Wimpy Kid Wednesdays: The Long Haul

Kinney, Jeff / November 5, 2014

I will be honest and completely honest. This book was a slightly bit boring so I didn’t have too much to say about it. But here is what I will say.

The whole plot with different languages was kind of funny, and it is sad to see it being recycled in No Brainer, which I will have reviewed soon and I think is the worst book in the series. Speaking of worst, I think Susan is the worst in this book. She forces the family to do everything she wants and only cares about the happiness of Manny. But I also think she is a bit of a good character in this one..

Ugh I cannot believe I said that.

In her desperate attempts to make this educational and fun, she is in deep just a sweet mom who cares about the happiness and learning of Greg and Rodrick.. at least in THIS book. She sucks in the rest, like always.. Anyways, her trying to make it educational is good, but she’s doing it in the wrong way.

My issues is that some of the scenes are unrealistic, specifically Manny and the pig. It’s weird to see a pig doing such humane things. So that is not the most relatable part. Not to mention running into The Beardos a GAZILLION times. This happens every time.. it’s like fate. In Rodrick Rules (the movie) Greg and Holly SOMEHOW go to the same church. In Dog Days (the movie) Greg and Patty SOMEHOW END UP AT THE SAME TENNIS COURT. HOW. WHY?! WHEN!

 

Anyways, this is a kinda-not-really relatable way of showing that not everything will go right spending time with family, especially on a road trip.

Wimpy Kid Wednesdays: Hard Luck

Kinney, Jeff / November 6, 2013

This has everything a classic Wimpy Kid book should have - Greg hating literally everything!

Hard Luck is a continuation of The Third Wheel, now with Rowley having a girlfriend and Greg being left out. Greg tries to do ANYTHING for better luck, and suddenly finds a Magic Eight Ball. In this book, The Heffley family lose a ring that had been in the family for generations and spend most of the book trying to find it.

What I like about this book is how overused it is. The plots in The Wimpy Kid series always feature Greg’s luck being nonexistent, while someone close to him [friend or family] has it all. This formula is used in most books and Jeff Kinney still manages to change it up. That’s what makes me love the Wimpy World. Same but different!

Did I say it was perfect, though? The plot with Meemaw’s ring is pointless as it doesn’t contribute to the Hard Luck part of the story. It just takes up half of the book and is a waste of the story. When someone says Hard Luck, I don’t think of finding a ring that’s been in your family for generations, I think of HARD LUCK.

Despite Abigail having to be part of this book, she’s a horrible character. She’s like Greg, just worse. She gets Rowley to carry her stuff, and doesn’t even let him have any opinions. Not only that, but at the end of the book she does something HORRIBLE.  She’s one of those 11 year old females who are completely against boys and their immature instincts, actions and likes. Which is ridiculous. Let someone be themselves. Jeff Kinney did a wonderful job at making me hate someone.

This book is a good use of your money but not one of the best. This is a  ‘read-when-bored’ or ‘buy-because-the-other-book-was-out of stock” publication.

This book deserves a 3 cheese rating.

Happy 10th anniversary to the book “Diary of a Wimpy Kid 8: Hard Luck”.