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nicktomjoe's review
1.0
And, to some extent, caught. The language and Jonathan Heale's illustrations make for a wonderful example of language play and evocation of a rural past. On the face of it, a wonderful book.
However, I recall how Helen Macdonald lays bare the anguish in T H White's depiction of the aged peregrine with the young Wart (magically transformed into a hawk) when the ageing Cully feverishly begs not to be allowed to attack the boy. Immensely problematic as this is, I catch a hint of it as Sowk, desperate for a truffle, speaks to "the truffle baby" in a not dissimilar way of depicting temptation not avoided: ' "Let me just snuffly you," she whisper-whispery to him, as has him up her snouty and a kissing him before he can say helpy.' Problematic doesn't come into it, if we know William Mayne's biography,.
This is a wonderful children's book about generosity and temptation and the gloriously desire-laden life of the two main piggy characters. But.
However, I recall how Helen Macdonald lays bare the anguish in T H White's depiction of the aged peregrine with the young Wart (magically transformed into a hawk) when the ageing Cully feverishly begs not to be allowed to attack the boy. Immensely problematic as this is, I catch a hint of it as Sowk, desperate for a truffle, speaks to "the truffle baby" in a not dissimilar way of depicting temptation not avoided: ' "Let me just snuffly you," she whisper-whispery to him, as has him up her snouty and a kissing him before he can say helpy.' Problematic doesn't come into it, if we know William Mayne's biography,.
This is a wonderful children's book about generosity and temptation and the gloriously desire-laden life of the two main piggy characters. But.
mat_tobin's review
5.0
An absolutely wonderful book in which Mayne's piggytalk and narrative alongside Heale's wonderful woodcuts makes for a peerless play with word and image. After unearthing some rich turffles, Boark and his large wife, Sowk set off to market to make their money. On the way, Sowk falls to temptation and little by little nibbles away at their rich findings. The tale is funny in itself but it is the read-aloud nature of the text and Wayne's invented piggy language which I love so much. Not one for all readers, sadly, but a real mucky masterpiece nonetheless.
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