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gmamartha's review
3.0
Hmmmm... more glooms than splendors, I'm thinking. The plot, I mean. I think this took me a while to get into because I was dreading the plot. But the writing carried the day in the end. I know "my kids" like it.
misspippireads's review against another edition
2.0
"Newbery Medal winner Laura Amy Schlitz’s Victorian gothic is a rich banquet of dark comedy, scorching magic, and the brilliant and bewitching storytelling that is her trademark."
Clara Wintermute is fascinated with puppets. She requests to have them at her birthday party. Her parents arrange to have Grisini come to the house and present a puppet show with his two young assistants Lizzie Rose Fawr and Parsefall Hooke. The next day, Clara disappears. Grisini is suspesced of kidnapping but the police find nothing in the rented rooms of the puppeteers. Lizzie Rose is saddened, Parsefall is suspicious, and Grisini is smooth and sly. And the twisted tale goes on with magic, travel, mourning, rejoicing, dogs, blood, and reunions!
I began reading this tale last year, but I wanted to listen to it because I heard various good reviews about audio edition. I waited until a local library added it to their catalog and then placed a hold. My original thoughts were very uncertain. I only read a couple chapters, but I had an uneasy feeling about the magic qualities. I adore puppetry, so I wanted to give the complete story a chance.
The magic in the book consisted of supernatural kind with spells and curses rather than the fantastical type with superpowers or time travel. Taking place in Victorian England there were various moments of darkness, fear, poverty, and grime. Every time I heard Grisini's name, I pictured it to be Grease-eeny. He was a greasy character, so the name fit him well. Grisini's "master" was the witch Cassandra. She was quite the manipulator. The children were the best characters and of course the story wrapped around them because this book was written for readers of their ages. Beyond the Clara mystery, Grisini, Cassandra, and the children, there were several other story lines and themes threaded through the book. The Wintermute's were an entire side story with their mourning and recovery. The puppets were also a main theme with first Grisini using them then Parsefall claiming them.
Splendors and Glooms is a very involved story. I would recommend it to Middle Schoolers rather than Elementary students. The story is rather dark and there are a couple language "flourishes" that some parents and readers might not enjoy.
Narrator Davina Porter shared the story well. Her characters were distinct from each other. She captured Parsefall's surliness very well while Lizzi Rose's presice speech reminded me of Audrey Hepburn's portrayal of Eliza Dolittle in My Fair Lady.
Reviewed from a library copy.
Clara Wintermute is fascinated with puppets. She requests to have them at her birthday party. Her parents arrange to have Grisini come to the house and present a puppet show with his two young assistants Lizzie Rose Fawr and Parsefall Hooke. The next day, Clara disappears. Grisini is suspesced of kidnapping but the police find nothing in the rented rooms of the puppeteers. Lizzie Rose is saddened, Parsefall is suspicious, and Grisini is smooth and sly. And the twisted tale goes on with magic, travel, mourning, rejoicing, dogs, blood, and reunions!
I began reading this tale last year, but I wanted to listen to it because I heard various good reviews about audio edition. I waited until a local library added it to their catalog and then placed a hold. My original thoughts were very uncertain. I only read a couple chapters, but I had an uneasy feeling about the magic qualities. I adore puppetry, so I wanted to give the complete story a chance.
The magic in the book consisted of supernatural kind with spells and curses rather than the fantastical type with superpowers or time travel. Taking place in Victorian England there were various moments of darkness, fear, poverty, and grime. Every time I heard Grisini's name, I pictured it to be Grease-eeny. He was a greasy character, so the name fit him well. Grisini's "master" was the witch Cassandra. She was quite the manipulator. The children were the best characters and of course the story wrapped around them because this book was written for readers of their ages. Beyond the Clara mystery, Grisini, Cassandra, and the children, there were several other story lines and themes threaded through the book. The Wintermute's were an entire side story with their mourning and recovery. The puppets were also a main theme with first Grisini using them then Parsefall claiming them.
Splendors and Glooms is a very involved story. I would recommend it to Middle Schoolers rather than Elementary students. The story is rather dark and there are a couple language "flourishes" that some parents and readers might not enjoy.
Narrator Davina Porter shared the story well. Her characters were distinct from each other. She captured Parsefall's surliness very well while Lizzi Rose's presice speech reminded me of Audrey Hepburn's portrayal of Eliza Dolittle in My Fair Lady.
Reviewed from a library copy.
roseleaf24's review
4.0
Newbery Honor 2013
Definitely an upper elementary book, as it has some scary moments! Clara Wintermute lives under the shadow of her siblings, who all died in a cholera epidemic. Her mother has never recovered from her grief and holds Clara in a stasis of mourning. But Clara want a pupper show for her birthday, and her father obliges. Her fascination is captured by the amazing puppetry and by the children who work for the puppeteer, Parsefall and Lizzie Rose. Lizzie Rose is an orphan who Grisini took in when no one else would. Her parents were theatre people, and while they were never wealthy, the life she lives with Grisini now is much hungrier, dirtier, and harder than what she knew before. Parsefall lived in a work house before Grisini took him in, and is constantly reminded that Grisini took him in. There is also a hole in his memory that fills him with fear. Grisini is a magician as well as a puppeteer, and he kidnaps Clara to hold her for ransom and hides her so that she could never be found, except by two children, who are more willing to suspend their disbelief. The night he is supposed to collect the ransom, he is called away by a witch who needs him and the children to save her from a fiery demise. The tone of this book is magnificent, with a suspenseful gloom surrounding everything, but fully alive and rich characters.
Definitely an upper elementary book, as it has some scary moments! Clara Wintermute lives under the shadow of her siblings, who all died in a cholera epidemic. Her mother has never recovered from her grief and holds Clara in a stasis of mourning. But Clara want a pupper show for her birthday, and her father obliges. Her fascination is captured by the amazing puppetry and by the children who work for the puppeteer, Parsefall and Lizzie Rose. Lizzie Rose is an orphan who Grisini took in when no one else would. Her parents were theatre people, and while they were never wealthy, the life she lives with Grisini now is much hungrier, dirtier, and harder than what she knew before. Parsefall lived in a work house before Grisini took him in, and is constantly reminded that Grisini took him in. There is also a hole in his memory that fills him with fear. Grisini is a magician as well as a puppeteer, and he kidnaps Clara to hold her for ransom and hides her so that she could never be found, except by two children, who are more willing to suspend their disbelief. The night he is supposed to collect the ransom, he is called away by a witch who needs him and the children to save her from a fiery demise. The tone of this book is magnificent, with a suspenseful gloom surrounding everything, but fully alive and rich characters.
therealbel's review
4.0
4.5
What a surprisingly good read. I read this based on a glowing recommendation from a customer who raved about it. Great for 10yrs+, this made a change from the usual apocalyptic dysfunction that I usually shower myself in. In a “normal” world (Victorian I think) where few people have magic and street urchins are the norm, this book managed to captivate and, amazingly, surprise me. Want something different - take the time to read this!!
What a surprisingly good read. I read this based on a glowing recommendation from a customer who raved about it. Great for 10yrs+, this made a change from the usual apocalyptic dysfunction that I usually shower myself in. In a “normal” world (Victorian I think) where few people have magic and street urchins are the norm, this book managed to captivate and, amazingly, surprise me. Want something different - take the time to read this!!
thebrainlair's review
4.0
That was entrancing! Seemed a little old for Newbery but maybe too young for Printz. I'm pegging an honor for it!
breakfastgrey's review
4.0
I loved this book. Schlitz has quickly established herself as one of my new favorites. Not only does she write historical fantasy, but she has a mastery over the time periods chosen like few others. This book reads like a Victorian book. It’s absolutely brilliant. Are there little niggling plot things in terms of convenience and some tiresome character traits? Definitely. But they fit the setting of the book. It’s so stinking clever. Unfortunately, I also worry that this book, like Amber and Clay, is written more for librarians with English degrees than actual children. Still, not every book needs to be perfect for every kid, just the right one.
cindyjac's review
5.0
This amazing book reminded me of The Thief Lord and Inkheart. A truly engaging story with elements of fantasy set in the past. The children-protagonists are characters you will connect with.