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estel 's review for:
The Mouse and His Child
by David Small, Russell Hoban
I really liked this! It's the story of how a toy mouse and his (attached) child make friends, discover the meaning to infinity, achieve Self-Winding, obtain their very own territory, and have a real family.
I can't explain this properly, but while the whole story was happy and adventurous in a way only children's books can be, it was also kind of poignant. One thing I think contributed to this tone is how the mouse's (and child's) fur eventually came off and their clothing was torn and tattered and their bare tin could be seen underneath. They were so discarded and unwanted and chased. Instead of being depressing as many similarly-toned adult fiction books are, the tone simply lent an air of gravity and, well, poignancy to the story.
It's not just a children's book. It touches on many themes like having a territory (or a place to call home. see quote below!). The tramp and his dog Bonzo, along with the tin can with Bonzo's infinity picture, also provide a larger perspective away from the lives of the tin toys and friends.
Here are some quotes!
'A territory is your place,' said the drummer boy. 'It's where everything smells right. It's where you know the runways and the hideouts, night or day. It's what you fought for, or what your father fought for, and you feel all safe and strong there. It's the place where, when you fight, you win.'
'That's your territory,' said the fifer. 'Somebody else's territory is something else again. That's where you feel sick and scared and want to run away, and that's where the other side mostly wins.'
'Winding and unwinding,' intoned the frog, 'whole or broken, bright or rusty, until the end of your tin. I now pronounce you mouse and wife.'
I can't explain this properly, but while the whole story was happy and adventurous in a way only children's books can be, it was also kind of poignant. One thing I think contributed to this tone is how the mouse's (and child's) fur eventually came off and their clothing was torn and tattered and their bare tin could be seen underneath. They were so discarded and unwanted and chased. Instead of being depressing as many similarly-toned adult fiction books are, the tone simply lent an air of gravity and, well, poignancy to the story.
It's not just a children's book. It touches on many themes like having a territory (or a place to call home. see quote below!). The tramp and his dog Bonzo, along with the tin can with Bonzo's infinity picture, also provide a larger perspective away from the lives of the tin toys and friends.
Here are some quotes!
'A territory is your place,' said the drummer boy. 'It's where everything smells right. It's where you know the runways and the hideouts, night or day. It's what you fought for, or what your father fought for, and you feel all safe and strong there. It's the place where, when you fight, you win.'
'That's your territory,' said the fifer. 'Somebody else's territory is something else again. That's where you feel sick and scared and want to run away, and that's where the other side mostly wins.'
'Winding and unwinding,' intoned the frog, 'whole or broken, bright or rusty, until the end of your tin. I now pronounce you mouse and wife.'