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luv_tati_reads's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
daybreak1012's review against another edition
4.5
Earlier this year, I read The Princess and the Goblins as part of an online book club. I had so many questions about one of the characters -- the great big grandmother -- and one of the hosts strongly suggested also reading the sequel for additional clarity. I am so glad that I did, because while I enjoyed the first book, the second was even better. There is much more of a traditional action-adventure plot to this one that I thought played out so well.
What I liked about The Princess and Curdie:
The "gasp!" moments - There were several for me. One early on in the book when Curdie does something I do not expect. One when I realized what was troubling the king. And one when the true identity of a character is revealed.
Lina - It somehow frequently seems to be the companion characters that wiggle their ways into my heart. Lina is no different. Exemplifying loyalty, sacrifice, courage, friendship -- Lina was a hidden treasure in plain view.
Greater insight into the old princess - I had so many questions about her following the first book and while I am not sure the questions I had then were actually answered directly, I feel a better sense of understanding about her character.
Curdie's gift - I loved the way his gift was designed to work, identifying an evil heart vs a good one. I don't want to say more than that, because it feels borderline spoiler-ish to not learn about it as you read, but it's lovely and brilliant, one of my favorite parts of the book.
The intent of the book - MacDonald does not feel as though it pulls as much from theology as CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien did. Nonetheless, he weaves in some commentary on character and values that are certainly relevant. There is definite good vs evil, and while there was in the first book as well, I just really engaged with the way it was presented this time.
What I didn't care for:
The cover of the edition I read - This is something that I feel compelled to mention. There are more than a thousand editions of this book, most of them with fabulous cover art, and somehow I ended up with one so creepy that I had to keep the book facedown when I wasn't reading it. All I can really say is that it did not surprise me that this edition was printed in the 1980s. I will gladly return this one to the library so that I don't have to see it anymore. I didn't judge this book by its cover, but if I did, I most assuredly would not have read it.
What left me conflicted:
The plot climax and the ending - The former was a little more violent than I was anticipating for children's literature (although given the nature of old fairy tales, fables, and nursery rhymes, maybe I shouldn't have been?) but it certainly accomplished its goal. The latter was "less fairy and more cautionary" in tale; I won't say more than that, other than to mention that while there is certainly a place for that brand of storytelling, I wasn't expecting it here.
Quotes I especially loved:
The "gasp!" moments - There were several for me. One early on in the book when Curdie does something I do not expect. One when I realized what was troubling the king. And one when the true identity of a character is revealed.
Lina - It somehow frequently seems to be the companion characters that wiggle their ways into my heart. Lina is no different. Exemplifying loyalty, sacrifice, courage, friendship -- Lina was a hidden treasure in plain view.
Greater insight into the old princess - I had so many questions about her following the first book and while I am not sure the questions I had then were actually answered directly, I feel a better sense of understanding about her character.
Curdie's gift - I loved the way his gift was designed to work, identifying an evil heart vs a good one. I don't want to say more than that, because it feels borderline spoiler-ish to not learn about it as you read, but it's lovely and brilliant, one of my favorite parts of the book.
The intent of the book - MacDonald does not feel as though it pulls as much from theology as CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien did. Nonetheless, he weaves in some commentary on character and values that are certainly relevant. There is definite good vs evil, and while there was in the first book as well, I just really engaged with the way it was presented this time.
What I didn't care for:
The cover of the edition I read - This is something that I feel compelled to mention. There are more than a thousand editions of this book, most of them with fabulous cover art, and somehow I ended up with one so creepy that I had to keep the book facedown when I wasn't reading it. All I can really say is that it did not surprise me that this edition was printed in the 1980s. I will gladly return this one to the library so that I don't have to see it anymore. I didn't judge this book by its cover, but if I did, I most assuredly would not have read it.
What left me conflicted:
The plot climax and the ending - The former was a little more violent than I was anticipating for children's literature (although given the nature of old fairy tales, fables, and nursery rhymes, maybe I shouldn't have been?) but it certainly accomplished its goal. The latter was "less fairy and more cautionary" in tale; I won't say more than that, other than to mention that while there is certainly a place for that brand of storytelling, I wasn't expecting it here.
Quotes I especially loved:
- There is this difference between the growth of some human beings and that of others: in the one case it is a continuous dying, in the other a continuous resurrection. One of the latter sort comes at length to know at once whether a thing is true the moment it comes before him; one of the former class grows more and more afraid of being taken in, so afraid that he takes himself in altogether, and comes at length to believe in nothing but his dinner: to be sure of a thing is to have it between his teeth.
- But it was little to Curdie that men who did not know what he was about should not approve of his proceedings.
- Remember, then, that whoever does not mean good is always in danger of harm. But I try to give everybody fair play, and those that are in the wrong are in far more need of it always than those who are in the right: they can afford to do without it.
- The boy should enclose and keep, as his life, the old child at the heart of him, and never let it go. He must still, to be a right man, be his mother's darling, and more, his father's pride, and more. The child is not meant to die, but to be forever fresh born.
- "I don't know how to thank you."
"Then I will tell you. There is only one way I care for. Do better, and grow better, and be better."
If you enjoy classic children's literature, like the Lewis's Narnia series, and also the works of Tolkien, these two books might be something worth your time to investigate. I could clearly see how both of those authors were inspired by the works of George MacDonald. Definitely read them in order (The Princess and the Goblins before The Princess and Curdie). Perhaps you will find them as delightful as I did!
sleepapneattic's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I LOVE THIS BOOK.
shalot's review
1.0
Something happened to George MacDonald between writing book 1 and book 2 of this series. 'The Princess and Curdie' felt so rottenly preachy. Curdie grows up and starts becoming a close-minded jaded miner but 'thankfully' the Princess (Formerly the Queen in Book 1) made him see the errors of his ways and cleansed his hands of all the callouses from hard work and effort in the mines. Way to take away his Blue Collar roots and basically say he's destined for greatness.
In the end, I ended up looking up the plot summary on Wikipedia to see if I was wasting my time and Oh. My. Word. Basically the epilogue of the book makes the whole plot pointless.
In the end, I ended up looking up the plot summary on Wikipedia to see if I was wasting my time and Oh. My. Word. Basically the epilogue of the book makes the whole plot pointless.
Spoiler
After all, what's the point of caring about anything that Irene or Curdie do if they get married, don't have any kids, and the kingdom crumbles into osbcurity? LITERALLY crumbles in on itself and nobody speaks of it every again!!!silverthorn's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
dakrone's review
4.0
Finished reading this with my seven year old daughter. It was a wonderful book for that, and despite the sometimes advanced vocabulary, a joy to read.
davehershey's review
4.0
The sequel to the Princess and the Goblin, and I think I liked this one a bit more. It is interesting to read MacDonald's fiction while reading his nonfiction at the same time as there are numerous parallels to draw. Or, to put it another way, it is fun to see how he makes the same point in story and in essay. It is also continually interesting to see how different his fantasy is from later writers, but yet how the similarities set the stage.
racheljohnson9731's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
froydis's review against another edition
3.0
This was a pretty good fairy tale. It was written in 1883, and reflects the values and mores of the Victorian era. Its a pretty fun adventure, if maybe a bit on the preachy side for today's audiences. I quite enjoyed the writing style, which is more verbose than today's kids may like, but for me it added quite a lot to the story. A fun read!