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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
I’ve read Tom’s Midnight Garden more times than I probably care to admit, and I have a truly old, ex-library copy, with a picture of “Tom” and “Hetty” on the front cover - Amazon says that this edition was published in the late 50s but mine is probably a reprint.
I loved the story and re-read it every so often and it has truly stood the test of time with me personally. So I was curious when I saw this, a graphic adaptation of one of my much loved childhood books.
This is probably my first attempt at a graphic novel - I have The Exile by Diana Gabaldon, but have never got around to reading it. This whiled away about an hour or so during a quiet shift at work, and while I enjoyed it, there were some things that I wasn’t keen on.
There are some minor changes from the original novel - but nothing too significant and just small things that you won’t really notice, unless the book is fresh in your mind. But most of it is just cutting it down to fit the graphic novel retelling.
What I really didn’t like was the illustrations. When you’ve gone through so many years of seeing the characters based on a picture from the front cover, seeing another person’s interpretation of them just doesn’t ring true. The illustrations in this were very childish and almost Tintin-esque in appearance, with strange noses and odd features. This annoyed me throughout the reading, although I tried to put it to one side and enjoy the story.
If you know/remember the story well enough, you’ll zip through this in no time at all, and it has put me in mind to dig out my old copy from the bookcase and re-read it. I think what would have improved this for me is better illustrations.
I loved the story and re-read it every so often and it has truly stood the test of time with me personally. So I was curious when I saw this, a graphic adaptation of one of my much loved childhood books.
This is probably my first attempt at a graphic novel - I have The Exile by Diana Gabaldon, but have never got around to reading it. This whiled away about an hour or so during a quiet shift at work, and while I enjoyed it, there were some things that I wasn’t keen on.
There are some minor changes from the original novel - but nothing too significant and just small things that you won’t really notice, unless the book is fresh in your mind. But most of it is just cutting it down to fit the graphic novel retelling.
What I really didn’t like was the illustrations. When you’ve gone through so many years of seeing the characters based on a picture from the front cover, seeing another person’s interpretation of them just doesn’t ring true. The illustrations in this were very childish and almost Tintin-esque in appearance, with strange noses and odd features. This annoyed me throughout the reading, although I tried to put it to one side and enjoy the story.
If you know/remember the story well enough, you’ll zip through this in no time at all, and it has put me in mind to dig out my old copy from the bookcase and re-read it. I think what would have improved this for me is better illustrations.
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I put together a list of books that I remember loving when I was young and wanted to reread them. This was the first of those. I will say that it feels like it might be too dry for my kids now. It's definitely old fashioned feeling,mans that includes what were the contemporary parts when it was written.
I really remembered very little about this books but that I loved it, and I see why. It is a time-slip book and I was super into that. Tom finds himself in the distant past, although he's not really sure exactly when. He befriends a young girl and visits here back and forth over a number of years. As I was reading it, I remembered bits and pieces. I also very clearly knew the big twist. I'm not sure if that's because I remembered it, or because it's so obvious because this has become a much used plot device.
I was also struck by how annoying Tom was and how bad his uncle was with kids.
I think kids today might think the plot of this book was copied from other things, but really, this was an influential book that came first.
I really remembered very little about this books but that I loved it, and I see why. It is a time-slip book and I was super into that. Tom finds himself in the distant past, although he's not really sure exactly when. He befriends a young girl and visits here back and forth over a number of years. As I was reading it, I remembered bits and pieces. I also very clearly knew the big twist. I'm not sure if that's because I remembered it, or because it's so obvious because this has become a much used plot device.
I was also struck by how annoying Tom was and how bad his uncle was with kids.
I think kids today might think the plot of this book was copied from other things, but really, this was an influential book that came first.
Read for uni assignment.
I think if I had read this when I was a child I would have really enjoyed it, but having to read it critically for an assignment as an adult, all I kept thinking was Tom was such a brat! It was also hard to enjoy a story when I was reading it for a specific purpose (responsibilities of a child in this time period).
I do like the mix of fantasy and reality, but I could have done with less of the Bible and demon references that seem to plague every kids book I've read in this course so far!
I think if I had read this when I was a child I would have really enjoyed it, but having to read it critically for an assignment as an adult, all I kept thinking was Tom was such a brat! It was also hard to enjoy a story when I was reading it for a specific purpose (responsibilities of a child in this time period).
I do like the mix of fantasy and reality, but I could have done with less of the Bible and demon references that seem to plague every kids book I've read in this course so far!
I do not have the slightest idea how the hell do such books end up being listed as children's books but i'm planning on finding out. I'd also love to discuss this with kids just to hear what they make out of it.
I don't know why exactly but this story will definitely linger with me for a while.
---------------------
So, I did some research and found that this is what's typically called a chapter book (intended for kids between 7 to 11 years old!) and what really spiked my curiosity was that this book (along with others listed in the same category) raise questions over the nature of time, reality and dreams that might not be entirely dreams after all.
These concepts, and many others, I still find very confusing as "an adult". So, what would a 10 year old make of it?
Would the story be as confusing to a kid or Would it be easier for him to figure it out?
Maybe a kid wouldn't have all these questions and would just enjoy the story without over analyzing it. Maybe a kid would simply think that the garden was a magical garden and that's that and it doesn't matter where it came from... I wonder.
I don't know why exactly but this story will definitely linger with me for a while.
---------------------
So, I did some research and found that this is what's typically called a chapter book (intended for kids between 7 to 11 years old!) and what really spiked my curiosity was that this book (along with others listed in the same category) raise questions over the nature of time, reality and dreams that might not be entirely dreams after all.
These concepts, and many others, I still find very confusing as "an adult". So, what would a 10 year old make of it?
Would the story be as confusing to a kid or Would it be easier for him to figure it out?
Maybe a kid wouldn't have all these questions and would just enjoy the story without over analyzing it. Maybe a kid would simply think that the garden was a magical garden and that's that and it doesn't matter where it came from... I wonder.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
mysterious
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
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Death of parent
Absolutely charming. The audiobook's radio dramatization was excellent, with clear movement happening by the actors. The story was like The Secret Garden but only real (well, "real") and it reminded me of a favorite childhood book that no one I know has also read--The Hunky Dory Dairy, in which a girl stumbles on an old-timey farm in her neighborhood.
I had definitely guessed the reveal but it was no less delightful to reach.
I had definitely guessed the reveal but it was no less delightful to reach.