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buud_w0rm's review against another edition
I’ll probably have time to read this in the summer
whatthesquids's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
janagaton's review
2.0
The audio was good, the narrator was nice to listen to, and it was fun getting to experience the original non-disney version of the story, but this book lost me completely after the Rikki Tikki Tavi chapter. Glad I gave it a shot though
protoman21's review
3.0
I can't say that I really enjoyed this all that much. I appreciate the fluid language and style, but I ultimately didn't connect with the characters and the story. Maybe I wanted the Disney version with a singing Baloo, but I think more likely, the classic tale would be all but forgotten if not for the Disney movie.
The strong point in the book was the Rikki-Tikki-Tavi story. It was a much tighter package than the rest of the stories with immediate and conclusive conflict. Read this to your kids and really scare the pants off them!
Toomai of the Elephants was by far my least favorite of the stories. I could not get into the story at all and just wanted to skip it altogether.
The strong point in the book was the Rikki-Tikki-Tavi story. It was a much tighter package than the rest of the stories with immediate and conclusive conflict. Read this to your kids and really scare the pants off them!
Toomai of the Elephants was by far my least favorite of the stories. I could not get into the story at all and just wanted to skip it altogether.
book_concierge's review
3.0
Digital audiobook performed by Ralph Cosham
3.5***
Of course I was familiar with Mowgli, Shere Khan, and Baloo, but I had never read the stories that make up this classic of children’s literature.
This edition had Mowgli’s tale, but also included three bonus stories: Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (the mongoose who battles the cobras), Toomai (who watches the elephants dance), and Kotick (the white seal who leads his herd to a safe haven). They are marvelous adventure stories with a few life lessons included. The exotic nature of the setting appeals to the imagination as well.
I remember a children’s book I had as a child that had a one of the Jungle Book stories in it. I loved when my Daddy would read it because he of the voices he used for the different animals. Well, sorry, Daddy, but Ralph Cosham does an even better job when performing the audio. His underlying sibilant hiss for the cobras was just chilling. And his deeply sinister voice for Shere Khan would make anyone afraid. It was an absolute delight to listen to him read this classic.
3.5***
Of course I was familiar with Mowgli, Shere Khan, and Baloo, but I had never read the stories that make up this classic of children’s literature.
This edition had Mowgli’s tale, but also included three bonus stories: Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (the mongoose who battles the cobras), Toomai (who watches the elephants dance), and Kotick (the white seal who leads his herd to a safe haven). They are marvelous adventure stories with a few life lessons included. The exotic nature of the setting appeals to the imagination as well.
I remember a children’s book I had as a child that had a one of the Jungle Book stories in it. I loved when my Daddy would read it because he of the voices he used for the different animals. Well, sorry, Daddy, but Ralph Cosham does an even better job when performing the audio. His underlying sibilant hiss for the cobras was just chilling. And his deeply sinister voice for Shere Khan would make anyone afraid. It was an absolute delight to listen to him read this classic.
knod78's review against another edition
2.0
I'm trying to read some classics that I never read before. I'm sorry, but I didn't like this book...like hardly at all. Kipling is a poet and maybe that's the issue. This book reads like a poet writing a novel, which equals boring and long and too many words to say one thing. This was also another story that was Disneyfied up. The movie is nothing like the story (like Little Mermaid and Hunchback of Notre Dame). And I didn't like Mowgli. There I said it. He was whiny and kind of an asshole when we got older and new he was leader of the jungle. But speaking of jungle...how in the sam hell are there two stories about Inuit's and seals included in a book of jungle stories. Did I miss something in 1800s? Did the temperatures drastically change? I'm also reminded yet again of why man / humans just suck. There were some pretty sad stories like with the seals and elephants that I almost couldn't stomach.
I will say that I didn't hate the books, because I gave it 2 stars. Most of the stories when they had to do with Mowgli's tale were interesting. The animal politics and rules were fascinating and I loved how they took care of things and told their own stories. I just wished they were better organized and flowed through a timeline. I assumed one of the stories where there is a man who is listening to the animals talk is about Mowgli, but I'm not sure and it's possibly in the future (I think).
Clearly, people loved this book. I am not that person. So, you may be interested in it. Just be warned that the chapters are long and it's nothing like the movie you remember as a kid.
I will say that I didn't hate the books, because I gave it 2 stars. Most of the stories when they had to do with Mowgli's tale were interesting. The animal politics and rules were fascinating and I loved how they took care of things and told their own stories. I just wished they were better organized and flowed through a timeline. I assumed one of the stories where there is a man who is listening to the animals talk is about Mowgli, but I'm not sure and it's possibly in the future (I think).
Clearly, people loved this book. I am not that person. So, you may be interested in it. Just be warned that the chapters are long and it's nothing like the movie you remember as a kid.
linnylionheart's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
2.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Racism, Child abuse, Abandonment, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Mental illness, Murder, Physical abuse, and War
Moderate: Torture
Physical abuse as a method of disciplinary punishment