Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
The first time I finished this book, I had to stop reading it in public because I started crying and thought I might sob violently.
The second time I read it, I cried more than the first time and in more places.
If you believe in love as brave action on the behalf of others, The Railway Children will fill and soothe you.
— — —
First read - March 2014
Reread (audiobook) - June 2018
This book is superbly written and inspiring for anyone who is a child or believes in childhood.
My first glance... http://mlanders.com/2014/03/11/e-nesbits-brave-tone-and-the-depths-of-whimsy/
My full review... http://mlanders.com/2014/03/24/55-classics-review-4-the-railway-children-by-edith-nesbit/
The second time I read it, I cried more than the first time and in more places.
If you believe in love as brave action on the behalf of others, The Railway Children will fill and soothe you.
— — —
First read - March 2014
Reread (audiobook) - June 2018
This book is superbly written and inspiring for anyone who is a child or believes in childhood.
My first glance... http://mlanders.com/2014/03/11/e-nesbits-brave-tone-and-the-depths-of-whimsy/
My full review... http://mlanders.com/2014/03/24/55-classics-review-4-the-railway-children-by-edith-nesbit/
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Listened to the audiobook. Beautiful and charming. Narration by Olivia Coleman was full of warmth.
The Railway Children ini cerita anak-anak yang manis, heartwarming, serta ringan. Aku hampir sama sekali nggak mikir waktu membaca novel ini, kecuali di beberapa bagian yang terjemahannya agak kaku dan kurang mulus.
Setiap babnya menyajikan petualangan baru, alurnya mudah diikuti, tokoh utamanya pun tipikal protagonis yang cenderung bersikap lurus.
Interaksi antara Roberta, Peter, dan Phyllis kelihatan natural serta menghibur, saling mengasihi namun tak jarang beradu cekcok. Aku juga lumayan suka dengan kehadiran karakter pendukung seperti Pak Tua, Pak Perks, Dokter Forrest, maupun Kepala Stasiun yang menjadikan cerita ini lebih hidup. Bonus tambahan untuk deskripsi tentang desa tempat mereka tinggal yang kelihatan asri dan ala-ala visual film klasik.
Meski ini novel anak-anak, pesan-pesan yang disampaikan terbilang deep, terutama yang berkaitan tentang keadilan, tolong menolong dan bersikap baik. Aku terutama masih gagal move on sama percakapan antara Peter dan Ibunya, yang kurang lebih berbunyi seperti ini:
Peter: “Bu, maukah Ibu menulis cerita, menulis buku tentang kami semua, tapi dalam cerita itu ditulis bahwa Ayah segera pulang? Mau, Bu?”
Ibu: “Tidakkah lebih baik kalau kita bayangkan diri kita sebagai tokoh-tokoh cerita yang ditulis Tuhan? Kalau Ibu yang menulis cerita, mungkin Ibu akan membuat kesalahan. Tapi kalau Tuhan yang jadi sang Pengarang, Tuhan tahu bagaimana mengakhiri sebuah cerita dengan sebaik-baiknya–yang terbaik bagi kita semua.”
Huhuhu, rasanya mau ikutan nangis waktu membaca adegan di atas. Konflik kepergian Ayah barangkali adalah salah satu alasan kenapa The Railway Children tetap punya sisi “sedih” di balik ceritanya yang ceria :')
Setiap babnya menyajikan petualangan baru, alurnya mudah diikuti, tokoh utamanya pun tipikal protagonis yang cenderung bersikap lurus.
Interaksi antara Roberta, Peter, dan Phyllis kelihatan natural serta menghibur, saling mengasihi namun tak jarang beradu cekcok. Aku juga lumayan suka dengan kehadiran karakter pendukung seperti Pak Tua, Pak Perks, Dokter Forrest, maupun Kepala Stasiun yang menjadikan cerita ini lebih hidup. Bonus tambahan untuk deskripsi tentang desa tempat mereka tinggal yang kelihatan asri dan ala-ala visual film klasik.
Meski ini novel anak-anak, pesan-pesan yang disampaikan terbilang deep, terutama yang berkaitan tentang keadilan, tolong menolong dan bersikap baik. Aku terutama masih gagal move on sama percakapan antara Peter dan Ibunya, yang kurang lebih berbunyi seperti ini:
Peter: “Bu, maukah Ibu menulis cerita, menulis buku tentang kami semua, tapi dalam cerita itu ditulis bahwa Ayah segera pulang? Mau, Bu?”
Ibu: “Tidakkah lebih baik kalau kita bayangkan diri kita sebagai tokoh-tokoh cerita yang ditulis Tuhan? Kalau Ibu yang menulis cerita, mungkin Ibu akan membuat kesalahan. Tapi kalau Tuhan yang jadi sang Pengarang, Tuhan tahu bagaimana mengakhiri sebuah cerita dengan sebaik-baiknya–yang terbaik bagi kita semua.”
Huhuhu, rasanya mau ikutan nangis waktu membaca adegan di atas. Konflik kepergian Ayah barangkali adalah salah satu alasan kenapa The Railway Children tetap punya sisi “sedih” di balik ceritanya yang ceria :')
I've spent the past 6 months moving this book onto and off and back onto my to be read list. After looking at the cover of [b:Five Children and It|45181|Five Children and It (Five Children #1)|E. Nesbit|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1327882197l/45181._SY75_.jpg|975095], I didn't think Nesbit was an author for me. I finally changed my mind after reading a detailed recommendation from Lucy Mangan in [b:Bookworm: A Memoir of Childhood Reading|28501495|Bookworm A Memoir of Childhood Reading|Lucy Mangan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1511977501l/28501495._SY75_.jpg|48654576]. I'm glad I read this book. The vignettes in this book pulled me in and kept me captivated. I was glad to have taken the time to read this.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
lighthearted
relaxing
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a typical British children’s book and because of that it’s hard to try and look past some of the obvious issues within it; for example, the doctor’s discussion with Peter regarding the places and meaning of men and women. However it is such a lovely lighthearted story full of hope and belief that there is good in this world, and right now I think that is what we need.
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Bad things happen but there’s a certain nostalgic naivete that would make me have conversations with my kids- like when an adult male immaturely got his feelings hurt by the group of kids, one of the girls exclaims “let’s kiss and make up.” It just sets my creeper alarms off.
Content considerations some language that isn’t politically correct although I can’t think of any specific examples
Content considerations some language that isn’t politically correct although I can’t think of any specific examples
I suspect this is one of those books that, had I read it as a child, I would have loved and remembered fondly... but coming to it as an adult with no prior knowledge* or reference points (I haven't even seen the TV series/Film(?)) it left me a bit cold.
The style, language, class depictions, and gender roles portraited are all firmly of their time. The key plot device is also familiar: the protagonists are transplanted from their lives to a new setting where they are forced to make a new life for themselves. They do this by playing on (literally!) the Railway, making relationships - real and imagined - with the staff and passengers. With diversions via the canal, they go on a number of adventures, saving lives as they go...
The reason for their removal to the countryside is a mystery to them*, all they know is that their father has had to go away, they are now poor (by the terms of the book, although not necessarily in comparison with all the other characters), and their mother now has to work.
All in all, I wasn't bowled over - like I say, probably one for children (of a certain type).
*Unfortunately, I obtained some prior knowledge, via Wikipedia, as to what the mystery of the father's disappearance once, prior to having reached the appropriate bit of the book. D'Oh.
The style, language, class depictions, and gender roles portraited are all firmly of their time. The key plot device is also familiar: the protagonists are transplanted from their lives to a new setting where they are forced to make a new life for themselves. They do this by playing on (literally!) the Railway, making relationships - real and imagined - with the staff and passengers. With diversions via the canal, they go on a number of adventures, saving lives as they go...
The reason for their removal to the countryside is a mystery to them*, all they know is that their father has had to go away, they are now poor (by the terms of the book, although not necessarily in comparison with all the other characters), and their mother now has to work.
All in all, I wasn't bowled over - like I say, probably one for children (of a certain type).
*Unfortunately, I obtained some prior knowledge, via Wikipedia, as to what the mystery of the father's disappearance once, prior to having reached the appropriate bit of the book. D'Oh.