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4.1 AVERAGE
4.1 AVERAGE
"So I got an albatross and an astronaut all in one day. Not bad eh?" -- Allie Hobhouse in Alone on a Wide Wide Sea.
The albatross and the astronaut are just two of the eye-opening elements of this book that will just blow you away.
As with the lines from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, this book culminates in a long journey alone on the wide wide sea. It relates the fictitious journeys of a man who was sent to Australia as a 6 year-old orphan, and later on his daughter who makes the lone journey by boat, back to England. But they are parallel journeys because both go through extreme hardship yet uplifting moments, and they attest to the fact that humankind will always fight to survive, with people and animals lending that crucial support at a particularly down time.
I have always said this and I will say it again. That Morpurgo is a master story-teller and it is beyond my comprehension how such diverse and heartfelt stories can come out from just one person. This time, the story has its historical roots in the 1940s-60s when thousands of British children were sent alone to Australia (also New Zealand and Canada). It brings to life what the displacement causes to young Arthur Hobhouse, the abuse and pain he goes through, as well as the final resolution. This is when the reader goes on a journey with his daughter Allie, copy of Ancient Mariner in hand, with albatross and astronaut to finally find out where Arthur came from.
This is another "Modern Classic" and a must-read for anyone 10-12 years and above!
The albatross and the astronaut are just two of the eye-opening elements of this book that will just blow you away.
As with the lines from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, this book culminates in a long journey alone on the wide wide sea. It relates the fictitious journeys of a man who was sent to Australia as a 6 year-old orphan, and later on his daughter who makes the lone journey by boat, back to England. But they are parallel journeys because both go through extreme hardship yet uplifting moments, and they attest to the fact that humankind will always fight to survive, with people and animals lending that crucial support at a particularly down time.
I have always said this and I will say it again. That Morpurgo is a master story-teller and it is beyond my comprehension how such diverse and heartfelt stories can come out from just one person. This time, the story has its historical roots in the 1940s-60s when thousands of British children were sent alone to Australia (also New Zealand and Canada). It brings to life what the displacement causes to young Arthur Hobhouse, the abuse and pain he goes through, as well as the final resolution. This is when the reader goes on a journey with his daughter Allie, copy of Ancient Mariner in hand, with albatross and astronaut to finally find out where Arthur came from.
This is another "Modern Classic" and a must-read for anyone 10-12 years and above!
A lovely story about life and hope.
Arthur isn’t entirely convinced that he hasn’t made up the memory of his sister, but with a key round his neck he has hope. When he makes best-friends with another boy on the boat to Australia the pair find themselves on a bus full of boys driving through a new world full of wonder. Where they end up however turns out to be more of a hell. The boys help each other through though and as time passes their anger grows enough to give them the courage to do something about it.
Where they end up finally allows Arthur to feel like he belongs but the troubles of his life aren’t over yet. It will take a lot more battering for him to finally give up on himself and lead him to the woman who will save him. Giving him a life he loves with a wife and a daughter and a promise to find out if Kitty exists.
Arthur’s story however is unfinished. Does his sister Kitty exist. Daughter Allie wants to know and she is willing to go around the world to find out. Putting herself through a physical and emotional journey she sets off for England hoping to answer the question of what her father’s key opens.
I bought this book a long time ago and I would say it is aimed at people around 9 -13. Despite of this I am so glad I have finally read it. It has turned out to be a lovely book. With well written characters and a plot full of hope and loss I enjoyed every minute of it. Michael Morpurgo was one of my favourite authors when I was younger and yet again he has delivered.
Arthur isn’t entirely convinced that he hasn’t made up the memory of his sister, but with a key round his neck he has hope. When he makes best-friends with another boy on the boat to Australia the pair find themselves on a bus full of boys driving through a new world full of wonder. Where they end up however turns out to be more of a hell. The boys help each other through though and as time passes their anger grows enough to give them the courage to do something about it.
Where they end up finally allows Arthur to feel like he belongs but the troubles of his life aren’t over yet. It will take a lot more battering for him to finally give up on himself and lead him to the woman who will save him. Giving him a life he loves with a wife and a daughter and a promise to find out if Kitty exists.
Arthur’s story however is unfinished. Does his sister Kitty exist. Daughter Allie wants to know and she is willing to go around the world to find out. Putting herself through a physical and emotional journey she sets off for England hoping to answer the question of what her father’s key opens.
I bought this book a long time ago and I would say it is aimed at people around 9 -13. Despite of this I am so glad I have finally read it. It has turned out to be a lovely book. With well written characters and a plot full of hope and loss I enjoyed every minute of it. Michael Morpurgo was one of my favourite authors when I was younger and yet again he has delivered.
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
lighthearted
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This was the first proper novel i read and from that day onwards it has been my favourite novel, even today i still classify it as a great read! It makes you laugh and cry!! Highly recommend this!
I'll admit that it didn't bring me to tears as Private Peaceful did, but it had its own charm!
Reading this was like reading two stories in one, even though the second story is a continuation of the first. The POVs changed and Morpurgo changed his writing as well. The first story has that weary, hopeful tone whereas the second is much more chipper and determined! Arthur's story was quite a ride, but Allie's journey was what I would call adventurous and fun!
There were some heartfelt deaths in the story, of course.
Overall, Alone on a Wide Wide Sea was a pretty touching retelling!
Reading this was like reading two stories in one, even though the second story is a continuation of the first. The POVs changed and Morpurgo changed his writing as well. The first story has that weary, hopeful tone whereas the second is much more chipper and determined! Arthur's story was quite a ride, but Allie's journey was what I would call adventurous and fun!
There were some heartfelt deaths in the story, of course.
Overall, Alone on a Wide Wide Sea was a pretty touching retelling!
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Such an amazing book. This is one of the first books I ever cried reading.
EDIT: Just reread my childhood favourite. It didn't disappoint. I want to reread my whole Morpurgo collection, and maybe I will. Considering I study TROTAM, I loved the references. Thank you for this book.
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Since I was about twelve, this has been one of my favourite books.
I'm not actually someone who goes for a really realistic book, I much prefer fantasy and fiction, for example, the divergent trilogy, but this was one of my first 'more mature' books that I had read.
It genuinely touched my heart.
I'm not going to spoil the story for you, but it will make you cry. Michael Morpurgo to me is a genius, thank you very much for giving the world this book.
Now I don't even own this in physical book form, I first borrowed it from a library and later got it on my kindle fire, but being one of my favourites I think I need to buy it!
---------
Since I was about twelve, this has been one of my favourite books.
I'm not actually someone who goes for a really realistic book, I much prefer fantasy and fiction, for example, the divergent trilogy, but this was one of my first 'more mature' books that I had read.
It genuinely touched my heart.
I'm not going to spoil the story for you, but it will make you cry. Michael Morpurgo to me is a genius, thank you very much for giving the world this book.
Now I don't even own this in physical book form, I first borrowed it from a library and later got it on my kindle fire, but being one of my favourites I think I need to buy it!
I'm reading the poem 'The Time of the Ancyent Marinere' by Wordsworth and all of a sudden, this title, and the few events of the story that I remember from being a child make much more sense.
(It probably helps that I now know that an Albatross is a bird, and not a fish like I thought it was when I read this novel. ha)
(It probably helps that I now know that an Albatross is a bird, and not a fish like I thought it was when I read this novel. ha)