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The Greenstone Grail (2005)

The Greenstone Grail (2005)

Book Info

Rating
3.54 of 5 Votes: 2
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ISBN
0345460790 (ISBN13: 9780345460790)
Language
English
Publisher
del rey

About book The Greenstone Grail (2005)

I bought this book specifically to see if it conformed to the pattern of grail stories that contain a Hickory Dickory Dock motif. And I was pleased to see that Hickory Dickory Dock is in fact quoted, though it leaves me none the wiser as to why these symbols recur together. I don't know what its significance is because it slips in and out without any explanation.All it did was confirm to my mind that there is a link somewhere between the archetypal Mouse and the Grail. I found the characters here much more appealing than I did in the Fern Capel books (which Hemingway wrote as Jan Siegel)and I really liked Bartlemy Goodman, the mysterious individual whose cooking is so sublime that it could woo Mossad and Hamas into sitting down at the same table and peaceably discussing their differences.The main child protagonist of the story, Nathan, has been conceived in highly unusual circumstances — his mother, Annie Ward, has inadvertedly opened the Gate of Death. As Nathan grows up he is subject to disturbing nightmares of a world in a distant universe, so contaminated by sorcery that it is dying in a cesspool of magic. He also dreams of a greenstone grail, filled with blood, that has been placed on Earth for safe-keeping. The grail may be part of a plan to heal the ruined worlds — or it may just be a way of escape for the ruler of the distant world and his consort.Nathan begins to realise his nightmares are actually transporting him physically into the world of dreams and it's getting harder to find his way home. Moreover there is a star watching over his house but whether it is for good or ill is not entirely clear.Bring on the sequel!

This book was an interesting mix of ancient legend and multiverse theory. Think Ray Bradbury meets Arthurian legend. Nathan Ward is a young boy of mysterious beginnings who discovers a grail that whispers and various strange creatures that are real-in his dreams and in his world. With his best friend Hazel, his mother Annie, and his Uncle Bartlemy, he sets off to discover the reason for this grail being in his world and the reason why there are new dangers everywhere he turns. While the premise is a good one, the characters fall a little flat. They are not very personal, the only one who has any sort of presence or personality is Bartlemy, but the wise sage is not a hard character to establish. The pacing of this book was very slow; it took a long time to build up to a conflict and definitely lacked momentum. In fact, that is my chief complaint. The pacing really ruined the story. What should have been an exciting and suspenseful wasn't, although I will give the author credit for interesting concepts, but the execution was lacking.

Do You like book The Greenstone Grail (2005)?

that story is really awesome.. I don't actually feel I'm reading this book but instead I feel like I was really in the scene.. a very nice plot in this book.. I really love it.. I had finished it already but I could still feel its story within me, everyday I was looking for it.. the story is just too great.. love Amanda Hemingway!! The ending is really nice too, i was really satisfied to it, It feels complete - the ending - but when I found out there is a next book that's the time I felt "it" was incomplete. then, suddenly I saw myself longing for its next book. I was like crazy until now looking for the next book!! yeah.. GREAT!! love it.. =)
—Sujuelf_heeshin

The first in a trilogy featuring a young boy whose dreams are far too real--because they ARE real. He learns in his dreams about a dying world and then he must find the grail to begin the healing process. In the next two books (which I have not read), Nathan must find the crown and sword so that the spell of healing can be complete.This story has all the flavor of Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising series. I enjoyed the characters and the setting but found the plot moved a little too slowly at times.
—Rae

I had read so many great reviews of this book, that I was really looking forward to reading it. Maybe my expectations were too high as a result, but I was curiously disappointed not to be blown away by it. I also hadn't realised that it was a YA book, which became very obvious by the tone and writing style of the book...and I very nearly put it down again. But I am glad I continued as it was enjoyable, for all its faults.The story starts off with a young mother and her child being driven towards a grand old house by whispering shadows. Years pass and the child grows up to find he has the power to travel to different universes and, unintentionally, bring things back with him. One of these universes is dying, but a Great Spell (note the capitals!) can safe everyone, if only the Cup, Sword and Crown can be brought together. Coincidently, a local legend tells of a mysterious, cursed, cup of blood that was lost centuries ago by the ruling family of the area. Oh, and a strange cup has just come up for sale at Sootheby's....Actually, the story has a lot more depth than that. There are some nice twists, although they weren't a massive surprise, and the characters were brought to life very well. A lot is left open for the next two books in the series, which I would probably read if I came across them, but wouldn't necessarily go running out to buy them.So, overall, a good YA book that I'm sure would be loved by a lot of readers in that age group, but for me, it lacked some of the depth I really want in my fantasy.
—Dark-Draco

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