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thomcat's review against another edition
4.0
Read this aloud with my daughter, 10. I really enjoyed the story and found parts of it quite spooky, especially towards the end. The authors background shows, and the idea of positive thoughts leading to growth and recovery shines through. The ending is a little abrupt, but I understand there is a sequel.
conspystery's review
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
geraldinerowe's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
The children's book which the film The Paper House was based on. On the surface it's standard children's literature fare - Marianne is an invalid and when she sleeps she goes in her dreams to a house she drew while awake. However, the story becomes far more complex and perilous as it progresses. Not quite as good a read as I was expecting. It's not a long book but still takes too long to get where it's going.
maanorchidee's review against another edition
4.0
From my review tag on tumblr:
Here I was, at Waterstones Amsterdam. I was going through the Harry Potter section (as usual) when this cover caught my eye. It was beautiful. I quickly read the back of the book and fell in love.
A children’s book, though. No sex and drugs and love and creepy ass shit.
WELL I WAS WRONG
THIS BOOK HAS SCARRED ME FOR LIFE
Okay, maybe most of you won’t find it that scary (EDIT: I just went through the very tiny “marianne dreams” tag and apparently I’m not the only one), but seriously I was reading the last idk fifty pages and I was seriously covering my eyes, muttering “no no no no no no no oh god help me no no”
Still, this book is amazing. Also it’s written in 1956, which sometimes is hilarious (they say “I’m queer” a lot).
I recently found out that this book is a pretty huge deal. It has a movie, a musical and a series. It also has a sequel: Marianne and Mark.
Sadly, I can’t find that one. BUT I WON’T GIVE UP BECAUSE THIS WAS AMAZING.
Here I was, at Waterstones Amsterdam. I was going through the Harry Potter section (as usual) when this cover caught my eye. It was beautiful. I quickly read the back of the book and fell in love.
A children’s book, though. No sex and drugs and love and creepy ass shit.
WELL I WAS WRONG
THIS BOOK HAS SCARRED ME FOR LIFE
Okay, maybe most of you won’t find it that scary (EDIT: I just went through the very tiny “marianne dreams” tag and apparently I’m not the only one), but seriously I was reading the last idk fifty pages and I was seriously covering my eyes, muttering “no no no no no no no oh god help me no no”
Still, this book is amazing. Also it’s written in 1956, which sometimes is hilarious (they say “I’m queer” a lot).
I recently found out that this book is a pretty huge deal. It has a movie, a musical and a series. It also has a sequel: Marianne and Mark.
Sadly, I can’t find that one. BUT I WON’T GIVE UP BECAUSE THIS WAS AMAZING.
nikexistiertnik's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
reread.
it honestly just wasn't as good as i remembered it, it was repetitive and the characters just really annoying at times, and some stuff didn't make sense at all, BUT i gotta admit that the last 80 pages were fun and i liked how the story and the relationship progressed.
it's a pretty solid children's book, but i don't think i want to read it a third time - it was so exhausting just to get into it again.
it honestly just wasn't as good as i remembered it, it was repetitive and the characters just really annoying at times, and some stuff didn't make sense at all, BUT i gotta admit that the last 80 pages were fun and i liked how the story and the relationship progressed.
it's a pretty solid children's book, but i don't think i want to read it a third time - it was so exhausting just to get into it again.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness
mj_22's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
panikos's review
5.0
Filed under the list of books that terrified the living daylights out of me as a child.
neurodivengeance's review
4.0
This was one of my faves as a child, by which I mean I found it horrifying but moreish. Re-reading it was good; I think the bigger ideas of this book (the things you draw with the pencil coming up in your dreams, the terrifying stones with eyes) are better than the execution, and the characters are pretty tiresome, but it's still a Big Deal Book to me.