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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
"If everybody thought of everything, there'd be nothing left for anybody else to think about."pg 164
I read [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]in 5th grade and disliked it. For years I had a bad taste in my mouth when I heard the name E. Nesbit. Then, recently, I read one of her ghost stories in the [b:Weird Women: Classic Supernatural Fiction by Groundbreaking Female Writers: 1852-1923|52974605|Weird Women Classic Supernatural Fiction by Groundbreaking Female Writers 1852-1923|Leslie S. Klinger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575591998l/52974605._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73796202] collection and thought maybe I should try her again.
Here's the thing, I see why this charmed so many people for so long. It's got the total Anne of Green Gables feel to it, and the afterword in my edition compares it to A Little Princess.
But it's so....twee. I mean, my teeth hurt while reading it because it's over the top sweet. And I know that is how some people want their stories to be, but for me it's grating.
I also wanted to spank Peter for being an idiot. He never once talks to his sister without calling her "silly" or a "prat".
But if one looks at the time this was written, some of it is forgivable. I'd love to overhear a parent explain to their modern children why the Railway Children are running around train tracks and quarries unsupervised but as a child of the 80s ...it's not shocking.
I read [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]in 5th grade and disliked it. For years I had a bad taste in my mouth when I heard the name E. Nesbit. Then, recently, I read one of her ghost stories in the [b:Weird Women: Classic Supernatural Fiction by Groundbreaking Female Writers: 1852-1923|52974605|Weird Women Classic Supernatural Fiction by Groundbreaking Female Writers 1852-1923|Leslie S. Klinger|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1575591998l/52974605._SX50_SY75_.jpg|73796202] collection and thought maybe I should try her again.
Here's the thing, I see why this charmed so many people for so long. It's got the total Anne of Green Gables feel to it, and the afterword in my edition compares it to A Little Princess.
But it's so....twee. I mean, my teeth hurt while reading it because it's over the top sweet. And I know that is how some people want their stories to be, but for me it's grating.
I also wanted to spank Peter for being an idiot. He never once talks to his sister without calling her "silly" or a "prat".
But if one looks at the time this was written, some of it is forgivable. I'd love to overhear a parent explain to their modern children why the Railway Children are running around train tracks and quarries unsupervised but as a child of the 80s ...it's not shocking.
DNF
Was excited to read this because Five Children and It is so good (have not finished; I’m lazily reading in installments like it’s standalone TV episodes). I like the prose style, which reminded me of Chronicles of Narnia. I need more of that in kids’ books. But I did not care for the subtly classist undertones. E.g., children referring to adult servants by their first names or job titles; middle- or upper-class sympathetic characters talking down to servants like calling the family’s housekeeper “the old woman you have here.” As if he would have spoken of the children’s mother that way. I realize it was the time period but I don’t like condescension.
It was in FCAI too but there were the magic and hilarious wishes gone wrong to distract me. This I just find annoying. The beginning was slow too and I read in other reviews that there is no magic here as I was expecting. I’ll skip.
Was excited to read this because Five Children and It is so good (have not finished; I’m lazily reading in installments like it’s standalone TV episodes). I like the prose style, which reminded me of Chronicles of Narnia. I need more of that in kids’ books. But I did not care for the subtly classist undertones. E.g., children referring to adult servants by their first names or job titles; middle- or upper-class sympathetic characters talking down to servants like calling the family’s housekeeper “the old woman you have here.” As if he would have spoken of the children’s mother that way. I realize it was the time period but I don’t like condescension.
It was in FCAI too but there were the magic and hilarious wishes gone wrong to distract me. This I just find annoying. The beginning was slow too and I read in other reviews that there is no magic here as I was expecting. I’ll skip.
I just bought this book because I like this collection. But I had no idea what this book was about.
I enjiyed this book so much! I partly listened to the audiobook, which also was really good, the narrator really fitted the story!
I enjiyed this book so much! I partly listened to the audiobook, which also was really good, the narrator really fitted the story!
adventurous
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked the story however, I did not find this very interesting as it is overly simple. However, I realise the book is intended for children and I'm not the intended audience. The reason I read this was to start with an easy classics book to get into reading classics literature.
The writing is simplistic and the plot easy to follow. Although I personally didn't love the book, I imagine that a child of 8+ would enjoy reading this story.
The writing is simplistic and the plot easy to follow. Although I personally didn't love the book, I imagine that a child of 8+ would enjoy reading this story.
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
I would have really liked this when I was under 10. Today, I was annoyed at times by the tone, which models ideal behavior more than it shows realistic characters. And that is what it tries to do, so I can't be too critical. It was a change and I found it enjoyable enough, but I'm glad we're not doing that in kids' books anymore.
Audio book- would have enjoyed this a lot more if I hadn’t seen the movie as they are identical
What a delightful book! With as many readers as I have in my life, it is a wonder that none of them has read this book. I think it’s a disservice to kids to not read this. Girls and boys alike would like this book. I was discussing this with my mom yesterday and she is wondering if The Boxcar Children took its place. And while I thoroughly enjoyed reading The Boxcar Children and playing it at recess, etc., they are nothing alike. Three children: Roberta, Peter and Phyllis live in a happy villa in England until one evening when their dad is taken away. Their mom and they pack up and go to a White House with three chimneys, close to a railway station. And pretend to be “poor a bit.”
The kids’ curiosity, generous hearts and normal children’s musings led them into many heart-warming adventures.
I love how the book is very vague with what happened to their father and when ready only those that can carry the burden find out. Nothing is told to the children beyond what they can fully comprehend and take in. It was also a joy to see the children befriending so many other adults in the book, and learning how to treat others. I think all of these things are so very wise and I look forward to reading her other books!
The kids’ curiosity, generous hearts and normal children’s musings led them into many heart-warming adventures.
I love how the book is very vague with what happened to their father and when ready only those that can carry the burden find out. Nothing is told to the children beyond what they can fully comprehend and take in. It was also a joy to see the children befriending so many other adults in the book, and learning how to treat others. I think all of these things are so very wise and I look forward to reading her other books!
There is something innately relaxing and soothing about children's classics. I read Carrie's War for the first time March 2018 and really enjoyed it, so when I was in a bit of a reading slump and feeling under the weather, I decided to treat myself to another classic. The Railway Children is a lovely book. I went in knowing absolutely nothing about it, having never read it or seen a single film adaptation, so I really liked the fact that this was entirely new to me. I adored each of the children (especially Phyllis who Nesbit perfectly introduces with this line: ...and the youngest was Phyllis, who meant extremely well"), and the story itself was a beautiful balance of the light-hearted with the more serious. Nesbit's writing is pleasant and funny, and I really loved the way she made this family seem real, for example omitting certain bits of dialogue as the children would find it embarrassing, which I found extremely charming. I would prefer to give it 4.5/5 but, alas, half stars are not yet a thing. If you haven't read it yet, treat yourself--it's delightful.
adventurous
informative
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No