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antlersantlers's review against another edition
3.0
There were two that were phenomenal: Sherman Alexie (no surprise there) and Cory Doctorow. There were also two that were total garbage farts: John Scieszka and Linda Sue Park. The rest fell somewhere on the spectrum of quite good to mediocre, which is exactly what I expected. None of these stories (or any story based on [b:The Mysteries of Harris Burdick|402114|The Mysteries of Harris Burdick|Chris Van Allsburg|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1174447582s/402114.jpg|489077]) will ever live up to the potential of those stories that the original book offered, and to me all the creepy, cryptic, silly magic is ruined in other peoples' efforts.
jensteerswell's review against another edition
4.0
What I liked about it: I was obsessed with the original book of drawings as a kid and used it as my inspiration for nearly every creative writing project I had in school. Of course, these stories are not the same as the ones I would have written, but still, some of them have their own merits.
What I didn't like about it: Honestly, there's nothing not to like about it. If you still like whimsy and value creativity, buy one of the books and leave it on the shelf for visitors to discover and have their imaginations tickled by.
http://omnibrowbooks.blogspot.com
What I didn't like about it: Honestly, there's nothing not to like about it. If you still like whimsy and value creativity, buy one of the books and leave it on the shelf for visitors to discover and have their imaginations tickled by.
http://omnibrowbooks.blogspot.com
couillac's review against another edition
4.0
I loved these images as a kid, and the stories in this collection are generally satisfying. I had to read a few of them more than once to appreciate them, but in general, they manage to capture the haunting, touching, and fantastic nature of the original images.
karenrenka's review against another edition
4.0
Originally published on Books Beside My Bed
The mysterious drawings of Harris Burdick have fascinated me since I first saw them in elementary school. I choose to believe in the tale and love the extended mystery. In this anthology 14 authors take a stab at writing a story based on the pictures and caption. Famous authors, such as Walter Dean Myers, Lois Lowery, and Stephen King make an appearance.
I think my favorite three were The Harp by Linda Sue Park, Missing in Venice by Gregory Maguire, and The Third Floor Bedroom by Kate DiCamillo. The Harp is a straight up magical tale about two bickering sisters who get caught up in a magic spell. Missing in Venice is about a boy whose adult care takers are after his inheritance. The Third Floor Bedroom is told through the letters of a sick girl who is writing to her brother. Each story has an element of the fantastic and most have a slight creepy vibe.
When I was younger I wrote a story about giant cockroaches that invaded a family's cottage. These pictures have inspired writers of all ages to pen some fantastic stories. I am glad to see some of them in print.
akmargie's review against another edition
4.0
I gave an average rating because like most short story collections I liked some stories more than others. They all had a dark and slightly sinister thread running through, some more heavy than others. Also being based on the illustrations they are, there was a heavy supernatural and fantasy motif. So much that I felt like many of the stories were very Bradbury-esque. (See Stephen King's "House on Maple Street" which features the Bradbury children.) My favorite stories were Jon Scieszka's "Under the Rug," full of his dastardly humor and M. T. Anderson's "Just Desert" which recalled for me Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes. It's just as terrifying with it's hidden world underneath the real world.
rebeccabateman's review against another edition
4.0
A creative exercise with expert writers producing a wonderful collection of short stories. A few were lackluster or slightly contrived, but many were profound and touching.
Some notes:
Another Place, Another Time, by [a:Cory Doctorow|12581|Cory Doctorow|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1212526024p2/12581.jpg], is thought-provoking and tender (and made me eager to research dimension and Time-Space Continuum theory).
The Seven Chairs, [a:Lois Lowry|2493|Lois Lowry|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1348162077p2/2493.jpg], is a simplistic yet fantastical tale that left me asking more questions than it answered.
Just Desert, [a:M.T. Anderson|31688|M.T. Anderson|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1247706514p2/31688.jpg], is an wonderful amalgamation of science fiction and psychology, which I nearly missed because of the fury (fury.) I felt reading the title and hoping it was an attempt at making a play on the phrase "just desserts." The beginning of the second paragraph misspells the phrase a second time. (Seriously. Who is editing this?) There is some clarification towards the end of the story, but the effort here to use the word "desert" in place of "dessert" was poorly executed and sloppy. I got over it in the end.
Captain Tory, [a:Louis Sachar|6569|Louis Sachar|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1215290291p2/6569.jpg], is haunting and lovely.
Oscar and Alphonse, [a:Chris Van Allsburg|9685|Chris Van Allsburg|http://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1264399536p2/9685.jpg], is humorous with a wonderful touch of irony.
*These images remind me of one of my favorite card games, which is becoming more and more popular, Dixit. The images on these cards could also be the stimulus for an exercise in story writing by those who want to write, including those who are less expert.
swirlnswing's review against another edition
4.0
I have loved the idea of THE MYSTERIES OF HARRIS BURDICK for as long as I can remember. Drawings with a brief starter prompt... I had every intention of using them for writing exercises when I was planning on teaching English based solely on the scope of what could be written for each photo. So, when a friend bought me THE CHRONICLES OF HARRIS BURDICK for Christmas, I was amped to read it.
The genre of stories range from decidedly MG to YA, and they run the gamut from sci fi to fantasy to supernatural in small ways.
I don't want to spoil too much, but my favorite stories are my favorite, "Just Desert" (M.T. Anderson), and "Another Place, Another Time" (Cory Doctorow).
Definitely enjoyed this.
The genre of stories range from decidedly MG to YA, and they run the gamut from sci fi to fantasy to supernatural in small ways.
I don't want to spoil too much, but my favorite stories are my favorite, "Just Desert" (M.T. Anderson), and "Another Place, Another Time" (Cory Doctorow).
Definitely enjoyed this.
samsspines's review against another edition
3.0
[DNF]
Ok I just totally stopped reading this book. There were two short stories in here that I loved [Sherman Alexie and Jon Scieseka] but after that I just kept reading stories that only half got me interested. After not caring about a few stories, I just stopped reading it all together.
Ok I just totally stopped reading this book. There were two short stories in here that I loved [Sherman Alexie and Jon Scieseka] but after that I just kept reading stories that only half got me interested. After not caring about a few stories, I just stopped reading it all together.
alexctelander's review against another edition
5.0
Many readers, no matter what age they might be, are familiar with Chris Van Allsburg’s unforgettable, award-winning classic, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, presenting fourteen unique and incredible illustrations that spark the mind and begin moving the gears of the imagination. The illustrations have gone on to serve as great starting points for many schoolkids around the world looking to engage and develop their storytelling and writing abilities; a number of them still have those original stories they created when they were kids (my wife is one of them).
Now, over twenty-five years after the publication of The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, fourteen renowned and well-known authors put their own minds to the task of creating original stories from these iconic works of art. The likes of Louis Sachar, Sherman Alexie, Kate DiCamillo, Cory Doctorow, Lois Lowry, and even Chris Van Allsburg himself, create their own moving and special stories, most of them published here for the first time. Stephen King also takes on the story of the house launching itself into the sky, originally published in his Nightmares & Dreamscapes short story collection, it is reprinted here. The Chronicles of Harris Burdick also features an introduction from Lemony Snicket, with some of his thoughts on where these illustrations might have come from.
The book is a keeper, to be added next to one’s own copy of The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, and to be picked up and read, as well as read aloud to others, over and over again.
Originally written on November 20, 2011 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews and exclusive interviews, go to the BookBanter site.
Now, over twenty-five years after the publication of The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, fourteen renowned and well-known authors put their own minds to the task of creating original stories from these iconic works of art. The likes of Louis Sachar, Sherman Alexie, Kate DiCamillo, Cory Doctorow, Lois Lowry, and even Chris Van Allsburg himself, create their own moving and special stories, most of them published here for the first time. Stephen King also takes on the story of the house launching itself into the sky, originally published in his Nightmares & Dreamscapes short story collection, it is reprinted here. The Chronicles of Harris Burdick also features an introduction from Lemony Snicket, with some of his thoughts on where these illustrations might have come from.
The book is a keeper, to be added next to one’s own copy of The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, and to be picked up and read, as well as read aloud to others, over and over again.
Originally written on November 20, 2011 ©Alex C. Telander.
For more reviews and exclusive interviews, go to the BookBanter site.