What an absolutely delightful story. If you’ve read through all of Roald Dahl and Norman Juster and have wished for another tale that scratches the saWhat an absolutely delightful story. If you’ve read through all of Roald Dahl and Norman Juster and have wished for another tale that scratches the same itch as The Witches and Matilda and The Phantom Tollbooth, I can’t recommend The Secret of Platform 13 highly enough. This is especially true for Harry Potter fans. There are an awful lot of similarities between this slim novel and the first Harry Potter book—which came out 3 years after the publication of this book. There is, of course, the train platform linked to a magical world hidden within our own. And then there’s the entire dynamic between Ben and Raymond and Mrs. Trottle, which is very akin to that of Harry Potter and the Dursleys. But the similarities end when it comes to the storytelling style. The tone of this is fun and charming and just absolutely delightful in every way, which is why I was reminded of Dahl and Juster. And it is next to their books I’ll be shelving this story. It’s the kind of book that leaves a smile on your face when you finish the final page. I definitely recommend it, whether to young readers or those who are forever young at heart! ...more
I think just about everyone knows who Pippi Longstocking is, or at least has some vague idea of her. She’s always been a familiar character to me, butI think just about everyone knows who Pippi Longstocking is, or at least has some vague idea of her. She’s always been a familiar character to me, but her books were some of those children’s classics that I somehow missed out on as a kid. I decided to rectify that this year and…it was fine? It was silly and just about too cute, but it was somehow charming both in spite of and because of it.
Pippi is wholly unique. She’s brave and unselfconscious, creative and optimistic and incredibly kind. When she wants to be. She’s also insanely, inhumanly strong. And a terrific liar. Above all, she’s a quintessentially free spirit. There’s no one quite like Pippi.
Besides the silliness, which is completely forgivable as it’s intended for a much younger audience, my main issue with this little book is the ending. Or, more specifically, the lack thereof. There is not ending. The story just…stops. Which, even as a child, would have bothered me to no end.
This wasn’t a bad little book, but it was far from my favorite. There are some truly brilliant children’s classics out there. Pippi Longstocking isn’t one of them....more
My brother and I decided to revisit some favorite books from our childhood. A Wrinkle in Time was my first pick, and this was his. While he had read AMy brother and I decided to revisit some favorite books from our childhood. A Wrinkle in Time was my first pick, and this was his. While he had read A Wrinkle in Time before, this was my first time delving into this series. Color me impressed! From the very intriguing and unique opening, I was immediately curious about the Towers, and the Veil. Aenir. Sunstones. Spiritshadows. Lots of interesting, mysterious terms right off the bat. There is some seriously original worldbuilding here, including a pretty radical shift in the focus of that worldbuilding about halfway through this first book. This is a series that expects a lot from its readers while still being accessible. It’s also wholly original, especially compared to young/middle grade fantasy of a similar age.
There wasn't much charm or character to the writing, but the world was so interesting that I don't see a reader in the target audience noticing. Most every chapter ends with a miniature cliffhanger, making the book difficult to not inhale in one sitting. And the entire series likely follows suit, as the story did not resolve in any way at the end of this book. I can see it being even more addictive for young readers! This is a fast-paced, high octane adventure that has aged well, in my opinion. If you’re looking for a series to share with some young fantasy fan in your life, I would recommend giving this series I try. But you might want to have the entire series on hand, as I have a sneaking suspicion that every installment will end on a cliffhanger. I’m interested to see where the story goes next. ...more
I enjoyed The Princess and the Goblin so much that I picked the sequel up immediately, which is something I rarelActual rating: 4.5 stars, rounded up.
I enjoyed The Princess and the Goblin so much that I picked the sequel up immediately, which is something I rarely do. I thought The Princess and the Goblin was an even better story. I was engaged from start to finish. The last couple of paragraphs in the book felt like they ended the story on an odd low, but other than that weird choice in ending, this was a pretty delightful story.
The Princess and the Goblin picks up over a year after the end of The Princess and the Goblin. Curdie, one of our protagonists from that first book, is a much different boy than he was a year ago. A much more common boy, more’s the pity. He’s losing the goodness and bravery and nobility he exhibited in the first story. But after an encounter with Princess Irene’s mysterious and supernatural great-great grandmother, he finds his way again. And from there he embarks on a hero’s journey reminiscent of The Pilgrim’s Progress in terms of the trials he underwent and the subtle supernatural leadership and staunch faith upon which he must rely.
We also have a fantastic animal companion here. I fell head over heels for Lina, Curdie’s faithful, unlikely friend. Lina is some sort of doglike goblin creature that is almost indescribably ugly. I don’t have the word count ti describe her. But she is intelligent and brave and fiercely loyal to Curdie, and I just adored their partnership.
There are aspects of this book, as well as The Princess and the Goblin, that feel almost allegorical. Whether that was Macdonald’s intention or not, I love how seamlessly he wove his faith into the narrative. This is a beautifully Christian work without Christ or God ever actually being mentioned. And, while I didn’t like the very end of the story, even that displayed humanity’s brokenness and need for a Savior outside of themselves.
The Princess and the Goblin was written in 1883, and I feel that it has aged remarkably well. Part of this is because while it was written for children, it speaks deeply to any reader of any age. In her introduction to The Princess and the Goblin, Ursula K. le Guin stated that Macdonald “wrote for children, not down to them. He didn’t confuse being young with being simple-minded.� While The Princess and the Goblin is more famous, I think The Princess and the Goblin is actually the better story, better written. But both are absolutely worth reading. I can see why Macdonald’s work made such an impact on C. S. Lewis!...more
Swallows and Amazons is the installment in a twelve book series by the same name. These are classic adventure stories for children, in the same vein aSwallows and Amazons is the installment in a twelve book series by the same name. These are classic adventure stories for children, in the same vein as The Boxcar Children. We have a group of siblings embarking on an adventure, with a hint of a mystery in the mix. But, for the most part, we are along for the ride as they go through their day to day lives, enjoying life with a little distance from adults. In both series, there’s a delicious emphasis on the meals the children prepare for themselves.
There are a few main differences between The Boxcar Children and Swallows and Amazons. In The Boxcar Children, the siblings are orphans, surviving the best they can on their own until they’re adopted at the end of the first book. In Swallows and Amazons, the siblings (both sets) have very supportive mothers who endorse their adventures. Also, in this series, there are two sets of siblings who become friends, versus the one set of siblings in The Boxcar Children. But the biggest difference had to be in the sailing emphasis in Swallows and Amazons. If seafaring and the minutia of nautical terms isn’t really your thing, it’s easy to get bogged down in those details. As I did.
I thought this was a fun story, but I’m not sure I’ll be reading the other eleven books in the series. While I love the concept of these kids having an adventure on an “abandoned� island while still having the aid and support of the adults in their lives, I felt like it was difficult to wade through all of the sailing passages. But if you have a child in your life who is fascinated with boats and sailing and deserted islands, this would be a wonderful story to share with them....more
Impossible Creatures is the best modern children’s fantasy I’ve read since the first of the Nevermoor books. The world of the Archipelagos, a land witImpossible Creatures is the best modern children’s fantasy I’ve read since the first of the Nevermoor books. The world of the Archipelagos, a land within our world that’s hidden from view, is simply magical. It’s where all of the creatures of myth and legend exist, fed by the magic of the glimourie that runs through the islands and their waters like veins. When the glimourie begins to fade and creatures start dying, it’s up to an orphan girl with a flying coat and a boy from the outside world to figure out what’s happening and stop the decay before it’s too late. What follows is a gorgeous, sweeping adventure, filled with peril and mystery and so much heart.
The writing here is a wonderful blend of easy and lovely, a perfect combination for a children’s book. It reminded me of Narnia in that way. I think that Impossible Creaturescould stand the test of time in a way few modern children’s books likely will. There is an incredibly magical and compelling story here, but there are also some difficult but important themes. Too often it seems like modern children’s fiction feels this pressure to be “safe,� but children face death and loss and hardship just as grown-ups do. Having stories like this one, that show heroic sacrifices and hard knocks and how to grieve properly, can be a powerful tool for a child experiencing big, difficult emotions for the first time. I appreciated that just because a character was lovable and important didn’t mean they were safe. It broke my heart, but certain losses here made the story so much more powerful to me.
I loved the characters. We have Christopher, the boy from the outside who finds his way to the Archipelagos after rescuing a baby griffin from drowning. He is brave and kind and has a way with animals both mundane and magical. Mal, the girl from the Archipelagos who first found the griffin and raised him, is a scrappy orphan with a flying coat. She has suffered much, but she is fierce and tenacious and much more open-hearted than one would expect. The friendship between the two is something special. The, we have Nighthand, a Berserker turned pirate, who is far kinder than I would have expected, and Irian, a marine scientist and a lovely, mysterious woman. These two adults, along with some fascinating mythical creatures, join Christopher and Mal on their mission to save they glimourie, and thus the Archipelagos.
I was drawn in by the gorgeous cover art and a blurb on the front that struck me as…unlikely. Michael Morpurgo was quoted as saying, “There was Tolkien, there is Pullman, and now there is Katherine Rundell.� These seemed like some pretty unfair comparisons to draw, as those are very large shoes to fill. And yet, as I read, I could absolutely see Morpurgo’s point. There’s a timeless quality to both the story itself and Rundell’s craftsmanship that I believe will give this book that level of staying power. Impossible Creatures is a beautiful story with so much heart. There is darkness here, and sacrifice, and tears, but there is also so much joy. This is a story that I’ll be thinking about for a long time, and I’m already looking forward to sharing it with my niece when she’s old enough for it. ...more
The Lost Library is a cute little book with a lot of heart. The story is told from three alternating perspectives: Mortimer, tActual rating: 3.5 stars
The Lost Library is a cute little book with a lot of heart. The story is told from three alternating perspectives: Mortimer, the displaced library cat; Evan, a 5th grader looking to solve a mystery; and Al, about whom little can be said without giving away some major (if fairly predictable) plot twists. Our story begins with the creation of a Little Free Library and is a love letter to books and the bonds they forge between readers. More specifically, this is an ode to the importance of libraries, and it is lovingly rendered.
I’m a big fan of middle grade novels, especially those that embrace a love of bookishness. This particular book skewed more on the younger end of middle grade, and thus I would recommend it more to 4th and 5th graders than I would to those nearing their teens. It came across as a bit simplistic, and I wish there had been a deeper dive into the meat of the story. That being said, I had fun in my time with it....more
This fifth installment in the Redwall series takes things up a notch, in my opinion. We have half a dozen different plot lines, which are all interestThis fifth installment in the Redwall series takes things up a notch, in my opinion. We have half a dozen different plot lines, which are all interesting and all fairly fast-paced. I found myself easily invested in all of the different stories, as well as all of the many main characters. And when these stories began to finally all tie together, I found it immensely satisfying. There’s a lot of action here, and some major character death, so young readers should be prepared going in. I still love this series. It makes me think of classic fantasy like Wheel of Time or similar series, but for children and featuring anthropomorphic animals. While not perfect, it’s a wonderful series that is holding up well to rereading as an adult. And, as always, the food descriptions were absolutely incredible. Don’t read these books while hungry!...more
This is one of those books that I missed as a child, and that I’ve been meaning to read for most of my adult life. I’ve owned a copy for years, but I This is one of those books that I missed as a child, and that I’ve been meaning to read for most of my adult life. I’ve owned a copy for years, but I just never quite felt compelled to pick it up. But after finally reading Understood Betsy and absolutely adoring it, I decided that, at long last, it was time to meet Caddie. I was delighted to make her acquaintance.
Caddie Woodlawn has been oft compared to the Little House on the Prairie series, and for good reason. Both are inspired by the childhoods of real women. Caddie, like Laura, is the daughter of strong pioneer parents who have built a life for themselves and their large brood far from everything they once knew. Like Laura, Caddie is a bright girl who is indulged by her father and is a bit of a tomboy, which leads to her finding her way into various scrapes that are often humorous but with some type of moralistic bend to them.
There is also dialogue on the “Indian problem� of the time, but it’s in this dialogue that Caddie’s experience and Laura’s part ways. While I like the Ingles, they are, for the most part, products of their time when it comes to their views regarding people of other races as somewhat less than the white man. Not so with Caddie’s father. He is far quicker to defend and aid his Indian neighbors, not because it’s the “Christian� thing to do or because the Indians can’t do things for themselves, but because they are people, and all people matter. He recognizes that, while their way of life is different, it is no less valid. He also recognizes that they were on the land first, and sees the unfairness of white people toward those who don’t look and act and speak exactly the same as they do. And he passes those views down to Caddie. She is loyal and brave and fair, and I like her far more than Laura because of it. She takes a stand for the Indians in her area, not because she has a “white savior complex� or because it’s charitable, but because they are her friends and are deserving of loyalty.
I also thought this book was better written than the Little House series. What I love about the story of the Ingles is the incredibly detailed descriptions of the mechanics of pioneer life. I love hearing about the harvesting and putting up of crops for the winter, of the intricacies of butter and cheese-making, of how cozy a tiny cabin can be when winter comes. But there is not much character development there, as so much of the narrative relies on those technical aspects. While we get a few of those kinds of details in Caddie’s story, it’s much more introspective, and the characters feel far better developed. Caddie and her brothers and their father are so well fleshed-out that they almost leap from the page, with Mrs. Woodlawn and Caddie’s sisters not all that far behind them. This makes for a much more compelling story, and one that I found myself incredibly invested in. And the writing itself had more personality than that in the Little House books.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Caddie Woodlawn, and I can tell it’s one that I’ll revisit when I need something pure and bright and comforting. I can see why many readers prefer it to the Little House books, though I see the value in both. But if I had to choose between spending time with Laura or Caddie, I’d pick Caddie....more
I adore classic children’s books. I’ve inhaled them since my mom taught me to read when I was four. If I could get my hands on it, I read it. A LittleI adore classic children’s books. I’ve inhaled them since my mom taught me to read when I was four. If I could get my hands on it, I read it. A Little Princess, The Boxcar Children, Heidi, The Secret Garden, A Wrinkle in Time, The Chronicles of Narnia, Gulliver’s Travels, and The Swiss Family Robinson were all early favorites. And yet, a lot of others slipped through the cracks of my childhood without my having met them. There are too many wonderful stories in the world to ever hope to read them all. But I’m slowly trying to cover all the ground I can. For instance, I didn’t meet Anne Shirley of Green Gables, or Laura Ingalls from the Little House on the Prairie, until I was an adult. Yet I loved them no less for the belated introductions. I can now add Elizabeth Ann to the roster.
I’ve seen the title Understood Betsy plenty of times. A copy has even resided on my bookshelf for a few years. But I can’t say the premise ever really drew me in. For some reason I decided on a whim to pick this up, and I couldn’t have been more surprised and delighted. The surface premise isn’t exactly unique; a pampered, coddled city girl finds herself forced to live with a country branch of her family for whatever reason. But the telling of the story in this case was wonderful. Something in the writing style was just pure magic, a joy to read alone and surely an even greater one to read aloud. The cadence of prose lilts and meanders beautifully The personality of the near-omniscient narrator shines through and adds an extra element of fun and charm to the story. And the love the dreaded “Putney cousins� feel for Betsy, as they call her, just blazes from the page. Life on their farm is quaint and cozy. And the way Betsy grows and blossoms over the course of her story is truly lovely.
Understood Betsy is one of those rare perfect books. There’s not a single thing about it I would change, unless it was to give it a sequel, just so I could have more time with Betsy and Cousin Ann and Aunt Abigail and Uncle Henry. This is a book that anyone could love, no matter their age, and it’s one that I definitely plan to reread often....more
I’ve read The Secret Garden at least half a dozen times since my childhood, and it’s one that I’ve always really liked but have never quite loved. I aI’ve read The Secret Garden at least half a dozen times since my childhood, and it’s one that I’ve always really liked but have never quite loved. I adore A Little Princess, but The Secret Garden just never quite matched it for me. However, I think that might have changed with this most recent reread. This time, I paired it with Rachel Dodge’s The Secret Garden Devotional, and that added layer of spiritual discussion layered on top of a book that I already found enchanting was a truly magical experience. I read a chapter a day of this alongside a chapter of the devotional over the course of May, and it was by far the highlight of my reading month. I found myself thinking about both books all throughout each day, long after I had already consumed my daily chapters.
Not only did I love all of the spiritual insights Dodge drew from this children’s classic, I was more entranced by The Secret Garden itself than I ever have been. And this is exactly why I’m such a fan of rereading, and why I yearn to do more of it. I would say that I can’t believe I had such a profoundly enjoyable and edifying experience with a book I had already read so often, except I can believe it. I’ve read the Bible, especially select passages from it, dozens upon dozens of times in my life. And yet it never fails to move me, and reveal new things to me from passages I know by heart. I will say, however, that I’m always surprised when a book outside of Scripture moves me in this way after repeated readings. Stories are so powerful, and the tale of Mary Lennox and Colin Craven and the Secret Garden at Misselthwaite, is one of the most wonderfully encouraging stories I’ve experienced.
I’m so glad that I decided to reread The Secret Garden. And I’m so glad that I found Rachel Dodge’s The Secret Garden Devotional to read alongside it. It was a truly wonderful pairing, and a reading experience that I’ll treasure.
(Reviewed together with The Secret Garden Devotional.)...more
The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse is unlike anything else I’ve ever read. The closest comparison I can draw would be to the stories of Winnie The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse is unlike anything else I’ve ever read. The closest comparison I can draw would be to the stories of Winnie the Pooh, but even those focus a good deal more on having a plot than Mackesy does in this little book. The art is charming, the ideas conveyed are uplifting and heartwarming. And I love that everything, down to every single word of the text, is painted. That fact gave this book such a unique, unnamable quality that makes it a treasure both to give and to receive. My wonderful friend TS gifted everyone at Novel Notions a copy of this a while back, and I’ve just been hanging on to mine until I felt like it was the right time to read it. Christmas night, after running around to various family functions and having a wonderful but terribly exhausting few days, was the exact right time to snuggle up with this little book for the first time. And it will most definitely only be the first time, as this is the kind of book you pick up again and again throughout your life, when things are hard or busy or overwhelming. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse is a refuge, a safe haven made up of pages and ink, and I’m grateful to know it’s there waiting for me whenever I need it. I think every home should have a copy of this book for just such times....more
The Vanderbeekers are made up of a mom, a dad, a dog, a cat, a rabbit, and five kids. Which means that the little brownstone they call home on 141st SThe Vanderbeekers are made up of a mom, a dad, a dog, a cat, a rabbit, and five kids. Which means that the little brownstone they call home on 141st Street is quite the houseful. But they adore their home, and are devastated to learn that their lease is not being renewed, and that they have until Christmas to move out. Unfortunately, Christmas is in five days, so the Vanderbeeker siblings don’t have much time to compel their landlord to have a change of heart. Improbable doesn’t mean impossible, though, so the Vanderbeekers embark on a quest to save their home by any means necessary.
This was a fun little story that introduced a larger-than-life cast. All of the siblings had a ton of character. Jessie and Isa are the oldest and are twins but, while they love each other, they couldn’t be more different. Jessie is a scientist in the making and Isa is a brilliant violinist. Oliver is next in line and, as the only boy, prefers to live life with his head stuck in a book whenever he can to escape all the estrogen. Hyacinth is the second to youngest, and yet somehow is almost the second mother of the family. She is tenderhearted and creative and loves to make things. Laney, the baby of the family, loves training her bunny to do tricks and just wants everyone to be happy. The rest of the cast is fun, as well.
I will say that I found all of these characters fun on the surface but lacking the kind of depth that creates staying power. And I think that could be said for the entire story. It was a fun time, but it’s been 2 days since I finished reading it and I’m already losing some of the details. Some middle grade books also have the power to enchant the minds of adults. I don’t think this is one of those books. Again, it was fun, but not one that felt magical to me. However, I know that this is the beginning of a series featuring the same larger-than-life cast, and I think it would be a great series to give younger middle grade readers, specifically those in the 8 to 10 year old range....more
This was my 4th and final Goosebumps book for October, and I’m so glad I saved it for last. I’ve been an Anglophile since I waActual rating: 4.5 stars
This was my 4th and final Goosebumps book for October, and I’m so glad I saved it for last. I’ve been an Anglophile since I was very young, so I found the London setting incredibly enjoyable. There’s an element of time-travel here, which is always fun, and the pacing is a pretty perfect speed for the intended age group; it’s fast, but easy to follow. The entire tone of the book was madcap and a little wacky, reminding me strongly of an episode of Scooby-Doo. While there were times I was annoyed with our main character siblings for not catching onto what was happening or making decisions I felt were the wrong ones, I found them more likable than some other Goosebumps protagonists. All in all, this was just fun. I really enjoyed my time with it....more
This was my third Goosebumps book of October, and it’s tied for one of my favorites. Which amazes me, as I found the main character obnoxious. Sarah MThis was my third Goosebumps book of October, and it’s tied for one of my favorites. Which amazes me, as I found the main character obnoxious. Sarah Maas (yes, like the author) is being forced to attend a summer water sports camp with her brother, who is thrilled at the prospect. He’s sporty and popular, after all. Sarah, however, is none of the above. Not sporty. Not popular. And definitely not thrilled to be at camp. She tends to wreck every potential friendship before it can ever get off the ground. Her woe-is-me mentality bugged me, but it was honestly a bit understandable given her awkward, antagonistic approach to life. But the supernatural element was fun, and I ended up being pretty invested in Sarah’s story by the final pages. I’m glad I read this one. It was a fun ride....more
The book that started it all. I found it perfectly fine. It's amazing the improvement in writing I can see even between this and The Haunted Mask, numThe book that started it all. I found it perfectly fine. It's amazing the improvement in writing I can see even between this and The Haunted Mask, number 11 in the Goosebumps series. The main characters were annoying, especially the little brother, and the parents seemed a bit dumb, to be perfectly honest. Also, I didn't expect there to be an animal death. I say this as someone who vividly remembers Old Yeller and Charlotte's Web and Where the Red Fern Grows from childhood. I just wasn't expecting it here for some reason. The story itself was suitably creepy; I just wish we had spent more time with the actual house. But overall, I'm glad to have read this one, so I could see the inception of such a culturally important series to so many kids.
Side note: I can't believe this book is 30 years old!...more
I was a bit of a scaredy cat as a child, so Goosebumps isn’t a series I dabbled in much. But it’s a series that my almost 30-year-old cousin still deaI was a bit of a scaredy cat as a child, so Goosebumps isn’t a series I dabbled in much. But it’s a series that my almost 30-year-old cousin still dearly loves, and he convinced me to give them a go as an adult with plenty of horror now under my readerly belt. He chose 4 of his favorites for me to read over the course of the month of October, one per week. The Haunted Mask was his first selection.
This was so much more fun than I expected. The pacing was great, and the premise made total sense for the age of the protagonist. I didn’t absolutely adore Carly Beth, but I found her plight sympathetic. She felt like a wholly believable 11-year-old girl. Her determination to be the scarer for once instead of the scared was relatable. And the mask she used to attain her revenge? Incredibly creepy.
What I didn’t expect was the presence of a moral to the story. Stine did a brilliant job of not beating his young readers over the head with said moral, but instead allowing it to subtly permeate the narrative. Here, Stine guides his readers to an understanding that they should value who they are, flaws and all, and to value the love in their lives instead of dwelling on the ways they’ve been slighted. I also appreciated how things ended, with everything wrapping up nicely while also leaving a door open for further creepiness off-page in that particular story.
I enjoyed The Haunted Mask so much more than I thought I would, and I’m looking forward to more nostalgia-laced Halloween reads in the Goosebumps series....more
Redwall Abbey is always a wonderfully cozy place to revisit, no matter the plight facing its inhabitants. However, I have to cActual rating: 3.5 stars
Redwall Abbey is always a wonderfully cozy place to revisit, no matter the plight facing its inhabitants. However, I have to confess that those plights are beginning to blur together in my mind, because each book is so formulaic. Almost without fail, the Abbey will be under some sort of siege by unsavory characters looking to enslave those within its walls and steal their home and resources. As this occurs, those most warrior-like from the Abbey are off on a quest far from home to defeat someone or win back an item that in some way correlates to the happenings back home in Mossflower forest and Redwall. And this tends to be under the guidance of the spirit of Martin the Warrior. Do I have any problem with this plot line? Not at all. But I have to admit that it’s becoming a tad redundant this many volumes into the series.
One thing I did really appreciate about this book as compared to those preceding it was the fact that the titular hero was a female. Mariel is brave and fierce and feisty and determined and terrifically skilled with a weapon for one untrained. I found her journey an interesting and intense one to witness. But there were a couple of things about this installment in particular that bugged me. First of all, I found the central villain fairly unbelievable. His level of obsession with this bell, to the point of no longer sleeping and then falling prey to madness, made no sense to me. He went from sly to completely mental over the course of a scant few chapters, and it simply didn’t feel believable to me. Even in a story about anthropomorphic animals running an Abbey and waging wars, this bell-induced insanity was where my skepticism couldn’t be kept at bay. There’s also a place near the end of the book where a couple of creatures fight over who has the right to kill another character. This is such a stupid discussion to me, whenever I happen to see it in media. Who cares who can claim the kill, as long as the beast in question is put down in the end? It’s utterly nonsensical and baffles me any time I come across it.
I might’ve had qualms with this volume, but I still enjoyed the story and the setting. And, of course, the food. Jacques wrote food descriptions like no one else I’ve ever read, and they never fail to make me hungry for things I’m pretty sure would actually be vile in real life. I also love knowing that everything is going to work out all right in the end, which makes this series perfect for children just getting into fantasy and adults looking for something cozy and nostalgic to provide a brief escape from the darker world of most adult fantasy fiction. Even if this wasn’t a perfect book, it was a fun one, and I’ll definitely be continuing on with the series....more
This is another book I picked up because my teenage friend was frankly horrified to learn that I hadn’t ever read it. I’m so very glad I did. I’m not This is another book I picked up because my teenage friend was frankly horrified to learn that I hadn’t ever read it. I’m so very glad I did. I’m not sure how I missed this one when I was younger. It absolutely would have been one of my favorites as a child, and I completely get why my friend told me I needed to read it. Very seldom have I related to a character quite as strongly as I did Pollyanna, though thankfully my life hasn’t been plagued by nearly as many hardships.
I love Pollyanna’s aggressive optimism, and I relate to it profoundly. I might not have been aware of The Game, but I’ve always tried to see the best in every single situation. In that regard, I feel as though Pollyanna could have been a bosom friend, quite like Anne Shirley. People sometimes view this type of optimism as naive or even ignorant, but that’s not a view I’ve ever shared. I think that being optimistic even in the worst of circumstances can be incredibly brave. It’s hard to find a silver lining in a storm cloud, but it’s also immensely rewarding. I think that this is the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is circumstantial. Joy is a decision and, if you’re a Christian, both a spiritual gift and a discipline. This joy is something I’ve always tried my best to exhibit, even when life is hard and it takes some profound effort. I loved seeing this same decision in Pollyanna, and I think remembering her will help me keep my chin up then next time I’m struggling to find my own optimism.
The story itself was so heartwarming and uplifting. Pollyanna’s growth as a character, and the ways in which she impacted her entire community in ways that bonded them and had them coming alongside and supporting Pollyanna herself during her darkest hours, was all simply beautiful. The impact one little life can have on so many is profound. It’s a reminder that encouraged me and gave me pause, as you never know how closely you’re being watched and how deeply your actions and attitudes could effect those around you. I teared up towards the end, as the community came together around Pollyanna and lifted her up, as she had lifted all of them as one time or another..
The use of dialect in the dialogue was the only drawback for me, making the book a 4.5 instead of a full 5 star read. I know this was a commonly used writing method in the past to delineate between the upper classes and the lower, less educated common folk, but it always throws me out of the story, because I always feel a touch offended on behalf of the people being so represented. But that is a tiny drawback in the scheme of things. I truly loved this book, and am happily shelving it alongside Anne of Green Gables, Heidi, The Secret Garden, and A Little Princess. Pollyanna is a book I will absolutely be rereading, and I’m so thankful that my friend pressed it into my hands....more
C.S. Lewis had a lot to say about children’s stories. He believed that “A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good childrenC.S. Lewis had a lot to say about children’s stories. He believed that “A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.� And that “No book is really worth reading at the age of ten which is not equally � and often far more � worth reading at the age of fifty and beyond.� I agree with his sentiments, though I do also recognize that time and taste can effect a person’s experience with a story, as well. For instance, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I would have adored The Chronicles of Prydain around the age of 8 or so. There’s something wonderfully classic about it, and it would have ignited my imagination had it been one of the first fantasy series that I experienced. But reading it after 25 years of exposure to other fantasy series, especially those I’ve come across in the last 10 years or so, hasn’t delivered anything at all impactful.
The reason I still love Redwall and other series from my youth is just that; they were the stories of my youth. I have all of these memories of reading those books and being completely entranced and delighted by them. Because of this, rereading them delivers endorphin-laced nostalgia. But The Chronicles of Prydain doesn’t have that same history with me personally as a reader. I wish that it did. Some books are magical no matter how old you are when you encounter them for the first time. Sadly, that’s not the case for all stories for all readers, and that simply isn’t the case for me with this series, though I really wanted it to be.
There was nothing wrong with the story presented in The Castle of Llyr. We have here the presence of beloved characters from the first two installments, as well as the introduction of new characters who grow throughout the narrative. We have a dire quest with wild and unexpected detours along the way. There’s magic and battles and the triumphal of good. But everything felt so predictable and flat and, well, trite, for lack of a better word. It’s amazing that something this fast-paced and short can also feel as if it’s dragging, but that was my experience here. Again, I have absolutely no doubt that this would not have been the case in the slightest had I read this for the first time at 8 instead of 33, but here we are.
I think that The Castle of Llyr might be where I part ways with Taran and his friends. I haven’t decided this for certain yet, but it’s becoming more and more difficult to ignore how far outside I am of the target audience. Part of me does want to know how things end, so I might return to Prydain eventually, but I have no pressing need to continue on. ...more
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