This was thrust into my hand by a work colleague who insisted that it's one of the best books ever written. This guy doesn't read a lot, and so I feltThis was thrust into my hand by a work colleague who insisted that it's one of the best books ever written. This guy doesn't read a lot, and so I felt that anything that can send him into raptures has got to be good, right?
Well, sort of. Whilst I can appreciate the texture and themes of the book, I felt that the setting and story outshone the characterisations. I liked reading the book, but found it hard to really care about the protagonists.
I am bearing in mind that this is the first of a trilogy, and there may be more to come, but the initial book didn't grab me as firmly as it clearly has others.
That's not necessarily a bad thing, just a quirk of my tastes maybe. Fantasy stuff just doesn't enthrall me, but I keep dipping my toe in the water, and maybe I'll become acclimatised.... ...more
I was rushing out and had nothing to read with me - a nightmare of epic proportions for me, so I grabbed my gaughter's copy of this, which she'd left I was rushing out and had nothing to read with me - a nightmare of epic proportions for me, so I grabbed my gaughter's copy of this, which she'd left lying around. (I paid the price for this later!*)
I remembered it fondly from my childhood, and with good reason. Roald Dahl knew how to tap into children's fears and imagination, but without ever making it truly terrifying, a real gift of walking the line.
As ever the characters are the key things in his book, and they are brought vividly to life, without the need for Quentin Blake's illustrations.
I don't think it's a spoiler to say that the happy ending is what it should be.
* my daughter was furious with me for taking her book, but on the upside I inspired her to finish it off, and we had a lovely discussion about it afterwards....more
A rather surprising paltry 3 stars from me: normally I'm a great Roald Dahl fan.
My daughter would undoubtedly score it higher, but for me it didn't haA rather surprising paltry 3 stars from me: normally I'm a great Roald Dahl fan.
My daughter would undoubtedly score it higher, but for me it didn't have the magic of other books.
The set up was interesting, with the depictions of the Twits drawing me in. The tales of their increasing tricks played on each other were good. BUT then we cut to a whole different plot thread, that just never really hung together for me. It was an interesting idea, but not executed with the usual elan and polish....more
This represented a return to my childhood - 2000AD was the first comic I can recall really getting into - it seemed so different and raw to the Beano.This represented a return to my childhood - 2000AD was the first comic I can recall really getting into - it seemed so different and raw to the Beano.
My memories of this are therefore perhaps rose-tinted, and revisiting the stories in this format proved that to me.
There is something to be said for the collection in that you can see the character and stories develop from, frankly, terrible, trite morals into a more free flowing storyline basis.
The writing isn't great, but the illustrations still resonated with the 7 year old who first devoured the weekly installments.
It's made me more aware of the fact that I enjoyed the Judge Child storyline much more, which must be in volume 2 or 3, but that then reflects the older age I was when that came out?
This proves the old adage that some things are best left as memories....more
In an early seasonal effort, I was persuaded to purchase this by my daughter. Overall, I think it's disappointing, but at least there are no random waIn an early seasonal effort, I was persuaded to purchase this by my daughter. Overall, I think it's disappointing, but at least there are no random walks for the main character to develop the plot!
There's very little that actually happens, and most of teh interest is in the end of the book.
It feels very much like a Christmas cash in, and there's no way that this could ever be anyone's favourite Mr Men book.
Stick to the originals, where there are some unique stories and moments of wonder and joy for small children....more
A cautionary tale for our modern times: Mr Rush is always in too much of a hurry, causing himself no end of problems as a result.
Through a process of A cautionary tale for our modern times: Mr Rush is always in too much of a hurry, causing himself no end of problems as a result.
Through a process of trial and error he finds a niche in life for himself, living happily ever after.
My daughter picked up in his errors and could see where he was going wrong, so the message certainly hits home. She also realised that there are different roles for different people in life, and that it's a case of finding what suits your talents....more
I'm rating this as a 2 star experience, my son really likes the books and would probably rate it 4 or 5.
For me the book lacks suspense and the writingI'm rating this as a 2 star experience, my son really likes the books and would probably rate it 4 or 5.
For me the book lacks suspense and the writing lacks quality. It feels repetitious, which I might expect for a younger age group, but surely this age range needs to be stretched and informed?
There are plenty of gory descriptions to titillate readers, if that's your cup of tea, but the plot is paper thin and the "twist" at the end might as well have been mailed out, as it's so obvious.
I'm all for encouraging kids to read more, but there are certainly better boks out there than this.
I was planning to read more of the series, but I think I'll be leaving it there and let my son enjoy them........more
Whilst this is a fun read, it didn't capture my children's imagination in a big way. This may be because they have no experience of male pattern baldnWhilst this is a fun read, it didn't capture my children's imagination in a big way. This may be because they have no experience of male pattern baldness, or have yet to attain that age where they become overly self aware.
There is a lovely message behind the story, just be happy being yourself, and don't assume others will judge you as harshly as you do yourself. However in the real world there are a lot of people who will do just that, and kids need to realise that too.......more
Hmmm - not all of Mr Mischief's actions would qualify as mischievious in my opinion. Still, there is a valuable lesson to be learnt here: you reap whaHmmm - not all of Mr Mischief's actions would qualify as mischievious in my opinion. Still, there is a valuable lesson to be learnt here: you reap what you sow.
My kids liked the visual gags surrounding some of his mischief, and in particular my own evil giggle that I put on, as I read the story, so you may want to practice an evil giggle before reading this out loud!
The moral of the story would seem to be only give out what you're willing to take back in kind, which seems pretty fair to me.
Children's lives without a little bit of mischief would be very dull indeed...more
My kids loved it for the references to Mr Silly, and that is the problem for me - Mr Nonsense is too similar to Mr Silly, with no real discernable ploMy kids loved it for the references to Mr Silly, and that is the problem for me - Mr Nonsense is too similar to Mr Silly, with no real discernable plot (although at least there is no walk in the woods in this book!)
It offers a knockabout description of the things the two characters get up to, and there's some hilarity around the falling of snow, but this one left me numb in terms of enjoyment.
It gets three stars on the basis that my children got involved in it, but there are far better Mr Men stories to read....more
A warm and caring tale about a poor confused soul. No matter what he does Mr Muddle just can't help getting things wrong. However his friends all rallA warm and caring tale about a poor confused soul. No matter what he does Mr Muddle just can't help getting things wrong. However his friends all rally round to boost his self esteem.
My children came away from the book realising taht you need to help people like that out, not make fun of them. The power of reverse psychology explained so a four year old can grasp it!
Whilst not the most engrossing of the Mr Men series, it's got a powerful message to pass on....more
A wonderful tale of confusion and wacky mental images that entertained my daughter no end. It certainly tested her reading abilities, not in the senseA wonderful tale of confusion and wacky mental images that entertained my daughter no end. It certainly tested her reading abilities, not in the sense of tricky words, but the way in which the normal run of phrase is turned literally upside down.
Not a taxing read, or even a very good plot, but the images conhured up are entertaining and thought provoking for small children.
As with all good stories it all comes right for Amos in the end. I'm not counting this as a spoiler - the clue is in the title after all!...more
Yet another tale of a walk in the woods, which leads to an adventure - my children are going to have great expectations of our next walk in some woodsYet another tale of a walk in the woods, which leads to an adventure - my children are going to have great expectations of our next walk in some woods.
Plot wise, this is paper thin, and frankly would have got a lower score but for the fact that my daughter was sulking at the time we read this, so when I substituted her name for Mr Miserable's it garnered large laughs. So the story reflected real life for once and turned the "frown upside down".
The next time around reading it could prove deadly dull though......more
My daughter insisted on getting this, as she had read it at school. Never one to refuse a reasonable request for a book I acquiesced.
It's a simple talMy daughter insisted on getting this, as she had read it at school. Never one to refuse a reasonable request for a book I acquiesced.
It's a simple tale, but one which baffled me slightly as to her apparent infatuation.
Ignoring the obvious dating of the story and pictures, the tale itself is paper thin plot wise and the characters seem shallow likewise.
There is little in terms of entertainment (in my eyes) and little scope to add anything to the telling through funny vocies etc.
I'm sure this has great nostalgia value for many people, but I didn't have that experience. It gets three stars because my daughter enjoyed it and will undoubtedly re-read it again and again....more
A good, fun read, however I feel a lot more could have been done with the plot. It was a little flimsy, and could have had a more comedic outcome.
HoweA good, fun read, however I feel a lot more could have been done with the plot. It was a little flimsy, and could have had a more comedic outcome.
However the illustrations are good and my children enjoyed the tickling part, even if the ending is a little creepy, although they were too busy laughing to notice (I hope)...more
A new addition to the Mr Men stable, and I wasn't expecting much if I'm honest. The later books tended to be devoid of real character and plot.
HoweverA new addition to the Mr Men stable, and I wasn't expecting much if I'm honest. The later books tended to be devoid of real character and plot.
However, this was a good read - an important lesson to be learnt in this modern world that everybody is really somebody. Rather apt that Mr Happy is involved, and that he represents the ideal, with his bright yellow colouring and sunny disposition.
A nice comedic effect for the final transformation from Mr Nobody to his new persona too....more
An amusing tale, which demonstrates why you need to find out about the neighbourhood before buying a house anywhere. Although to be fair, Mr Busy builAn amusing tale, which demonstrates why you need to find out about the neighbourhood before buying a house anywhere. Although to be fair, Mr Busy built his own house in two days, so perhaps Mr Slow had too little time to react to it!
Mr Busy is the neighbour from hell: not content with rushing through his own life, he actively seeks out others to inflict his personality on.
My children loved the dynamism of the story counterpointed with Mr Slow's reaction, however they did say they wouldn't like Mr Busy to come round and wake them up!...more
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