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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
Classic story for children... nice to see it again!
This has been a book that I have wanted to read for a long time. I remember watching the film as a youngster and loving the story. I haven’t read too many classic’s in my recent years so I wasn’t sure what to expect and it has been a long time since I watched the film.
To begin with the way the story was written and the old English language took a bit of getting used to. Sometimes I found myself having to concentrate a lot, particularly during the dialogue so I could understand the conversations between the siblings better. Once I got used to it I then ploughed my way through the book.
I love the siblings relationships, they are children who quarrel and fight but there is an everlasting bond that remains. Each of the children had their own strengths and quirks but my favourite was Bobbie. She grew up a lot when they moved and took on the mothering role but she had a tough side to her which I liked. Both the female siblings were a little rough around the edges and weren’t stereotyped as delicate little flowers which was rather refreshing. I admired how Mother took the burden of all their troubles. Whilst the children knew something bad had happened I thought she made the move and transition to new circumstances as easy as possible for them.
With any children’s story you come to expect the heartwarming ending that gives you a fuzzy feeling and E. Nesbit doesn’t disappoint. It is a story of adventure, mischief, family and growing up. As an adult reader I could sense the dark undertone of their situation which I possibly missed as a child but I enjoyed the adventure and learning a bit more about life in the 1900’s.
To begin with the way the story was written and the old English language took a bit of getting used to. Sometimes I found myself having to concentrate a lot, particularly during the dialogue so I could understand the conversations between the siblings better. Once I got used to it I then ploughed my way through the book.
I love the siblings relationships, they are children who quarrel and fight but there is an everlasting bond that remains. Each of the children had their own strengths and quirks but my favourite was Bobbie. She grew up a lot when they moved and took on the mothering role but she had a tough side to her which I liked. Both the female siblings were a little rough around the edges and weren’t stereotyped as delicate little flowers which was rather refreshing. I admired how Mother took the burden of all their troubles. Whilst the children knew something bad had happened I thought she made the move and transition to new circumstances as easy as possible for them.
With any children’s story you come to expect the heartwarming ending that gives you a fuzzy feeling and E. Nesbit doesn’t disappoint. It is a story of adventure, mischief, family and growing up. As an adult reader I could sense the dark undertone of their situation which I possibly missed as a child but I enjoyed the adventure and learning a bit more about life in the 1900’s.
Nice retelling of a nice story. The pictures are kind of blurry :(
" Things do happen in real life that are rather like books,sometimes."
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Railway Children was published back in 1906 and is known throughout the world as a must read children’s classic. I read it repeatedly over and over again as a child. I loved it that much I still have my original edition that I read from. I got it when I was about eight years old and I have passed it onto my seven year old girl for her to read in the coming years. I hope her and her little sister treasure it as much as I did.
Reading this all over again was a pure rush of nostalgia for me. Having not read it for many years it was surprising how much came back to me. Also, it made me think how much of a different experience it was to read it as an adult now with two young children of my own. Instead of relating to the children, Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis, I was feeling heartbroken for their mother. The thought of my husband being sent to prison under false allegations like the children’s mother in this story is heart wrenching to think about. How this mother of three coped was inspiring to witness and even though it is a work of fiction, I felt the author wrote the children’s experiences and concerns about their mother and their change in living conditions perfectly.
The freedom the children had to just go off on little adventures in their village made me feel sad about how children these days do not get this kind of release. I also loved how the children had little problems to solve all on their own and how they made friends within the community. It was a joy to read and such a comfort that really made my heart feel lighter. The ending brought tears to my eyes even though I knew what was going to happen.
The Railway Children is a heart warming children’s classic that I think everyone, whatever age would cherish.
Reading this all over again was a pure rush of nostalgia for me. Having not read it for many years it was surprising how much came back to me. Also, it made me think how much of a different experience it was to read it as an adult now with two young children of my own. Instead of relating to the children, Bobbie, Peter and Phyllis, I was feeling heartbroken for their mother. The thought of my husband being sent to prison under false allegations like the children’s mother in this story is heart wrenching to think about. How this mother of three coped was inspiring to witness and even though it is a work of fiction, I felt the author wrote the children’s experiences and concerns about their mother and their change in living conditions perfectly.
The freedom the children had to just go off on little adventures in their village made me feel sad about how children these days do not get this kind of release. I also loved how the children had little problems to solve all on their own and how they made friends within the community. It was a joy to read and such a comfort that really made my heart feel lighter. The ending brought tears to my eyes even though I knew what was going to happen.
The Railway Children is a heart warming children’s classic that I think everyone, whatever age would cherish.
adventurous
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-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
This book is so fun! It’s one of those books with an overarching narrative, but where each chapter itself is its own self-contained story. Reading this was such a pleasure: the narrative is sweet and melancholic, the children are super fun characters (and their interactions with each other are consistently pretty realistic sibling-teasing stuff), and the atmosphere is summery and bright the entire book. I’m really happy I read this again - for the first time in years!
I only wish I'd found this as a child, because I found it charming and engrossing now, and I know that when I was younger, I would have been completely sucked into this world.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism, Classism