Reviews
While the Wish List has the same quirky characters as the Artemis Fowl series, the story didn't hold my attention as well. I found myself having to put the book down or go back to reread sections. The story turns direction and picks up speed at the Kissy Sissy chapter but somewhat to the determent of plot. Just suddenly the main character knows how her powers work. Then later the story stops dead in its tracks for some lengthy flashback chapters where a paragraph or two would have sufficed.
The Wish List was a brief and fun read. It flowed quite well and the characters were enjoyable. It's a good read for those of a Christian background, as it does assume Heaven and Hell are real to all involved in the world. I'd give it 3.5 stars, but I rounded up to four. With major themes including regret, morality, and forgiveness, Meg and Lowrie travel through life, finishing off what is essentially his bucket list. (view spoiler)[I'm glad that it had a happy ending and I hope that Lowrie gets to live a longer and more fulfilling life than he had previously - hopefully making more decisions in the time that he has left that he can be proud of. (hide spoiler)] Another strong theme in this book is restoration of hope, which always makes a story and it's characters fun to read as they go through that restoration. I'm not sure that I had a favorite character, although I did enjoy the image of Satan in a pinstripe suit playing a gameboy game. Truly excellent. It's worth a read, but it's not my favorite book by the author. Still, it's something I could happily recommend to a friend if they were looking for theological Christian fiction - provided they were okay with some major liberties being taken by Eoin Colfer on what heaven and hell are like.
Highlights
'Didn't you learn anything in those schools?' '
Just sums and reading. Nothing useful like spitting songs. I suppose I should be grateful your dad didn't know any songs about toilet cleaning, or we'd be doing that too.'
It was as though some giant had taken a bite out of a suburban house and then, realizing the decor was horrendous, spat it out in Donnybrook.
'I suppose it was the drink that killed her in the end,' Meg said, trying to sound mature and sympathetic.
Lowrie nodded. 'In a way. She came home plastered one night, and drank a bottle of toilet bleach by accident.'
'Sure, man. And why don't you crash in my pad later, man? We could absorb some vibes.'
'That sounds very interesting' said Lowrie, with absolutely no clue as to what the guard had just said.