This started off feeling quite simplistic and ham-fisted - be nice to people who are different! But became more nuanced and complex further in, especiThis started off feeling quite simplistic and ham-fisted - be nice to people who are different! But became more nuanced and complex further in, especially when we reach his sister's parts.
A few of the PoVs could have either been done away with or fleshed out better. (The sister's boyfriend and Summer, respectively) but overall the book was an enjoyable and affirming read. Perhaps the end is not realistic, but it is an end that I think will suit the audience - any less of a happy ending for August and I think young readers would feel horribly let down and cheated.
Definitely a good book for tweens and early teens to read....more
It was children's fantasy without the cheese, set in a wonderfully dark and grimy London of the late 70s. The Borribles are...kinda lThis was awesome.
It was children's fantasy without the cheese, set in a wonderfully dark and grimy London of the late 70s. The Borribles are...kinda like the Lost Boys, but better. And their mortal enemies are kinda like the Wombles of Wimbledom Common, but far far worse.
Seriously, I loved every second of this, and I need to read the next book because NOOOOOO that can't be how it ended.
Younger Spawn read this and insisted I read it too. As a kid I loved Dick King-Smith, though I hadn't read this one before. It took me literally aboutYounger Spawn read this and insisted I read it too. As a kid I loved Dick King-Smith, though I hadn't read this one before. It took me literally about 10 minutes to read, but even so, I really admired what he does in so little words. And it was nice to read a children's book where the parents were real and kind and not heartless maniacs or dead, and where the ending was sweet and happy and there was no great moral to learn.
Recommended for young dog-loving spawnlets....more
Exactly what I needed to read while feeling sick and sorry for myself. Except my bath got cold while I was reading so now I'm probably going to die ofExactly what I needed to read while feeling sick and sorry for myself. Except my bath got cold while I was reading so now I'm probably going to die of pneumonia....more
Funny to see how much this book has actually influenced me. It was the first "proper" fantasy I had ever read. Before that mDoing a Lewis rereadathon.
Funny to see how much this book has actually influenced me. It was the first "proper" fantasy I had ever read. Before that most of my reading centred around books about animals, either as the focus of the plot, or talking animal narratives.
I, rather oddly, was given my first copy of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by my church as a prize for memorising bible verses.
So you can credit religious institutions for creating in me a love of fantasy. And also turning me into an atheist. ...more
In my continuing reread (March 2013) of the Chrestomanci books....
LOVE Witch Week. I think DWJ must have loathed school with the passion of any sane cIn my continuing reread (March 2013) of the Chrestomanci books....
LOVE Witch Week. I think DWJ must have loathed school with the passion of any sane child and her observations on school life had me laughing out loud (the scene at the teacher's table... *shakes head*). It's also odd how dark these books are, far darker than I remember them. The bonefires and the burning of the finger were awful, but somehow I had forgotten about them; they slipped under the humour and wit of DWJ's writing.
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