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fhm1998's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
poachedeggs's review against another edition
3.0
If I had read [b:Seven-Day Magic|312083|Seven-Day Magic (Tales of Magic, #7)|Edward Eager|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1173656339s/312083.jpg|452393] later, I think I would have been (justly) more captivated by Nesbit's story. Now that I've read Five Children and It, I am in a real muddle. I don't know whether to adjust my original four-star rating for Eager's tribute, and whether to increase my rating for the original inspiration for his tale.
The truth is, both are pretty much the same story, with a group of siblings taking turns at making wishes that turn out terribly wrong. But Eager's book contains some macabre elements, which I did enjoy slightly more than the indistinguishable five siblings' adventures in this book.
The truth is, both are pretty much the same story, with a group of siblings taking turns at making wishes that turn out terribly wrong. But Eager's book contains some macabre elements, which I did enjoy slightly more than the indistinguishable five siblings' adventures in this book.
foreverday's review
2.0
I'll prelude this review by saying that books whose main focus are wishes are usually a miss for me, and that is simply because the main plot points of those books seem to be the making of a dubious wish and then learning the lesson that it was a Bad Idea.
Unfortunately, because I am very fond of this writing style and E Nesbit, this book was much of the same... over and over again. They'd try to learn their lesson and then something would go wrong, which was a little frustrating to read and I've never particularly enjoyed the feeling that I could've done better than the characters.
I liked the Psammead, I found his character v funny (in a way I definitely wouldn't have appreciated as a child) and the characters of the other children were also v sweet, but I just couldn't gel with the plot.
Unfortunately, because I am very fond of this writing style and E Nesbit, this book was much of the same... over and over again. They'd try to learn their lesson and then something would go wrong, which was a little frustrating to read and I've never particularly enjoyed the feeling that I could've done better than the characters.
I liked the Psammead, I found his character v funny (in a way I definitely wouldn't have appreciated as a child) and the characters of the other children were also v sweet, but I just couldn't gel with the plot.
akmorgan's review against another edition
3.0
British and rather dated, but still a very charming story. :)
sajole's review against another edition
adventurous
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
the_impossible_girl's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
mercherle's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
19becky97's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
gwendle_vs_literature's review against another edition
medium-paced
2.5
This is a very well-written children’s book, and I certainly understand why it was popular in its day. The score that I gave it is as high as it is purely on the quality of the prose, and the fact that the narrator’s voice does such a good job of emulating a child’s way of thinking and of expressing things; but I would never give it to a child to read.
The racism is atrocious — against Italians, against “g***sies” (by which it’s unclear whether Nesbit meant Roma, Irish Travellers, or another group of nomadic people), against First Nations peoples . . . and I’m sure there are others that I’m just not remembering. Furthermore, there is an absolutely stunning example of how drastically language can change in a century:
In the final chapter the maid with whom we are most familiar refers to one of the other maids as a slut! She of course means it in its 1909 sense of “a woman of dirty, slovenly, or untidy habits or appearance” but it was absolutely shocking and hilarious to read that in a children’s book.
I’ve had a copy since I was nine or ten, but I never read it until now, when I’m in the process of getting through all the books that I own and haven’t read. I almost gave up part way through it, but I made it to the end so that I could give a thorough review. I’m glad that I didn’t read it until I was an adult.
The racism is atrocious — against Italians, against “g***sies” (by which it’s unclear whether Nesbit meant Roma, Irish Travellers, or another group of nomadic people), against First Nations peoples . . . and I’m sure there are others that I’m just not remembering. Furthermore, there is an absolutely stunning example of how drastically language can change in a century:
I’ve had a copy since I was nine or ten, but I never read it until now, when I’m in the process of getting through all the books that I own and haven’t read. I almost gave up part way through it, but I made it to the end so that I could give a thorough review. I’m glad that I didn’t read it until I was an adult.