Reviews tagging 'Racism'

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren

3 reviews

rainybunny's review against another edition

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adventurous funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No

4.0


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lectrixnoctis's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Astrid Lindgren's novel "Pipi Longstocking" is one of the most well-known and famous children's books of all time. The Swedish author told imaginative tales about a small girl with a pigtailed redhead to her 7-year-old sick daughter Karin. After her ankle injury, she put the Pipi Longstocking stories to paper. After the rejection of the Swedish publishing house, Lindgren rewrites her manuscript. The contest and awards committee promptly shared the story first prize, and the book was printed in 1945. 

This novel consists of 11 parts and is about a nine-year-old redhead girl who moves into a big house understood as Villa Villekulla with her pet monkey Mr Nilsson, an unnamed pet horse and a bag filled with pieces of gold. Blessed with strength and countless other features, Pippi has friendships with two local siblings named Annika and Tommy Settergren. Because of the girl's previous lifestyle, she has limited knowledge of standard childhood behaviour and another daily routine. And this fact significantly adds humour to the story. It is better to remind Pippi's attempts to enrol at Tommy and Annika's school, following chaos or a coffee party organised by Mrs Settergren.

Despite its dedication to a young audience, many adults enjoy reading this masterpiece. It ought to be mentioned that while Pippi Longstocking might appear as the super-child with her weird behaviour, at first sight, she can do anything, feels confident everywhere, is an imaginative playmate. She can always outsmart the grown-ups; loneliness is a profound element. We can analyse this feeling in such situations as playing Tag with police officers who wanted to carry her to public children's house, with thieves who tried to steal her money (she insisted on dancing with one of them) and a lot of other occasions. She has Tommy and Annika, but they do not spend the day together as the girl's neighbours go to school, do their homework and help their mother with tasks. Pippi is always with her pets. Much of her "mischievous" is not caused by deliberate rebellion, but because the girl has no one to care for her, show her what is right or wrong, provide her teaching, learning and obey social rules and restrictions.

However, this girl is full of great creativity, quirks, attitudes to different aspects of life and authentic ideas. Pippi illustrates a person living life delightfully, appreciating every moment and providing several favourable minutes by herself. She is the same as everyone around because this redhead child is unique. Pippi does justice, as in the chance when she gets into a fight between Willie and the other boys. She is bold as in the fire situation in the building: Pipi tried to save two little boys when the other observed the misfortune. Thus, some adults should learn something from Pippi's agreements.

I have finally finished reading Pippi Longstocking. I never thought I would read this book since I did not enjoy watching the films as a child. I do you have to say that I like the book much more; however, I still like her neighbours tell me and Annika much better since they are more my type of people who are not too loud or too expressive. I would recommend that every parent read this story to their child since it is easy to understand and joyful. You have to say that some of these lines in this book were highly racist.



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elenamarmiroli's review against another edition

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challenging fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.5

Questo non mi è piaciuto in quanto spesso non ho sono riuscita a supportare la protagonista, il suo modo di comportarsi, ma soprattutto il suo inventarsi storie sulle usanze dei popoli e l loro modo di comportarsi. 

Ciò che ha poi aggravato il tutto è la parte dell'opera relativa all'isola governata "dall'uomo bianco", il padre di Pippi. Questa, infatti, tende molto ad assumere tinte colonialistiche e razziste, anche se ciò è in parte implicabile alla minore sensibilità su questi temi della società in cui l'opera fu scritta. Ciononostante, non riesco a non focalizzarmi su questo particolare, in quanto esso risulta nell'opera reitererato.

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