Redwall (Redwall, Book 1) by Brian Jacques
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Book Reviews of Redwall (Redwall, Book 1)
Book Review: Awesome
Summary: 5 Stars
The book came to me in practically mint condition. Also The book itself is my favorite of the series. Its the first book, and as such it is great!!!Book Review: It is wonderful book.
Summary: 5 Stars
This a fresh and wonderful way to spend some reading time. I just founds the books and can't put them down.Book Review: GREAT SUPPLIER
Summary: 5 Stars
My order was processed the day I placed it and arrived on time and in like new condition as stated. ThanksBook Review: Exciting!!!!!!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Matthias and his redwall friends go looking for Martin the warrior's sword to fight Cluny.Book Review: Fantastic prose, so-so story
Summary: 4 Stars
Redwall's prose is fabulous. Descriptive language is beautiful and nuanced, detailed without being overbearing. The prose tells the story without getting in the way. Characterizations are nicely done, though ironically I ended the story without much of an idea of who Matthias was, beyond a cookie-cutter hero figure. No word on what made him into a hero beside circumstance. Indeed the characters were a bit flat and archetypical. There are no sexual situations or profane language in the book, save expressions like "hell's teeth;" but there is plenty of violence, including murder.
The weakness was in the story. Although fun and exciting, it was not compelling. For one, I found that there was not enough backstory. Redwall is described as a "helping and healing order;" but order of what? Only vague value assertions are made, with no mention of religion at all, despite the presence of traditional phenomena like abbot, church, cross. Also, I found the society of animals a little strange, given the vast differences in size between mouse, rat, badger, etc.
The Abbey goes to war suddenly, without much angst from the mice. I would have expected more treatment of the transition. Similarly, the many deaths (really) in the book are done rather off-handedly; I wanted more emotion: more prolonged and more pungent.
The denouement seemed rushed: several converging plotlines are hastily prepared and resolved in the final chapters, seeming to want more careful preparation.
I think the factor that hurts the book most is its lack of overarching purpose. The premise of the book is defenders fighting off invaders. It happens to be that the invaders are archetypal gangsters, but it could have been told with more neutral attackers. That's it; no higher call. That would have turned this from an exciting story into a compelling quest.