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The String of Pearls: A Romance
Actually, I just finished reading the book myself.
It actually reflects more on the real-life Sweeney Todd. I found this really fascinating article on him here: http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/s...html?print=yes
When I first read it, I was quite surprised to find out that it wasn't anything like what was in the movie. Stephen Sondheim changed the plot into a more justified murder spree which appears in the musicals and movies as we now know.
In the Stephen Sondheim version, Sweeney was a man after Judge Turpin after raping Lucy and taking Johanna. In the process he becomes madly obsessed that his razors become the only object of his affection, and they became his "friends". However, the historical Sweeney killed for cash. Not so interesting now, is it?
Actually, in the movie, I really loved Sweeney there, but in the book, I wanted to knife him myself as I was going along. My friends even went to the point of calling him an--if I may say--ass.
The book wasn't written by an experienced author. I give it credit to the man who actually tasted the meat pies at least twice, as mentioned in the article. I keep forgetting his name...
I loved it but the only problems were, as far as I see, were...
1) There were parts where the suspense was high but it suddenly plummets because of scenes that seem to interrupt the action. One example I can mention is the madwoman's tale.
2) Whatever happened to the madwoman!? She just fell when she an Toby were escaping from the asylum. And then what!?
3) I'm especially irritated when the author intrudes the readers thoughts. It's not very good for a book. It's some like, "Oh, the curse attached to a bottle of beer. Better not for you, dear reader, know its horrendous effects." That's why they're disappearing from new books. It's just a bad idea.
Actually, I just finished reading the book myself.
It actually reflects more on the real-life Sweeney Todd. I found this really fascinating article on him here: http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/s...html?print=yes When I first read it, I was quite surprised to find out that it wasn't anything like what was in the movie. Stephen Sondheim changed the plot into a more justified murder spree which appears in the musicals and movies as we now know.
In the Stephen Sondheim version, Sweeney was a man after Judge Turpin after raping Lucy and taking Johanna. In the process he becomes madly obsessed that his razors become the only object of his affection, and they became his "friends". However, the historical Sweeney killed for cash. Not so interesting now, is it?
Actually, in the movie, I really loved Sweeney there, but in the book, I wanted to knife him myself as I was going along. My friends even went to the point of calling him an--if I may say--ass.
The book wasn't written by an experienced author. I give it credit to the man who actually tasted the meat pies at least twice, as mentioned in the article. I keep forgetting his name...
I loved it but the only problems were, as far as I see, were...1) There were parts where the suspense was high but it suddenly plummets because of scenes that seem to interrupt the action. One example I can mention is the madwoman's tale.
2) Whatever happened to the madwoman!? She just fell when she an Toby were escaping from the asylum. And then what!?
3) I'm especially irritated when the author intrudes the readers thoughts. It's not very good for a book. It's some like, "Oh, the curse attached to a bottle of beer. Better not for you, dear reader, know its horrendous effects." That's why they're disappearing from new books. It's just a bad idea.
Make sure you don't look wealthy and check if the chairs are fastened to the ground. For extra measure, have someone with you who'll never leave the shop. 
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