Round 3, Match 2: Trash vs. The Ring of Solomon

Trash by Andy Mulligan David Fickling/Random House	The Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud Hyperion Books
Judged by Karen Cushman

When I first saw the two titles that were coming my way, I assumed that one would deal with serious contemporary issues and the other be a fairy tale. I was right, but I put the hats on the wrong heads.

Trash is a gripping examination of unthinkable poverty, abuse, and official corruption. Andy Mulligan gives us adventure, danger, mystery, a treasure hunt, and coded messages. Some have called it a book about a dystopian future. I found it unfortunately much too likely and current. And yet it is a fairy tale, pitting good children against evil adults, who out-clever and out-maneuver the grownups and live happily ever after. They accomplish all this by lying and stealing with little remorse. It’s all they know and their means of survival. It put me in mind of Hansel and Gretel eating the witch’s house, substituting a chicken bone for Hansel’s finger, and finally pushing the witch into the oven she had prepared for the children.

The book, like the Grimm’s fairy tale, asks who are the villains? Who the real thieves and liars?

I loved Trash (I hear Oscar the Grouch singing every time I type the word) and cared deeply about the boys. I loved Raphael’s little shelf of treasures, Rat’s pride and shame at sharing his hole with the other boys, Raphael throwing his arm over Rat as they slept and how much it meant to Rat. I found them touching in their loyalty and affection.

The writing is immediate and descriptive. I could smell the steaming trash and feel it move under my feet. I felt the boys’ fear and their excitement as they began to unravel the mystery. Trash is a marvelous story of trust, resilience, perseverance, friendship, and ultimately hope.

And The Ring of Solomon? I must admit I am not a big reader or a big fan of fantasy novels. When I saw early on that A Tale Dark and Grimm and The Ring were both in my bracket, I anticipated I would have an easy time eliminating them. This just goes to show you how much I know. And now I publicly shed my credentials as a thoughtful, caring, mature person and reveal my snarky, ironic underbelly.

Woo hoo! The Ring of Solomon! I was gobsmacked. What a book!

I had not read the Bartimaeus trilogy and knew little about it so I came to The Ring as a stand-alone title. And I found it exuberantly plotted, with evocative descriptions, terrific language, and intriguing
characters, both human and otherwise.

I loved the distinctive voice of the rude, irreverent, sarcastic, resourceful, and surprisingly lovable Bartimaeus. Sure, djinni eat people but still I felt great pity and compassion for his deep longing for home and hatred of his enslavement.

The book is wonderfully funny but had wise things to say about slavery and freedom, mindless obedience, and dying for empty concepts. Asmira, the teenaged Sheban sent on a suicide mission, is a true believer to a fault. Wise Solomon tells her, “I’m not your master…try not to need one.” And Bartimaeus says, “I know I’m enslaved…That gives me just a shadowy slice of freedom.” As Jonathan Stroud tells it, the issues of 950 BCE are the same we face today–the dangers of terrorism, fanaticism, and zealotry, and the price of power.

And oh those snarky footnotes. I must say I’m a sucker for witty cynical comments about the human condition (As Lily Tomlin wisely said, “No matter how cynical you get, it’s impossible to keep up.” Bartimaeus would no doubt agree).

In the end it was not only the language, the characters, the exuberance, and the snarkiness but also the depth and complexity of the themes that toppled Trash. The Ring of Solomon is close to brilliant. It’s my choice. Now excuse me, I have a trilogy to read.

— Karen Cushman

And the Winner of this match is…

… THE RING OF SOLOMON

I liked Trash well enough.  It’s a great book for all the reasons our judges have enumerated.  I’m happy to see it get increased exposure here, and I’m grateful to Monica and Roxanne for calling the book to my attention.  But I thought once The Ring of Solomon got past Sugar Changed the World it had a clear and unobstructed path to the finals regardless of whatever book it encountered on its way there.  I’ve read some various complaints (mostly minor) that this book doesn’t live up to the Bartimaeus trilogy, but I don’t agree with that at all.  I think it’s a perfect standalone prequel which takes our lovably irascible rogue and drops him into a new milleu, one with striking parallels to our modern world, as Karen pointed out. I’d take The Ring of Solomon over Keeper, but just barely.  It’s really a matter of personal taste.  And then there’s till the Undead Poll winner to throw into the mix . . .

— Commentator Jonathan Hunt

Filed under: 2011, Round 3