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saliwali's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Death
Minor: Abandonment and Grief
teeclecticreads's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.0
I’m sure if I read this when I was younger I’d enjoy it more, but I’m old and miserable so I found the characters quite annoying. The friendship between Charlotte and Wilbur was quite beautiful though.
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death
sasquatch_3's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
agatha_hopkins's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
another_dahlia's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
readingwithmeredith's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Animal death
ernie_8's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
diana_raquel's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
"We take to the breeze, we go as we please."
I didn't know what to expect from this book. I knew it was a children's book but if there's something that I know about children's classics is that the stories are always surprising. And this is no exception. At the surface, Charlotte's Web is a story of how a spider saves a pig, by writing words on its web. At its core, this is a story about the relationship between life and death (and accepting death as a part of life), love, loyalty, and friendship. However, the interesting thing is that it shows how roles can change from caregivers to friends, and how friends can come together and help you when you need them the most.
I really liked this story. The characters are adorable and even if the themes can be a bit dark for a children's book, the way the story deals with the darker themes in a simple way, by using simple words and short chapters.
I have to address an issue linked to this book that I have seen around the internet:it has to do with the idea that this book has some gender issues, in the idea that this book is about how a female spider does all the work and the male pig gets all the glory and then the spider dies happily at the end. And although I can sympathize with this idea - Wilbur is extremely passive during the whole narrative, doing everything in creation to something else or at someone else's urging. The animals, Charlotte and Fern are the ones who save Wilbur - I have to make a small nuance to this argument. Yes, this argument is valid, however, I read it as a social commentary to society in the sense that women do a lot of things that men get credit for (especially when it comes to domestic work and raising children). The relationship between Wilbur and Charlotte can also be seen as a mother/child or mentor/mentee relationship, and in that case, we do have not a gender issue but a story about a mother raising her child and saving him from death. Furthermore, I think that this book has a pro-women message: Fern and Charlotte save Wilbur, Mrs. Zuckerman says that it is Charlotte who is the remarkable creature, and all of the female animals in the barn nurture and teach. In turn, men, with the exception of the doctor, are described as being brutes (Templeton and Avery), bumblers (Lurvy), and simple-minded (Mr. Zuckerman and Mr. Arable).
Overall, I really liked this book and really recommend it!
I didn't know what to expect from this book. I knew it was a children's book but if there's something that I know about children's classics is that the stories are always surprising. And this is no exception. At the surface, Charlotte's Web is a story of how a spider saves a pig, by writing words on its web. At its core, this is a story about the relationship between life and death (and accepting death as a part of life), love, loyalty, and friendship. However, the interesting thing is that it shows how roles can change from caregivers to friends, and how friends can come together and help you when you need them the most.
I really liked this story. The characters are adorable and even if the themes can be a bit dark for a children's book, the way the story deals with the darker themes in a simple way, by using simple words and short chapters.
I have to address an issue linked to this book that I have seen around the internet:
Overall, I really liked this book and really recommend it!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Animal death
wonderlandiful's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Animal death, Confinement, and Death
Minor: Body shaming and Fatphobia
johnawickline's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death