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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
I read this to my three children ages 5-10. One really liked it, the other two thought it was just okay. The old english did make some things harder for them to understand but also brought about a learning oportunity. We ordered the next book in the series from Amazon, then watched the movie with John Goodman. We should have skipped the movie, it doesn't follow the plot one bit. The book was more to our liking.
This is a children's book about a family of tiny people who live under the floor boards of a large house. They borrow objects from the family living there. At one time there were several families living there but now only one is left. Their goal is to never be seen by the family living above the floors.
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
I never read this book as a kid, and to be honest, I only read it now because the upcoming movie The Secret World of Arietty is based on this book, and I have a policy of not seeing movies based on books I haven't read. I quite enjoy the premise of the book and think that Miyazaki will have a lot of fun playing with it. Arietty was a delightful character. I probably would have loved this book as a kid, and it was still entertaining now, but I don't see it as anything too special.
An adorable classic from my childhood. I’m so thankful I chose to revisit it!
This is the book that not only introduced me to fantasy fiction, it planted the seed for my favorite type of fantasy fiction: where the mundane becomes magical. It's urban fantasy without the grime, if that's possible. It's also a great very-young adult read with a strong willed female protagonist and a tiny bit of historical novel thrown in without the heavy handed lecturing that some young adult authors mistake for narrative. The tiny little Clock family is as is nuclear as can be, but they are supportive and resourceful, and willing to trust an outsider if it means survival. Published 57 years ago, this is still one of the best fantasy books ever written, no matter what age the reader.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Tiny people live in your house! A tiny little girl and her parents live out their daily lives under the baseboards of an old house. They furnish their home with items "borrowed" from the larger home (the girl sleeps in a bed made from a cigar box). Although years ago there were many "Borrowers," there is only one family left. This is an odd story, with that dark sort of whimsey that has fallen out of favor since the second world war.
I read this a thousand years ago as a kid, and listened to the audio while on a road trip with my 11-year-old. We both very much enjoyed it.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Enjoyed this - really imaginative and had delicious descriptions of food and the little details of the Borrowers small world. Only wish it ended a little differently? I wish we saw more of the escape.