Category Archives: Reviews
Thirst by Andrei Gelasimov
It is an spare and impressionistic story of a veteran trying to makes sense of his life after having his face and body disfigured in the war in Chechnya. My reaction: hmm, interesting, but didn’t really grab me. Continue reading
The Magician’s Elephant by Kate DiCamillo
DiCamillo’s simple yet poetic prose creates this atmosphere and fills the story with interesting characters who all play a role in the adventure. And despite knowing from very early on that this story is likely to have a happy ending you want to keep reading to find out exactly how each characters story plays out. There is a rhythm and flow that draws you forward despite much suspense or sense of danger. You are drawn forward by the character’s personality, history and emotions. Continue reading
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Tagged Amazon Kindle, Children's literature, Fairy tale, Fiction, Kate DiCamillo
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Are All the Giants Dead? by Mary Norton
It really is a simple tale but one where you enjoy the journey as much as the destination. The allusions to fairy tales, the way the characters interact, the descriptions of the magical world and the language its inhabitants use, and of course the great illustrations all make this short story enjoyable. Continue reading
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Tagged Brian Froud, Children's fantasy, Children's literature, Fairy tale, Folklore, Mary Norton
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The Merry Pranks of Till Eulenspiegel by Heinz Janisch , Lisbeth Zwerger (Illustrator) , Anthea Bell (Translator)
I will be honest: I bought this one mostly for the art. I have a growing collection of folk tales and storybooks for children but I am not sure my kids would enjoy this one. It is an interesting reference point for German folkore but it is mostly the art of Zwerger that drew me to the book. Continue reading
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Tagged Anthea Bell, Children's literature, Folklore, Heinz Janisch, Lisbeth Zwerger, Till Eulenspiegel
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The Tale of the Unknown Island by Jose Saramago
There is an elegance to the simplicity of the story and the determination of the characters to go beyond the small world of their mundane existence; to seek uncharted waters and unknown islands despite everyone’s insistence that they do not exist. Continue reading