. At points the cleverness and creativity of Parry’s ideas and the way she executed them gave me a solid four star vibe. At other times, when the author seemed to be lost in the weeds of her own creation, I was sure I couldn’t rate the book higher than two stars, and briefly considered abandoning it altogether. I’m glad that I persisted, as the book had a wild, strong (but still oddly elongated) finish, but I can understand those who gave up and put a DNF by this one.
Ultimately, I was glad that I read this book. Its wild creativity and cleverness overpowered its very real flaws, but sometimes it was a close thing. In the end, I settled on a solid three stars I liked it rating, splitting the difference between being impressed by the author’s ambitious cleverness and my annoyance at her book’s irritating flaws. I will continue to read H.G. Parry, but I wouldn’t recommend this book as the ideal introduction to her work.
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep seemed the obvious choice for my next foray into Parry’s work. The book’s premise — that an eccentric, young literary prodigy, Charley Sutherland, can read literary characters out of their books and into the material world — was promising. Imagining the creative hijinks possible if Uriah Heep, the Artful Dodger, Sherlock Holmes, Dorian Gray, and Heathcliff were set loose in the modern world!
Unfortunately, despite this promising premise, I immediately begin running into issues with this book. My biggest problem was the character of Rob Sutherland, big brother to the eccentric Charley, and the primary narrative voice of the novel. I didn’t like him. From the first chapter Rob’s character makes it obvious that this book will be as much about a dysfunctional family dynamic between the brothers as it is about the chaos caused by free range Victorian literary characters loose in the city. Moreover, the conflict between the brothers is of the most banal and boring variety. Rob, a solid citizen lawyer, is resentful of being responsible for getting his brilliantly impractical brother out of the extraordinary messes his arcane talent creates for him. Rob just wants his life to be normal, wants his brother to be normal, wants to stop being embarrassed by the disconcerting vagaries of his brother’s magical manifestations.
Another issue is that, at times, it seemed like the ideas of the book were too large for Parry, and it often appeared that she was struggling to wrestle them into some kind of shape. This may have contributed to the book being overlong. (464 pages is really rather bloated for a book of this genre.)
Reading The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep took me through an unpredictable roller coaster of reactions. At points the cleverness and creativity of Parry’s ideas and the way she executed them gave me a solid four star vibe. At other times, when the author seemed to be lost in the weeds of her own creation, I was sure I couldn’t rate the book higher than two stars, and briefly considered abandoning it altogether. I’m glad that I persisted, as the book had a wild, strong (but still oddly elongated) finish, but I can understand those who gave up and put a DNF by this one.
Ultimately, I was glad that I read this book. Its wild creativity and cleverness overpowered its very real flaws, but sometimes it was a close thing. In the end, I settled on a solid three stars I liked it rating, splitting the difference between being impressed by the author’s ambitious cleverness and my annoyance at her book’s irritating flaws. I will continue to read H.G. Parry, but I wouldn’t recommend this book as the ideal introduction to her work.
April 17, 2022
Es war eine wahre Freude in diesem Buch geliebte und ungeliebte Charaktere aus meinem bisherigen Leseleben wieder zu begegnen. Heathcliff, Sherlock, Dorian, Mathilda, Viktor Frankenstein, Darcy waren zum Teil so authentisch gezeichnet, dass sie sehr schnell wieder zu erkennen waren. Besonders Dorians Dandytum kam sehr gut in dieser Neu-Interpretation an.
Der Handlungsstrang um die Familie der Sutherlands war auch interessant und bettete sich gut in die Gesamtgeschichte ein. Insgesamt war es mir leider nur etwas zu lang. Un 100 bis 150 Seiten gekürzt hätte es ein Sternchen mehr von mir gegeben.
Eine lustige Lektüre für Klassiker-Liebhaber und eine kleine Hommage an Charles Dickens.
Der Handlungsstrang um die Familie der Sutherlands war auch interessant und bettete sich gut in die Gesamtgeschichte ein. Insgesamt war es mir leider nur etwas zu lang. Un 100 bis 150 Seiten gekürzt hätte es ein Sternchen mehr von mir gegeben.
Eine lustige Lektüre für Klassiker-Liebhaber und eine kleine Hommage an Charles Dickens.
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