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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
A quick read, Esio Trot is a simple story with lovely illustrations but harmful lessons for children.
I’ll start with the good. First, the book is about two older adults finding love. Older people and particularly their experiences of new love are underrepresented in the romance genre, so it’s refreshing to see these two characters fall for each other. I also appreciate that Dahl makes a story about older adults accessible to children, demonstrating that they too have needs and wants and aren’t automatically villains or doting grandparents.
Second, Quentin Blake’s illustrations really shine in this novel. Because the story is so short, literally almost every page features an illustration. The pictures are fun and quirky and bring the characters to life, capturing important moments in the story with wonderful details. I particularly enjoyed the lush garden on Mr. Hoppy’s balcony.
Unfortunately, the story itself is every kind of wrong and horrible. SpoilerMr. Hoppy has secretly pined after his downstairs neighbour, Mrs. Silver, for many years from afar. Though the harbouring-a-secret-love trope is popular in romance, it’s a creepy one. Worse yet, Mr. Hoppy deceives Mrs. Silver in order to gain her gratitude and love, and their entire relationship is based on his trickery. Fooling someone into love is not love—it’s abuse and manipulation.
The crown on Mr. Hoppy’s deceit is that he steals Mrs. Silver’s beloved pet, Alfie, and replaces him with another who is the “right” size. Pets are family. They are not disposable. That poor Alfie is stolen as a pawn in Mr. Hoppy’s plot because the tortoise is too small for his owner is atrocious. And to insult Alfie further, Mrs. Silver doesn’t even notice he’s been replaced. What kind of pet owner is she?
The whole premise of this story makes me angry, and I don’t understand why Esio Trot is often included in lists of Dahl’s must-read works. Though I’m glad to see a romance about older adults, this story is not a healthy or positive representation of such, and I wouldn’t recommend it.
I’ll start with the good. First, the book is about two older adults finding love. Older people and particularly their experiences of new love are underrepresented in the romance genre, so it’s refreshing to see these two characters fall for each other. I also appreciate that Dahl makes a story about older adults accessible to children, demonstrating that they too have needs and wants and aren’t automatically villains or doting grandparents.
Second, Quentin Blake’s illustrations really shine in this novel. Because the story is so short, literally almost every page features an illustration. The pictures are fun and quirky and bring the characters to life, capturing important moments in the story with wonderful details. I particularly enjoyed the lush garden on Mr. Hoppy’s balcony.
Unfortunately, the story itself is every kind of wrong and horrible. SpoilerMr. Hoppy has secretly pined after his downstairs neighbour, Mrs. Silver, for many years from afar. Though the harbouring-a-secret-love trope is popular in romance, it’s a creepy one. Worse yet, Mr. Hoppy deceives Mrs. Silver in order to gain her gratitude and love, and their entire relationship is based on his trickery. Fooling someone into love is not love—it’s abuse and manipulation.
The crown on Mr. Hoppy’s deceit is that he steals Mrs. Silver’s beloved pet, Alfie, and replaces him with another who is the “right” size. Pets are family. They are not disposable. That poor Alfie is stolen as a pawn in Mr. Hoppy’s plot because the tortoise is too small for his owner is atrocious. And to insult Alfie further, Mrs. Silver doesn’t even notice he’s been replaced. What kind of pet owner is she?
The whole premise of this story makes me angry, and I don’t understand why Esio Trot is often included in lists of Dahl’s must-read works. Though I’m glad to see a romance about older adults, this story is not a healthy or positive representation of such, and I wouldn’t recommend it.
One of the few Roald Dahl children's books I didn't like. The hero lies to women, mistreats animals and is eventually praised for it. Children will probably read the story differently and focus on the nicer things, but I couldn't see through it.
Good little read for one night I awoke and couldn't get back to sleep.
I can't decide how to rate it, though.
I can't decide how to rate it, though.
Ehm... Wat is de moraal van dit verhaal? Bedrieg uw crush met 100en schildpadden, zodat ze uiteindelijk voor u valt en met u wilt trouwen? Dat is een goede basis voor een relatie zeg!
Eerste keer gelezen, maar ik denk niet dat ik het ooit nog eens opnieuw ga lezen..
Eerste keer gelezen, maar ik denk niet dat ik het ooit nog eens opnieuw ga lezen..
At first I was all "eeeeeeeh" about the deal Mr. Hoppy makes with Ms. Silver (she'll do whatever he wants if he makes her tortise grow bigger), but, by the end, it's apparent that his intentions of marrying her are her own desires, as well, so it wasn't so bad. Still a tiny bit creepy.
Pretty funny when read aloud, since it's fairly difficult to pronounce all those words backwards. New readers will have a good time trying to work out the actual words, challenging their reading capabilities.
Pretty funny when read aloud, since it's fairly difficult to pronounce all those words backwards. New readers will have a good time trying to work out the actual words, challenging their reading capabilities.
It's a very original story and I love the concept so much, but I do feel for Mrs Hoppy not knowing the truth and not having her real Alfie!
fast-paced
funny
fast-paced
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No