Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
!, 10 Mar 2009
This book is the most perfect piece of fiction I think I have ever read.
It's warm and funny, and I will not be lending this, my 5th copy, to anybody because I've not had any of the others back yet.
The story is told in Gerald Durrell's warm and charming narrative and tells the tale of three cousins who find a large, talking parcel on the beach. They unwrap it (of course!) and find inside Parrot (the Keeper of Words) and his singing spider, Dulcibelle. Together they embark on an adventure to the land of Mythologia, the place where reside all the mythological creatures we scarcely believe in, with the quest to halt the takeover by the cockatrices.
The characters are simply wonderful. We meet unicorns, phoenixes, the last of the dragons, Hengist Hannibal Junketberry (the absent-minded wizard), Ethelred the Toad, Oswald (the deaf chef sea-serpent who uses a gramophone trumpet for cake-icing and hearing with), and my favourite, Desdemona Williamson-Smythe-Smythe-Brown (the head of the mermaids). Oh, and the griffons, the moon-calves, Madame Hortense the steam engine, and, of course, the cockatrices.
I have read this book about once a year (though it's likely I've misspelt the names of the characters!) and have taken every opportunity to read it to whoever will listen. Children have sat in front of me spellbound (and silent!) and adults have wanted more. The language flows and... well, I'm just transported away to somewhere I'd like never to return from.
Spend the money and enjoy forevermore.
BUT DON'T LEND IT TO ANYONE!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great story to read aloud!, 24 May 2009
This is going to date me, but I remember my teacher reading this to me when I was at school (just after it was first published!) I've always remembered it fondly, and when I was looking for something to read to my class this year, I chanced upon a copy. I did think it might be a bit dated, but my class of 8/9 year olds LOVED it and were always desperate for the next chapter.
From a teaching point of view Gerald Durrell includes some wonderfully detailed descriptions of his settings - I gave my class the two paragraphs describing Mythologia and asked them to draw what was described - there were some fantastic drawings!
His characters are great, and it's a real pleasure imagining how they speak and putting on all the different voices.
If you can get hold of a copy - do! And I agree with the previous viewer - lend your copy to no-one! My copy is held together with sticky tape and optimism - I do hope it's re-printed soon.
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