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bexwalsh's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kylemarie's review against another edition
4.0
Fun and silly story about a man who decides to buy a car, but the decision leads to a series of mishaps.
While this story isn't for everyone, it's certainly worth it for Tolkien fans. The ability to see his handwritten story and drawings gives the story a different feel. I appreciated the commentary like "I got tired of drawing it." It made me feel as if I was one of his children and he was telling me the story.
While this story isn't for everyone, it's certainly worth it for Tolkien fans. The ability to see his handwritten story and drawings gives the story a different feel. I appreciated the commentary like "I got tired of drawing it." It made me feel as if I was one of his children and he was telling me the story.
eberico's review against another edition
3.0
Tolkein's only children's book (that I'm aware of) is delightful, whimsically illustrated, and fostered in me a deep desire for a girabbit.
bookworm_baggins's review against another edition
4.0
This is an illustrated children's book that Tolkien wrote for his own children. It was not published until after his death. Each page has a photostat of the actual handwritten book by Tolkien. His handwriting looks remarkably...Elvish :-)
This was a odd little story, a read aloud to Emma. Long for a children's picture book, but it completely captivated her. Not a lot in the way of plot, and in that way very much unlike his other great works. But he has delightful and memorable characters, especially Mr Bliss and the Girabbit!
Very unlike any other Tolkien I've read.
This was a odd little story, a read aloud to Emma. Long for a children's picture book, but it completely captivated her. Not a lot in the way of plot, and in that way very much unlike his other great works. But he has delightful and memorable characters, especially Mr Bliss and the Girabbit!
Very unlike any other Tolkien I've read.
ashleykitkat's review against another edition
5.0
I had never heard of this children's book by J.R.R. Tolkien until recently and I'm glad that my local library had it to check out. It's a kid's book with the author's illustrations so it'll take you less than an hour to read. The story is SO FUNNY! I definitely recommend it!
mirsalibiaximena's review
4.0
It's a nice story, the characters are original and funny. It’s a book you can enjoy even if you're not a child.
alana_ellsworth's review against another edition
5.0
Written by the same man and in the same style as the one who reformed the genre of fantasy, Mr. Bliss echoes many of the same themes and superb storytelling elements that Roverandom and Smith of Wooton Major possess. There is something unique about Tolkien's short stories that I have yet to find anywhere else. There is humor and there is heart; there is grand imagination and there are ordinary characters. Glimpses of it are seen in his creation of hobbits--the loyal, stout-hearted, and often overlooked race that set The Lord of the Rings apart. Mr. Bliss has all the same feelings as those works and was so evidently crafted with same care, especially considering it was only ever meant to be an illustrated children's novel for his own children.
Mr. Bliss follows the title character, a man with an affinity for very tall hats who desires to buy a yellow motorcar ("Bright yellow--inside and out!"). The story follows his oblivion, typical of some of Tolkien's more humorous main characters, to having not actually paid for the car and instead driving it off in order to visit the Dorkinses and the trouble that ensues. There are many bears, cabbages, bananas, and most curious, a girabbit. The characters, including Mr. Bliss himself, are all absurd, easily offended, and preoccupied with the most trivial things.
To write and illustrate a novel for one's own children with this much attention to detail shows how much Tolkien valued story. I listened to the audio version for this book and am eagerly waiting for the day I can finally get my hands on an illustrated hardback copy. (I feel it important to note the importance of the illustrations to understand what a "girabbit" is). I laughed out loud for some time at moments, and felt incredibly comforted by the existence of Tolkien's masterpieces such as this in others. All I will end with is that forty-five minutes is far too short a time to spend among such fine characters.
Mr. Bliss follows the title character, a man with an affinity for very tall hats who desires to buy a yellow motorcar ("Bright yellow--inside and out!"). The story follows his oblivion, typical of some of Tolkien's more humorous main characters, to having not actually paid for the car and instead driving it off in order to visit the Dorkinses and the trouble that ensues. There are many bears, cabbages, bananas, and most curious, a girabbit. The characters, including Mr. Bliss himself, are all absurd, easily offended, and preoccupied with the most trivial things.
To write and illustrate a novel for one's own children with this much attention to detail shows how much Tolkien valued story. I listened to the audio version for this book and am eagerly waiting for the day I can finally get my hands on an illustrated hardback copy. (I feel it important to note the importance of the illustrations to understand what a "girabbit" is). I laughed out loud for some time at moments, and felt incredibly comforted by the existence of Tolkien's masterpieces such as this in others. All I will end with is that forty-five minutes is far too short a time to spend among such fine characters.
bookishliz_'s review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75