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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
A wonderfully crafted book, with narrative & illustration intertwined to tell the story of darkness, childhood fears, and finding comfort and home. Exquisite, simple yet masterful.
I love Lemony Snicket. This book is an examination of fear, hope, and resourcefulness.
I wanted to be more impressed than I was by this book, which I suppose is also how I feel about A Series of Unfortunate Events (of which I've only actually read A Bad Beginning, because I was not impressed enough to continue on with the series). Jon Klassen's illustrations are as evocative and simple as ever and just the use of the name Laszlo speaks of the inclusion of Snicket's refusal to tread towards the norm. But the plot relies heavily on personification (a common enough technique in picture books), and its use of personification is just a little unsettling, mostly in that by having the Dark show Laszlo where to find the fresh bulbs in the basement, the Dark seems almost suicidal or self-harming. Moreover, the solution is temporary and so the ending is not entirely fulfilling. Laszlo ventures into the Dark's home to retrieve the weapon to use against it, led there by the Dark itself, but while that weapon pushes back the Dark, Laszlo's fear of the Dark does not seem truly overcome. He is not but for a page or two left in true dark. Otherwise, he is with flashlight.
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Huh. I didn't get that same feeling of unease the second time around, 3 years later. I had a child request a creepy story and I pulled this one out. This second time I took away that the Dark was reaching out to Laszlo, making himself a friend. Now, I can still see the line of thought that the Dark in his act of friendship is being self-deprecating and self-harming, but that feeling hid like a niggle in the back of my mind.
Huh. I didn't get that same feeling of unease the second time around, 3 years later. I had a child request a creepy story and I pulled this one out. This second time I took away that the Dark was reaching out to Laszlo, making himself a friend. Now, I can still see the line of thought that the Dark in his act of friendship is being self-deprecating and self-harming, but that feeling hid like a niggle in the back of my mind.
I think my daughter asked to read this book 4 or 5 times a week for many weeks after we bought it.
There are much more eloquent reviews below, but you know it's a good book when a 3 year old is obsessed with it. I love the idea that we need the dark to appreciate the light, and that darkness cannot be escaped. It's everywhere, even when we close our eyes.
There are much more eloquent reviews below, but you know it's a good book when a 3 year old is obsessed with it. I love the idea that we need the dark to appreciate the light, and that darkness cannot be escaped. It's everywhere, even when we close our eyes.
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Would have given it 5 except that long slab of text ruined the rhythm of the story.
Cute picture book that personifies the dark. The child in the story is afraid of the dark, but all is well in the end.
A very cute tale of suspense done in the typical Lemony Snicket style.
It’s fine, feels like it’s missing the usual magic of both author and illustrator.