Scan barcode
cimorene1558's review against another edition
4.0
Very good; somewhat reminiscent of Alan Garner, especially Elidor, and for some reason it also reminds me of A Walk out of the World and the Marrow of the World, although I really can't tell you why, as there's no real connection that I can isolate!
nicktomjoe's review against another edition
4.0
There are some great insights into landscape here, both rural and urban, and the eponymous Giant gradually emerging sets the pace for an exploration of how myth, legend and landscape impact on three different young people. The menace is tangible; the magic believable.
Images and episodes that stay with me would have to include the children’s flying - a brilliant device to move the action on that culminates in wonderfully described aerial battling - and almost casually thrown away descriptions such as “the city lay beneath them like a crumpled carpet” or “the grass bowed as though it would die.” There has been a lot of thought put into this book.
The final chapter therefore came as a bit of a disappointment. The author understandably wants to return to some sense of legend having tangible presence in the everyday, and an archaeological dig provides the context. However (and I feel churlish saying it) the adult characters and occasional loose ends seemed to lack the joy and care of earlier sections, and the final sentence was an unexpected downbeat when the ideas in it could have been a highlight.
But this is a minor distraction from what was otherwise well paced, full of clever description and genuine dread.
There: and I didn’t mention Alan Garner...
Images and episodes that stay with me would have to include the children’s flying - a brilliant device to move the action on that culminates in wonderfully described aerial battling - and almost casually thrown away descriptions such as “the city lay beneath them like a crumpled carpet” or “the grass bowed as though it would die.” There has been a lot of thought put into this book.
The final chapter therefore came as a bit of a disappointment. The author understandably wants to return to some sense of legend having tangible presence in the everyday, and an archaeological dig provides the context. However (and I feel churlish saying it) the adult characters and occasional loose ends seemed to lack the joy and care of earlier sections, and the final sentence was an unexpected downbeat when the ideas in it could have been a highlight.
But this is a minor distraction from what was otherwise well paced, full of clever description and genuine dread.
There: and I didn’t mention Alan Garner...
mat_tobin's review against another edition
4.0
Published in 1968, Gordon's eco-fantasy rings so similarly to the work of Cooper and Garner with a rawer edge of Garner perhaps tipping towards the Cheshire man's themes. Three young secondary school students find themselves caught up in the reawakening of a dark force that lay buried beneath the turf and chalk.
When Jonk unearths an item that will bring it the power that it once lost, she calls upon her school friends, Bill and Arf to put things right. There is much more to this story in terms of lore and myth that I have not fully explored and I am drawn to re-read it. Gordon's writing is deft and economic and Blythe's illustrations inside are beyond compare. Definitely an alternative book to read at Christmas.
When Jonk unearths an item that will bring it the power that it once lost, she calls upon her school friends, Bill and Arf to put things right. There is much more to this story in terms of lore and myth that I have not fully explored and I am drawn to re-read it. Gordon's writing is deft and economic and Blythe's illustrations inside are beyond compare. Definitely an alternative book to read at Christmas.
megmoggs's review against another edition
5.0
This was an exciting, intriguing read that left me breathless. The plot was unique and gripping, and a bit sinister. This book isn't as popular as it deserves to be, which is a shame.
Everyone should try this: yeah, some will dislike it, but some, like me, will LOVE it.
-Zanthie
Everyone should try this: yeah, some will dislike it, but some, like me, will LOVE it.
-Zanthie
nottheprofileyourelookingfor's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
_raquel_'s review
1.0
I found it had many pacing issues, the beginig was very very slow and at the end (the semi interesting part) was and felt very very rushed with little to no detail of the actual scenes
More...