Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Ransom Riggs
June 2011
352 pages
Published by Quirk Books
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I once knew a gentleman by the name of Ransom…he was a retired school administrator and I was a substitute teacher and we’d see each other occasionally at the gym. I even interviewed him once for a history class I took (during my short lived stint as a master’s student)…he was a WWII pilot and was shot down over China and he had some amazing stories to tell.
What’s that have to do with this book, you ask? Well, nothing, really, other than the author’s name made me think of the very nice Ransom that I once knew. And they have WWII in common. Well, sort of. The Ransom formerly known by me was in the Pacific theater (and why are they called theaters? $10 says Other Jill might know) and Ransom’s book is sometimes set in the European theater (specifically, Wales), so it’s a stretch.
Anyways…what did I think of the book? (There will be no summary of this one, as the title pretty much says it all…at least all that doesn’t spoil). I really wanted to be creeped out by this book. In fact, I do believe I said there would be hell to pay if there wasn’t some creep. And I’ll admit that some of the pictures did weird me out a bit, but overall, I was a little disappointed. Most probably that’s because I got to the end and they were just getting around to starting off on an Epic Adventure. Which just screams “There are more books to come. Suckah!”
Hmph. I didn’t want sequels. I wanted closure. So this is where I tell Mr. Riggs that I read all of the Harry Potter books EXCEPT FOR THE LAST ONE. Because my memory, it is like a sieve, and I never remember all the books that have come before, so when there are sequels, it is a giant pain in the ass for my memory. It makes it work too hard, and said memory says book the first better have been damn good if you want me to be interested in book the second, and any other books that follow. So umm, yeah…not so much on the damn good for this one, although I think I’m in the minority on this.
And honestly, I don’t know what’s up with me and creepy lately. Because when I was a kid (okay, and a teenager, and a young adult) and my mom and I would be watching tv and she’d choose a scary movie (and not Texas Chainsaw Massacre scary, more like psychologically creepy), I’d leave the room and then come back when it was all over and ask her what had happened (which drove her crazy). But now, I seem to find nothing creepy (I’d probably still not like the movies, but since I never watch them, it’s a moot point these days). Okay, I’m sure I’d find something creepy, but remember The Little Stranger? I felt like the only person in all of bloggerdom who didn’t find that book spooky.
However, Heather and I have decided on our Dueling Monsters books (and no, I’m not telling yet) and I’m pretty sure one of them has the potential to totally freak me out. The other one I’ll probably end up laughing hysterically at. Stay tuned…the announcement will be made on the 17th.
And wow…I just wrote 7 paragraphs and managed to talk minimally about the book that was the reason for this post. Even more (actually, less) impressive? It took me two days to write this drivel.
Well, I’m still hoping it will creep me out! The way you feel about creepiness is the same way I’ve come to feel about funnies. I used to love reading the comics, my mom would even save them all up from the newspaper when I was in college, and when I came home on holidays I’d have months’ worth of funnies to go through! But now, they just never make me laugh anymore. So sad.
Dueling Monsters, hooray! I eagerly await the announcement. I hope the chosen books are not too scary, because then I won’t be able to participate. As for this book…I hate it when you expect a book to be a stand-alone and then, suddenly, you find out at the end it’s really the start of a series. I’m pretty much guaranteed not to pick up the next book.
Erin´s last [type] ..Looking Back: August 2011
I creep out pretty easy, so this would probably do the trick for me.
bermudaonion (Kathy)´s last [type] ..Review: Domestic Violets
I have a lot of curiosity about this book, but admit that I think it’s a little weird that it is filled with pictures. Maybe I am just not a fan of mixed media, but it doesn’t sound all that creepy to me either. I initially thought this was a story told solely in words, and really would have preferred it that way. I am pretty sure I won’t be reading this one, and the fact that it has multiple editions makes me sort of unwilling as well. I loved this review, by the way, and think that these two days were not wasted!
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Allegedly, the term theater for war zone was coined by Carl von Clausewitz in his book “On War.” I’ll collect in carrot cake next time we come out there!
And even the cover of that book creeps me out!
rhapsodyinbooks´s last [type] ..Review of “The Taker” by Alma Katsu
Well I’m not sure I’ll even manage to get ahold of this book before the end of RIP, but I’m hoping it creeps me a bit more than you. Though I get really irritated with the sequel thing too!
Amanda´s last [type] ..Clothes and Milestones
I was excited to read this review but then I saw your teaser for dueling monsters and now I am even more excited! I want to read Miss Peregrine, especially for the pictures, but I am not sure if I am easily creeped out either.
Stephanie´s last [type] ..Mailbox Monday PLUS some Birthday Loot!
Oh hi. I love this post. Drivel schmivel.
I watched most of the book trailer for this one but had to immediately turn it off when it started getting too horrorish. I nightmare easily.
I can’t wait to hear who the duelers will be. I’ll have to pull out my dueling pistols to join the fun!!
Trish´s last [type] ..Wordless Wednesday: Daddy’s Girl
I wondered about this one. My old book club was reading it (and I missed it) but I did try to read the first chapter at the book store and it didn’t hook me.
I’m a bit skeptical of a book that’s movie’s rights were sold even before it was published — I wonder if it’s geared more to be a movie series than actual book series.
Wallace´s last [type] ..Giveaway :: Bookmarks Magazine Subscription (1 Year)
I have been wanting to read this one because I too love a good creepy read, but I had no idea it was a set-up for future books. It really seemed like a stand-alone book to me. I really don’t like reading series if they aren’t already finished… I learned from the agony of waiting for each Harry Potter book! Just another reason I’ll be holding off that insanely popular Song of Fire and Ice series for another few years… I think this one will be shuffled to the bottom of the pile as well!
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LOL – cant wait until the 17th… whatever is it… I hope I can play!
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I had a feeling this would be somewhat of a bomb. Sorry it did not work for you.
Diane@BibliophileBytheSea´s last [type] ..First Chapter First Paragraph Tuesday Intros
Well, the cover is creepy. And the Other Jill had her smarty pants answer. And you did manage to write a full non-review that was amusing in the extreme.
Jenners´s last [type] ..Yahooooooo!!!!!!!!
Crap. I didn’t want this to be the start of a series either. I thought the plot could be nicely contained within one book with total creep factor.
Trisha´s last [type] ..Top Ten Sequels We’re Dying to Read
Well, I’m easily creeped out and maybe it would work for me….but I’m really more interested in your announcement of the Dueling Monsters. Can’t wait until the 17th!
JoAnn´s last [type] ..Tuesday Intro: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
I wasn’t even holding my breath. I knew the other Jill would know. She is so smart, that one. But damn. Damn, damn, damn. I want creepy! I have promised myself that when I go to Boston next weekend (and I know I will find myself in a bookstore at some point) I will buy myself this book for RIP. Maybe I will light a candle and drape cobwebs around the room when I read it? I must have creepy.
Sandy´s last [type] ..The Taker – Alma Katsu
What is it with books these days not offering closure and only setting themselves up for the next one. Is it so bad to have it be so good on its own that I want to read the next one based on that?
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DRIVEL is one of my very favorite words.
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I love creepiness toooooo! I thought parts of The Little Stranger were thoroughly creepy, but the overall creepiness factor was lacking. I will not hold out much hope for the creepiness in this one. I will just try to expect fun.
Jenny´s last [type] ..Review: The End of Everything, Megan Abbott
I keep almost buying this one, and then I decide it can’t live up to the hype. *sigh*
We’ll see!
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I have trouble remember books in a series unless they are excellent, too. My husband listened to the audio of The Little Stranger on my recommendation (not because I’d read it but because of all the bloggers raving about it) and he was meh about it. He also said it wasn’t spooky. I took that one off my wish list and I’m pretty sure I’m not adding this one.
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