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bickleyhouse's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Everyone's familiar with Pinocchio, right? The cautionary tale of the puppet who would be a real boy. Some are more familiar with the Disney-fied version of the story. A few weeks ago, I watched Guillermo del Toro's new production of the story, which was delightful. After watching that, I decided that I needed to read the original story to see how del Toro and Disney differed from it.
I was actually surprised to see how much del Toro varied from the original. I'm never surprised to see how much Disney varies. But it appears that Disney's version may have actually been closer to the original than del Toro's.
At any rate, it is a fantastic (and by that, I mean "fantasy") story of an old man who wants to make a puppet. The original piece of wood was picked up by someone else, but every time that person tried to do something with it, it talked to him. He wound up giving it to Geppetto, who then carved it into Pinocchio. In the book, the puppet is not given life by a fairy or witch, it is simply alive from the beginning. And contrary and precocious, as well. Pinocchio constantly veers off of the path he is supposed to be following, only to bemoan the consequences, saying, "If only I had obeyed! If only I hadn't done _________!" This happens constantly, throughout the tale. And, of course, every time he gets rescued, he determines that he is never going to do that again.
But he does.
There were some details in the story that weren't included in either del Toro's or Disney's version. In one scenario, Pinocchio is forced to act like a guard dog, as punishment for sneaking into a farmer's land to try to steal some food. And he does such a good job of it, that the farmer releases him. The giant fish that swallows Geppetto and Pinocchio (a dogfish in Disney's) is a shark in the book. A very, very large shark (one character says it is a kilometer!).
Del Toro's version includes a lot of material involving Mussolini, who is not at all mentioned in Collodi's original tale. And, in del Toro's version, rather than getting enticed to go to Toyland, Pinocchio travels with a puppet show, and never turns into a donkey (which is included in the Disney version). The fairy does turn up in the book, but in the middle of the story, and promises Pinocchio that he can, in fact, become a real boy. Oh, and the Talking Cricket (which is all he is called in the book) is killed off (or so we think) early in the book, and appears in later chapter as a ghost (or so we think).
It was a fun read for me, though, and quick. The version I read had 170 pages, but had many full-page color illustrations in it, a very pretty volume. This volume was originally published in 2009, and the original story was published in 1882. By the way, Mussolini wasn't even born until 1883.
I was actually surprised to see how much del Toro varied from the original. I'm never surprised to see how much Disney varies. But it appears that Disney's version may have actually been closer to the original than del Toro's.
At any rate, it is a fantastic (and by that, I mean "fantasy") story of an old man who wants to make a puppet. The original piece of wood was picked up by someone else, but every time that person tried to do something with it, it talked to him. He wound up giving it to Geppetto, who then carved it into Pinocchio. In the book, the puppet is not given life by a fairy or witch, it is simply alive from the beginning. And contrary and precocious, as well. Pinocchio constantly veers off of the path he is supposed to be following, only to bemoan the consequences, saying, "If only I had obeyed! If only I hadn't done _________!" This happens constantly, throughout the tale. And, of course, every time he gets rescued, he determines that he is never going to do that again.
But he does.
There were some details in the story that weren't included in either del Toro's or Disney's version. In one scenario, Pinocchio is forced to act like a guard dog, as punishment for sneaking into a farmer's land to try to steal some food. And he does such a good job of it, that the farmer releases him. The giant fish that swallows Geppetto and Pinocchio (a dogfish in Disney's) is a shark in the book. A very, very large shark (one character says it is a kilometer!).
Del Toro's version includes a lot of material involving Mussolini, who is not at all mentioned in Collodi's original tale. And, in del Toro's version, rather than getting enticed to go to Toyland, Pinocchio travels with a puppet show, and never turns into a donkey (which is included in the Disney version). The fairy does turn up in the book, but in the middle of the story, and promises Pinocchio that he can, in fact, become a real boy. Oh, and the Talking Cricket (which is all he is called in the book) is killed off (or so we think) early in the book, and appears in later chapter as a ghost (or so we think).
It was a fun read for me, though, and quick. The version I read had 170 pages, but had many full-page color illustrations in it, a very pretty volume. This volume was originally published in 2009, and the original story was published in 1882. By the way, Mussolini wasn't even born until 1883.
lara_reading's review against another edition
4.0
Esta es una lectura obligatoria para mi examen final de italiano y es, probablemente, el que más me ha gustado entre los pocos libros obligatorios de la asignatura.
Ha sido una lectura rara, pero la he disfrutado bastante. "Rara" en el sentido de que mientras leía no paraba de imaginarme la peli de Disney y no sabéis lo perturbadora que me parecía cuando era peque (aún tengo miedo) y, por otra parte, la he disfrutado porque es una historia muy corta y amena; y fácil de seguir porque lo he leído en italiano que ni siquiera es mi idioma principal en la carrera.
Evidentemente hay cambios entre el libro y la peli, pero no son nada exagerados y los pocos que hay ni me han molestado.
Probablemente lo volveré a leer en un futuro porque ha sido una buena experiencia.
Pregate per passare il corso, per favore.
Ha sido una lectura rara, pero la he disfrutado bastante. "Rara" en el sentido de que mientras leía no paraba de imaginarme la peli de Disney y no sabéis lo perturbadora que me parecía cuando era peque (aún tengo miedo) y, por otra parte, la he disfrutado porque es una historia muy corta y amena; y fácil de seguir porque lo he leído en italiano que ni siquiera es mi idioma principal en la carrera.
Evidentemente hay cambios entre el libro y la peli, pero no son nada exagerados y los pocos que hay ni me han molestado.
Probablemente lo volveré a leer en un futuro porque ha sido una buena experiencia.
Pregate per passare il corso, per favore.
prusche's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
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
1.0
sakibat's review against another edition
inspiring
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
caitriona_w's review
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
katykelly's review against another edition
4.0
Didactic but pleasing translated classic story. Rather different to Disney's vision.
I have read this, but twenty years ago and I'd forgotten it completely. I thought I'd introduce it to my son (almost 8), and we read this at bedtimes as well as listening to a Librivox audio version in the car.
The basic story is recognisable for those (almost all of us) who grew up with the 1940s Disney version. There is an element of dark humour here though that Uncle Walt left out, in the opening scene in particular. Pinocchio is mischievous even as a piece of wood before he is carved, and from the first my son was rather horrified as his behaviour. From allowing his father to sell a patchy winter coat to buy a spelling book, to refusing to work for food or money, we had lots of discussions about gratitude and responsibility.
Ours was an illustrated edition, with 'plates' depicting characters and scenes, a great addition with their old-fashioned look. I also loved the chapter openings, a summary of the contents of each chapter, something my son wasn't familiar with, reminded me of even older texts.
Pinocchio learns the hard way that giving in to temptation and trying to take the easy way out won't work. His long-suffering father Gepetto, the talking cricket, Blue Fairy are all familiar, as are the donkeys on The Land of Toys, but there are also some darker incidents and moralising that make this a read that some children will find a little heavy and antiquated.
We didn't have a problem with the language or tone, my son was always happy to read a chapter, or listen in the car on the way to school. We even laughed a few times.
Lots of lessons to be learned from Pinocchio's story, and though most children will be wanting more light-hearted humour, I think many will still find themselves engaged with the character and his self-inflicted 'trials'.
For listeners age 7+ and for readers of 9 and above.
I have read this, but twenty years ago and I'd forgotten it completely. I thought I'd introduce it to my son (almost 8), and we read this at bedtimes as well as listening to a Librivox audio version in the car.
The basic story is recognisable for those (almost all of us) who grew up with the 1940s Disney version. There is an element of dark humour here though that Uncle Walt left out, in the opening scene in particular. Pinocchio is mischievous even as a piece of wood before he is carved, and from the first my son was rather horrified as his behaviour. From allowing his father to sell a patchy winter coat to buy a spelling book, to refusing to work for food or money, we had lots of discussions about gratitude and responsibility.
Ours was an illustrated edition, with 'plates' depicting characters and scenes, a great addition with their old-fashioned look. I also loved the chapter openings, a summary of the contents of each chapter, something my son wasn't familiar with, reminded me of even older texts.
Pinocchio learns the hard way that giving in to temptation and trying to take the easy way out won't work. His long-suffering father Gepetto, the talking cricket, Blue Fairy are all familiar, as are the donkeys on The Land of Toys, but there are also some darker incidents and moralising that make this a read that some children will find a little heavy and antiquated.
We didn't have a problem with the language or tone, my son was always happy to read a chapter, or listen in the car on the way to school. We even laughed a few times.
Lots of lessons to be learned from Pinocchio's story, and though most children will be wanting more light-hearted humour, I think many will still find themselves engaged with the character and his self-inflicted 'trials'.
For listeners age 7+ and for readers of 9 and above.
garvsy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Funny book at times and a lot of disgraces for pinocchio, kind of reminds me of "Lazarillo de Tormes" but lighter.
I really liked the end and you can see through the book how Pinocchio evolved.
I would not give this book to a little kid tho.
I really liked the end and you can see through the book how Pinocchio evolved.
I would not give this book to a little kid tho.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Violence
Minor: Child death