"The Magic Kingdom" Review

The Magic Kingdom

By Stanley Elkin

2/10

My Synopsis:

After losing his son to a terminal illness, Eddy Bale sets out with a grand plan - he decides to take a group of terminally ill British children on holiday to Florida’s Walt Disney World.  He assembles a rather eclectic group of chaperones each with their own quirks and their own agenda.  They choose the children who will be awarded this privilege.  Together this motley crew of patients and caregivers sets out across the Atlantic on their dream vacation.  Will the Magic Kingdom be all they hoped and wished for?  Will the caregivers manage to juggle these fragile children?  Can the Magic Kingdom handle such an ambitious and unorganized group?

My Opinion:

I must admit being a Disney fan, I was intrigued by the concept of this book and was anxious to read a book set in Walt Disney World.  However, The Magic Kingdom is one of the worst books I have ever read.  I really struggled to get through this one.  The plot line was so drawn out it felt like forever between happenings.  The wording was choppy and filled with what I can only guess to be British slang phrases.  I lived in England for three years and learned some of their words and phrases but still couldn’t make sense of most of what was being said.  Each sentence just goes on and on and on and on.  Nothing flowed.  The characters were quite ridiculous.  I felt no connection with the characters, plot or book overall.  There was only one instance in the whole book where I had the desire to read on and find out what happened next.  I don’t consider myself a prude but there are parts of this book that are very explicit and downright crude.  I had to stop reading this book numerous times and read other books just to remind myself that I do indeed love reading and it was just this book that was giving me so much trouble.  I only forced myself to finish reading this one to be able to write this review and warn others not to read it.  I am giving this book a 2 out of 10.  1 point because the concept originally intrigued me and the setting enticed me to start reading and 1 point because . . . well . . . it is a physical, tangible book.