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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
This book was better in a lot of ways than I ever expected. I was a little disappointed in how quickly the story wrapped up.
I read this to see if it would be something my son would like. Of course, when I summarized it, he said, "That sounds fairytale-ish." - and walked away. C'est la vie.
Anyway. I think the book is cute. It is, as my son said, a fairytale. I liked it, but it isn't my favorite of the genre. However, I am not the target audience. I think the most appropriate reader is probably 7 to 9, but this is probably a good book to read aloud to younger children as well. It's not a complicated story to follow.
Anyway. I think the book is cute. It is, as my son said, a fairytale. I liked it, but it isn't my favorite of the genre. However, I am not the target audience. I think the most appropriate reader is probably 7 to 9, but this is probably a good book to read aloud to younger children as well. It's not a complicated story to follow.
Of course! Classic storytelling voice in a tale that weaves through itself. The full title "The Tale of Despereaux being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread" really does tell the tale once you know it. What a delightful take on the Tale of the Unsuspecting Hero.
Spoiler
And I love that it ended up not being a romance between the princess and the mouse, but a friendship. Hurray!
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
medium-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:
No
I quite enjoyed this little book, which I was able to read in a single day a few weeks ago. It's a mythic tale which touches on the subject of pain and loss from a number of angles. It has a surprisingly simple approach and its metaphors and symbols are not complicated...but powerful nonetheless.
I will probably remember it most for the character of the mouse Despereaux, who seems to embody a certain type of very sweet but very child-like love--wanting to be like the heroes in the stories, and falling profoundly in love with a human Princess who towers over him. How he finds a way to serve and save her is very touching, and perhaps there is some truth to the notion that sincere love, no matter how strange or small, is a powerful force.
And there is always some way to make the life of someone you love better, no matter how tiny you think you are.
I will probably remember it most for the character of the mouse Despereaux, who seems to embody a certain type of very sweet but very child-like love--wanting to be like the heroes in the stories, and falling profoundly in love with a human Princess who towers over him. How he finds a way to serve and save her is very touching, and perhaps there is some truth to the notion that sincere love, no matter how strange or small, is a powerful force.
And there is always some way to make the life of someone you love better, no matter how tiny you think you are.
This is a sweet fairy tale (minus the fairies) about love, redemption and bravery. Not too sappy, though. This one is maybe better suited for children than The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane.
2.5 stars. Not my favorite by this author—was just ok for me
Loved it. Excellent audiobook. A bit scary for kids with talk of dungeons, rats, mice, bones, and blood. But an excellent story, cleverly played out.