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readler07's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Very much a comfort read to be read when sick :)
leaflibrary's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Three little stories about a very young girl, her flustered parents, and a cranky, inquisitive raven who comes to live with them. Seems like pretty standard silly children's fare for the time, without the meanness of some british children's authors with similar stories.
hopegirl0727's review against another edition
4.0
So cute. I loved this book. It was such a delightful mix of totally adult jokes (the Citroen at the end was illegally parked every time and had me in fits of giggles) and amusing things for children (Mortimer the Raven eats their stairs. Arabel doesn't blame him because how was he to know they needed them to get to the second floor?). It's whimsical. There's not enough whimsy in my life (hard as I try). It was a pleasure to read and I whole-heartedly recommend it for people with kids between the ages of 6 and 8. Or people who just enjoy a good three-hour audiobook filled with whimsy.
dj_yossarian's review against another edition
5.0
We like absurdity 'round our house, so this book made a fantastic bedtime read, although our 7 year old frequently burst out laughing as we read to him, so it didn't always get people in a sleepy mood. The illustrations by Quentin Blake are a perfect compliment to the madness that Mortimer effortlessly creates.
nimrodel's review against another edition
5.0
I apparently missed this book when I was a kid, but I'm looking forward to making sure my kids don't have the same misfortune. Extremely silly and funny! The reader for the audiobook also did an excellent job.
colleenish's review against another edition
4.0
This book was total nonsense. At times the story was slow, but mostly a delightful read.
mat_tobin's review against another edition
5.0
I adored this little book. Every page. Rich with humour, Mortimer might be one of my most favourite creations. Stubborn. Unreadable. Painfully independent (especially if you like stairs). A hero. As always, Aiken's characters are delicious, from Uncle Arthur to Arabel's rather outrageous mother. Thank goodness for Jackanory and their proposal of commissioning Aiken to write a story for me. That story was this very one.
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