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A review by ursa_arlo
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-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? No
2.5
Positives. I can understand why so many people are touched by this book. It is written with children in mind (as the narrator often mentions) but it also takes a very abstract and philosophical approach to storytelling that jabs at the core of what makes life worth living. The ending is also heart wrenching, and surprisingly dark.
Negatives: I did not care much for the framing of the narrator as an active character in the book as it distracts from the travels of the little prince. The book is also so vaguely abstract at times that I can't possibly see what a child may stand to gain from it. But what do I know, I'm just a stupid grown-up anyway.
Quote. "'At night, when you look up at the sky, since I shall be living on a star, and since I shall be laughing on a star, for you it will be as if all the stars are laughing. You alone will have stars that can laugh.' He laughed again. 'And when you have got over your loss (for we always do), you'll be happy to have known me. You will always be my friend. You will want to laugh with me. And sometimes you will open your window- just like that, for the sake of opening it- and your friends will be amazed to see you laughing as you look up at the sky.'"
Negatives: I did not care much for the framing of the narrator as an active character in the book as it distracts from the travels of the little prince. The book is also so vaguely abstract at times that I can't possibly see what a child may stand to gain from it. But what do I know, I'm just a stupid grown-up anyway.
Quote. "'At night, when you look up at the sky, since I shall be living on a star, and since I shall be laughing on a star, for you it will be as if all the stars are laughing. You alone will have stars that can laugh.' He laughed again. 'And when you have got over your loss (for we always do), you'll be happy to have known me. You will always be my friend. You will want to laugh with me. And sometimes you will open your window- just like that, for the sake of opening it- and your friends will be amazed to see you laughing as you look up at the sky.'"