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disheveledfox's review against another edition
3.0
This is a review of A Dog of Flanders by Ouida, not the children's illustrated version. At 35 pages in length, A Dog of Flanders is a quick read but one that took me multiple days and readings to complete. Having recently moved to Antwerpen, reading this fiction in a very real place was a unique experience that required multiple visits to the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwkathredaal and time to reflect on a bygone era of peasants living in inescapable poverty.
While Ouida set up a believable landscape, it's apparent that she must have only visited Antwerpen once or twice. For instance, the names of the characters aren't remotely Flemish. She paints the Scheldt as a stagnant river, the town bells as morose, and the winters like something you might find in Alaska. These are forgivable sins, but wow does she love to wax overly poetic. There isn't a page where someone isn't crying or trying to deliver big feels. Some of it so over the top that you can't help but laugh, it's so absurd.
Still, despite being prepared for a sad ending and having laughed through at least a quarter of the book, I bawled my eyes out. It's a beautiful story with what must be one of the original tellings of a boy and his dog, both of which are instantly lovable, noble characters. I would recommend reading this if only to understand the hype that the Japanese and Koreans have for this story. It is so popular in Japanese culture that they have multiple movies about it, and there isn't a day where you don't see a caravan of tourists clustered around the monument of Patrasch and Nello sleeping under the cobblestones in front of the cathedral.
tl;dr - Read it, it's short. Prepare yourself for for an overabundance of sentimentalism and a little cry sesh. ;)
While Ouida set up a believable landscape, it's apparent that she must have only visited Antwerpen once or twice. For instance, the names of the characters aren't remotely Flemish. She paints the Scheldt as a stagnant river, the town bells as morose, and the winters like something you might find in Alaska. These are forgivable sins, but wow does she love to wax overly poetic. There isn't a page where someone isn't crying or trying to deliver big feels. Some of it so over the top that you can't help but laugh, it's so absurd.
Still, despite being prepared for a sad ending and having laughed through at least a quarter of the book, I bawled my eyes out. It's a beautiful story with what must be one of the original tellings of a boy and his dog, both of which are instantly lovable, noble characters. I would recommend reading this if only to understand the hype that the Japanese and Koreans have for this story. It is so popular in Japanese culture that they have multiple movies about it, and there isn't a day where you don't see a caravan of tourists clustered around the monument of Patrasch and Nello sleeping under the cobblestones in front of the cathedral.
tl;dr - Read it, it's short. Prepare yourself for for an overabundance of sentimentalism and a little cry sesh. ;)
bibliocharylodis's review against another edition
2.0
I love this story. It makes me cry every time and this was no exception.
But this edition uses a lot more hiragana than I prefer. I rather have the furigana with the kanji than hiragana-only writing. This many hiragana makes for a tedious reading process - at least for me.
青い鳥文庫 is aimed at kids but usually there are not as many words written in hiragana if a common kanji is available for it.
But this edition uses a lot more hiragana than I prefer. I rather have the furigana with the kanji than hiragana-only writing. This many hiragana makes for a tedious reading process - at least for me.
青い鳥文庫 is aimed at kids but usually there are not as many words written in hiragana if a common kanji is available for it.
gae's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This book brought me back to my younger years when my sisters and our uncle watched the animated series everyday. And I can still remember how heartbreaking the last episode was that I even caught my uncle wiping his tears. 😭
It's their kindness and friendship till the end that brought the story close to my heart. A young boy named Nello and an old dog named Patrasche both had each other, and they were able to live day by day, surviving, because they had each other even if poverty was nudging itself through them.
As someone who has a fur-baby, this is difficult to read. But I would still recommend this short children's book.
It's their kindness and friendship till the end that brought the story close to my heart. A young boy named Nello and an old dog named Patrasche both had each other, and they were able to live day by day, surviving, because they had each other even if poverty was nudging itself through them.
As someone who has a fur-baby, this is difficult to read. But I would still recommend this short children's book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Child death
sndrspk's review against another edition
dark
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal death, Emotional abuse, and Death
princess71608's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0