- Unknown Binding
- ASIN: B000XFOZ26
- Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
The Giant Under The Snow
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I'm thankful to Mrs Cox, from Bounds Green School London, for introducing me to this book at the tender age of 5. There's a lot of furore over books like the Harry Potter series of His Dark Materials - this book, "The Giant Under the Snow" was producing a magical and believable storyworld AEONS before either of the aforementioned. John Gordon weaves a fantastic and dark tale of magic, of ancient tumulii and curses, and of course as with any decent kids book worth its salt, the children are the star. Anti-heroine Jonquil Winters is not a glory-seeker, rather has it thrust upon her by a series of coincidental circumstances which ultimately lead to a confrontation with an ancient evil lain dormant for centuries. Yeah yeah, I hear you say "It's all been done before" but bear in mind this book was written back in the 60s by an author who's not very well known but deserves to be (and is still writing to this day, also check out "The Midwinter Watch" by John Gordon.
For anyone mildly interested in chalk figures, iron age tombs and dark mysterious magic, I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If you can find a copy (it's out of print) you're lucky. It took me 25 years to find one..!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
'The Giant under the snow' is the tale of three children who find themselves pulled against their will into the final battle of a secret war that began thousands of years ago. In the last few days before christmas, Jonquil discovers an ancient belt buckle on a strange earth mound in the forest. It quickly becomes clear that the buckle is more than it seems, and there are dark forces who will do anything to possess it.....as the snow falls and the fog descends, the children realise they have no choice but to see it through to the end.
Beautifully written and wonderfully atmospheric, the author taps into that sense of how different the world feels when thick snow and fog change the landscape. A normally busy street can feel very creepy on a dark foggy night. Particularly when you realise a mysterious black hound is trailing your every move...... The book has a genuinely unsettling and claustrophobic feel that actually might be a bit much for younger children.
In reality, the story is based around a mixture of viking and celtic legends. Many of the locations in the story are based on real sites in the authors' home county of Norfolk. I am really pleased to see this back in print - it was one of my favourite childhood books,and is every bit as engrossing for children now. You won't be disappointed.
Beautifully written and wonderfully atmospheric, the author taps into that sense of how different the world feels when thick snow and fog change the landscape. A normally busy street can feel very creepy on a dark foggy night. Particularly when you realise a mysterious black hound is trailing your every move...... The book has a genuinely unsettling and claustrophobic feel that actually might be a bit much for younger children.
In reality, the story is based around a mixture of viking and celtic legends. Many of the locations in the story are based on real sites in the authors' home county of Norfolk. I am really pleased to see this back in print - it was one of my favourite childhood books,and is every bit as engrossing for children now. You won't be disappointed.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This was my favourite book as a child, I first read it when I was ten and was entranced (as well as being terrified from time to time!). Sadly, I lost my copy (never lend your books to ANYONE!). The descriptions in this book are vivid and beautifully written, especially the flight sequences, the author has the ability to truly stimulate your imagination (a rare gift). When I re-read it I could still see the scenes that I had first imagined thirty years ago (you do the maths). Buy a copy for your children, they will be very grateful, or if you haven't got kids buy it for yourself. Personally, I'm looking forward to reading it to my daughters on winter evenings in a few years time - it's that sort of book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Still wonderful
Like many other reviewers here, I read this novel when I was young - maybe eleven or twelve - and its superbly drawn atmosphere of darkness and snow-bound landscapes has stayed in... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Eric Ambleside
Brilliant book.
Can I concur with what so many of the readers have written below. I read this book thirty-odd years ago as a child and it's one of the few books which I have always kept with me. Read more
Published on 13 Jun 2009 by John Duce
even after all these years
i stumbled across this book a couple of years back while rummaging through my parent's attic. it must have been nearly thirty years since i read it, but when i picked it up and... Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2009 by Cyanide Bunny
Sure Fire Hit
In the 70's and 80's I used to read this to entire classes of 11/12 year olds in late Autumn term from November onwards. Read more
Published on 16 Dec 2007 by J. Pitt-Pladdy
This is THE childrens book!
I first read this when I was about 9 years old and in the following two years took it out of the library and read it about 8 times. Read more
Published on 11 Oct 2007 by P. Corner
Like a Dream....
I discovered this novel in a classroom bookcase in 1981. Perusing it on account of its slightly sinister cover illustration, I began reading what raplidly became my favourite... Read more
Published on 17 Aug 2007 by Tony Walker
Brilliant childrens fantasy
I first read this aged about 9 and it gave me nightmares - that was 26 years ago & this book has lost none of it's brilliance.
But what about modern kids? Read more
But what about modern kids? Read more
Published on 5 July 2007 by C. Musgrave
It grows on you!
When I first read this book, aged about twelve, I found it an enjoyable enough fantasy/adventure story, but not one that I would go back to re-read. Read more
Published on 13 April 2007 by Alexa
Great writer!
John Gordon is an amazing writer, able to tap into the inner fears of childhood...and scare the adults as well! Read more
Published on 6 Feb 2007 by Road Apple
Fantastic Classic Story
I first read this book at school as a child and loved so much I bought it a few years ago and now read it every year. My partner now loves it and also re-reads it regularly. Read more
Published on 22 Nov 2006 by Paul Eaglen
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