Reread Review: Inkheart by Cornelia Funke

Author: Cornelia Funke
Title: Inkheart
Series: Inkheart #1
Format/Source: eBook/Library (oh how I missed my hardcover!)
Published: 2003
Publisher: Chicken House
Length: 534 pages
Genre: Fantasy 
Read If You: Love reading, like the premise/don’t mind reading to get to the next two books
Rating:  ★★★★½
Links: GoodReads | IndieBound | Chapters | Amazon

Sixth book for the Reread Challenge

WHEN I First Read – I remember being in grade five…I must have read it not long after it was released, in 2003 or 2004.

WHAT I Remember – I’ve read this book so many times it’s difficult to recall my first impression of it. I remember most of the plot, and that I loved the prose. A particular feeling after reading the book for the first time that I do remember, however, is wanting to catalogue my own private library, inspired solely by Elinor. I remember feeling physically ill reading the chapter when Elinor finds her library decimated. That scene was just as awful for me this time around! I also thought being a bookbinder would be an excellent profession and I wondered how I could go about becoming one. In general I remember enjoying the second book more, but I like to read all three together 😉

WHY I Wanted to Re-Read – I planned to reread the trilogy this year because it had been a few years. I picked it up in July because I was so bored at work, yet feeling overwhelmed by preparing to leave Japan – I wanted something fantastical yet familiar.

HOW I Felt After Re-Reading – Very satisfied, but a little surprised at how quickly Capricorn’s demise comes about once Meggie starts reading. I didn’t remember that (I also forgot that Basta survives, hah). Something else I’m finding interesting is how my impression of Dustfinger has shifted since I first read the book. For many years I imagined him to be a dwarf-like character, quite a bit older than Mo. (I think this idea was influenced somehow by Mulch from Artemis Fowl and characters from Bruce Coville’s The Unicorn Chronicles.) Then for awhile I had the impression of him that Funke actually described. This time around, for some reason, he was that older character I had initially pictured. Who knows what he’ll be like next time around! I did feel this time that I could understand better why my friends who tried to read this book didn’t like it…I’m not sure how much it would appeal to someone who doesn’t already love books and stories.

WOULD I Re-Read Again – Yes, yes, yes. I keep rereading the books I’ve always loved so I’m always giving the same answer! I haven’t lived long enough to have a ‘gap’ in my memory. Perhaps if I don’t reread this for 20 years I may feel differently when returning to it…but I hope I don’t ever leave it alone for that long!!