'Tuesdays at the Castle' is a very kiddie book, and not a very exciting or interesting one. Not a lot of magic, but plenty of politics, and "meh" and "so?". Though honestly I would have only dropped one star from my original rating if not for the horrible xenophobia; with the invading, one-dimensional, cartoonishly evil, broken English/Sleynth-speaking Prince Khelsh, and the "warlike" Vhervhish people.
The main "good" kingdom - and the book - are also sexist; only the men have important positions and statuses (so many men in this book, I can't even), and a fourteen-year-old boy is considered a more appropriate ruler than his hardworking, responsible and vastly qualified older sister. I don't think the possibility of female heirs is ever given a thought.
Stuff Pogue Parry, too. Literally every female is attracted to him. They flush and blush in his presence; every time he opens his mouth, every time he grins - even the eleven-year-old protagonist Celie isn't "immune to his smiles", as the book puts it - when he is in fact as charming and captivating as horse salt lick. It's another feature of sexism in 'Tuesdays at the Castle'.
Pogue Parry, what a bloody stupid name for a ladies' man.
A note on unoriginality: The book contains an invisibility cloak. Seriously. Oh but it hides the wearer's sounds rather than their physical presence, so it's totally new. The Hogwarts equivalent in 'Tuesdays at the Castle' is an off-page feature, as is most of the wizardry and magic. Can't have too much excitement.
Why is young Celie the only member of her family, ever, over the centuries, to try to map an atlas of her enchanted, everchanging castle? Where did her curiosity, pragmatism and common sense genes come from? Is she just that special? Well, good for her, as the largely-ineffectual main character.
'Tuesdays at the Castle' - quite a bore, overall, I'm afraid to say. I felt nothing reading it. No emotional investment. Not much charm.
Final Score: 2/5
'Tuesdays at the Castle': Despite being for children, its cute and playful novelty is never lost.
What I liked:
- The straightforward, humourous and imaginative prose.
- The magical and original Glower Castle. For some reason I think that if it had a gender it would be female (though of course males are caring and magical as well).
- Celie, the protag. She is an adorable eleven-year-old princess who is smart, strong and determined, but still behaves like a believable kid. She has her childish fancies and that's okay. She's a child.
- Celie's mapping the Castle and knowing its secret ways actually do become important to the plot (though why is she the only one ever in Glower royalty to try it...?)
- The sibling dynamic between Celie, Rolf and Lilah. It is refreshing to see young brothers and sisters getting along and helping each other out, and yet they're not above teasing one another like a real family.
- It has heart, and morals about knowing who to trust and go to at the worst of times.
- The invisibility cloak that hides the sounds the wearer makes rather than his or her physical visibility. The 'Harry Potter' similarities don't end there, but this creative twist is worth an especial mention.
- Not all foreigners are portrayed as evil. In fact the evil royal foreigners are the exception compared to the rest of their country (They are also pale; not that there is only one side to racism).
- Prince Lulath's little dogs.
- Rufus.
What I didn't like:
- The villains are not threatening at all. They are Saturday-morning-cartoon Harlequin caricatures of villains. The main evil prince barely even had a character. As a result the stakes were lowered. I know it's a short book for kids, but there should at least be something that makes the baddies more memorable.
- Pogue Parry. He didn't do a lot for me.
- Not enough magical content is in this story (even the Castle becomes ineffectual after a bit), despite there being wizards and a wizard's college, who are mostly told about instead of shown (since the narrative is Celie's sheltered and trapped third-person POV, it is understandable, however).
-The climax is fantastical and unexpected, but it is rushed and uses a deus-ex-machina.
-The ending, while nice, is abrupt. We don't even find out what happens to a few important characters. (Sequel?)
I recommend giving 'Tuesdays at the Castle' a read. It might not wow you, but it's decent, lighthearted children's fluff.
Final Score: 3.5/5
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