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bdplume's review against another edition
3.0
This was intimidating as children's books go, but it was fun once you got into it. Probably not for every kid, but I enjoyed it.
dorothy_is_me's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.75
At first, I found this novel to be really hard to get into, as I progressed it got easier and easier until I was enjoying ever bit of it. There are many characters and a lot of them are not the main focus as it is told in the this person, but I did really enjoy how each character acted. It almost added even more to the story and place from the time and place that it was written in. Over all, I thought the story was nicely written and there is a variety of people who many be interested in reading this, as the detail, writing style and description is really quite simple but still beautiful.
Pros:
- Learning about the Dutch (Mevrouw =Miss, Mme, etc, for example).
- Very much hope and subtle action. You do not get overwhelmed but certainly not bored.
- It is very quick and hopeful. I felt the need to talk about my reading experience to others (talking about characters, words seen often, etc).
Cons:
- Somewhat predictable and cliche. The middle of the plot would not have come across my mind but the ending sure did.
- I found that the middle plot- (spoiler) when Hans suddenly gets kidnapped and then the whole dream scheme and suddenly finding help was a bit unrealistic. Although things like this can happen, I think if there was a bit more added about who he could have been feeling emotionally aside from his dream.
- I think the clothing could have been described much more. As for me, I think that someone reading this in the future from the time that it was written, would not just know how they dressed and what each to her classses dressed as. In this book they are only really described as "poor clothes" or "wealthy looking suits".
In conclusion, I think that this book can be suited for all ages if there parents are alright with them reading some parts with mild blood being described (fighting). I loved my time reading this and I found it to be quite funny at some points.
Pros:
- Learning about the Dutch (Mevrouw =Miss, Mme, etc, for example).
- Very much hope and subtle action. You do not get overwhelmed but certainly not bored.
- It is very quick and hopeful. I felt the need to talk about my reading experience to others (talking about characters, words seen often, etc).
Cons:
- Somewhat predictable and cliche. The middle of the plot would not have come across my mind but the ending sure did.
- I found that the middle plot- (spoiler) when Hans suddenly gets kidnapped and then the whole dream scheme and suddenly finding help was a bit unrealistic. Although things like this can happen, I think if there was a bit more added about who he could have been feeling emotionally aside from his dream.
- I think the clothing could have been described much more. As for me, I think that someone reading this in the future from the time that it was written, would not just know how they dressed and what each to her classses dressed as. In this book they are only really described as "poor clothes" or "wealthy looking suits".
In conclusion, I think that this book can be suited for all ages if there parents are alright with them reading some parts with mild blood being described (fighting). I loved my time reading this and I found it to be quite funny at some points.
sabienb's review against another edition
inspiring
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
nadyagr's review against another edition
3.0
Определено моята любима част беше краят на книгата. Въпреки че, не бях фенка на средата, силно я препоръчвам , особено ако се интерсувате от Холандия, бит, култура и също история.
gliebherr's review
3.0
A wholesome story with many characters. Lots of details about Dutch life in mid 1800's.
Two stories in one, with the middle section give great detail about school boys' skating trip to the city to see museums. A little slow and detail dumps, but worth it in the end.
The story of Hans, and the Brinker's and is really good and includes a pretty awesome plot twist.
Two stories in one, with the middle section give great detail about school boys' skating trip to the city to see museums. A little slow and detail dumps, but worth it in the end.
The story of Hans, and the Brinker's and is really good and includes a pretty awesome plot twist.
kairros11's review
1.0
I hated this book. The story of Hans Brinker itself is fine. What I detested was the break from the main story to follow a group of boys with too much time on their hands exploring Amsterdam and pointing out "fun facts" of art and history. Not incredibly well-written either.
summermsmith's review
3.0
I feel torn, because I was really looking forward to reading this book, because it is about Holland (and I'm half Dutch)... but it was really slow reading. I listened to it on CD and it seemed to take forever. Although, there were parts of it that I could almost hear my Grandpa vander Wal telling the story and that was fun to hear!
kairros's review against another edition
1.0
I hated this book. The story of Hans Brinker itself is fine. What I detested was the break from the main story to follow a group of boys with too much time on their hands exploring Amsterdam and pointing out "fun facts" of art and history. Not incredibly well-written either.
maxandrambo's review against another edition
4.0
Well, this was a delightful surprise. While reading this heartwarming seasonal story (with heaps of adventure woven in), you're also going to casually learn a lot about Holland (now better known as the Netherlands.) Particularly refreshing was the way this story written in the 1800s consistently pointed out the efforts of women anytime an important battle was described.
gracer's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this book a lot more than I expected to! I thought it was a simple children's book about Dutch kids, but it turns out Hans Brinker is basically used to add some adventure to a book that is actually more like a child's history of the Netherlands, made really fun by the exciting historical events it talks about, and made adventurous by all of the skating and strange/exotic vehicles and foods and sights. At first I thought it was a little stereotypical, and although there are definitely some generalizations, they didn't seem so bad after the first 20-30 pages.