By James V. Ruocco
" 'The Ickabog' is a story about truth and the abuse of power. To forestall one obvious question: the idea came to me well over a decade ago, so it isn't intended to be read as a response to anything that's happening in the world right now. The themes are timeless and could apply to any era or any country."
J.K. Rowling
The works of J.K. Rowling, most notably the "Harry Potter" series, are rife with insight, imagination, character, color, thought and escapist invention. Her choice of words and how they are put to use page by page, chapter by chapter, is both a talent and trademark mix with stirs, shakes and surprises that draw you in and capture your attention in both moving and riveting ways. Moreover, no detail is left unsubscribed which makes each of her works not only fun to read, but brings a wholeness to the stories that are ambitious, adventuresome and delightful.
"The Ickabog," a story written by Rowling over ten years ago, is set in the imaginary land of the prosperous Cornucopia, a place populated by kings, lords, villains, heroes, children, cooks, shop owners, sheep, creepy child minders, cheese makers, pastry chefs, soldiers and monsters who eat people alive. Intended to be read aloud, the book itself is something quite special with Rowling working her own brand of creative magic with chapters that are lively, engaging, justified, witty, surreal and fast paced.
Once you start reading it, you're hooked to the point where it's impossible to pause, take a break or wait until the next day to read the next chapter.
True to form, all character introductions are extremely well done, positioned and painted in the mind of the reader in vivid, understanding and relatable ways, Nothing is over-the-top or overloaded, just characters situated comfortably in Rowling's vivid and gripping "Ickabog" story.
As penned by Rowling, the characters themselves are a colorful lot endowed with secrets, quirks, ideas, thoughts and observations that make each and every one of them stand out within the confines of "The Ickabog" story. Among them: King Fred the Fearless, Lord Spittleworth, Lord Flapoon, Daisy Dovetail, Bert and Bertha Beamish, Roderick Roach, Ma Gunter, Basher John, the Ickabog, Lady Eslanda, Martha, Dan Dovetail and Gordon Goodfellow. The development and forethought is particularly impressive as is Rowling's command of characterization, choice character arcs and the carefully constructed relationships between each of the main and supporting characters.
As a novel, "The Ickabog" is a refreshing read, all colorfully mapped out by Rowling in flowing abundance, emotional connection, inspiration, melodrama, horror and compassion. At times, it is light and fluffy like cotton candy or candied apples. Depending on the chapter, it can also shift in tone and become quite scary, frightening and violent with plenty of well-positioned dialogue and exposition to back things up. It is also packed with tantalizing cliffhangers about the actual Ickabog myth, its legend - real or imagined - and a eerie sense of mystery, since no one is quite sure what it looks like because no specimen has ever been captured. Not to worry, though. Near the end of the novel, Rowling delivers a surprise twist and revelation regarding the dreaded creature which heightens the story's plot evolution and brings "The Ickabog" to its rightful, satisfying, wonderfully imagined conclusion.
With 64 chapters in length, "The Ickabog" leaves a strong impression. Rowling's interest in the emotional chasms of the story, the characters and the story arcs, reveals a descriptive dexterity and verbal gear that unfolds in an animated dimension of invention, discovery and purpose. It also leaves you wanting more page after page. Then again, that's one of her greatest strengths because she is never predictable or formulaic. You also willingly absorb lots of information as she works her narrative magic with appropriate attitude and thrill-seeking spark. How it all will end is part of "The Ickabog's" enjoyment, if only because you're not exactly sure what surprises are in store or what Rowling will pull out of her literary hat and bag of tricks.
Learned, well-written and enlightening, "The Ickabog" is a fairy tale adventure that is endlessly rich, anxious, flavorful and wonderfully entertaining. It achieves its aim of fantasy and escapism. Every detail has meaning and value. Its worldbuilding we never doubt. It offers practical resolutions and conclusions. It is darkly comic and propulsive. It shares the page-turning verve of the "Harry Potter" novels. And finally, it is a work of fiction that you're not likely to forget for quite some time.
"The Ickabog," a story written by Rowling over ten years ago, is set in the imaginary land of the prosperous Cornucopia, a place populated by kings, lords, villains, heroes, children, cooks, shop owners, sheep, creepy child minders, cheese makers, pastry chefs, soldiers and monsters who eat people alive. Intended to be read aloud, the book itself is something quite special with Rowling working her own brand of creative magic with chapters that are lively, engaging, justified, witty, surreal and fast paced.
Once you start reading it, you're hooked to the point where it's impossible to pause, take a break or wait until the next day to read the next chapter.
"After the last 'Harry Potter' book, I wanted to take a break from publishing, which ended up lasting five years. I also wanted to step away from children's books for a while. So the first draft of 'The Ickabog' went up to the attic, where it remained for nearly 10 years.
"This year, however, I took 'The Ickabog' down from the attic in a very dusty box and worked to finish the book reading chapters nightly to my family. In turn, I became immersed in a fictional world I thought I would never enter again."
"This year, however, I took 'The Ickabog' down from the attic in a very dusty box and worked to finish the book reading chapters nightly to my family. In turn, I became immersed in a fictional world I thought I would never enter again."
J.K. Rowling
True to form, all character introductions are extremely well done, positioned and painted in the mind of the reader in vivid, understanding and relatable ways, Nothing is over-the-top or overloaded, just characters situated comfortably in Rowling's vivid and gripping "Ickabog" story.
As penned by Rowling, the characters themselves are a colorful lot endowed with secrets, quirks, ideas, thoughts and observations that make each and every one of them stand out within the confines of "The Ickabog" story. Among them: King Fred the Fearless, Lord Spittleworth, Lord Flapoon, Daisy Dovetail, Bert and Bertha Beamish, Roderick Roach, Ma Gunter, Basher John, the Ickabog, Lady Eslanda, Martha, Dan Dovetail and Gordon Goodfellow. The development and forethought is particularly impressive as is Rowling's command of characterization, choice character arcs and the carefully constructed relationships between each of the main and supporting characters.
As a novel, "The Ickabog" is a refreshing read, all colorfully mapped out by Rowling in flowing abundance, emotional connection, inspiration, melodrama, horror and compassion. At times, it is light and fluffy like cotton candy or candied apples. Depending on the chapter, it can also shift in tone and become quite scary, frightening and violent with plenty of well-positioned dialogue and exposition to back things up. It is also packed with tantalizing cliffhangers about the actual Ickabog myth, its legend - real or imagined - and a eerie sense of mystery, since no one is quite sure what it looks like because no specimen has ever been captured. Not to worry, though. Near the end of the novel, Rowling delivers a surprise twist and revelation regarding the dreaded creature which heightens the story's plot evolution and brings "The Ickabog" to its rightful, satisfying, wonderfully imagined conclusion.
With 64 chapters in length, "The Ickabog" leaves a strong impression. Rowling's interest in the emotional chasms of the story, the characters and the story arcs, reveals a descriptive dexterity and verbal gear that unfolds in an animated dimension of invention, discovery and purpose. It also leaves you wanting more page after page. Then again, that's one of her greatest strengths because she is never predictable or formulaic. You also willingly absorb lots of information as she works her narrative magic with appropriate attitude and thrill-seeking spark. How it all will end is part of "The Ickabog's" enjoyment, if only because you're not exactly sure what surprises are in store or what Rowling will pull out of her literary hat and bag of tricks.
Learned, well-written and enlightening, "The Ickabog" is a fairy tale adventure that is endlessly rich, anxious, flavorful and wonderfully entertaining. It achieves its aim of fantasy and escapism. Every detail has meaning and value. Its worldbuilding we never doubt. It offers practical resolutions and conclusions. It is darkly comic and propulsive. It shares the page-turning verve of the "Harry Potter" novels. And finally, it is a work of fiction that you're not likely to forget for quite some time.
"Writing is about structure. It's about discipline, It's all those things that your schoolteacher told you that you needed. So when I write, I have to stop pretending that I was anything other than what I was and begin to direct all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered to me.
"With 'The Ickabog,' I chose to write about what I knew in terms of feelings, beliefs, interests, family and friends. And that makes all the difference in the world because writing is one of the loneliest professions in the world."
J.K. Rowling
"The Ickabog" will be published in hardback format on November 10, 2020 in both the United Kingdom and the United States. It is no longer available to read online.
