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Post by angel624 on Mar 29, 2010 18:26:30 GMT -5
Has anyone else here read it? I've read excerpts on Amazon.com, and I ordered it the other day. One of my friends has read the book and said it was cute, but the movie was better. And judging from the excerpts I've read, I must agree. ^^;
Has anyone here read it yet? If so, what did you think about it? As soon as I've read it, I'll post a review. ^^
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Wool
Not Quite...
Baa says the lamb, the lamb says baa
Posts: 34
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Post by Wool on Mar 29, 2010 20:09:21 GMT -5
I have not, yet, but I wanna get it. I keep forgetting to look and see if my school library has it. >.<
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Post by Admin on Mar 29, 2010 20:50:52 GMT -5
I have the novel! *points to headboard* But I have yet to finish it completely. I skimmed it mostly.
As much as I loved the book, I feel it would have been too much like DreamWork's other movies for me to like it. It would have been an OK movie, but not a great one.
I do like it and the series though! Worth the money.
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Post by angel624 on Apr 1, 2010 21:53:07 GMT -5
I was reading it while I was at the library with my family today. Got up to Hiccup confronting the Green Death. I gotta admit, it was pretty cute. But I definitely like the way Toothless was handled in the movie better than he was in the book. He's got guts in the movie, not so much in the book. But yeah, I kept snickering and giggling at parts of it. Especially the book within the book, that cracked me up. "Beowulf is a sissy!" "Come over hear and say that!" xD
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Post by Admin on Apr 1, 2010 22:46:15 GMT -5
I personally did not like Toothless in the book. There were so many times I wanted to throw a stick at him...
Yes, that part is rather hilarious. XD
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Mothy
Caught Dragon
*purrrrrr...*
Posts: 180
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Post by Mothy on Apr 7, 2010 3:08:20 GMT -5
I'm actually debating on whether or not to find it...Granted, my library might not even have it, but still.
I wonder how good it is. I do love children's stories and fantasy books (Hello, "Ella Enchanted," "Howl's Moving Castle," and "Dealing With Dragons,") but I heard this was for a younger demographic than even those books. How is it, really? Also, is Toothless really that annoying in the books? I keep hearing he is...
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Post by Admin on Apr 7, 2010 3:23:39 GMT -5
Oh boy, yes he is. Not overly annoying, but annoying enough to make you want to smack him.
To tell the truth, I'm 19 and I just LOVE the book!It was written for like... REALLY young boys (and you can tell with the humor in it) but it's written well enough for an adult to enjoy it.
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Post by angel624 on Apr 7, 2010 11:39:51 GMT -5
^Yeah, like Hiccup's confrontation with the Green Death...that thing gave me the chills. And even though I prefer the movie Toothless, a part of me thinks the book Toothless is adorable. Maybe because my dogs are just as stubborn as him.
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Autobot Prime
Not Quite...
Prophet of Special Hell
Nerdrage Master
Posts: 29
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Post by Autobot Prime on Apr 11, 2010 10:35:47 GMT -5
I read this book when I was in the target audience (read: age 10 or so) and I LOVED it. XD Still do, for nostalgic reasons. It's freakin' adorable and I should read it again for I love it. Toothless is such a rude little bastard. But yes, the movie was definitely more enjoyable. At first, though, I was actually nerdragey because the movie looked nothing like the book. XD I was proven wrong, and I'm not afraid to admit that.
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Post by angel624 on Apr 11, 2010 11:02:13 GMT -5
Finished the book the other day, and I *definitely* prefer the movie. For one, Hiccup doesn't lose anything in the book (and the possibility is there, you know...acid throat, stuff like that...). bToothless was cute like mToothless, but bToothless definitely needed a backbone. I still like bToothless because, again, he reminds me of my dogs. They think they're so big and tough, but they're not. And they act like they don't give a damn, but they really do. And all the bathroom humor and stuff I just did not like. Even though, again, it was done in innocence and (in bToothless' case) a big hurdle in training. And I do know it was written for little boys, but I still think it could've been cut back a bit on it (grammar fail, sorry). But I still do like how the story was framed by older!Hiccup's words of wisdom. It was a rather sobering touch, to read for yourself the bonds between the boys and the dragons, then he says, "But they're all going extinct." And for some reason, I really liked Fireworm's characterization...she's a total bitch, but she's got some class and lady-likeness (or so she pretends). And just the way it was written overall was awesome. ANYHOO, as soon as I find How To Be A Pirate, I'm totally getting it...this is my new fave book series, lol...but is it bad that I stubbornly pictured mToothless regardless of how bToothless was described?
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Brightclaw
Not Quite...
The Supper Is Singing ~
Posts: 3
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Post by Brightclaw on Apr 13, 2010 14:34:46 GMT -5
bHTTYD was one of my favourite novels when I was young, I used to read it nonstop, so much so that my teachers would often take it away from me during lessons. Anyway, I would like to sing my praises out loud for this novel. The writing style that Cowell employs for the novel is a comical, yet slightly dark, one, especially when the Green Death becomes a central character. I. for one, found this very gripping, and really enjoyed some of the darker scenes. I also enjoyed the way that Hiccup could communicate linguistically with the dragons in the novel, as this gave each of them more depth. I feel that within the movie the only dragon who really gets his own personality is Toothless, which is a bit of a shame as Fireworm had an awesome personality within the novel. I also preferred the relationship between dragon and Viking within the novel. I think that the bias towards movie and book actually comes from which one you encountered first, I am in no way saying that I thought the movie was awful, as it was incredible in its own right I just preferred the book because I found it first.
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mokyn
Viking
Is broken... but still good. Yeah, still good.
Posts: 58
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Post by mokyn on Apr 13, 2010 22:49:54 GMT -5
I treat the book and movie as two separate things, both good in their own way. The book is fun (I personally got a kick out of "big axe books" and the suggestion they feed the Green Death nothing but fried fish and maybe it'll die of a heart attack in twenty years) but it would be hard to translate to a movie without people dismissing it as another silly kid's movie, which would be a shame. The character relationships are still the same in both, and I still got very attached to the bond between Hiccup and Stoick. And Toothless licking Hiccup's face got a little, "Aww" out of me too.
The Green Death was awesome. The way it plays with the sheep before eating them in front of Hiccup is deliciously dark, and I liked its explanation of what a singing supper is. I had been enjoying the book pretty well considering I'm far past its target audience, but that speech was so cool I couldn't help but love it. I'm upset that I missed out on these books when I was younger, but I'm happy to see what else happens in the series.
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Post by angel624 on Apr 13, 2010 23:12:35 GMT -5
The Green Death was awesome. The way it plays with the sheep before eating them in front of Hiccup is deliciously dark, and I liked its explanation of what a singing supper is. I had been enjoying the book pretty well considering I'm far past its target audience, but that speech was so cool I couldn't help but love it. I'm upset that I missed out on these books when I was younger, but I'm happy to see what else happens in the series. THIS. THIS THIS THIS. I think I like Green Death better than Red Death, actually! Reddie was scary, don't get me wrong, but she was scary in a "I WILL UNLEASH HELL ON YOUR BUTT" sort of way. I mean, she was just this monster that ate first, asked questions never. But that was where it ended. She was a monster, nothing more (albiet creepy in that she was hypnotizing the others to do her bidding). Greenie was just sadistically creepy...he caresses Hiccup's cheek with his claws, while explaining how he's going to pull the boy's spine out. Singing Supper was awesome, him explaining about all that. And just popping sheep like popcorn. Most of all, though...he was smart. And philosophical. He knew what he was doing, and he was enjoying it. And I think my favorite quote from the book has to be one of his: "Oh, peace, I think. I am going to kill you, though." That was awesome.
And I agree with Brightclaw: Fireworm had an interesting character. She was this vicious, cruel little bitch...but she was a lady (or acted like one, anyway). When it came right down to it, she also had guts. She bit Greenie on the nose, AND flew off with a broken wing! I think the Nightmare in the movie had a little bit of Fireworm's badassery in her (yes, I do believe the Nightmare in the movie was a female, mainly cuz I want to think she was awesome like Fireworm), but yeah. I just like how unlikeable she was.
And on another note, reading through the book the second time, I saw that Tuffnut was in it. Didn't notice that the first time.
...I like the nicknames I gave the Deaths. Reddie and Greenie. ^^ xD
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Elphie
Viking
Srsly?
Posts: 61
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Post by Elphie on Apr 16, 2010 13:55:09 GMT -5
I had considered reading the book. I didn't even know there WAS a book until the movie came out and I started doing research on it. The first thing to pop up on Wikipedia was an article the book, which led to a link for the movie. I gotta say, I kinda wish I knew where I could pick up a copy so I can read it. I never compare books to movies though, because they're usually never the same. I'm kind of hoping that if I do manage to find a copy, it'll be like Wicked, where I love the book and the Broadway play equally, but see them as two completely different things (whereas with Harry Potter, I much prefer the books to the movie).
Anyone know where I could find a copy of How to Train Your Dragon? I wanna check it out.
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Post by angel624 on Apr 16, 2010 16:13:21 GMT -5
I got mine off of Amazon.com (it came free when you bought the DS game). And I've seen the other books at Hastings. And I'm going to check Half-Price Bookstore one day, see if I'm lucky. But the best place to look where you'll be guaranteed to find it is online.
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