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3.54 AVERAGE
3.54 AVERAGE
Includes much more than just stories about Mowgli. A fascinating glimpse into late 18th century views about animals, environment, and India (as seen through Kipling's eyes, anyway). Very different than the Disney version of the Mowgli story, of course. This is a collection of short stories, most which have no connection with one another aside from being set in India.
Why I picked it up: I have been trying to read books people consider as “classics” and seeing that the new Jungle Book movie came out recently, this book was an obvious choice.
Even though I was slightly hesistant about the book because it is meant for kids, my doubts soon disappeared. The book contains a bunch of stories :
1. Mowgli's Brothers
2. Hunting-Song of the Seeonee Pack.
3. Kaa's Hunting
4. Road-Song of the Bandar-Log
5. “Tiger! Tiger!”
6. Mowgli's Song
The first six are a collection of short stories revolving around Mowgli and his friends (or foes, for that matter). These were undoubtedly the best out of the bunch for me. They reminded me of waking up early on Sundays to watch your favourite cartoon on TV while eating your cereal. There's something nostalagic about it all. Only downside would be the poems which ruined the flow, but that maybe me because I'm not a poem person.
7. The White Seal
It is about a white seal who goes on a search for a safe place for his fellow seals and succeeds. It was okay. Sort of.
8. Lukannon
Another poem. Meh.
9. “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi”
This was a part of my syllabus in school so I chose to skip over it. But I distinctly rememmber all of us hating it. We had a collection of short stories such as The Gift of Magi by O.Henry and Dusk by Saki among others and this was undoubtedly the least favourite of our class as evident by the groans that broke out when we had anything to do with it. Anyway, it is about a pet mongoose, the titular character, and his fight with a snake. The story is unnecessarily dragged out and gets on my nerves.
10. Darzee's Chant
Another poem. Mehh.
11. Toomai of the Elephants
About an Indian boy and an elephant called Toomai. Okay-ish.
12. Shiv and the Grasshopper
A song by Toomai's mother.
13. Her Majesty's Servants
About a bunch of animals each boasting about their part in fighting for the British Army. Kinda left a bitter taste in my mouth seeing that I'm an Indian and not so hot about the British Army.
14. Parade Song of the Camp Animals
Poem about the previous story.
Frankly, in my opinion, you could skip all of the non-Mogwli related stories and you would not be missing much. But I'm sure a lot of people would disagree with me. And it is probably blasphemous to say this but : I liked the 2003 movie better. I know, I know the book is always better than the movie but sue me.
Even though I was slightly hesistant about the book because it is meant for kids, my doubts soon disappeared. The book contains a bunch of stories :
1. Mowgli's Brothers
2. Hunting-Song of the Seeonee Pack.
3. Kaa's Hunting
4. Road-Song of the Bandar-Log
5. “Tiger! Tiger!”
6. Mowgli's Song
The first six are a collection of short stories revolving around Mowgli and his friends (or foes, for that matter). These were undoubtedly the best out of the bunch for me. They reminded me of waking up early on Sundays to watch your favourite cartoon on TV while eating your cereal. There's something nostalagic about it all. Only downside would be the poems which ruined the flow, but that maybe me because I'm not a poem person.
7. The White Seal
It is about a white seal who goes on a search for a safe place for his fellow seals and succeeds. It was okay. Sort of.
8. Lukannon
Another poem. Meh.
9. “Rikki-Tikki-Tavi”
This was a part of my syllabus in school so I chose to skip over it. But I distinctly rememmber all of us hating it. We had a collection of short stories such as The Gift of Magi by O.Henry and Dusk by Saki among others and this was undoubtedly the least favourite of our class as evident by the groans that broke out when we had anything to do with it. Anyway, it is about a pet mongoose, the titular character, and his fight with a snake. The story is unnecessarily dragged out and gets on my nerves.
10. Darzee's Chant
Another poem. Mehh.
11. Toomai of the Elephants
About an Indian boy and an elephant called Toomai. Okay-ish.
12. Shiv and the Grasshopper
A song by Toomai's mother.
13. Her Majesty's Servants
About a bunch of animals each boasting about their part in fighting for the British Army. Kinda left a bitter taste in my mouth seeing that I'm an Indian and not so hot about the British Army.
14. Parade Song of the Camp Animals
Poem about the previous story.
Frankly, in my opinion, you could skip all of the non-Mogwli related stories and you would not be missing much. But I'm sure a lot of people would disagree with me. And it is probably blasphemous to say this but : I liked the 2003 movie better. I know, I know the book is always better than the movie but sue me.
Never realized it was a short story collection before. I liked the Mowgli stories the most.
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
slow-paced