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thriftbookish 's review for:
The Polar Express
by Chris Van Allsburg
Originally posted on: http://thriftbookish.blogspot.com/2016/12/mini-review-polar-express-by-chris-van.html
2.5 stars ★ ★ (½)
[b:The Polar Express|420282|The Polar Express|Chris Van Allsburg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1356707942s/420282.jpg|1045364] is a 32 page children's Christmas story picture book by [a:Chris Van Allsburg|9685|Chris Van Allsburg|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1264399536p2/9685.jpg] who is also known for his popular book Jumanji.
The short story is about a boy who one late Christmas Eve who lay in his bed waiting to hear the ringing bells of Santa's sleigh but instead he hears the sounds of a mysterious of a train that appears in the front of his house. The conductor steps out to invite the boy stating that the train was ThePolar Express and headed to The North Pole so the boy takes his invitation and once aboard meets other children also delighted to be going to The North Pole to meet Santa Clause.
Once they arrive the conductor explains that Santa gathers every year in the center of the city in order to give one of the chosen children "the first gift of Christmas"
The Polar Express is a book that is well knowned for the filmed adaptation with the great Tom Hanks, which I watched numerous times throughout elementary school and enjoyed then. However, I can't recall ever reading it.. So I decided that this Holiday season I'll read it and see how the book version is.
I didn't love the book. I liked the illustrations but I don't think they would appeal to most children or kids, they are a bit.. hmm. What's the word? Dull? Dark? Mute? For younger people that is, for me I liked the illustrations especially considering they were illustrated by the author. I think that the illustrations combined with the shortness of the book wouldn't really hook younger audiences to make them want to come back to read the book again. Had the illustrations been lighter and more to do with Christmas opposed to the surrounding landscapes then maybe I would've rated it better. The writing was very simplistic as well.
The ending for me probably is the reason I didn't rate it lower stars:
“Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe.”
The last page was probably the best part for me I appreciate the overall message it gives but the story itself and the writing just seems a bit flat to me.
Another con was that the synopsis in the book was basically the whole story wrapped up in about a paragraph so unless you want to be spoiled don't read the blurb!
I'll be rewatching the movie adaptation to see if I still enjoy it now that I am older, I remember it being more expanded and entertaining but we'll see.
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2.5 stars ★ ★ (½)
[b:The Polar Express|420282|The Polar Express|Chris Van Allsburg|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1356707942s/420282.jpg|1045364] is a 32 page children's Christmas story picture book by [a:Chris Van Allsburg|9685|Chris Van Allsburg|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1264399536p2/9685.jpg] who is also known for his popular book Jumanji.
The short story is about a boy who one late Christmas Eve who lay in his bed waiting to hear the ringing bells of Santa's sleigh but instead he hears the sounds of a mysterious of a train that appears in the front of his house. The conductor steps out to invite the boy stating that the train was ThePolar Express and headed to The North Pole so the boy takes his invitation and once aboard meets other children also delighted to be going to The North Pole to meet Santa Clause.
Once they arrive the conductor explains that Santa gathers every year in the center of the city in order to give one of the chosen children "the first gift of Christmas"
The Polar Express is a book that is well knowned for the filmed adaptation with the great Tom Hanks, which I watched numerous times throughout elementary school and enjoyed then. However, I can't recall ever reading it.. So I decided that this Holiday season I'll read it and see how the book version is.
I didn't love the book. I liked the illustrations but I don't think they would appeal to most children or kids, they are a bit.. hmm. What's the word? Dull? Dark? Mute? For younger people that is, for me I liked the illustrations especially considering they were illustrated by the author. I think that the illustrations combined with the shortness of the book wouldn't really hook younger audiences to make them want to come back to read the book again. Had the illustrations been lighter and more to do with Christmas opposed to the surrounding landscapes then maybe I would've rated it better. The writing was very simplistic as well.
The ending for me probably is the reason I didn't rate it lower stars:
“Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe.”
The last page was probably the best part for me I appreciate the overall message it gives but the story itself and the writing just seems a bit flat to me.
Another con was that the synopsis in the book was basically the whole story wrapped up in about a paragraph so unless you want to be spoiled don't read the blurb!
I'll be rewatching the movie adaptation to see if I still enjoy it now that I am older, I remember it being more expanded and entertaining but we'll see.
My Blog
Google+
Goodreads
Tumblr
Bloglovin
YouTube
Libib