Comments on: Mortal Engines by Philip Reeve http://porterjennifer.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/mortal-engines-by-philip-reeve/ Living on a small family farm while homeschooling, running a business and writing fiction. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:50:24 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Murdoch http://porterjennifer.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/mortal-engines-by-philip-reeve/#comment-226 Murdoch Wed, 04 Jun 2008 10:11:03 +0000 http://porterjennifer.wordpress.com/?p=304#comment-226 Murdoch says : I absolutely agree with this ! Murdoch says : I absolutely agree with this !

]]> By: journeybooks http://porterjennifer.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/mortal-engines-by-philip-reeve/#comment-223 journeybooks Tue, 27 May 2008 13:53:43 +0000 http://porterjennifer.wordpress.com/?p=304#comment-223 Hi Andy- Thank you for your comments, but I disagree on some levels. Reeve's social commentary, in my opinion, was often predictable, especially the America bashing and society's tendency to be so self-centered they swallow each other whole. Daring? In what way I wonder? What taboo/issue did he explore that no other author has? Remember the violence in the story is predictable, so for all of the thousands of years that have gone by -- we are no different. The entire concept of cities being built upon traction devices and moving around and how they were built, and people's responses to those cities is brilliant and I give Reeve complete credit for that. The airships are awesome and the idea that technology could be lost is intriguing. But, the book reads like it was written for the 10 to 12 year old crowd. Jennifer Hi Andy-
Thank you for your comments, but I disagree on some levels. Reeve’s social commentary, in my opinion, was often predictable, especially the America bashing and society’s tendency to be so self-centered they swallow each other whole. Daring? In what way I wonder? What taboo/issue did he explore that no other author has? Remember the violence in the story is predictable, so for all of the thousands of years that have gone by — we are no different.
The entire concept of cities being built upon traction devices and moving around and how they were built, and people’s responses to those cities is brilliant and I give Reeve complete credit for that. The airships are awesome and the idea that technology could be lost is intriguing.
But, the book reads like it was written for the 10 to 12 year old crowd.
Jennifer

]]> By: Andy http://porterjennifer.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/mortal-engines-by-philip-reeve/#comment-222 Andy Thu, 22 May 2008 21:08:46 +0000 http://porterjennifer.wordpress.com/?p=304#comment-222 My view is that it one of the most daring and original pieces of children's literature written in a long time. It's packed with social comment, rarely predictable, and all the airships have great names. I don't consider it a book for younger children but that does not stop it being a great book which has a lot of older children picking it up and going on to read other books as a result. Right up there with classics like Smith and Eagle Of The Ninth as far as I'm concerned. My view is that it one of the most daring and original pieces of children’s literature written in a long time. It’s packed with social comment, rarely predictable, and all the airships have great names.

I don’t consider it a book for younger children but that does not stop it being a great book which has a lot of older children picking it up and going on to read other books as a result.

Right up there with classics like Smith and Eagle Of The Ninth as far as I’m concerned.

]]> By: Elizabeth http://porterjennifer.wordpress.com/2008/05/20/mortal-engines-by-philip-reeve/#comment-221 Elizabeth Wed, 21 May 2008 08:17:37 +0000 http://porterjennifer.wordpress.com/?p=304#comment-221 Seriously, you could write a book on children's literature. I always understand your perspective because you express your reasoning so well that it's convincing even if I don't completely agree. Your passion combined with your clear articulation is why you could write a book, Jennifer. The book I'm reminded of, which I adore, is "The Green and Burning Tree" by Eleanor Cameron. e Seriously, you could write a book on children’s literature. I always understand your perspective because you express your reasoning so well that it’s convincing even if I don’t completely agree. Your passion combined with your clear articulation is why you could write a book, Jennifer. The book I’m reminded of, which I adore, is “The Green and Burning Tree” by Eleanor Cameron.
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