What’s This?
Yep, it’s a new kind of book review! While I’m still planning on reviewing newer-ish books I’ve read, I also want to give some love to the novels that I was raised on. So what will be my criteria for these sorts of reviews?
- It is a book that was released at least 20 years ago (it is currently 2023, so that means any book published pre-2003 is fair game!).
- I have still read it recently (meaning within the last six months).
Some of the criteria may change as I continue with this series, but in any case, let’s get started!
Brief Synopsis
“The Amulet of Samarkand” was written by Jonathan Stroud and originally published in 2003 (hah! it barely fits within my rules as of this writing). Nathaniel is a child prodigy, working to become a powerful magician whilst apprenticing for the unimpressive Mister Underwood. After he’s embarrassed by another magician, Simon Lovelace, Nathaniel seeks revenge by summoning the powerful djinni Bartimaeus. But as he learns more details about his new arch-nemesis, he realizes he may have bitten off more than he can chew…
Content Warnings: Violence (PG-13), Death, Crude Humor
What Do I Think?
One thing I’ve realized about these retro reviews is that, for the most part, they are far more positive than my modern-novel reviews. As I continue this series, I’ve wondered whether or not it should continue – is it really any good for me to just gush on old books? Are these books even really that good, or are my opinions simply clouded by nostalgia?
Then I actually sit down and re-read the novels and realize…oh yeah, these books are actually just that good.
Take “The Amulet of Samarkand,” for example. It is a book that, on paper (no pun intended), should not work. Half of the novel is focused on Nathaniel, a young boy wizard looking to make his mark on the world – his chapters are in third-person perspective. The other half is told in first person from the perspective of Bartimaeus, a mischievous djinni whose antics are full of action and dry comedy. Looking at this, one would expect the Nathaniel chapters to be so dreadfully boring compared with those of Bartimaeus, and yet that couldn’t be further from the truth. True, Nathaniel lacks the wit of his counterpart, but his story has something Bartimaeus doesn’t: humanity.
That’s not to say that the djinni Bartimaeus doesn’t bring a lot of heart to the table. In fact, despite his best efforts to pretend to be an impassive monster, his actions show that he is anything but. The result is an excellent mix of humor, action, and heart.
The worldbuilding also must be mentioned here, as Stroud does a phenomenal job in taking a simple concept – a ‘modern’ (? – it is unclear exact what time period this story takes place in) world in which magicians can summon demons – and turn it into something complex, re-imagining society and history so that it fits this new narrative. Thankfully, it isn’t so complex that one cannot comprehend it – it is presented in simple, easy-to-understand pieces that build over the course of the novel.
The true beauty of the novel, however, is in the character development. Nathaniel and Bartimaeus’ relationship starts off about as bad as it can get, and it takes a bit of time for them to have any amount of trust in each other. The growth in their friendship, however, plays at direct odds with the status quo they’ve gotten so used to, such that by the end of the novel – when both human and djinni are willingly working together – the very framework of the society they live in is called into question. It is some brilliant storytelling that makes “The Amulet of Samarkand” stand out from other books in its genre.
As a whole, I cannot recommend “The Amulet of Samarkand” enough – the prose, the storytelling, and the worldbuilding are all top-notch. Even readers who might not normally venture into children’s (though it would probably be published as Young Adult, were it published today), will find plenty to enjoy.
Jacob Ryckman 