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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
adventurous
lighthearted
slow-paced
The Psammead returns in the life of the children and helps them locate a magical time-traveling Amulet. With this new gift, they travel back in the past to historical places like Babylon, Atlantis, Egypt, etc. and even travel to the future.
Nesbit's research into past cultures is clearly visible in the book. But I didn't enjoy this book as much as the former two. Though this story involves time travel, it is the most dated of the three books and the English "We are superior" mentality of the time reveals itself too strongly. I know it was written in 1906 so I shouldn't really judge it by today's standards but somehow, for this book, I couldn't get past this. There were just too many stereotypes in this book and after a point, it just becomes irritating. Rating: 2/5
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Join me on the Facebook group, "Readers Forever!", for more reviews and other book-related discussions and fun.
Nesbit's research into past cultures is clearly visible in the book. But I didn't enjoy this book as much as the former two. Though this story involves time travel, it is the most dated of the three books and the English "We are superior" mentality of the time reveals itself too strongly. I know it was written in 1906 so I shouldn't really judge it by today's standards but somehow, for this book, I couldn't get past this. There were just too many stereotypes in this book and after a point, it just becomes irritating. Rating: 2/5
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Join me on the Facebook group, "Readers Forever!", for more reviews and other book-related discussions and fun.
Edith Nesbit was one of my first favourite writers, though of course I called her "E. Nesbit" because which child reads the bio at the front or back? (not this one, apparently)
The Story of the Amulet is the third and final installment in the "Cyril, Robert, Anthea, and Jane" or "Psammead" trilogy. Quite honestly, I do not think it was the best, but it did surprise me a number of times with the children actually reacting to... some rather violent and shocking things. The Atlantis chapter and the Queen of Babylon in London scenes come to mind. Someone protect these children from death and tragedy, please. But then everything is better, so... ? I guess it turned out alright?
Ok, so this definitely wasn't the best of the books, but the characters pull you through. They interact like real siblings, they squabble, they have inside jokes, nicknames, they get petty and then they try to pull everyone together because hey, maybe we should shield our youngest sibling from the terrors of Babylonian jail. You know, normal sibling stuff.
There should have been more of the Psammead, and everything wrapped up rather suddenly, especially with a recurring character who suddenly... recurred? Because? I don't know. There was clearly a lot of good in this mess. But it was also nice to meet the gang again. Maybe Nesbit should have taken more time to work on this (did authors get pressured to write faster in Edwardian England?), but I do recommend this book to anyone who loved "Five Children and It" and "The Phoenix and the Carpet," if only because there is some gold in this last volume, though you may have to dig a little bit. Also there isn't that much gold. Just a bit.
Still recommend.
The Story of the Amulet is the third and final installment in the "Cyril, Robert, Anthea, and Jane" or "Psammead" trilogy. Quite honestly, I do not think it was the best, but it did surprise me a number of times with the children actually reacting to... some rather violent and shocking things. The Atlantis chapter and the Queen of Babylon in London scenes come to mind. Someone protect these children from death and tragedy, please. But then everything is better, so... ? I guess it turned out alright?
Ok, so this definitely wasn't the best of the books, but the characters pull you through. They interact like real siblings, they squabble, they have inside jokes, nicknames, they get petty and then they try to pull everyone together because hey, maybe we should shield our youngest sibling from the terrors of Babylonian jail. You know, normal sibling stuff.
There should have been more of the Psammead, and everything wrapped up rather suddenly, especially with a recurring character who suddenly... recurred? Because? I don't know. There was clearly a lot of good in this mess. But it was also nice to meet the gang again. Maybe Nesbit should have taken more time to work on this (did authors get pressured to write faster in Edwardian England?), but I do recommend this book to anyone who loved "Five Children and It" and "The Phoenix and the Carpet," if only because there is some gold in this last volume, though you may have to dig a little bit. Also there isn't that much gold. Just a bit.
Still recommend.
Read rather piecemeal as an ebook whenever I finished a hard copy book before the end of my train journey, so took a while to finish. Gentle conclusion to her psammead books, but not necessarily one of her best works. I feel like the recent addition of 5 Children on the Western Front makes this book better.
The Children, disappointed again, not only by their parents absence, but the lack of excitement in their lives come upon a pet shop window where, much to their surprise, they find the Psammead up for sale!
After rescuing him from his terrible fate (and the shop keeper from his bites) the children bring him home. Sadly, however, they promised never to make another wish from him, so in order to get their fondest wish the Psammead tells them of an amulet he saw in a shop, still grateful from his pet shop rescue.
Thus begin the children's adventures through time and space using the magic amulet. In order that they could use the amulet for a wish (to have their family all well and home) they must discover the second half of the amulet, somewhere in the past. Consulting with the Learned Gentleman upstairs several times the children attempt to get, by any means, the second amulet, meeting many dignitaries and escaping a good number of tight spots.
Like the others in the series this one does not disappoint, funny and delightful, a wonderful story for both children and adults. The children are a realistic, yet honorable lot, and though there are no forced moral lessons, the story does have it's moments. I would recommend this book to anyone, whether to share with children, or for an adult on their own!
After rescuing him from his terrible fate (and the shop keeper from his bites) the children bring him home. Sadly, however, they promised never to make another wish from him, so in order to get their fondest wish the Psammead tells them of an amulet he saw in a shop, still grateful from his pet shop rescue.
Thus begin the children's adventures through time and space using the magic amulet. In order that they could use the amulet for a wish (to have their family all well and home) they must discover the second half of the amulet, somewhere in the past. Consulting with the Learned Gentleman upstairs several times the children attempt to get, by any means, the second amulet, meeting many dignitaries and escaping a good number of tight spots.
Like the others in the series this one does not disappoint, funny and delightful, a wonderful story for both children and adults. The children are a realistic, yet honorable lot, and though there are no forced moral lessons, the story does have it's moments. I would recommend this book to anyone, whether to share with children, or for an adult on their own!