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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
It literally took an hour (maybe less) to read this book, but the message is so huge and beautiful. I love books that you read that are cute or semi-insightful books, but in the last paragraph, you realize, “Wow, this is for everyone.” This is that book.
I loved the Australian setting and the beautiful dialogue. He really pulled me into the sweet and heartfelt story. Amazing that this is his first book. I want to read more by this author.
Um pequeno livro com uma mensagem poderosa.
Uma amiga emprestou-me este livro e disse-me que este foi o livro que na adolescencia dela fez com que ela ficasse a gostar de ler.
E é sem súvida um livro com uma mensagem muito poderosa, que fala-nos do amor incondicional que uma criança tem por tudo. Que o amor acima de tudo prevalece independentemente das idades.
Um livro emotivo, com uma história simples, bonita e coesa. Um clássico desconhecido, diria eu.
Um livro pouco comum mas que aconselho a lerem.
Uma amiga emprestou-me este livro e disse-me que este foi o livro que na adolescencia dela fez com que ela ficasse a gostar de ler.
E é sem súvida um livro com uma mensagem muito poderosa, que fala-nos do amor incondicional que uma criança tem por tudo. Que o amor acima de tudo prevalece independentemente das idades.
Um livro emotivo, com uma história simples, bonita e coesa. Um clássico desconhecido, diria eu.
Um livro pouco comum mas que aconselho a lerem.
“Pobby and Dingan” is only 94 pages long, and it feels like it’s filled me with more than 100 pages of things I want to say about this amazing book. Let me start by saying it is easily the best book I’ve read this decade. Goodreads won’t let you rank something 6 stars so I guess I’m going to have to go back to all the previous books I gave five stars too and dock them at least one star. I want to buy every copy of this book I can find and give them out to people saying “You have to read this. Just trust me.” like I did with “The Time Traveler’s Wife.”
During these 94 pages I laughed, I cried, I thought a lot – and I’m still thinking – about what is real and what’s not, about how much the unseen – whether it’s imaginary friends, lost loved ones, or opals -- affects all of our lives, even – maybe especially – nonbelievers (AKA “froot loops who don’t know what it is to believe is something which is hard to see, or to keep looking for something which is totally hard to find.”). If that makes it sound like a religious work it’s not; it’s very down to earth. In fact a lot of it takes place underground in an Australian opal mine.
This book, Ben Rice’s first novel, was written in 2000 and he hasn’t written anything other than a couple of short stories since then. He’ll probably never write another novel because he knows it won’t be as good as his debut. Which reminds me of another author who only wrote one book – but what a book! – Harper Lee. It’s been a while since I’ve read “To Kill a Mockingbird” so I’ll override my instincts and refrain from saying “Pobby and Dingan” is better than “To Kill a Mockingbird” but it’s as good – and that is high praise indeed.
During these 94 pages I laughed, I cried, I thought a lot – and I’m still thinking – about what is real and what’s not, about how much the unseen – whether it’s imaginary friends, lost loved ones, or opals -- affects all of our lives, even – maybe especially – nonbelievers (AKA “froot loops who don’t know what it is to believe is something which is hard to see, or to keep looking for something which is totally hard to find.”). If that makes it sound like a religious work it’s not; it’s very down to earth. In fact a lot of it takes place underground in an Australian opal mine.
This book, Ben Rice’s first novel, was written in 2000 and he hasn’t written anything other than a couple of short stories since then. He’ll probably never write another novel because he knows it won’t be as good as his debut. Which reminds me of another author who only wrote one book – but what a book! – Harper Lee. It’s been a while since I’ve read “To Kill a Mockingbird” so I’ll override my instincts and refrain from saying “Pobby and Dingan” is better than “To Kill a Mockingbird” but it’s as good – and that is high praise indeed.
This is a sweet little novella that is pretty well-written (especially in the first half), but gets tripped up by its denouement. Things get sappy, a teensy bit silly, and, unfortunately, the incident that ends the novel seems a little contrived and artificially manufactured (read: forced).
I found out about this book in The Novel Cure-the book that claims to have a novel that will cure whatever it is that ails you. Unless it's cancer. Or diabetes, or really any other ailment or sickness that is real and not strictly an emotional or imagined affliction. So I can't even remember what this book promised to cure now that I think about it, it must've been something like "Believing in magic" or "Losing the faith" something along those lines. And technically, the book is so short I think it's actually a novella or short story and NOT a novel, so if we ARE gonna be technical this noveLLA doesn't belong in the "NOVEL Cure" since it's not actually a novel! But I will excuse that part for now.
It's basically a story about a small town family, living in a small mining town in Australia, dealing with the usual small town drama; gossip, judgmental people, people being afraid of differences and change. That sort of thing. In one particular family, a little girl has two imaginary friends and one day...they "disappear." This happens at the same time that the patriarch of the family, Rex Williamson, is accused of "ratting" on a man's property (Which is basically the equivalent of stealing) and the whole small town has turned against him. What follows is the story of a family and whole town putting aside their differences, personal judgements and beliefs and coming together to do what they can to help a little girl.
It's a pretty cute story, it's so short that it's not the sort of deal where you fall in love with the characters, but even tho it's a quick read it sure pulls at the heart strings. I was a little confused at the end... and a tad bit throughout the entire thing but I may have just been over thinking it all.
The little girl with the two imaginary friends (Pobby and Dingan) is 9 years old. In my mind, I couldn't help but think...9 years old?? Isn't that a bit old? This isn't 4, 5 even 6 years old this is NINE years. That's 4th grade for crying out loud! I couldn't help but feel like if a 9 year old girl has imaginary friends that persist beyond an afternoon's playing time then that imaginary friend is most likely be there to stay. So my cynical mind came to the conclusion that the little girl must've had some sort of neurological disorder or disease. I found myself feeling torn between whether or not I actually liked the book. I most definitely think that Ben Rice has some skill at storytelling. But I think the stark reality of a disease was really contradictory to the whole keep-the-faith-don't-lose-the-magic-miracles-can-happen-don't-judge-just-love-everybody thing that was being presented. In theory, it would be nice if we could hold on to childlike mystical beliefs, but the reality of life makes it all too impossible. BUT! Even if that is so, there is one very special thing that we all can and should tap into more often: our humanity. And I think ultimately that is what Ben Rice wanted to highlight most. To remind us that even though each and every one of us are different-some of us might come from this country, some of us from another, some of us use alcohol as a crutch, others use food, exercise, or relationships. Some of us are sad inside, some of us are afraid and insecure, some of us think we are better than others, and some of us are afraid everyone is better than we are. The one thing we all are is human. In this story it's easy for people to put aside petty problems and issues when there is an innocent little girl's life and health at stake but I think the point is to remind the reader to do the same not just for little girls, but for all people, all the time...that we should look at one another and see the thing that unites us rather than point out what separates us.
In a perfect world right? But we can at least try.
I like what Ben Rice did with his story, I like that it meant something. I think it's probably something that every reader considers anytime they read anything by any half decent author; where did these stories/characters/etc originate from? So of course this makes me wonder what inspired Rice to write such a charming account of empathy and compassion. The topic must mean something to him- I wonder if he's been judged, or perhaps done some judging himself that he regrets??
I like when you can feel the author thru the book, feel an author's feelings and person somehow even though you're reading about entirely different characters, and in this story I could feel Ben Rice. So for that I'm giving it four stars. This is the lowest far star rating I've ever given tho, I'll say that much. I don't like it nearly as much as I like all the other 4 star rated books. But for how short this was, and how simple the language and overall storyline was it was just surprisingly dense. Full of meaning and life truths! Sometimes telling a story thru a child is the best way to expose the simple truths behind complicated issues, and Pobby and Dingan did exactly that. But I was still left a little curious about all the happenings that led Ashmol to Pobby and Dingan. He stumbled across the violet crumbles that they purportedly eat, he smelt the unique smell that Kellyanne claimed one of them smelled like, and most peculiar of all: he found an opal that had supposedly been Dingan's bellybutton. No explanation of why any of these things happened was ever given so that leaves me a tiny bit unfulfilled, obviously Rice intended as much--desired a lil mystery perhaps?!?! A slightly mythical aspect to it all.
It's times like these you really wish you could talk to the author and find out what their intentions and thoughts were pertaining to their characters/story! I get annoyed with open ended endings! I need closure! Kellyanne had a brain tumor that caused her to hallucinate. Pobby and Dingan couldn't be real.
Right?
;)
It's basically a story about a small town family, living in a small mining town in Australia, dealing with the usual small town drama; gossip, judgmental people, people being afraid of differences and change. That sort of thing. In one particular family, a little girl has two imaginary friends and one day...they "disappear." This happens at the same time that the patriarch of the family, Rex Williamson, is accused of "ratting" on a man's property (Which is basically the equivalent of stealing) and the whole small town has turned against him. What follows is the story of a family and whole town putting aside their differences, personal judgements and beliefs and coming together to do what they can to help a little girl.
It's a pretty cute story, it's so short that it's not the sort of deal where you fall in love with the characters, but even tho it's a quick read it sure pulls at the heart strings. I was a little confused at the end... and a tad bit throughout the entire thing but I may have just been over thinking it all.
The little girl with the two imaginary friends (Pobby and Dingan) is 9 years old. In my mind, I couldn't help but think...9 years old?? Isn't that a bit old? This isn't 4, 5 even 6 years old this is NINE years. That's 4th grade for crying out loud! I couldn't help but feel like if a 9 year old girl has imaginary friends that persist beyond an afternoon's playing time then that imaginary friend is most likely be there to stay. So my cynical mind came to the conclusion that the little girl must've had some sort of neurological disorder or disease.
Spoiler
Had she lived I may have been able to dismiss it all as some magical little story-which I think was what Ben Rice actually intended. He set it up so we are left to question the possibility of Pobby and Dingan's existence being in some way real. But the fact that even after Pobby and Dingan's "dead bodies" are supposedly found via a trail of unexplained hints Kellyanne doesn't get well, that makes me look beyond the "broken heart" and emotional anguish as potential causes for Kellyanne's decline and death. People don't die of broken hearts. She basically withered away to nothing, first losing all appetite, energy and color, then losing weight and life until she literally lost her life. Poor lil thing. All of that sounds symptomatic of cancer or else something else like that, especially when death is the final outcome. Mix that in with the fact that she was seeing things for a long duration of time...I'd say she had some tumor on her brain that was messing with her neurological functions until it eventually killed her.In a perfect world right? But we can at least try.
I like what Ben Rice did with his story, I like that it meant something. I think it's probably something that every reader considers anytime they read anything by any half decent author; where did these stories/characters/etc originate from? So of course this makes me wonder what inspired Rice to write such a charming account of empathy and compassion. The topic must mean something to him- I wonder if he's been judged, or perhaps done some judging himself that he regrets??
I like when you can feel the author thru the book, feel an author's feelings and person somehow even though you're reading about entirely different characters, and in this story I could feel Ben Rice. So for that I'm giving it four stars. This is the lowest far star rating I've ever given tho, I'll say that much. I don't like it nearly as much as I like all the other 4 star rated books. But for how short this was, and how simple the language and overall storyline was it was just surprisingly dense. Full of meaning and life truths! Sometimes telling a story thru a child is the best way to expose the simple truths behind complicated issues, and Pobby and Dingan did exactly that. But I was still left a little curious about all the happenings that led Ashmol to Pobby and Dingan. He stumbled across the violet crumbles that they purportedly eat, he smelt the unique smell that Kellyanne claimed one of them smelled like, and most peculiar of all: he found an opal that had supposedly been Dingan's bellybutton. No explanation of why any of these things happened was ever given so that leaves me a tiny bit unfulfilled, obviously Rice intended as much--desired a lil mystery perhaps?!?! A slightly mythical aspect to it all.
It's times like these you really wish you could talk to the author and find out what their intentions and thoughts were pertaining to their characters/story! I get annoyed with open ended endings! I need closure! Kellyanne had a brain tumor that caused her to hallucinate. Pobby and Dingan couldn't be real.
Right?
;)
Ashmol is the brother of Kellyanne. She doesn't have any friends, other than her two imaginary friend pobby and dingan.
The story is told in Ashmol's voice. They live in an opal mining town in Australia.
Life is normal until pobby and dingan go to work with their dad in the mine and don't return.
The story is odd, but thought provoking which is why I liked it. It's interesting to see what brings people together.
The story is told in Ashmol's voice. They live in an opal mining town in Australia.
Life is normal until pobby and dingan go to work with their dad in the mine and don't return.
The story is odd, but thought provoking which is why I liked it. It's interesting to see what brings people together.
A short, sweet book written in the voice of a pretty regular Australian boy with an annoying sister, a slightly askew family, and problems of his own.
When his younger sister's imaginary friends disappear, he is at first quite angry with her perceived silliness. Because they've been her staunch companions for so long, many townsfolk recognize (or 'recognize') Pobby and Dingan, and since they love Kellyanne they agree to help out by searching for the missing boy and girl.
Over the short course of the story, Ashmol realizes and acts on his abiding love of his sister. He drives himself and his parents to do whatever is necessary to help Kellyanne recover from her grief, regardless of each of their personal problems. And in the end he finds out more about the whole family than he could have hoped, as well as some deep truths about the realities and value of life, and death.
I will remember this kid for a long time. Really nice story.
When his younger sister's imaginary friends disappear, he is at first quite angry with her perceived silliness. Because they've been her staunch companions for so long, many townsfolk recognize (or 'recognize') Pobby and Dingan, and since they love Kellyanne they agree to help out by searching for the missing boy and girl.
Over the short course of the story, Ashmol realizes and acts on his abiding love of his sister. He drives himself and his parents to do whatever is necessary to help Kellyanne recover from her grief, regardless of each of their personal problems. And in the end he finds out more about the whole family than he could have hoped, as well as some deep truths about the realities and value of life, and death.
I will remember this kid for a long time. Really nice story.
A sad story with a lot of hope to it. Could have been trimmed down into a short story (or expanded into a novel) without harm, probably, but at 92 pages, right now it's not either one.