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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
In the beginning, this book was quite confusing for me. But as I read on, it became clearer and clearer what the theme of, not just Mowgli’s story, but other character’s stories was. Kipling, yet again, definitely didn’t miss the mark for me.
Although, there are some sections in this book I found non-contributing to the plot line, I still think they were cute additions to the story, re-enforcing that theme of growth again.
The best part about it? You don’t even need to read the first book. While, yes, I am a seasoned “Jungle Book” reader, this book does not require you to have read the first book. If you’ve seen the movies, or even if you haven’t, you’ll still understand this book just fine. Overall, a lovely read for me.
Although, there are some sections in this book I found non-contributing to the plot line, I still think they were cute additions to the story, re-enforcing that theme of growth again.
The best part about it? You don’t even need to read the first book. While, yes, I am a seasoned “Jungle Book” reader, this book does not require you to have read the first book. If you’ve seen the movies, or even if you haven’t, you’ll still understand this book just fine. Overall, a lovely read for me.
A reread after some 60 or more years! I read it and its predecessor because my book club read Neil Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book" this month, and I was interested to see how his tribute to Kipling had borrowed from the Mowgli stories. "The King's Ankus" is a very striking predecessor of the ancient tomb under the hill and The Sleer in Gaiman's book.
Kipling's language is reminiscent of the King James version of the Bible. It gives all the animals a dignity that is sadly lacking in most modern stories with anthropomorphic animals. They are not cute: they kill to eat, they fight among themselves and with other species, and there is death. I had not remembered how powerful the stories were, and I can see why Gaiman wished to celebrate them.
Kipling's language is reminiscent of the King James version of the Bible. It gives all the animals a dignity that is sadly lacking in most modern stories with anthropomorphic animals. They are not cute: they kill to eat, they fight among themselves and with other species, and there is death. I had not remembered how powerful the stories were, and I can see why Gaiman wished to celebrate them.
Another reason why classics are labelled as classics.
This instalment has more Mowgli stories alongside a few other stories. I am conflicted whether this instalment is better that the first or not. Either way this is a great read and really taps into many things I like in a book.
Worth the read and thoroughly enjoyable.
This instalment has more Mowgli stories alongside a few other stories. I am conflicted whether this instalment is better that the first or not. Either way this is a great read and really taps into many things I like in a book.
Worth the read and thoroughly enjoyable.
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I absolutely love these books. There's something about reading about talking animals before Disney gets a hold of them. I love the old disney cartoon but this book shows what the series was meant to be like.
I stayed up until 3am to read this book, I think that is a fairly good indicator. What was a disappointment was some of the chapters not about Mowgli. In the first Jungle Book each other story was as amazing as the other, but this time, especially the one about the diplomat, I found myself unable to engage with the story and it was written in such a way it was trying to read. But once the Mowgli stories begun again I got engrossed with it. So I guess it is still an amazing book but with a couple more flaws that the first. I am trying to decide if I like the ending, try my best not to add spoilers. It was revealed in the first one and hinted at in the book throughout but I dunno. I think I wanted nothing to change. Though it was a decent conclusion and Kipling did a marvellous job on it to sum up and everything ties in together nicely, and not in a rush of the last page, but he builds it up and it gradually and naturally concludes. This book is a combination of an end to a remarkable story and life that I had wanted to go on forever which was slowly disappearing but still lingered in the air, an older Mowgli, a new generation in the jungle and everyones fight to stay ahead and remember the old days while the new blood took hold. I thought it was wonderful and very heartfelt at times, especially the final scene.
The instant I finished the first Jungle Book, I raced to track down the next one, to hear more about Mowgli.
I didn't enjoy the fill-in/not-Jungle-based stories but enjoyed returning to the world Mowgli lived in. The stories are not in order, as the first had been, so it jumps around a lot more, causing me not to enjoy it as much as the first.
I don't regret reading it, I just most likely won't re-read it.
I didn't enjoy the fill-in/not-Jungle-based stories but enjoyed returning to the world Mowgli lived in. The stories are not in order, as the first had been, so it jumps around a lot more, causing me not to enjoy it as much as the first.
I don't regret reading it, I just most likely won't re-read it.
Kipling is really growing on me. I love the loose narrative he built with Mowgli's short stories, gradually telling the story of the important events and stages of his life and upbringing without trying to fill in all the details.
The other tales are lovely. I particularly enjoyed the Crocodile's tale at the riverbank.
The other tales are lovely. I particularly enjoyed the Crocodile's tale at the riverbank.
3 stars overall, and that only because the later stories managed to raise the average. Definitely a lackluster sequel, though I enjoyed a couple of the extra Mowgli stories.
How Fear Came: 3 stars
The Miracle of Purun Bhagat: 2 stars
Letting in the Jungle: 2.5 stars
The Undertakers: 2.5 stars
The King’s Ankus: 4 stars
Quiquern: 3 stars
Red Dog: 4 stars
The Spring Running: 3 stars
How Fear Came: 3 stars
The Miracle of Purun Bhagat: 2 stars
Letting in the Jungle: 2.5 stars
The Undertakers: 2.5 stars
The King’s Ankus: 4 stars
Quiquern: 3 stars
Red Dog: 4 stars
The Spring Running: 3 stars
I was surprised that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Usually a '2nd' book is shadow of its predecessor, but this 2nd was more of a continuation. I really had fun reading it.