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Let me start off by saying I don't dislike City of Bones by Cassandra Clare. This first book of the Mortal Instrument series has goofy humor that is sometimes reminiscent of the Harry Potter books. (I'm not surprised since Cassandra Clare wrote 3 Harry Potter fan fiction books!) Surely, that's something to admire. (When I needed more Harry Potter, I turned to the fanfiction! Did you?)
What's driving me crazy is that her "humor" sometimes goes right over my head. And no, I'm not a dumb-dumb. It's just that the humor is sometimes so off the wall that I can't help but assume it's an inside joke between her and someone else...as in, someone else besides the reader. It's borderline driving me book crazies. In real life, it's not fun listening to other people's inside jokes. It's not fun in a book either.
There are also tons of irrelevant details that I don't care to read about. For example:
...in which we learn Jace hates Earl Grey tea...
"I'll have tea," Clary said, realizing how long it had been since she had eaten or drunk anything. She felt as if she'd been running on pure adrenaline since she woke up.
Jace succumbed. "All right. As long as it isn't Earl Grey," he added, wrinkling his fine-boned nose. "I hate bergamot."
...
Clary raised her eyebrows at Jace. "You hate bergamot?"
Jace had wandered over to the narrow bookshelf and was examining its contents. "You have a problem with that?"
"You may be the only guy my age I've ever met who knows what bergamot is, much less that it's in Earl Grey tea." (page 100)
...in which we learn Jace hates cucumbers...
"Cucumber," he said, in response to her stare.
"I always think cucumber sandwiches are just the thing for tea, don't you?" Madame Dorthea inquired, of no one in particular.
"I hate cucumber," Jace said, and handed the rest of his sandwich to Clary. She bit into it--it was seasoned with just the right amount of mayonnaise and pepper. Her stomach rumbled in grateful appreciation of the first food she'd tasted since nachos she'd eaten with Simon.
"Cucumber and bergamot," Clary said. "Is there anything else you hate that I ought to know about?" (page 103)
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I am starting to think I did myself a disservice by reading Clockwork Angel (the prequel to COB) first. Clockwork Angel is the 4th book Clare has had published. City of Bones is the first. Either she switched editors or she has GREATLY improved as a writer. City of Bones is not as well written as Clockwork Angel, which makes me sad and happy. Sad for obvious reasons, happy because Clare has improved!
These are all within the a few paragraphs:
- stupidly gazed
- thoughtfully licked spaghetti off his knuckle---> what the?
- awfully calm
- meanly pleased
- awfully eager
Even though I've definitely had my book crazies moments while reading City of Bones, it doesn't mean I'm going to give it a bad review. I'm only about half through at the moment. Great characterization or an awesome plot could raise the current score. That's the thing. With most books, there's always going to be a few book crazies. It's the book LOVELIES that make up for it.
Have you had any book crazies moments lately?
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