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evieburrows's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
cedric_callnight's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
annettebooksofhopeanddreams's review against another edition
4.0
I love both A Little Princess and The Secret Garden. Both those books are of course old. Not all ideas in there stood the test of time. And yet there is also a lot of good in those stories. When I discovered that the author had written two more "better known" books I added them to my wishlist and soon after these editions were released. I of course had to have them, even though it took me a long time before I started reading.
This once more feels like a heartwarming book filled with magic that isn't actually magic. I was reading this book with a smile on my face, even though our Little Lord Fauntleroy might be a little too kind, too nice and too perfect. Sometimes we need a little unrealism. Sometimes we need characters who are light and warm and caring and everything a lot of people in our modern world are not. This book came therefore at exactly the right time.
Although, the more I think about it, the more I realize that those books are actually not really about the kids. Little Lord Fauntleroy might have given his name to this book, but he's not the one learning and growing and changing. Luckily he isn't, because he's perfect the way he is. It's his grandfather doing all the hard work in this book. He's the one changing. He's the one learning. He's the one finding joy again after so many years of darkness.
I also really loved the side characters in this story. Our little Lord's mother was true to her nickname and was absolutely one of the dearests mothers I've ever encountered, but this book also shows that friendship, true friendship, goes a very long way. A story wouldn't be a story without some setback to overcome. In this case this setback is mostly overcome because some very dear friends will never forget and will never stop fighting for their Little Lord Fauntleroy.
This once more feels like a heartwarming book filled with magic that isn't actually magic. I was reading this book with a smile on my face, even though our Little Lord Fauntleroy might be a little too kind, too nice and too perfect. Sometimes we need a little unrealism. Sometimes we need characters who are light and warm and caring and everything a lot of people in our modern world are not. This book came therefore at exactly the right time.
Although, the more I think about it, the more I realize that those books are actually not really about the kids. Little Lord Fauntleroy might have given his name to this book, but he's not the one learning and growing and changing. Luckily he isn't, because he's perfect the way he is. It's his grandfather doing all the hard work in this book. He's the one changing. He's the one learning. He's the one finding joy again after so many years of darkness.
I also really loved the side characters in this story. Our little Lord's mother was true to her nickname and was absolutely one of the dearests mothers I've ever encountered, but this book also shows that friendship, true friendship, goes a very long way. A story wouldn't be a story without some setback to overcome. In this case this setback is mostly overcome because some very dear friends will never forget and will never stop fighting for their Little Lord Fauntleroy.
libri_e_cappuccini's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Questo libro l'ho amato la prima volta che l'ho letto, l'ho amato la seconda, lo amo ogni volta che vedo il film e ogni volta che ci penso.
Per sempre sarà una tra le storie che porto più vicine al cuore e per sempre mi farà pensare alla relazione che avevo io coi miei nonni (cosa che quindi mi farà piangere).
Non c'è nulla da dire su questo libro tranne che è uno di quelli che dovrebbero essere letti almeno una volta nella vita.
L'unica cosa che ho da aggiungere è che la versione in inglese è davvero pesante da leggere nei punti in cui parlano Mary, Dick e Mr. Hobbs, ma niente potrebbe farmi piacere meno questo libro.
d_night's review against another edition
5.0
Very sweet book. I am totally in love with Cedric and his mother. It is such a cleverly written children’s book. It’s hard to find this quality of book these days written for kids. Modern children’s literature spends time demoralizing family bonds and making parents look incompetent as upposed to building them, as seen it this story. Wonderfully done. Frances Hodgson Burnett is truly a classic author. So far I haven't read a book written by her that wasn't charming, compelling, and timeless.
Would easily read again, and definitely would read to children with no hesitation at all.
Suspenseful where it needed to be without being too much to handle.
Now to talk about my least, and really only disliked, part of the book.
I was not a huge fan of the first bit of the introduction by John Boyne that was in the addition of my copy. His downplay of Cedric and up play of the Earl in the first 2pgs, considering everything that is quickly known about both characters, is shallow at best. We’ve all been called cute pet names by our parents and the style of dress and behavior of Cedric is 100% normal for the period. His clothing was what was considered fashionable for children so he wouldn’t have felt stupid or looked so, and there was nothing wrong with him being caring and considerate toward other children. There are good winners and good losers just as there are bad winners and bad losers.
The Earl was not a benevolent man accepting the child of his son into his house from the kindness of his own heart, while offering him the world at the same time. He was a manipulative old man trying to buy his grandson’s love and loyalty with all the hatred in his heart for him. He wanted to tear him away from his loving mother because he hated Americans and despised the fact that his youngest son would stoop to marrying her. The soft benevolent side of him only developed into something true and wonderful when Cedric changed the old man, and the old man only opened up to him at first because he found him a beautiful and charming child, not the ugly, ragamuffin, American, brat he thought he would be. Not a fan of this part of the introduction, it blighted the whole rest of what he was trying to express in presenting this book to me as a reader. Boyne’s attempt at starting with a charming air failed thoroughly. This was literally the worst part of the entire book. Not all books need introductions from best selling authors.
Would easily read again, and definitely would read to children with no hesitation at all.
Suspenseful where it needed to be without being too much to handle.
Now to talk about my least, and really only disliked, part of the book.
I was not a huge fan of the first bit of the introduction by John Boyne that was in the addition of my copy. His downplay of Cedric and up play of the Earl in the first 2pgs, considering everything that is quickly known about both characters, is shallow at best. We’ve all been called cute pet names by our parents and the style of dress and behavior of Cedric is 100% normal for the period. His clothing was what was considered fashionable for children so he wouldn’t have felt stupid or looked so, and there was nothing wrong with him being caring and considerate toward other children. There are good winners and good losers just as there are bad winners and bad losers.
The Earl was not a benevolent man accepting the child of his son into his house from the kindness of his own heart, while offering him the world at the same time. He was a manipulative old man trying to buy his grandson’s love and loyalty with all the hatred in his heart for him. He wanted to tear him away from his loving mother because he hated Americans and despised the fact that his youngest son would stoop to marrying her. The soft benevolent side of him only developed into something true and wonderful when Cedric changed the old man, and the old man only opened up to him at first because he found him a beautiful and charming child, not the ugly, ragamuffin, American, brat he thought he would be. Not a fan of this part of the introduction, it blighted the whole rest of what he was trying to express in presenting this book to me as a reader. Boyne’s attempt at starting with a charming air failed thoroughly. This was literally the worst part of the entire book. Not all books need introductions from best selling authors.
ralen356's review against another edition
I did enjoy this book, but I don't think I'm in the mood for a sweet slow book right now. Will definitely come back when the mood hits.
celtic_oracle's review against another edition
2.0
Cedric is so sickeningly perfect that I wanted nothing more than for this sweet seven-year-old to swear like a sailor just to give him some flaw.