Reviews with content warning for Suicide - The Little Prince

I read The Little Prince when I was a child, so I didn't comprehend it fully. But as I grew older, Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s messages became easier to comprehend. I particularly liked The Adventures Of The Little Prince, an anime show aired in South America (my native continent) in the late 80s.

The Little Prince is definitely geared towards adults. He reflects on adulting responsibilities, relationships, the significance of imagination, and self-awareness:
'The men of your house said the little prince, "cultivate five thousand roses in the same garden, and they do not find what they seek."
"They do not find it," I replied.
-And yet what they are looking for could be found in a single rose or a little water...” (Pp77).

The story explores themes of materialism, close-mindedness, and the loss of creativity and innocence that come with adulthood. The author portrays the complexities and values of adulthood through the eyes of the little prince.

One unforgettable character in the story is the prince's melodramatic rose. The flower symbolises the emergence of love with its contrasting shades, level of toxicity, connection and abandonment, and longing.

I adore the prince’s existential reflections and comments on the puzzling world of adulthood. But I never could love the story's conclusion — and I almost sank into a sea of tears the first time I read it. However, the prospect of The Little Prince potentially returning to us draws me back to this story, offering consolation:
"Look carefully at this landscape to be sure of recognising it, if you travel to Africa one day in the desert. And, if you happen to pass by there, I beseech you, do not hurry, wait a little right under the star! If a child comes to you, if he laughs...if he does not answer when asked, you will guess who he is. So be nice! Do not leave me so sad: write to me quickly that he has come back…”(Pp86).

Content Warnings

tatyana_'s review against another edition

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adventurous emotional inspiring sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

In this book, a WWII pilot crashes in the desert where he encounters a young prince who is also very far from home. While he tries to fix his plane the prince recounts how he got to the desert from his home planet. The pilot and the prince explore what is truly important in life and use the lessons the prince learned to do so. The book has been a part of my life for many years. I had a copy of it as a child in its original language (that I could not read by myself lol) and later used it for a 10th grade English essay that I was rather proud of at the time. And I plan to keep rereading this book throughout my life. I certainly think reading this book at different ages and stages of my life has shaped what I’ve gotten from the work. I found myself picking up on the criticisms the prince and the pilot make about losing yourself in desires and cherishing time this time around. Although this is often regarded as a children’s book, I’d recommend this book to people of all ages.

Content Warnings

cams_shelf's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

”Anything essential is invisible to the eyes”, p.63

A short book. Finished it in one day. This book covers the curiosity and simplicity children have that adults lose, but also how relationships can form, the grief they can cause, and why they're important anyway. It's a really beautiful book and I'm glad I've finally read it and own it.

Content Warnings