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fernerly's review against another edition
2.0
Read with my 6-year old daughter. We do read a lot of children’s books, but I thought this one, being a Tolkien, deserved a review. Such a beautiful, hardcover book, very creatively illustrated by the author, but the story bored us no end, unfortunately. Perhaps suitable for even younger children..
fae_noir's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The wacky, one-thing-leads-to-another misadventures of a man who impulse buys a car. I love Tolkien and this was one work I hadn't yet read. I picked it up on sale and went in completely blind.
This was a fun short story, and I highly recommend the audio book with Sir Derek Jacobi narrating. All the charm and quirkiness of Tolkien's other works, but spun in a way that makes this a humorous kid's story. I laughed when he even managed to sneak the word "goblin" in. (I think it's an unwritten rule that all of Tolkien's works have to reference goblins somehow, haha.)
This was a fun short story, and I highly recommend the audio book with Sir Derek Jacobi narrating. All the charm and quirkiness of Tolkien's other works, but spun in a way that makes this a humorous kid's story. I laughed when he even managed to sneak the word "goblin" in. (I think it's an unwritten rule that all of Tolkien's works have to reference goblins somehow, haha.)
constant2m's review against another edition
4.0
Well that was very silly.
And also, I want a Girabbit!
And also, I want a Girabbit!
seetaylorwriteandreview's review against another edition
5.0
Mr. Bliss reminds me a lot of Amelia Bedelia, in all the best ways. This was such a cute story to share with my children!
fatherroderick's review against another edition
4.0
A funny, cheerful story JRR Tolkien wrote for his children. The style is very similar to the stories taking place in the Shire at the beginning of the Hobbit. The audiobook version is wonderfully read by Derek Jacobi.
apageinthestacks's review against another edition
5.0
I should preface this by saying Tolkien is my favorite author, so I'm definitely biased. Would I have liked it as much if someone else's name was on the cover? I'm honestly not sure. One of the things I loved most about it was how it was written by Tolkien, and how charming the book was knowing the same author wrote LotR, etc.
And that's really the best way to describe this book: charming. Is it a literary masterpiece, or one of the greatest children's stories of all time? Probably not, but I was grinning the whole way through, and it's 100% what it's meant to be: a father's story to his children, and I love that about it.
And that's really the best way to describe this book: charming. Is it a literary masterpiece, or one of the greatest children's stories of all time? Probably not, but I was grinning the whole way through, and it's 100% what it's meant to be: a father's story to his children, and I love that about it.
tasmanian_bibliophile's review against another edition
5.0
My inner child and I really enjoyed this book. Professor Tolkien wrote this book for his own children in the 1930s but it was never published in his lifetime. The edition I read (pulbished in 1983) has a facsimile of Professor Tolkien's original written text and lovely drawings side by side with the printed text.
I wish I'd discovered this book 20 years ago in time to read with my son. I'm sure he'd have enjoyed it.
I wish I'd discovered this book 20 years ago in time to read with my son. I'm sure he'd have enjoyed it.
luthien_tinuviel's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Mr Bliss has a similar style to the stories in Letters From Father Christmas. I enjoyed the whimsical nature of Mr Bliss’s adventures and the accompanying illustrations. It very much reminded me of picture books I would’ve had read to me when I was little, and for that reason felt quite nostalgic and comforting. I also loved the inclusion of the original manuscripts at the back of the edition I have.
mamabearreading's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful children's story with just enough silliness. I can't wait to read it to my children.
shirleonelsie's review against another edition
5.0
This was adorable! I had no idea Tolkien ever did a picture book like this before! I assume it's for kids, anyway. I want to know so much more about this - why did he write it? Was it supposed to be edited and published differently? Was it just something for fun? When did he learn to draw? SO MANY QUESTIONS!
I do love that this has his drawings and writings on one side of the book and a "translation" of it on the other side. I think my favorite part of the book was when Tolkien decided he didn't feel like drawing the car and just made a rectangle showing where it was!
I put it on my "Classics" shelf due to the date it was written, not because it was deemed classic, FYI.
I do love that this has his drawings and writings on one side of the book and a "translation" of it on the other side. I think my favorite part of the book was when Tolkien decided he didn't feel like drawing the car and just made a rectangle showing where it was!
I put it on my "Classics" shelf due to the date it was written, not because it was deemed classic, FYI.