Reviews

The Wonder Clock by Howard Pyle

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doreeny's review against another edition

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5.0

My favourite book as a child!

colinandersbrodd's review against another edition

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3.0

24 short stories, much like fairy tales and folklore, and borrowing themes from mythology without precisely copying the plots - with a strong "Americana" flavoring from the late 19th century. That being said, I was pleasantly surprised that there wasn't more offensive material in here. There is some casual misogyny, one anti-Semitic reference, and I think Romani are referred to as "gypsies" at one point, but for the 1890s or so, it was pretty good. My kids enjoyed the stories, and we just had discussions to address the offensive stuff.

petenewlove's review against another edition

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3.0

I read this aloud to the boys at night. They liked a lot of the stories, though I had to omit some parts and grin and bear through others, with its insistent sexism. This went beyond women playing no roles aside from witches or princesses--objects to be used by the male protagonist either way; often the stories downright called for women to be beaten into submission. The three stars I give this book represent that there was more to it than the sexism, of course. Classic fairy tale tropes that captured the boys' imagination and sometimes made them laugh out loud.